Hunting Deer in 1st Season

SureShot · Apr 7, 2021

Assuming the later dates are going to result in significantly higher success rates--especially for mature bucks, if no changes are made, we're going to quickly see a significant reduction in the number of tags allocated. With fewer tags available, we'll also see a huge increase in point creep.

To counter that, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to open up the 1st season to deer and move some (many) of the tags allocated for a unit to that earlier season. That way, they can still offer more tags with lower success rates and move more people through the system.

Is there any reason CPW couldn't choose to do that?

nripepi · Apr 7, 2021

I would think it would have to be in their five year plan to be able to do that, but I am definitely not sure about that.

I like the idea though!

buckhorn · Apr 7, 2021

SureShot said:
Assuming the later dates are going to result in significantly higher success rates--especially for mature bucks, if no changes are made, we're going to quickly see a significant reduction in the number of tags allocated. With fewer tags available, we'll also see a huge increase in point creep.

To counter that, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to open up the 1st season to deer and move some (many) of the tags allocated for a unit to that earlier season. That way, they can still offer more tags with lower success rates and move more people through the system.

Is there any reason CPW couldn't choose to do that?

I think the goal of CPW is to kill off all the older bucks. Besides there are a lot of tags issued for archery and muzzleloader early seasons.

fallguy · Apr 7, 2021

I hope they never move deer to 1st season. Elk are still bugling fairly good then making it a fun hunt. Adding deer hunters to the mix would definetly hurt the quality of that hunt.

JakeH · Apr 7, 2021

fallguy said:
I hope they never move deer to 1st season. Elk are still bugling fairly good then making it a fun hunt. Adding deer hunters to the mix would definetly hurt the quality of that hunt.

You probably wont get much rut activity this year with as late as they moved the hunts back.

ColoradoOak · Apr 7, 2021

JakeH said:
You probably wont get much rut activity this year with as late as they moved the hunts back.

The first season start date criteria stayed the same, 1st Saturday after Oct 9.

JakeH · Apr 8, 2021

ColoradoOak said:
The first season start date criteria stayed the same, 1st Saturday after Oct 9.

Well that puts it at Oct 16th and that's pretty dang late. probably not much rut action that late. not unheard of but not alot.

DirtyTough · Apr 8, 2021

I like the idea.

fallguy · Apr 8, 2021

JakeH said:
Well that puts it at Oct 16th and that's pretty dang late. probably not much rut action that late. not unheard of but not alot.

Depedning on the year, there can still be enough bugling to keep it interesting. I killed my biggest bull on Ocober 16 and he was screaming like it was late September.

COLOelkman · Apr 14, 2021

I believe they used to have all deer and elk seasons combined many years ago and they specifically made 1st season elk only for a better "quality" hunt. I do think 1st season often has elk bugling as cows are going thru 2nd estrus cycle. So I'd highly doubt they'd combine the 1st season. As stated above, "if no changes are made, we're going to quickly see a significant reduction in the number of tags allocated.".... I'm not sure they would cut the tag numbers simply due to lost of revenue. From most people I know, we all complain about overcrowding but I see very seldom do they cut tags as a response which just seems to be a case of taking the survey as a courtesy but not really doing anything about it. Hate to be a whiner but just my observations and experiences from going to meetings but regularly hearing the response something like "we're open for ideas.....as long as it doesn't impact our revenue". That's a direct quote that has stuck with me.