Which state would you start applying for preference pts in as a non-resident, diy public land hunter. Would like to hunt in the next 2-5 yrs. Not looking for trophy elk. Any respectable antlered bull will do. I've got time to burn before I can actually go so I figured having some points under my belt would help get into a little better area. I know I am pretty limited with no hunt area picked out and no ability to pre season scout being from Michigan. Most likely will be hunting on foot with no horses, etc. Depending on finacial situation may do a guided hunt down the road. Thanks for any information.
WY OR COL. FOR ELK PREF. PTS FOR 2-5 YRS HUNT
- Thread starter MITROLL
- Start date
F
Flatlandr
Guest
IMHO...if you are just looking for opportunity and not a big scoring Bull, I would choose CO as the PP cost is much less than WY and CO mostly manages for quantity over quality. Plus one point can get you alot of opportunity. Heck you have lots of opportunity with no PP in CO.
Good luck,
Mark
Good luck,
Mark
sjhgraysage
Very Active Member
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- 2,290
or.......BOTH! You can gain one point a year in each state for about $75.00 total, plus application fees. Thats what I'm doing, I believe it will pay off one day.
B
Bowtecher
Guest
I would have to agree with flatlander that Colorado has alot of chances without having PP. Every year there are some good bulls taken by residents and non-residents in the OTC units in the state. Unless the area you want to hunt takes PP then I would just say come out and hunt and don't waste your time building PP.
Just my .04 worth.
Just my .04 worth.
S
scoutdog5
Guest
Sorry guys, I am going to have to disagree. For a rifle hunter, the priority should be to build Wyoming points, if money is an issue. Most Colorado units are over-the-counter for 2nd and 3rd season, draw for 1st and 4th.
Colorado has decent hunting for smaller branch bulls, the truly good trophy units will take lot's of points, some 1st and 4th season tags are relatively easy to draw, but not sure they are better than the over-the-counter tags.
Colorado requires you to send the money for the elk tag if you apply in the draw, a little over 500 as i recall. If you just go for the point, you will get it back except for about 35.00, but it takes a couple of months.
If letting them use your money is not an issue, you might as well get points in both. One good thing, Wyoming announces their results before you have to apply in Colorado, so you will know if you drew Wyoming before the deadline.
hope that helps.
Scoutdog
Colorado has decent hunting for smaller branch bulls, the truly good trophy units will take lot's of points, some 1st and 4th season tags are relatively easy to draw, but not sure they are better than the over-the-counter tags.
Colorado requires you to send the money for the elk tag if you apply in the draw, a little over 500 as i recall. If you just go for the point, you will get it back except for about 35.00, but it takes a couple of months.
If letting them use your money is not an issue, you might as well get points in both. One good thing, Wyoming announces their results before you have to apply in Colorado, so you will know if you drew Wyoming before the deadline.
hope that helps.
Scoutdog
K
ktc
Guest
scoutdog shares my thoughts exactly. To add one more thing, you can get a point this year for Wyoming and you will only be down 2 points from max. I think Wyoming has a hand up in quality and lots more options for a choice of different kinds, and quality, of hunting. Wyoming's dates are much more generous also.
T
TheGreatWhiteHunter
Guest
You can get an elk point for $50 from Wyoming during the points only period every year as long as you have not drawn a first choice elk tag in the same year. You can also apply for the unit you want and pay the preference point fee plus the application fee if you are unsuccessful you will get a point.
Colorado ONLY requires the tag fee for a cow elk $251 plus the $3.00 application fee which includes the search and rescue and wildlife education fund charge. If you are applying for
A PREFERENCE POINT ONLY. If you plan on getting a 2nd choice bull tag you will need to submit the $529 plus the $3.00 app fee.
If you did not buy either a big game tag or a hunting, Furbearer license or fishing license the year before Colorado will with hold $25.00 plus the $3.00 application fee for a Total cost of $28.00 per specie per point. You will then get a refund eventually (couple months)of the remaining tag fee.
The $25 dollar fee is waived for youths,Lifetime license Holders and Colorado Residents who are in the military on active duty outside of Colorado.
Apply for Points in both states and hunt OTC in Colorado or 2nd choice till you have the points to draw something you want.
THE LORD IS MY ROCK
COLORADO,USA
NRA LIFE MEMBER
HUNTING PASS IT ON
Colorado ONLY requires the tag fee for a cow elk $251 plus the $3.00 application fee which includes the search and rescue and wildlife education fund charge. If you are applying for
A PREFERENCE POINT ONLY. If you plan on getting a 2nd choice bull tag you will need to submit the $529 plus the $3.00 app fee.
If you did not buy either a big game tag or a hunting, Furbearer license or fishing license the year before Colorado will with hold $25.00 plus the $3.00 application fee for a Total cost of $28.00 per specie per point. You will then get a refund eventually (couple months)of the remaining tag fee.
The $25 dollar fee is waived for youths,Lifetime license Holders and Colorado Residents who are in the military on active duty outside of Colorado.
Apply for Points in both states and hunt OTC in Colorado or 2nd choice till you have the points to draw something you want.
THE LORD IS MY ROCK
COLORADO,USA
NRA LIFE MEMBER
HUNTING PASS IT ON
COLOelkman
Very Active Member
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- 1,037
As another option to consider, there are some good units in NM and they do not have points. Thus, if you get lucky, you can draw a really good unit with no points although odds are not great. In any case, it's not an easy thing to hunt areas that you know little about and don't have the opportunity to scout. I have found a lot of good advice and info via this website. I'd also agree with others to put in for both CO and WY and hunt OTC in CO if you can to learn more. Even though being a CO resident I don't like more hunters but nobody likes to hunt in crowds no matter where you go. Keep in mind the OTC seasons in CO will typically be quite crowded unless you can get away from the roads. As a suggestion, check out the odds via the States statistics website and if you can find an area to draw either 1st or 4th without points, you might have a little less crowds from my experience. Good luck!
Califelkslayer
Long Time Member
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- 4,078
The BOTH option is for you. Apply this July 1-September 30 for an elk point and then Apply every Jan. If unsuccessful, reroute your $$$ to Colorado. I got my Wy $$$ back by Mar 4th this year.
As far as Colorado goes, if you just wanna kill bulls and don't care bout quality, you can draw hunts with 50%+ success rates with 1-2 points. Learn an area and you will consistently take bulls.
I agree that Wy has better quality in more units. Only 3rd year of PP's but looks like you can get a General Tag every other year there. Good luck.
As far as Colorado goes, if you just wanna kill bulls and don't care bout quality, you can draw hunts with 50%+ success rates with 1-2 points. Learn an area and you will consistently take bulls.
I agree that Wy has better quality in more units. Only 3rd year of PP's but looks like you can get a General Tag every other year there. Good luck.
