Chasing Colorado Points

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14
22 years ago I decided I wanted to elk hunt unit 10 in Colorado. Not knowing about point creep, I figured I would be hunting in 10 years! Now 22 years later I'm barely closer to drawing than I was back when I started. A couple years ago I gave up on unit 10 and set my sights on a muzzleloader hunt in unit 76.
Last year took 23 points. This year I have 22 points. I will be 60 this fall and am tired of chasing points. I am thinking of bailing and going for unit 76 first rifle.
Am I too close to give up now or is it time to just hunt? Since 76 has an early rifle hunt now, is the 1st season hunt even any good? What are your thoughts?
 
I have a very similar story. When I started 24 years ago I wanted to a 61 archery hunt. It took five points. I am now two points behind the 61 archery tag. I really think I am 5-6 years away. I have looked at 76 and 40 muzzle and the possibility of jumping to 61 rifle.

I would not have started in Colorado all those years ago hd I known. Now I am too far gone to quit.

Best of luck this year in the draw.
 
Depends on what kind of hunt, quality of bull your looking for and what kind of physical shape you are in…
Unit 76 is a very physically demanding hunt, perhaps not the best option at 60 plus years only unless you are already aware of what kind of country your are facing or have access to horses or you’re willing to hire an outfitter. Most bulls taken don’t touch the 300 inch mark, very few in that 320 plus class if that matters to you.

Coloradoboy
 
My dad was in the exact situation a few years ago. Always a point behind the muzzy tag. He finally said screw it and sent in for the 1st rifle. I went with him and we had an awesome hunt ,ended up shooting a nice 6x6 about a 15 minute walk from the road!!
 
I think unit 40 or 76 is your best bet. But most likely need an outfitter. Unit 76 would need an outfitter or horses .
 
I know how you feel, I’m sitting with 23 points and no clear options! OTC units have been fun though!
 
76 first rifle is a really fun hunt. You’ll see plenty of elk and experience some of the most beautiful country in all the world. But if it’s all about “what the bull scores” it’s not going to be the best option. There’s honestly better quality bulls in 1 to 2 draw units but those 1 to 2 point units don’t deliver the experience and the number elk encounters 76 does.
 
76 first rifle is a really fun hunt. You’ll see plenty of elk and experience some of the most beautiful country in all the world. But if it’s all about “what the bull scores” it’s not going to be the best option. There’s honestly better quality bulls in 1 to 2 draw units but those 1 to 2 point units don’t deliver the experience and the number elk encounters 76 does.
This! There are some good, and even great bulls, in 1-2 PP units. Some really good bulls get taken out of OTC units as well, but the people shooting them keep it VERY quiet!

Go have fun during the 1st season Mountaindreamer!
 
Following......

I've been thinking about this exact situation for the last week or so. 25 NR elk points wasn't enough for 61 muzzy last year and I was pretty crushed.

Hell I remember when I started collecting points ranching for wildlife was for NR's too. Then they pulled the rug out from under us. That sucked pretty good.

I was a grape grower that could never hunt in September because of harvest. Well I retired in May and was pretty pissed when the 61 door shut on me.

I've killed a few elk and I'm more realistic than ever before. I've been lucky enough to bag a couple of bucket list animals, so I won't be too picky and get off the CO point carousel this year.

One more thing about muzzy hunting: my biggest fear is seeing some great bulls at 200 yards and finally putting the barrel in my mouth out of frustration.

So this year it will hopefully be early rifle in a premium area with an outfitter that I can afford.
 
Last season at 63 and 64 years old my buddy and I burned our 23 points on a second season unit 61 tag. We had been wanting to hunt muzzy or first rifle but those seasons were always just out of reach. My advise is pick a unit/season you can draw and go hunt, have a great time and make memories. We both killed good bulls and had a great time. Glad I am out of the elk point game. Burning points for deer soon too.
 
If I were shooting for 10 before I would go for 40. I’ve been in 76 a few times, and by no means am I an expert. It’s a bad ass area. And there are a few good bulls. But like others have said you probably hunting bulls under 300”. At the end do your research and see where it puts you.
 
