How many points in CO is it worth to you?

[Bambistew]

Every year I read about the guys that have 8-12 points that put in for areas across the state and don't get drawn. What is the gravitation to those really hard to draw areas? Do you really think you'll kill a substancially bigger buck in those areas compared to other areas that say only take 2-3 points to draw? from what I see there may be a few "better" bucks but the over size of the real big ones isn't that much bigger or even at all... I suppose the odds taking a good buck is a little better, but from what I've seen/read/reserched most of the state is pooping out good bucks now.

If you guys don't draw that magic tag do you still hunt? Or do you hold out another year and hope to get lucky? It seams to me that those super tags in most areas tend to be more killing than hunting... It seams like if you draw the tag you're pretty much assured that you'll tag a nice buck or bull. Is that the gravitation towards putting in for those areas? IMO that kind of takes the challenge out of it.

I remember hearing a story from a friend that was talking with Jack Atcheson any way through out the conversation he asked about one of his heads that was hanging in the local sporting goods store. Its a monster bighorn like 195 or something, killed in a "premium" unit after years of applying. He told him that the dink 155" er that he killed on an Unlimited tag in MT meant way more to him because he actually had to hunt for it rather than just "show up" and plug a good one after looking over a sea of good ones... That to me is the biggest part of hunting, the rack is nice, but the hunt is the best part. What about you guys?

 

[OSOK]

I pretty much would have to agree. Of course, I'm not one to kick a 200"+ buck outta bed for eatin crackers when he shows up in a 0 point unit, now either...

 

[sneakem]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-03-05 AT 08:46AM (MST)[p]Trophy units suck!! A 200" deer in a trophy unit that sees little pressure is tame compared to a 200" deer in a general unit that they issue 20 times more tags. I'm not saying I wouldn't hunt one if I had the opportunity, but it'll never compare to going 8 miles into the wilderness in a general unit, hunting hard for a week, pushing yourself to the limits...then succeeding by taking a great buck when no one else is seeing chit...and be able to hunt again the next year or two...IMO

 

[cabinfever]

I think the areas that take 13 points to draw are areas were a guy could drive the roads and kill 170 type buck. I assure you there are better areas that take 0-3 points that with a lot of hard work you could kill a monster. Consequently these areas will not have an abudant supply of 160-170 class bucks running around everywhere.

Mike

 

[InterpolNY]

Sort of agree. Killing a big buck is hard and takes a lot of work, time and luck in either situation. Your odd's are just a lot better in a "quality" unit rather than a "quanity" unit. Non residents and hunters with not much time on their hands to scout and dedicate to a "quanity" unit are probably better off waiting years to get a "premium" unit tag. In the mean time do what you can in a leftover/ 2nd choice unit and maybe you will get lucky. We are more into elk hunting at this time so we don't mind building points.

 

[BUCKSPY]

There is an assumed correlation between preference points needed to draw and the over all quality of the buck hunt to be had. I think its a generalization at best. There is no doubt that guys would walk away from a hunt more satified if they saw multiple 3-4 year old bucks per day of hunting even if in the end they didn't kill a substantially larger deer.

I'm not trying to piss in anyone's Cheerios around here but I think there are a substantial number of people that will be dissapointed after the hunting season is over. Guys have saved points for the better part of a decade and are going to be drawing tags in units they have never set foot in. A select few will kill some nice deer simply through mathematical odds and some hard work and luck.

Even where there are alot of them, there's not alot of them. I'm talking huge bucks. Not average mature bucks but real slammers. Gravitation towards hard-to-draw, higher profile areas, is nothing more than an attempt to increase ones chances at a super buck. In a way its optimizing one's chances for success at killing a great buck. Its nothing to begrudge or question and completely unfair to suggest it just about killing and not hunting, especially not knowing the individuals with the tags.

That being said, there will be some AWESOME deer taken this fall in Colorado and the Gunnison Basin by some hard core deer hunters, who hunted hard and paid their dues and by some others who are packin' the rabbit's foot in pocket. I'd still rather be lucky than good!

 

[sjhgraysage]

There could be a lot of reasons that some have points up the wazzu, and why they chose the unit they chose. In my case I started building points so that some day I could go hunting, this is the first time I have applied for an actual CO deer license. I probably got caught up in this years hype to some degree but when it comes down to picking a unit to use those precious points on it only makes sense to me to pick one that gives you the potential to look at as many deer as possible. Thats what its about for me, being out there and possibly seeing a gob of bucks and with work and luck, harvesting the best buck of my life so far, that might be a 170 type buck, might be a 200 type. Where is the line to buy a bunch of them RABBIT FEET.
And Lets have fun out there!

