What would you guys do in this situation?

Bobbby · Nov 2, 2003

I have a dilema on my hands. I recently got permission to hunt elk on some private property in southwestern colorado. I found out from the DOW that it takes 2-3 preference points to draw a muzzleloader tag and 1 point to draw a 4th season tag in this unit. I'm trying to figure out if I should go for the quicker 4th season tag or if I should try for the muzzleloader tag since this season typically offers the best odds for harvesting a bull? But I could probably go on two 4th season hunts in the time that it would take me to draw a muzzleloader tag?

What to do?

saminwy · Nov 2, 2003

i assume the hunts are at different times. is the muzz during the rut? is the rifle late when you can hunt in snow? which time does the landowner suggest for best odds at a BIG bull?i would probably take whatever i could draw first. i dont know the circumstances of your permission, but could that permission be gone by the time you accumulate the points for the muzz hunt?

sam

Bobbby · Nov 2, 2003

The muzzleloading season is in the middle of the rut and the 4th season tag runs from Nov 8th to the 15th, so there would be a good chance for snow and this unit does have large bulls. The landowners favorite season is the Muzz, but I'm not sure if he knew about the 1 point deal with 4th season.

saminwy · Nov 2, 2003

that makes it a tough descision, if you dont mind the september heat. for me, with it being that late with the rifle, i'd take that hunt every time. not really for any other reason than it just doesn't feel like elk hunting if i'm browsing the cabelas catalog for camo tank tops, camo shorts, and wondering why nobody makes hunting sandals. i guess the fact that you can draw it sooner is a plus too.

sam

Bobbby · Nov 2, 2003

Thanks for the input. In that respect the late hunt does make more sense, but if you would have seen some of the bulls that the landowner has taken with a muzzloader, you might think differently.

Morty_Pass · Nov 2, 2003

Contact the game warden and ask if they allow landowner tags. They purchase one with the landowners consent. Then you wont have to wait.

later, M_P

etoh · Nov 3, 2003

I'd hold out for the muzzleloader season and put in for 4th season cow tags in the off years, assuming they are available. You might also consider that Colorado is changing the structure for the next five year plan. If you are a non-resident this will problably not help you much.

Bobbby · Nov 5, 2003

Thanks for the info. Anybody else have a opinion on this subject?

txhunter58 · Nov 5, 2003

My opinion is that you should take me with you! Would your friend want to swap a hunt for whitetail or exotics in Texas?

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

Bobbby · Nov 5, 2003

I would like to take a few more people with me but one of the landowners stipulations was that I could only bring one person with me. I elk hunt with about 10 guys that are chomping at the bit to go, including a few relatives. The person who I am going to take is not a relative, but rather the person who is responsible for getting me my biggest bull a couple years ago which is a 300 class heavy 6x6 on public land(infact he had been hunting in the area for over twenty years and had not taken a bull as big as the one I got my first year with him, so I owe him. As far as the whitetail/exotic hunt, exotics for some reason don't interest me, however a big whitetail would be nice but they don't really compare to a big mulie for me. I can direct toward some public access areas where I have taken smaller bulls and cows. If your interested in that let me know I'll send you my e-mail.

etoh · Nov 6, 2003

Good! Short memories are becoming endemic! Blood is thicker than water but antlers are thicker than blood. Colorado has a unique draw system with thier preference points and recaps and so on so if you have any questions about it I'd be more than happy to help (for all I know you may live in Denver and have 20 PPs).

Ditto on the exotics, nothing like seeing a big mule deer rack in the glass to get the blood going.

2_Point · Nov 6, 2003

I'd get the first tag I could, in this case the rifle tag. You never know when invitations go south and 3-4 years is a long time to hope that you still have permission.

I had the rug pulled out from under me a couple years ago. Our freind always let us hunt his proerty and he even gave me a lifetime pass. Well now the property is leased and I could try to go hunt it but it would cause problems for all involved.

Go Hunting