Anaylzing the '06 CO Draw Data

[MuskegMan]

Well, suppose it's time for a post-mortem for those who didn't draw. There was a lot of talk about how the new points usage and some new 4th seasons would affect the draw. I looked over some data at HuntOdds and dredged this up: (all Non-Res data)

Unit 55 3R took 6 pts
Unit 55 4th took 12 pts

Unit 54 3R took 6 pts
Unit 54 4R took 12 pts

Unit 551 3R took 5-6 pts
Unit 551 4th took 10 pts

Unit 66 3R took 10 pts
Unit 66 4R took 14 pts

Unit 67 3R took 6 pts
Unit 67 4R took 11 pts

Looks like folks really wanted the 4th season hunt. I can't account for the difference in 66 & 67. I thought they were pretty equal for # of tags and quality of bucks.

MM

Oh yeah, good luck to all who actually did draw!

 

[Founder]

Those 4th season tags took a lot of presure off the 3rd season tags. It'll be interesting to see if the units can maintain the good quality with all the late season tags and the heavy pressure that will be applied on those handful of huge bucks in the units.

I do have to say, it amazes me to see that people have 12 points to spend. In the past 12 years, those same people could have hunted some real quality units many times.

12 years worth of points to spend on one 5 day hunt! I couldn't do it. I guess I'd rather draw a 54 2nd and hunt 9 days 6 times rather than 5 days 1 time.

What do you guys think? Hunting the same unit, which scenario does a guy have the best chance to kill his buck of a lifetime?
1 - One 5 day 4th season 54 hunt
2 - Six 9 day 2nd season 54 hunts

Which would you do? Option 1 you get 5 days of hunting them in the rut. Option 2 you get 54 total days of hunting in Oct.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

 

[MNHunter]

I agree with you Founder, no way in hell am I gonna save up 12 points!

"Whatever you are, be a good one."
- Abraham Lincoln

 

[earthman]

I know i won't do it again.....cause i burned 13 of my 14pp. I think the DOW acomplished what they wanted to do...suckered a bunch of us into getting rid of the point creep. I thought i would burn 8-9 and then hunt another time with 5 left. I think once you get so far into the game you just keep going and put more and more pressure on yourself. I will never accumulate again. If any one has some good pointers for unit 54 4th season i'm all ears.

 

[Founder]

Ya, I can see what you mean. If a guy has 6-7 points, it's hard to burn them on a unit that really only takes 3-4. You feel like you're wasting them.

That 54 4th should be lots of fun. Only 5 days though. You better go 4 days early just so you get your 13 points worth! For 13 years of waiting, I'd have to go a month early. LOL

It is the best time to be hunting those big deer. Good luck!!!! Wish I could be there to help you find a monster.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

 

[Aaron]

I have some friends that burned 14 points on that 66 4th season. There was 3 of them and all non res. I told them they were crazy to do it but 2 of them are running into some health problems so they went big. Maybe they made the right choice with they issues they were having. If it were my points i would rather go to 44 3rd season 3 to 4 times and in 1 of those years you will hit the weather just right and have a chance at a buck of 10 life times. Just my 2cents worth. There are probbly 10 units that can pop out a toad if you spend enough time in them and are able to hunt them every year.

 

[a3dhunter]

I agree with Founder on this one, I will keep hunting rather than sit out that many years. Who knows when our life will be over, I'll enjoy hunting every year!!! I'll just get the unit I want every second year.
a3dhunter

 

[Eastwood]

I drew one of those 4th season tags, for unit 551. All I can say is I was happy to get my 10 points burned. Just snuck in. I agree it was not the best investment. I will not wait that long again. Just happy I got mine burned before CO got hit with a bad winter.

It was interesting to see how the applicants got distributed between these new seasons. Some guys got a nice deal on 3rd season tags.

 

[llamapacker]

Well, I am am one of the people that burned lots of points for 55 4th this year. I have that many points because I have focused my hunting elsewhere. It isn't a matter of waiting 12+ years to hunt deer. I usually hunt 4-5 states a year. Looking at work schedules, the results of other draws up to the deadline, and the addition of new 4th season hunts, I decided this was the year. I have even more points for elk, and still accumulating.
I agree, in hindsight it might have been better to burn the points earlier. As many of you know, CO DOW kept changing the rules, and it seemed I was always one point behind the curve for the unit I wanted. By the time you are around 14 points, it seems like a good idea to keep waiting.

Only the results this fall will tell..

Bill

 

[cabinfever]

Brian, I couldn't agree with you more. No way I'm waiting 14 years.

Mike

Sent you a PM

 

[huntindude]

I'm one of the guys who put in for 66 3rd with 8 points, why did it jump so much? I put in for it because I thought I had a better chance than 54 or 55 and Garth didn't have it as a top pick. that's what I get for thinking.

 

[sagehnter]

I think that any good hunter who is able to spend a fair amount of time in a "decent" unit year after year will learn where to be and when to be there to catch the big boys. I know that after awhile you start to think that the grass is greener somewhere else, I'm guilty of this one, but there is no amount of preference points that equals knowing a unit like the back of you're hand. Now if you can hunt a good unit every year and still keep accumulating points for that hunt on the greener side better yet, but I'd still rather chase deer every year than build points and dream of the day that I can.


sagehntr

 

[BUCKSPY]

I'd say that is "sage" advice. Its definately true. Sure the higher profile areas produce a few more top end bucks but big deer are killed all over Colorado. Just look at the last issue of Muley Crazy. There are a handful of hogs and I don't believe any of them came out of the higher profile draw areas. The 199 net typical was killed in low country more condusive to spring-time domestic sheep grazing. The last few issues of Fair Chase magazine have shown quite a few bucks coming from La Plata county down by Durango and gave evidence to record class deer coming from different corners of the state. Gunnison kicked out some great bucks the last few years but after what I saw there last winter, I'm a little concerned.

 

[Califelkslayer]

I'm in Llama's camp. 12 elk points and 8 deer points. Too far along to turn back. I too was amazed how much 66 3rd season went up.

Between my son and i, 32 chances this year and only one tag. This and we even missed 12 more apps by not putting in for Nv.

But one tag is better than not hunting. And the chukar are in trouble.

 

[cobowhunter]

I spent my 9 res. deer points on Unit 21 3rd rifle this year. Hope it pays off.