First off, let me say that my elk preference points are not near as important to me than they are to many others. I consistently have great hunts year after year on my second choice hunt... And no, I don't have a secret spot in a secret unit that produces 300" bulls year after year. I normally shoot a cow on my second choice while collecting a pref. point on my first.
That said, I hastily filled out my apps this year, and that night while in bed, I awoke wondering if I had forgot to enter the pref. point code for my first choice. I got online and my fear was confirmed- I forgot the pref. point code and had put my 7 points on the line to drawn a tag that normally can be had as a leftover!
The next day I researched what could be done and ended up filling out a correction form to rectify my mistake. I checked with a nearby DOW office and they confirmed I had done what needed to be done. They also assured me that simple corrections like mine, while cannot be guaranteed, are processed successfully at a near 100% rate.
Now, fast forward to the week of the elk draw. I got a call from the Colorado DOW and the rep stated she was looking at my app and said I had put in for a tag that normally has leftover tags with my 7 pref. points. She was calling to confirm that was my desire. I stated that it was not, and that I filled out a correction form. She said they were still processing corrections but she would correct mine right then, which she did. 2 weeks later I checked on line and I am now the proud owner of 8 pref. points as well as a elk tag for my stomping grounds!
Now I am not really sure what happened and I wish not to speculate. I prefer to take this all at face value, which is, the Colorado DOW went above and beyond in the name of customer service. While the correction process can be debated and also the why they didn't correct my form as submitted, ultimately my application falls squarely on me. While the DOW has a correction process in place, what I draw, and the number of points used/not used falls fully on the applicant.
I was absolutely shocked to receive the call that I did. With customer service lacking in many industries across this country, and with the stereotype of government employees just going through the motions, it was both shocking and refreshing to receive a call from the DOW to check and verify with me on this issue. I was both shocked and impressed. Nice job Colorado DOW!
That said, I hastily filled out my apps this year, and that night while in bed, I awoke wondering if I had forgot to enter the pref. point code for my first choice. I got online and my fear was confirmed- I forgot the pref. point code and had put my 7 points on the line to drawn a tag that normally can be had as a leftover!
The next day I researched what could be done and ended up filling out a correction form to rectify my mistake. I checked with a nearby DOW office and they confirmed I had done what needed to be done. They also assured me that simple corrections like mine, while cannot be guaranteed, are processed successfully at a near 100% rate.
Now, fast forward to the week of the elk draw. I got a call from the Colorado DOW and the rep stated she was looking at my app and said I had put in for a tag that normally has leftover tags with my 7 pref. points. She was calling to confirm that was my desire. I stated that it was not, and that I filled out a correction form. She said they were still processing corrections but she would correct mine right then, which she did. 2 weeks later I checked on line and I am now the proud owner of 8 pref. points as well as a elk tag for my stomping grounds!
Now I am not really sure what happened and I wish not to speculate. I prefer to take this all at face value, which is, the Colorado DOW went above and beyond in the name of customer service. While the correction process can be debated and also the why they didn't correct my form as submitted, ultimately my application falls squarely on me. While the DOW has a correction process in place, what I draw, and the number of points used/not used falls fully on the applicant.
I was absolutely shocked to receive the call that I did. With customer service lacking in many industries across this country, and with the stereotype of government employees just going through the motions, it was both shocking and refreshing to receive a call from the DOW to check and verify with me on this issue. I was both shocked and impressed. Nice job Colorado DOW!
