Colorado app question

[NDhunter]

OK, I don't have a degree in English or Law and am trying to understand the new Colorado points deal. Is it going to cost me 25 bucks to apply for an actual elk hunt if I get turned down and didn't buy a elk, fishing, small game...license last year. Or is it if I only apply for a Preference Point without buying one of those licenses last year, that I get gouged the 25 bucks. The reason that I ask is in the individual species application it only mentions the 25 dollar fee under the Point Only code. Then you have to refer to the main brochure and read some more confusing verbage...How difficult do they need to make this stuff. Thanks for any help, NDHunter.

 

[txhunter58]

I must admit that I read the pertinent passages and I am as confused as you. Not only for your question, but what if I bought an elk tag and fishing license. Do I then not have to pay the $25 for a deer point?

I am going to write them for clarification. They usually answer these questions by email pretty quickly. Why don't you email them too and we will see if we get the same answer!

txhunter58

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

 

[BBB]

Please post your answers. I am in the same predicament! Do I pay 25$ per Species?

 

[MNHunter]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-13-06 AT 10:26AM (MST)[p]It is not only for people applying for PP only. On page 3 it states:

1. One preference point is awarded to hunters who apply properly
for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear or moose as their first choice and are unsuccessful in drawing a license, OR to hunters who apply for apreference-point hunt code as their first choice. See ?Preference Point Hunt Code.? NOTE: If you make any error on your application, including a first-choice hunt codes, will not get a point.

2. NEW FOR 2006: In addition to #1 above, unsuccessful applicants
(except youths) for deer, elk, pronghorn or bear won't receive a preference point unless they have purchased 1 of the following:

a.A fishing, small game, resident combination small game and
fishing, or furbearer license during the previous year.

b.A big game license in the previous year or a current drawing
license for the same species for which they are seeking a point.

c. Paid a $25 fee to buy a preference point. The fee, by species,
entitles hunters to a point for that species.

3. Preference points are awarded to individuals for specific species.

So, if you didn't buy a license last year, or one this year, it is $25 per species!


I wonder if the $11.00 small game 1 day license would satisfy the req for next year? It doesn't say if it has to be an annual or if it can be a 1 day license??????

 

[BBB]

This is gettin ridiculous when you start adding up application/bonus point fees when you are applying for 5-6 different states!!!

 

[MNHunter]

You got that right BBB. Paying just to play the game is one reason hunting is on the decline. I don't mind paying high fees for the tag if I can draw but when you must spend a lot of money each year just to enter the draw it discourages new hunters.

 

[NDhunter]

I received a reply from CO yesterday and yes you do have to pay the 25 for a point whether you apply for a hunt (if you don't get drawn for 1st choice) or a point. It is simply taken out of your refund after the draw. The individual who wrote me back said that the regulations were confusing and if I wanted I could write them a letter and request to change the verbage to something normal people could understand. I guess that was the point of the email that I sent them, but apparently I need to spell it out to the person in charge of editing the booklet. Looks like I will be buying the cheapest license that will satisfy their requirements sometime before fall (fishing I think, around 50 bucks) this year so that I won't have to pay 75 bucks for elk, deer, and antelope next year. Will have to go without applying for antelope this year then since that kind of $ is getting a little steep. Like BBB said when you start adding all the different fees from various states up it gets pretty spendy.

 

[txhunter58]

To muddy the water. The reply I got was this:

First I bought an elk tag and a fishing license last year.

Answer. I will not be charged $25 for a preference point for either deer or elk even if I only apply for a preference point.

txhunter58

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

 

[cheeseheadinOHIO]

I phoned them today because it wasn't clear to me as I will be buying an over the counter elk this fall. She said if I buy the OTC license online now, I don't have to pay the preference point fee. But if I mail it in for the PP and buy the OTC in the fall, I have to pay the $25. I know they want as much money as they can get, but now they even want it sooner. I guess they'll improve on the info for next year.

 

[Budrow]

Yes the DOW writes the regulations so it is hard to understand. Like the allocations for nonresidents. on more than 35%( or 20%) of available deer and elk licenses.

Nonresidents are garranteed nothing except you will not receive more than 35 or 20% unless the resident dose not apply.

Example: 100 licenses: 100 residents and 20 nonresidents, all have the same number of preference points,residents will draw 65%garranteed and can exceed the 65%. So if you are one of the 20 nonresidents you might get lucky and draw, but no garrantees!

 

[archery01]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-21-06 AT 07:33PM (MST)[p]Budrow, Read your second paragraph. If there are 20 nonresidents applying for a unit with 100 tags and a 65% resident allotment, that means that non-res get the other 35%. So the 20 non-res would get the tags. the not gaurenteed more than 20 or 35% means if only 50 res put in and 50 non-res then they would each get 50% because not enough res to cover alloted 65%. There are two %'s on elk. Some units are 65-35 and some 80-20. It depends on amount of preference pts needed by res to draw. ie. more than 5 pts 80-20, less than 5 pts 65-35.

 

[txhunter58]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-21-06 AT 08:43PM (MST)[p]Archery, I believe that you are incorrect, if I understand you correctly.

Lets start with the facts:

1) Residents are guaranteed 65% of the tags (assuming there are that many resident applicants)

2) Nonresidents are not guarateed any tags, they are "capped" at 35% (again assuming enough residents apply)

So, your statement that "nonresidents get the other 35%" is not correct. There is no guarantee, just a CAP.

As I understand it, the computer is just going to start pulling peoples names out of a hat randomly, without regard to resident vs. nonresident. Only when it reaches the "cap" for nonresidents will it start giving preference to residents.

Since all the applicants have the same points in the example, the real question is what are the odds that any one person will be drawn. Answer: 100 divided by 120 = 83%. 83% of 20 nonrsidents is 17 tags. So, on average, in the example given, only 17 nonresidents will get tags. That is great odds, but not a lock.

However, there is a silver lining to this. Since residents get picked more, that means they drop to 0 points each time. So the next year, nonresidents would be drawn since they have would have 1 point.

Drawings are determined first by preference points, until the nonresident cap is reached, then by resident status. For example, in the same example, if 100 residents had 1 point, and the 20 residents all have 0 points, no residents will draw.

However, if there are 100 residents with 0 points and 100 NONresidents with 5 points, the residents will still draw 65 tags and nonresidents will draw 35.

This has been the way this was done since they changed it to the 60/40 rule. Nothing new here except they lowered the "cap" to 35%

txhunter58

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

 

[DonVathome]

I am going to build points for elk, deer, sheep, mountain goat and maybe antelope.

Is there a way to save the $25 per species? I have not hunted CO yet.

Is this $25 for mnt goat & sheep too?

If I can get a $50 fishing license and save $25 for all 5 that is worth it.

 

[txhunter58]

The answer to that question is very unclear. Someone probably needs to call them directly and ask.

txhunter58

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

 

[MNHunter]

Well, I spoke with a rep at the DOW and he said the $25 fee is NOT for sheep/goat/moose.

I then asked him for the minimum license that would meet the requirement of having a license the prior year. He said it has to be an annual license and that $56 small game or the $56 fishing license is as low as you can go.

So, if you apply for elk, deer and lope make sure you buy a nonres fishing or small game lic this year and every year after as it will save you $28.

 

[txhunter58]

I go fishing every summer, so that won't be hard for me!

txhunter58

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