Not to hi-Jack a thread but my dad and I are in a similar situation but even less points. We have 18 which I feel is in no man’s land. Any suggestions of what we should do? My dad turns 66 this year and is still in pretty dang good physical condition butb afraid that could change any years. We too are tired of chasing points.
 
I hunted 76 first season a few years ago, It was warm weather, bulls were up high, nothing to impressive, it is big country, but the 5 day season went by too fast.
 
23 point here in no mans land. Need to get it done in the next few years. To bad you can not share points, I would take my daughter on a mid tier hunt.
 
Following......

I've been thinking about this exact situation for the last week or so. 25 NR elk points wasn't enough for 61 muzzy last year and I was pretty crushed.

Hell I remember when I started collecting points ranching for wildlife was for NR's too. Then they pulled the rug out from under us. That sucked pretty good.

I was a grape grower that could never hunt in September because of harvest. Well I retired in May and was pretty pissed when the 61 door shut on me.

I've killed a few elk and I'm more realistic than ever before. I've been lucky enough to bag a couple of bucket list animals, so I won't be too picky and get off the CO point carousel this year.

One more thing about muzzy hunting: my biggest fear is seeing some great bulls at 200 yards and finally putting the barrel in my mouth out of frustration.

So this year it will hopefully be early rifle in a premium area with an outfitter that I can afford.
Put a peep and globe sight on your muzzy. No reason you shouldn’t be able to grease a bull at 200-250 with a muzzy with some practice.
 
My dad and I hunted 76 archery 3 times as NR’s. Back in the early 90’s you could draw with just a couple points now it takes over a dozen. We did our last hunt together in that unit a few year’s ago and he passed away the following year (he was 73 when we last hunted it). Like others have said “find a good unit and go hunting”. I’m 57 and I know I will never draw that unit again but I’m looking forward to taking each of my three sons into that unit to chase elk with their bows.

It is a great “experience”. There are a ton of elk and they are talkative. The nice thing about that unit is that it is hunting elk the way we all dream about - little pressure, talkative elk, beautiful mountains, etc. get a tag that you can draw and go hunt them!

Yes the unit is steep, but the elk are everywhere in that unit and you don’t need to get 6+ miles away from the road. You can make it as easy or as difficult as you want.

Don’t go into it thinking that for 20+ points you need to shoot a 330+ bull. Instead go into it for the experience of hunting elk “like the good old days”. Yes there are still some really good bulls in the unit but go into it with the right mindset.

If you draw a hunt with a limited number of days that you can hunt, then go early, get acclimated to the altitude, do some scouting ahead of the hunt and enjoy it.

Trust me - you won’t regret it.
 
Ughhhh Colorado. Dad and I have a nice honey hole in WY where we can hunt 160" deer and 75" goats. You aren't killing any monsters but you know the area and can draw it every year while seeing tons of animals.

And then we have 8 elk and 8 deer points in Colorado. Not enough points for a primo area but too many to burn on a unit you could draw with 3 or 4 points.

Wes stuck in no man's land!
 
I’ve got 29 points. When I started putting in I thought I’d draw Unit 2 with 8 points. When they took the Ranching for Wildlife tag from Non-residents it was a major Blow!!!!
 
SDBugler couldn't have said it better! I've hunted a handful of great tags in my life both on my own and with friends that have drawn. 76 is my absolute favorite place to hunt elk. No, it doesn't have the trophy potential of some other places I've hunted, but it has plenty of good bulls. I've hunted 76 4 times (once with my own tag) and everyone killed big bulls. Bottome line, if you can get a 76 tag you're in for one helluva good time. Forget scores, and go have an incredible hunt. You might be surprised what the tape shows when the dust settles :)
 
My dad drew 10 in 1992 and has put back in every year since. He has been chasing the three units in the corner of the state ever since. He wanted to to do 2 or 201 because he's done 10 but even with 30 points I don't know if he will ever draw 2 or 201! Thats a tough situation to be in but hopefully you have a fun hunt wherever you end up. Good luck!
 
