RFW and Youth questions

LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-18 AT 11:41PM (MST)[p]So here is what I have for the gallery. I have a youth 12 that is ate up to go hunting. He is a resident of CO im from out of state, I said I would take him hunting when he got old enuff. What r the options for youth hunts and why are RFW hunts not allowed. Species and sex are not important. More of a good time, and not to hard for his first time.

Anyone done any of these recently in CO?

Each RFW ranch has its own rules. That said I'm not aware of them being closed to youth by design. The issue is that most of the ranches take several preference points to draw a tag for them. This means several years of applying. Since you can't start applying until age 12, it would be several years from that point until drawing a tag.

>LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-18
>AT 11:41?PM (MST)
>
>So here is what I have
>for the gallery. I have
>a youth 12 that is
>ate up to go hunting.
>He is a resident of
>CO im from out of
>state, I said I would
>take him hunting when he
>got old enuff. What r
>the options for youth hunts
>and why are RFW hunts
>not allowed. Species and sex
>are not important. More of
>a good time, and not
>to hard for his first
>time.
>
>Anyone done any of these recently
>in CO?
>
>
So in Colorado youth are generally treated the same as anyone else, with the only exception being antlerless tags(and price). Antlerless (and either sex I believe, but not sure) tags have a specific set aside for youth. As mentioned most of the RFW licenses are in higher demand and as a result usually take a few points to a ton of points to draw. There are a few RFW cow elk hunts that might be available on 0 points but I am not aware of any.

On the flip side there are tons of cow elk licenses the youth can draw during ne of the regular seasons. Look in the brochure and you will find that many of the youth cow tags allow the youth to keep hunting in additional seasons once the season they drew for is over assuming they did not tag out. So for example a youth can get a 2nd season Cow Elk tag for unit 3. Hunt the Second Season, Then if not Successful, hunt the 3rd, and 4th season. They can hunt on Private Land only for November, and then hunt all of December on public land. This is a general example and you should take care to verify exactly what seasons are open when for the youth all units can be different.

My daughter turns 12 this year and we will be getting a cow tag and hunting all available seasons.

>>LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-18
>>AT 11:41?PM (MST)
>>
>>So here is what I have
>>for the gallery. I have
>>a youth 12 that is
>>ate up to go hunting.
>>He is a resident of
>>CO im from out of
>>state, I said I would
>>take him hunting when he
>>got old enuff. What r
>>the options for youth hunts
>>and why are RFW hunts
>>not allowed. Species and sex
>>are not important. More of
>>a good time, and not
>>to hard for his first
>>time.
>>
>>Anyone done any of these recently
>>in CO?
>>
>>
>So in Colorado youth are generally
>treated the same as anyone
>else, with the only exception
>being antlerless tags(and price). Antlerless
>(and either sex I believe,
>but not sure) tags have
>a specific set aside for
>youth. As mentioned most of
>the RFW licenses are in
>higher demand and as a
>result usually take a few
>points to a ton of
>points to draw. There are
>a few RFW cow elk
>hunts that might be available
>on 0 points but I
>am not aware of any.
>
>
>On the flip side there are
>tons of cow elk licenses
>the youth can draw during
>ne of the regular seasons.
>Look in the brochure and
>you will find that many
>of the youth cow tags
>allow the youth to keep
>hunting in additional seasons once
>the season they drew for
>is over assuming they did
>not tag out. So for
>example a youth can get
>a 2nd season Cow Elk
>tag for unit 3. Hunt
>the Second Season, Then if
>not Successful, hunt the 3rd,
>and 4th season. They can
>hunt on Private Land only
>for November, and then hunt
>all of December on public
>land. This is a general
>example and you should take
>care to verify exactly what
>seasons are open when for
>the youth all units can
>be different.
>
>My daughter turns 12 this year
>and we will be getting
>a cow tag and hunting
>all available seasons.
>

RFW hunts are available for CO Resident Youth just not non-residents. Check the draw odds and you might find one that can possibly be drawn with 0 points. This would be a good hunt for a youth as I'd imagine the ranch would want to see the youth have a good hunt. Good luck!

I saw that they get to hunt multiple seasons, with there tag but I will only be able to come out for one. I was hoping to find someone that has hunted on the youth/mentor only sections or is familiar with them. How crowded are they ect. or should I try and find a trespass place

I took my nephew last year to WY for antelope it is great large numbers of animals, so if you blow some out trying to get into shooting distance not a big deal. fairly easy hiking. about as perfect as can be to get a kid hooked for life.

>I saw that they get to
>hunt multiple seasons, with there
>tag but I will only
>be able to come out
>for one. I was hoping
>to find someone that has
>hunted on the youth/mentor only
>sections or is familiar with
>them. How crowded are
>they ect. or should I
>try and find a trespass
>place
>
>I took my nephew last year
>to WY for antelope it
>is great large numbers of
>animals, so if you blow
>some out trying to get
>into shooting distance not a
>big deal. fairly easy
>hiking. about as perfect as
>can be to get a
>kid hooked for life.
>

If it were me, I would have the kid go for a 2nd season Cow tag for a unit like 3 and then plan on not hunting until late December. Make sure you have good warm clothes and gear. For example look at the week after Christmas before new years. The kid will be out of school and there should be lots of elk lower. Get a hotel room in Craig and hunt from town each day. You should be able to do this on public land, but there are many outfits near and around Craig that will have a decent priced tress pass hunt.

I am not familiar with any mentor hunts or other programs. I know they have a few options, but never needed to go that route as the late season cow option has proven very successful.

Colorado parks and wildlife also does a youth outreach program that is relatively easy to get picked for and they give you the tag. Its in the brochure. The hunts are conducted on ranches that choose to participate and are for Elk, deer, or pronghorn. You pick which one you apply for and they will tell you where you will be hunting and when if you are chosen.
My son got drawn for one and it was a blast, met some great people and had a good time. Missed a small buck but still loved it.

Check it out

I don't think that you can hunt multiple seasons w/a RFW tag.

Start building points and go for a doe tag.
John 14:6