4th Choice Elk Question-Non Resident Question

crcountry · Feb 24, 2019

Hello All-

Does anyone have any info on what happens when you choose a 4th elk selection in the draw?

Your 4th choice is truly considered, but if that unit has no tags, your put into another side pool of tags?.....and you could received a bull, cow, MZ, rifle, bow, early or late tag with no preference or pre-determination?

Here's my thought: A NR can't get an antlerless elk tag in the drawing? And if the states has a leftover tag, I can hopefully go find an elk on public land.

Is this 4th option rarely selected by NR's? How often does a 4th choice result in a terrible tag? Is there such thing as a terrible NM elk tag?....Maybe the late season bow tag that requires a 6x6 bull to be harvested, but in general, are there terrible NM elk tags?

If I don't draw my 1st-3rd choice, I'd still take a tag for $600

THoughts>
Chris

Muleman · Feb 24, 2019

There is never any left overelk tags. Onyltime I have ever seen a left over was a mobility impaired. But it never hurts to try.

They only go to 4th choice after all 1-3coices are gone thru.

swampokie · Feb 24, 2019

Not sure what ur idea of terrible is but there are a few units in nm that I wouldn't pay 600$ to get two tags. There are Colorado otc units that id choose over quite a few units in nm. Terrible? Guess that's up to each ones idea of what that term means.

swampokie · Feb 24, 2019

I did notice there were a couple units that awarded a lot more than 6% diy because there were not enuff resident and outfitter welfare apps to cover the quotas

JRABQ · Feb 24, 2019

I can't answer all of your questions, but I doubt a NR could end up getting an antlerless tag.

It's described on p. 67 in the regs. Bottom line is any 4th choice will be for the same weapon and in the same quadrant of the state as your 1st choice.

You can download the stats and they have a column showing which hunts people got 4th choice. And BTW there are some terrible elk hunts in NM!

Trad Bow 1979 · Feb 25, 2019

I'd rather have a terrible elk tag in NM than an OTC in Colorado. Most Colorado OTC hunts have a harvest percentage that matches our GMU 9

roadrunner · Feb 25, 2019

Never have selected a 4th choice as an option. Would rather go OTC in an LE bull unit in UT than have a terrible tag in NM that would yield the same result or worse.