Hard to believe but I have 31 points for elk. Still can't draw the very top unit, but could draw most of them. I hunt elk in at least three other states every year, so I'm not missing much, but never dreamed I would still be getting "Unsuccessful" notices in Colorado.
Bill
 
It will be interesting to see whether CO has the courage to try to unwind a 37 year Preference Point nightmare.

It’s good that they were only charging minimal per PP. So they don’t have consumers with as much money invested as the recent $150 moose/sheep points in WY.

Has anyone added up what a 35 year NR elk applicant (one under max) has tied up in point fees, app fees and qualifying licenses? I suspect CO changed to $0 pp fees for d-e-p so in 2019 so that they can argue the consumer wasn’t paying anything for PPs. In case CO pulls the WY moose/sheep trick and converts PPs to BPs for d-e-p.
 
Unit 76 is the classic example of a unit blown out of proportion on the internet. A couple good photographers spend some summer days taking photos of summer range elk and everyone loses their mind. The terrain is terrible, the elk are small, and the area is flooded with granola eating women with hairy legs - do not apply there please. Hold out for unit 61 for sure. I do not need you folks with 20+ points slumming it in 76.
 
I think we’re gonna reach a point where it’s gonna take 50-60 points to get a majority of higher end tags in states. People will just die off and that’s about as high as they’ll statistically get. I think the people with mid 20’s in the CO elk chase are the most out of touch unfortunately. Unless they can stay in real good shape and just outlive everyone, it’ll never happen.
 
I think we’re gonna reach a point where it’s gonna take 50-60 points to get a majority of higher end tags in states. People will just die off and that’s about as high as they’ll statistically get. I think the people with mid 20’s in the CO elk chase are the most out of touch unfortunately. Unless they can stay in real good shape and just outlive everyone, it’ll never happen.
I’ll say this, when I started putting in for Unit 2. There was great elk hunting there. Lots of 370 plus bulls. Now it’s no better than the open hunts were in Idaho & Montana in the early 90’s, probably not even that good. If numbers & quality keeps declining in 20 year’s there’ll be very limited tags & piss poor quality everywhere! I can’t think of anything that’s better than it was 25 years ago. Better enjoy what you can while you can!!! Oh yea, Wolfs also.
 
I think we’re gonna reach a point where it’s gonna take 50-60 points to get a majority of higher end tags in states. People will just die off and that’s about as high as they’ll statistically get. I think the people with mid 20’s in the CO elk chase are the most out of touch unfortunately. Unless they can stay in real good shape and just outlive everyone, it’ll never happen.
My dad made that a reality to my brother and I at a young age. He broke the math down to us and asked if we wanted to wait until we were 50/60 years old to hunt one time in the NW corner or go on a bunch of really good elk hunts before hand. I burnt all my points by the time I was 18 and have been on a bunch of other really solid hunts that have produced 300 plus inch bulls on 1 to 4 point tags. My brother on the other hand sat on points for 15 years and ended up burning them on 61 tag to a kill a bull smaller than 2 of the ones he’d already killed on OTC tags. Bottom line is, I would never advise anyone one who is younger to start chasing the NW corner or Colorado elk points for that matter. You’re better off and have a better chance of working towards setting yourself up financially to be able to afford a LO tags in those units than waiting to draw them at this point.
 
My dad made that a reality to my brother and I at a young age. He broke the math down to us and asked if we wanted to wait until we were 50/60 years old to hunt one time in the NW corner or go on a bunch of really good elk hunts before hand. I burnt all my points by the time I was 18 and have been on a bunch of other really solid hunts that have produced 300 plus inch bulls on 1 to 4 point tags. My brother on the other hand sat on points for 15 years and ended up burning them on 61 tag to a kill a bull smaller than 2 of the ones he’d already killed on OTC tags. Bottom line is, I would never advise anyone one who is younger to start chasing the NW corner or Colorado elk points for that matter. You’re better off and have a better chance of working towards setting yourself up financially to be able to afford a LO tags in those units than waiting to draw them at this point.
I agree Cboy!
Your dad gave you wise counsel. I think his wisdom holds true pretty much everywhere. Point chasing is an exercise in frustration with no real end.
 