 

[dslaughter]

I started responding to this post and I put down a lot of my opinions but I'll save you some time and say these things:
1. I've hunted for 10 years straight on second choice tags and had some awesome hunts (second rifle, third rifle, and archery) and have seen some great bucks taken.
2. I cashed in 9 points for a great early rifle hunt last year. It really changed the way that I look at hunting.
3. You can make yourself a slave to preference points. I'm building points again this year but I have as much faith in my chances of taking a great buck this year as I did going into last years hunt but I may have to work a little harder to do it.
I doubt I'll ever accumulate more than 2 or 3 points going forward (unless things change dramatically statewide).

 

[TradO]

I herd something like this before from a guy that shot 1 really big buck in his lifetime of hunting. instantly he suddnely was the expert that knew all about big buck hunting. And where he did it obviously was the place where you alledgedly had to be actually a great hunter.s Evenybody else that shot a good buck on draw or private ranches, were nowhere near as good hunter as the guy that shot the buck this guy did.

I agree with buckspy to hunt the best place you can, still no guarntee. Might get just as lucky in a place where no bonus points needed on public land thought too. just don't go lettin it go to your head too much when you luck into a goodun.

 

[Deerlove]

I see a lot of guys who dont hunt if they dont draw tags or get permissions to hunt on private land. I just like being out there any time any where. I remember seeing a video of where guys didnt hunt because it was overcast and they said the video would be to dark. lol Russ

 

[graybeard]

I believe most of the guys with 10+ points tend to put in many different states, in very limited areas, and finally when a good area gets some publicity, they cash in. I cannot blame some one for wanting to hunt a unit with lots of bucks and several over 5 years old. Like Buckspy said, a few of these guys will kill a hog buck and it'll be from hard work (Hunting) more so than any other reason. If they want to just kill a buck there, well dahhh, no problem, but, it's the best bucks they're (I'm) after. I hear all the time about the big bucks around every corner and how someone saw 2 or 3 180"+ bucks in a day in these great units. Sorry, I don't buy it. Very, very few bucks ever grow to be "book" size (even in the best units) and most never make it to the 175" mark. I do aggree that killing a giant buck in an area with gobs of hunters is a huge accomplishment, and give full credit to the hunter, (even though most giants are killed trying to get away from other hunters), but you sure can't blame a guy for wanting to hunt the best possible areas. There will be some big bucks killed in the Gunnison area and several other places in CO, I just hope to see a giant to chase around for myself....Steve

 

[cabinfever]

I have hunted Mule deer all my life, however, I've really only been a trophy hunter for a few years. I've realized that one of the biggest keys to sucess is preseason scouting. Now that I have a litle more time, I do alot of scouting.By the time hunting season arrives, I pretty much know what the quality of animals are in the area. I spent at least a dozen days scouting an area last year. The best buck I turned up was about 180. I had this buck at 35 yds during the hunt, but he never presented a shot. I hunted CO for the first time last year. We hunted an area that can be drawn with 0 points. We showed up a few days early and scouted. We ended up taking 7 bucks all 4 pt and better. 3 of those bucks are going on the wall. I killed my buck with a couple hours of light left on the last day. He's not a monster buck, but everytime I look at him on the wall it reminds me that had it not been for me and my partner sticking in there till the sun set on the last day, we would have never killed him. I believe most guys create there own luck through hunting hard to the end. You can wait ten years to draw an awesome tag and kill a 170 buck or you can hunt smart and hard and kill a good buck in a 0 point area almost every year.

Mike

 

[lostinOregon]

Cabinfever,

Amen brother, you hit the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned. I love trophy mule deer hunting, nothing I would rather do, but some of the best moments that I can remember are from moments of preserverance and being with my son.

 

[archeryelkaholic]

I guess I don't see your point.

Why not put in and build points. Hunt a 0 point area or another state until you get a couple of points (more if you want).

Not that this gives you some "Ticket" to kill a big buck but it does limit the number of hunters most of the time and that really is what makes for a quality experience. Not that these limited areas have big bucks behind every rock but in general a hard to draw unit has the potential to produce better quality.

