17 points colorado

JAC · Mar 13, 2011

Need good advice for where in colorado to apply.17 ppoints.Looking for good hunt with chance for good bull..can go archery ,muzzy ,or rifle..55 years old, good shape,can put in time.what units are looking good nowadays.Am solo as hunting goes.Will take wife to help pack.Maybe trespass fee hunt with camping or cabin.Just puttin it out there..have taken bulls before but no mounters,it would be nice..any help would work and be apreciated..JAC

mntman · Mar 13, 2011

17 points as a resident will get you in the NW corner now, as a NR depending on weapon could be this year, or within 3 years.
I don't know about the RFW's, some of those are really good I have heard, may want to try and contact them to see what their quality is like.
I wish I had your problem though

best of luck to you with the tag you choose.

Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"

westelkman · Mar 14, 2011

You better look over those odds charts. Heres what you are up against;In 201 archery it took 19 to draw last year. There are about 8 guys ahead of you and another 8 or so with the same amount of points. If all stay in it will be a min of 8 years for you to draw that tag and could be as much as 15. Now this doesn't include drop outs or adds from guys who have been accumulating and decide to go for it.

I hunted 76 last year and it was a good unit as Co units go, but we saw maybe 3 bulls over 310, no 350ers. You can draw that with 9 or 10 archery. One of the outfitters Sammy Frazier had 3 or 4 muzzy guys do pretty good with a 330, 310, 300 and 280 or something like that. He told me he hadn't seen a 350 bull in that unit in sometime [could be fibbing who knows]

COLOelkman · Mar 14, 2011

"You better look over those odds charts. Heres what you are up against;In 201 archery it took 19 to draw last year. There are about 8 guys ahead of you and another 8 or so with the same amount of points. If all stay in it will be a min of 8 years for you to draw that tag and could be as much as 15. Now this doesn't include drop outs or adds from guys who have been accumulating and decide to go for it."

Assuming a NR, I'm seeing 4 ahead of him (1 drew last year) and 6 others in the same boat with him. Still, several years to wait assuming the same numbers which they never seem to be!

Only reason I looked at this is I have a friend who's taken guys into 201 to help call and he'd rather do that than hunt himself as he's now spoiled for life!

JAC · Mar 27, 2011

Hey--How are you all doing??well about 9 days to go for elk drawing..still havent decided.Is there anybody want to chime in on the best place to SPEND 17 preference points.Any ideas?How about a great trespass fee hunt.How about a reasonable outfitter.I dont have huge money.I am solo.Any ideas.Bow,muzzleloader,or rifle...Thanks JAC

Horniac · Mar 27, 2011

If you want to go on an elk hunt in 2011 and don't want to spend a lot of money I would recommend the 61 tag. Plenty of access, plenty of public land, all different types of terrain, and lots of elk to look over. A fun hunt and you don't need an outfitter to be successful. It looks like the 1st muzzy hunt took 17 points minimum as a NR and 18 to be guaranteed to draw a tag so you will most likely need 18 points to draw it this year. It looks like you will easily draw the 1st rifle tag or the archery tag. 61 is a big unit with big country and you will not have a problem getting away from other hunters even on the rifle hunt if you are willing to get off the roads. If you like to bowhunt and have enough time to do the tag justice then pull the archery tag, if you prefer a rifle then put in for the 1st rifle hunt. Good luck on whatever unit you decide to hunt!

Horniac

rmanwill · Mar 27, 2011

I'm right behind you in points and continue to apply for 61 1st rifle. Im on the bubble and catching up and never know when someone won't put in. Should draw within next couple years.

Gator · Mar 27, 2011

Dinosaur would have to be on that short list too. Me I would kept putting in for Unit 201 it that is what your heart is set on.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

Budrow · Mar 27, 2011

Westelkman,
We took a 6x6 with a drop 7 point of 21 inches scored 350 in the Early Rife Season. Hope all is well with you, Sammy

westelkman · Mar 27, 2011

>Westelkman,
>We took a 6x6 with a
>drop 7 point of 21
>inches scored 350 in the
>Early Rife Season. Hope all
>is well with you, Sammy
>

Sammy,
I talked to you twice- once before the season about a drop camp and once on the road behind RG res. while you were pulling out your muzzie hunters. So you were holding out on me? Grin

You did say you had high hopes for that early rifle. As I recall you had a couple [or 3] early rifle guys, how did the others do?

Did you hear of any other big bulls killed in that unit?

Coloradoboy · Mar 28, 2011

Hold out for unit 10 archery. I don't think 61 is worth 17 points if you're truly looking for a 'big' bull. A top end 320 bull in 61 is what you should be passing up in unit 10. In the past few years the smallest bull I've helped take in the nw corner is a 325 and that was a last day, last hour kinda bull.
Coloradoboy

Coloradoboy · Mar 28, 2011

By the way, after checking the draw odds. You would of had a 33 percent of drawing last year with 16 points. So with 17 your odds should improve. There's only 2 nonres tags though..
Coloradoboy

Lawrence · Mar 28, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Mar-28-11 AT 04:00PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Mar-28-11 AT 03:59?PM (MST)

You have an outside chance at drawing a Unit 1 tag. If everything stays the same, you would be in a lottery with 4 other guys that had 16 points last year and would have 17 points this year. I drew that tag in 2009 and killed a 333", 44" inside, 51" & 53" mains the first morning. Great frame and mass, just a little short on tine length. The other non-resident killed a huge freak bull. I was happy with this bull as I don't consider myself an elk hunter(this was only the third bull I've ever killed and I haven't hunted elk in about 25 years). I just kept building points over the years and with the point creep I was always 1 or 2 points behind 2,10 or 201. I figured that was my best shot at using my points before I checked out.

The negatives on this unit are it's small, limited access, private on top. But it's just across the river from two of the best units in the state.

tailchasers · Mar 28, 2011

Don't sell unit 1 short on elk. Wonderful unit with plenty of public land and some great elk hunting too. Might be a tiny unit but big things can come from small units.

elknut · Mar 28, 2011

You may not want to try 10 bow, I know of one non-res with 18 going in --- ya it's me.

tracker12 · Mar 29, 2011

I scouted area 61 last Sep and it is a BIG unit. WE never did it justice in 5 days of running around. It was very hit and dry when we were there and the elk were talkative very early and very late. Saw a few nice bulls in the 280-290 but not much over that. I am sure the bug ones are there. Twice we got into elk but could not get a look at the heard bull. I was thinkink of drawing the Muzzy tag this year but after 20 years I am going to hold out for the NW corner. If I was at 17 I would do the 61 unless I was very young.