Early rifle in 76 is a good hunt. You could easily shoot a bull in the 275+ range, with an opportunity at a 320+ if you’re lucky. 76 is easily accessible by atv, getting you quite a ways back before the trails end and you can get plenty far back in the early rifle season to see some good bulls. There’s no doubt you will see plenty of elk either. 76 would not be a bad option. I hunted it during youth season and have been back to tag along during other youth cow hunts and have seen plenty of elk, but will never draw it for a bill tag with point creep.
 
Many of us with medium/high CO points would gladly take an off ramp if we had an off ramp that didn't "waste" a ton of points.

The CPW idea of point banking could be that off ramp (even charging an extra point each time you do it).

I would gladly split my 16 CO deer/elk points in to four annual 3 point hunts.

Allows us all to go back in time and take the advice of Cboy's dad.

But I understand why some guys wouldn't want us to have that off ramp.
 
Many of us with medium/high CO points would gladly take an off ramp if we had an off ramp that didn't "waste" a ton of points.

The CPW idea of point banking could be that off ramp (even charging an extra point each time you do it).

I would gladly split my 16 CO deer/elk points in to four annual 3 point hunts.

Allows us all to go back in time and take the advice of Cboy's dad.

But I understand why some guys wouldn't want us to have that off ramp.
All I know is burn the points and go hunting. Too many guys wait their whole lives to draw one single hunt when they could have went on 10 really good ones. Not going to say the NW corner isn’t special but 80 percent of guys that draw it dont kill much better caliber bull that what comes out of places like 40 or 61 every year.
 
what cboys dad didn't consider was what could change in 50 to 60 years, like maybe nothing over the counter, if I need points I want them weather I use them or not. While investing it can take years to pay off or it may never, but you invest for the pay off.
 
All I know is burn the points and go hunting. Too many guys wait their whole lives to draw one single hunt when they could have went on 10 really good ones. Not going to say the NW corner isn’t special but 80 percent of guys that draw it dont kill much better caliber bull that what comes out of places like 40 or 61 every year.
Well 40 and 61 are on the once in a lifetime list for most nonresidents.
 
what cboys dad didn't consider was what could change in 50 to 60 years, like maybe nothing over the counter, if I need points I want them weather I use them or not. While investing it can take years to pay off or it may never, but you invest for the pay off.
Kinda depends on your situation. Typically if you’re a non resident and annually hunt another state it’s easy to accumulate a pile of points in one that’s not annually on your radar; like Utah is for me. However Dad didn’t care to consider what could change in 50 to 60 years… hes always stressed on my brother and I to go on as many good hunts as we can while we are young and physically able to do them, you can always make more money but you can’t make more time. My dads 62 years old now and his health isn’t good enough to hunt out west anymore. It would be shame if he was sitting on 30 plus elk points in Colorado and couldn’t do a thing with them….
 
I’ll say this, when I started putting in for Unit 2. There was great elk hunting there. Lots of 370 plus bulls. Now it’s no better than the open hunts were in Idaho & Montana in the early 90’s, probably not even that good. If numbers & quality keeps declining in 20 year’s there’ll be very limited tags & piss poor quality everywhere! I can’t think of anything that’s better than it was 25 years ago. Better enjoy what you can while you can!!! Oh yea, Wolfs also.
Disagree. There’s still some great bulls in 2 if you know where to look. Majority of people just go to Douglas Mountain and slam the first 300 type bull they see…
 
Disagree. There’s still some great bulls in 2 if you know where to look. Majority of people just go to Douglas Mountain and slam the first 300 type bull they see…
I hope you’re right.

There’s no way it’s what it was 25 years ago. I’ve had a couple deer tags there & a antelope tag. Know a few of the guys that hunted it for a lot of year’s. Have been told it’s hard to get anything North of 330. Some of those guys hunted it several times before the Apply-Apply era came to be. I think the glory days of 90’s and early 2000 are a thing of the past. Some of those same guys drew a lot of sheep tags also!

Don’t matter, if I draw a tag there I’ll be grateful for the opportunity to hunt that piece of real-estate! Everyone see’s the hunting world differently. I’ve had a pretty good run. Live’d through a time a guy had lots of opportunities that were attainable. I picked the path I took with hunting with no regrets. I just had a different view than most. Hope if I draw down the road you’ll give me some good intel.