Just my 2 cents,

Archer

 

[cabinfever]

archeryelkaholic

I'm not suggesting that you don't build points. I'm currently building points everywhere I can, but in the mean time I'll be hunting areas that I can draw every year. I can assure you that there are 3 point areas that have just as good of quality than do 13 point areas. For some guys this might mean they will never build more than 3 points. To each his own!

Mike

 

[deerbedead]

First off this is a good thread. This is why I like Monster Muleys.
I think the reasons guys build bonus points for tough to draw areas are so different, that it is tough really know why they do what they do.
I have friends that apply for the premium units in several states, and normally draw one of the great units each year. They are hardcore mule deer hunters, and kill some tremendous bucks. They will also research areas that take less points to draw, and hunt them on second choices, or otc tags.
I have points in a lot of states, and my plan changes from year to year. I would love to draw 13b in Arizona, but is it worth it to wait for 20 to 40 years to draw? I know there are some monsters there, but is it really worth it?
I think we have the idea that a unit that is hard to draw is full of big bucks. That is true normally, but by the time you draw, it could be shot out, or be in a drought or something.
My philosophy is that if you do your homework and find an area that has potential for the size of buck you want to kill, then do your scouting, and of course hunt smart, and hard until the hunt is over, you will kill some great bucks over the course of a lifetime. I would rather hunt a mediocre unit than stay home and wish. Besides, a lot of guys that finally draw their dream tag haven't scouted their premium unit once in the ten years it took to draw the tag, and they strike out anyway.

 

[BruinBreath]

archeryelkaholic is right on with one point. Less hunters = better expieriance. Compare side by side units and tell me if this post is a joke or not. 61 vs 62 ? 10 vs 22 ? 444, 45 vs 44 ? And who cares how many points someone chooses to build up. Is somebody in Utah gonna bash me because I'm building points for a LE deer tag. It's a free country.

 

[Phantom Hunter]

I build up points in order to be able to hunt in a less crowded unit. One must either hunt wilderness areas or limited entry to get away from the crowds. Some units are getting out of hand in how many points it takes to draw.

Phantom Hunter

 

[Paul_Crawford]

I drew 61. The reason I wanted to hunt it is because I don't like hunting where there are a ton of people. I'm going to hunt hard. If I get a toad, so be it. If I don't fill my tag, at least it wasn't because I saw a hunter on every rock pile. PC

 

[Deerlove]

Last year a guy on here announced that he didnt draw any tags so he spent 3 gs on some optics instead of hunting. I'll hunt out of state otc and hunt something. LOL

 

[cabinfever]

Bruinbreath

Take a deep breath, no one is bashing on guys that are building points. I think all of us would like to draw a quality unit with better bucks and less hunters. Most guys, however, will continue to hunt otc and 2nd choice tags until they draw a good tag. And some of the real die hards don't even bother with points, cuz they hunt hard and kill big almost every year. Remember, to each his own! As far as less hunters go, get off the road a mile or more and it might just feel like your hunting a limited entry unit.

Mike

 

[Elkcrzy1]

Northerm Colorado where I hunt youd be awful lucky to get a glimpse of a 180 type buck not to say that there arent some there but not alot anyway. I can draw an area with 3 points close to me and promise that I will see a buck or two like that. I can actually pass up bucks that are 24-26" and look for something really big. I also would like to say that I dont see anyone else hunting either so its a better quality hunt in several ways not just one. I wouldn't have killed the buck of a lifetime with out having a few points built up and yes I always hunt when I dont draw too, usually archery. Gary

 

[nochawk]

Some of us are just unlucky with draws, I apply in colorado 6 points for deer/8 for elk,4 RM sheep,Wyoming 7 for elk and 0 for 9 for antelope,6 for both sheep and moose, Utah ( home state) 4 pref for deer, 3 LE deer,7 LE Elk and 9 for moose, as well as Montana and Idaho. I just can not draw a tag so the points build up. I dont worry about ever drawing a tag, It is more of a savings account, if it is sent out in several different states then there is less in the bank for the SO, Girlfriend,wife or whomever to spend. When I draw a premium tag I will enjoy a hunt with less compitition and unharrassed aminals. In the mean time hunt public areas, chase whitetails in the clearwater area river bottoms of idaho while everyone else is in the mountains after Elk, or antelope in Montana while others are after mule deer or elk, or even hunt ducks on Bear River during the rifle deer hunt.

I'm unlucky with the draws and so I stay out of Las Vegas as well.Nochawk