Thanks Mark
 
I was lucky enough to draw 61 early rifle when it took around 10 pts and I built more and drew 40 archery. Now I have 5 pts not sure what I would do with them but at 65 I have been lucky enough to still be able to go were ever I want, but that may change in an instance, I am a none res. and I have hundreds of pts as does my wife, so we can only do so many hunts per year but it is all limited entry,and some not guaranteed, maybe a sheep someday you never know but I have pts for everything. Its to bad that when all that I can do in the end is sit in a duck blind I could donate my points to a serious young hunter.
 
My dad and I hunted 76 archery 3 times as NR’s. Back in the early 90’s you could draw with just a couple points now it takes over a dozen. We did our last hunt together in that unit a few year’s ago and he passed away the following year (he was 73 when we last hunted it). Like others have said “find a good unit and go hunting”. I’m 57 and I know I will never draw that unit again but I’m looking forward to taking each of my three sons into that unit to chase elk with their bows.

It is a great “experience”. There are a ton of elk and they are talkative. The nice thing about that unit is that it is hunting elk the way we all dream about - little pressure, talkative elk, beautiful mountains, etc. get a tag that you can draw and go hunt them!

Yes the unit is steep, but the elk are everywhere in that unit and you don’t need to get 6+ miles away from the road. You can make it as easy or as difficult as you want.

Don’t go into it thinking that for 20+ points you need to shoot a 330+ bull. Instead go into it for the experience of hunting elk “like the good old days”. Yes there are still some really good bulls in the unit but go into it with the right mindset.

If you draw a hunt with a limited number of days that you can hunt, then go early, get acclimated to the altitude, do some scouting ahead of the hunt and enjoy it.

Trust me - you won’t regret it.
Agree with SDbugler and Coloradoboy - I do all my archery hunting in SW Colorado. Drew 76 (5) yrs ago and 66 this year. 76 has decent numbers and plan on seeing 300-320 daily. There are toads if you're patient and work a little more.
 
The best thing Colo could do if hunters prefer quality elk hunts is to go all draw for elk. Take a look at what happened to Colo deer once it converted to all draw. All hunters burn pref pts over more elk units and the cpw is finally able to manage elk and distribute hunting pressure.

There are a lot of deer units stretching Colo that don’t take a pile of pts to draw like it does for elk.
 
I think it’s funny how so many guys think us high points holders waited 30 years just for that one tag. What a bunch of BS, I have had so many great hunts Colorado wasn’t even on my radar for the last 30 years. There are a couple hundred of us guys with with high points in a lot of western states and that is who is drawing the tags. Not only have we hunted a lot of other states but most of us have drawn a handful if not more of lifetime tags. If I was young or in the middle of the point pool I would be burning them. There are a few nice Bulls in 10, 201, and 2 but I agree with Iddogguy it’s not what it was 25 years ago and either is the Antelope in those units. If I don’t draw the top unit Colorado I’m surely not going to be upset, there are a lot of great units I can hunt. Hell I hardly ever shoot anything anymore anyway, I enjoy watching it to much and I really have no more room to hang it. I could do what Grand Pa used to and pound the antlers into the ground with a sledge hammer and let the dogs eat the neck meat. I wanted to thank all you high point holders for your continued support of Colorado Parks and Wildlife And good luck in the draw this year.
 
I think it’s funny how so many guys think us high points holders waited 30 years just for that one tag. What a bunch of BS, I have had so many great hunts Colorado wasn’t even on my radar for the last 30 years. There are a couple hundred of us guys with with high points in a lot of western states and that is who is drawing the tags. Not only have we hunted a lot of other states but most of us have drawn a handful if not more of lifetime tags. If I was young or in the middle of the point pool I would be burning them. There are a few nice Bulls in 10, 201, and 2 but I agree with Iddogguy it’s not what it was 25 years ago and either is the Antelope in those units. If I don’t draw the top unit Colorado I’m surely not going to be upset, there are a lot of great units I can hunt. Hell I hardly ever shoot anything anymore anyway, I enjoy watching it to much and I really have no more room to hang it. I could do what Grand Pa used to and pound the antlers into the ground with a sledge hammer and let the dogs eat the neck meat. I wanted to thank all you high point holders for your continued support of Colorado Parks and Wildlife And good luck in the draw this year.
And now you know the rest of the story!!!!!
 
I think it’s funny how so many guys think us high points holders waited 30 years just for that one tag. What a bunch of BS, I have had so many great hunts Colorado wasn’t even on my radar for the last 30 years. There are a couple hundred of us guys with with high points in a lot of western states and that is who is drawing the tags. Not only have we hunted a lot of other states but most of us have drawn a handful if not more of lifetime tags. If I was young or in the middle of the point pool I would be burning them. There are a few nice Bulls in 10, 201, and 2 but I agree with Iddogguy it’s not what it was 25 years ago and either is the Antelope in those units. If I don’t draw the top unit Colorado I’m surely not going to be upset, there are a lot of great units I can hunt. Hell I hardly ever shoot anything anymore anyway, I enjoy watching it to much and I really have no more room to hang it. I could do what Grand Pa used to and pound the antlers into the ground with a sledge hammer and let the dogs eat the neck meat. I wanted to thank all you high point holders for your continued support of Colorado Parks and Wildlife And good luck in the draw this year.
I’m more speaking for younger/newer applicants looking at jumping into the mess that is the Colorado points game.
 
I hope you’re right.

There’s no way it’s what it was 25 years ago. I’ve had a couple deer tags there & a antelope tag. Know a few of the guys that hunted it for a lot of year’s. Have been told it’s hard to get anything North of 330. Some of those guys hunted it several times before the Apply-Apply era came to be. I think the glory days of 90’s and early 2000 are a thing of the past. Some of those same guys drew a lot of sheep tags also!

Don’t matter, if I draw a tag there I’ll be grateful for the opportunity to hunt that piece of real-estate! Everyone see’s the hunting world differently. I’ve had a pretty good run. Live’d through a time a guy had lots of opportunities that were attainable. I picked the path I took with hunting with no regrets. I just had a different view than most. Hope if I draw down the road you’ll give me some good intel.

Thanks Mark
350 plus is still very doable and would be my benchmark if I had the tag knowing what I know. It’s a large unit and typically the biggest bulls are in areas most guys never touch. Close friend of mine was fortunate to get a LO tag this year and killed a 360. It’s just a matter of how much work you put into it like any other hunt.

6CF016D6-E819-4E73-91CC-443F318F7E00.jpeg
 
350 plus is still very doable and would be my benchmark if I had the tag knowing what I know. It’s a large unit and typically the biggest bulls are in areas most guys never touch.
Agreed... What amazes me is most people spend 25+ years to draw a tag, never spend time in the unit and hunt the same crap 95% of the other hunters pound in a tiny geographic area. Same for all 3 NW units.
 
350 plus is still very doable and would be my benchmark if I had the tag knowing what I know. It’s a large unit and typically the biggest bulls are in areas most guys never touch. Close friend of mine was fortunate to get a LO tag this year and killed a 360. It’s just a matter of how much work you put into it like any other hunt.

View attachment 103084
Nice bull! I spend a month up there this year and can say that there are several this size or bigger that I laid eyes on in the area. I had the pleasure of hunting the “best” unit in AZ a few years ago and I’d put this area up against it any day. Saw a 395” come out by the NR bow tag holder. Lots of country there and they hide in the wide open.
 
Agreed... What amazes me is most people spend 25+ years to draw a tag, never spend time in the unit and hunt the same crap 95% of the other hunters pound in a tiny geographic area. Same for all 3 NW units.
What's not stepping foot in a unit have to do with trying to draw a tag.

I'd be more inclined to say. What amazes me is a guy draws a tag and he takes 6 or 7 people hunting with him. Don't get it.

I've hunted and harvested lots of game solo, in units I've never been in before, I had a tag in hand. A couple of goat tags, 3 moose tags & 4 sheep tags. Lots of deer, elk & antelope in western states & the Midwest. I kind of get wooded up doing intel on new units! If you dig hard you can come up with information. There are some great people out there.
 
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What's not stepping foot in a unit have to do with trying to draw a tag.

I'd be more inclined to say. What amazes me is a guy draws a tag and he takes 6 or 7 people hunting with him. Don't get it.

I've hunted and harvested lots of game solo, in units I've never been in before, I had a tag in hand. A couple of goat tags, 3 moose tags & 4 sheep tags. Lots of deer, elk & antelope in western states & the Midwest. I kind of get wooded up doing intel on new units! If you dig hard you can come up with information. There are some great people out there.
What’s wrong with taking friends along? If you’ve drawn 4 sheep tags and did them all solo I’d be a little concerned about your personality I guess. When myself or one of my buddies draws something great we all try to make it as it makes it that much better. Maybe I’m misinterpreting your post but I don’t see what’s wrong with that?
 
I put the solo thing in there too stress you can hunt a unit you’re not familiar with. Even if you do it by yourself. There’s probably a person or two that’s concerned with my personality also.???


There’s nothing wrong with taking friends along. Same as there’s nothing wrong with try to draw tags in unit’s you’ve never hunted in. Had a moose tag this year hunted solo also hunted with friends. Hunted sheep with friends also. I enjoy hunting by myself. Just don’t get the hunting in large group thing. To each there own.
 
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I put the solo thing in there too stress you can hunt a unit you’re not familiar with. Even if you do it by yourself. There’s probably a person or two that’s concerned with my personality also.???


There’s nothing wrong with taking friends along. Same as there’s nothing wrong with try to draw tags in unit’s you’ve never hunted in. Had a moose tag this year hunted solo also hunted with friends. Hunted sheep with friends also. I enjoy hunting by myself. Just don’t get the hunting in large group
 
I put the solo thing in there too stress you can hunt a unit you’re not familiar with. Even if you do it by yourself. There’s probably a person or two that’s concerned with my personality also.???


There’s nothing wrong with taking friends along. Same as there’s nothing wrong with try to draw tags in unit’s you’ve never hunted in. Had a moose tag this year hunted solo also hunted with friends. Hunted sheep with friends also. I enjoy hunting by myself. Just don’t get the hunting in large group thing. To each there own.
The large group thing is a stereo typically a Utah thing, which seems to hold true a lot across the west come fall. Majority of LDS people are very family driven and have large family’s so i get that side. Typically I hunt solo or with a small/select group of people. Always have enjoyed doing it alone, you learn more as a hunter when you do it alone in my opinion but that’s just my opinion and preference. A lot of people don’t handle being alone for days on end and I get that part of the experience for them is sharing it with close friends and family. I’m not going to tell someone how they should hunt (within in legal means) or how many people should be on a hunt. However I’m not a fan of the 20 guys in camp for one tag and everybody cover a ridge with a radio nonsense that goes on every year…
 
I would not be to worried about if a guy hunts solo. I only have a couple of hounds left, but I would have rather been chasing a Big Bear by myself with 6 of my best dogs all day then sitting on a bluff with six friends having a circle jerk looking for an Elk.
 
What's not stepping foot in a unit have to do with trying to draw a tag.

I'd be more inclined to say. What amazes me is a guy draws a tag and he takes 6 or 7 people hunting with him. Don't get it.

I've hunted and harvested lots of game solo, in units I've never been in before, I had a tag in hand. A couple of goat tags, 3 moose tags & 4 sheep tags. Lots of deer, elk & antelope in western states & the Midwest. I kind of get wooded up doing intel on new units! If you dig hard you can come up with information. There are some great people out there.
Just saying that if I invested a quarter century of my life trying to draw a tag... You could bet there would be some serious recon happening in advance to make sure my "once in a lifetime opportunity" didn't go to waste.

Too many people just expect to just show up and figure it out, hence why so many leave with a 300-320 bull and cry about the quality. Fact is these are desert elk and they move... A Lot... and there's a lot of country they can be in. I've never had an issue finding a 350+ bull in any of the 3. Rifle season is a little tougher as they get busted up pretty quickly...

I apply for some great tags that I may never catch up too, but you can bet I know exactly where I am going when I draw and it's not going to be based on a hunch or decade old internet info...
 

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