Team EF,
In prep for the draw and app period I thought I'd share a drill I go through each spring while waiting for turkey to open up. This may help guys who dont draw their primary tag and are looking for a solid secondary plan.
Scene Setter / Mentality
1) Yes I'm a resident. I moved here cause I wanted to chase elk every year.
2) I ensure my secondary plan is just as good as my primary.
3) We dont horn hunt. Our priority is time in the woods, screaming and seeing animals and introducing newbies to elk hunting. My definition of horn hunting is targeting those 335-340 and bigger age group animals.
4) When we get the itch to big horn hunt, we go where they are in September. (read to the moon, high and nasty) I have a few GMUs for that and all are on the leftover every year.
5) Lastly like always, for all the negative Nellys out there. Its a free country, its your right to be negative. 'Im just passing info that works for me. Take it or leave it
2016 Archery Leftovers
3 hunts and 55 tags leftover. 1 GMU is in the plains ( all private and a high fence ranch) other two GMUs are 391/461..close to denver....not to say you cant get it done. This highlights just how good archery hunting is in Colorado.
2016 Muzzleloader Leftovers
29 hunts and 957 tags leftover. Out of those 114 are private only. Some darn good hunts that could be your secondary if you know what you are looking at.
2016 Rifle Leftovers
236 hunts and 31,421 tags leftover. Out of those 8512 are private only.
When I lay all the data out I divide the hunts into groups based upon total tags available. I put them into categories based upon GMUs and tag#s <10, 11-100, 101-250,251-500, 501-999 and 1000>.
Stepping back and looking at it you see which herds are over objective. Some will always be over objective and other will come and go based upon many factors from year to year. That being said why not hunt your primary tag in an area that is always over objective? That way your secondary tag can always come from the leftover. That puts you in your GMUs every year more or less hunting the same herd and terrain depending on your style.
The Grand Mesa, Gore Pass, North Park, White River and Troublesome Creek herds will provide some outright solid hunts. Some even during muzzleloader a week before the peak of the rut!! Which is mind boggling in this day and age of people complaining about the tag system IMO.
So in summary.....your second choice matters if you are in the gang that wants to hunt every year. Hope this helps.
All the best
In prep for the draw and app period I thought I'd share a drill I go through each spring while waiting for turkey to open up. This may help guys who dont draw their primary tag and are looking for a solid secondary plan.
Scene Setter / Mentality
1) Yes I'm a resident. I moved here cause I wanted to chase elk every year.
2) I ensure my secondary plan is just as good as my primary.
3) We dont horn hunt. Our priority is time in the woods, screaming and seeing animals and introducing newbies to elk hunting. My definition of horn hunting is targeting those 335-340 and bigger age group animals.
4) When we get the itch to big horn hunt, we go where they are in September. (read to the moon, high and nasty) I have a few GMUs for that and all are on the leftover every year.
5) Lastly like always, for all the negative Nellys out there. Its a free country, its your right to be negative. 'Im just passing info that works for me. Take it or leave it
2016 Archery Leftovers
3 hunts and 55 tags leftover. 1 GMU is in the plains ( all private and a high fence ranch) other two GMUs are 391/461..close to denver....not to say you cant get it done. This highlights just how good archery hunting is in Colorado.
2016 Muzzleloader Leftovers
29 hunts and 957 tags leftover. Out of those 114 are private only. Some darn good hunts that could be your secondary if you know what you are looking at.
2016 Rifle Leftovers
236 hunts and 31,421 tags leftover. Out of those 8512 are private only.
When I lay all the data out I divide the hunts into groups based upon total tags available. I put them into categories based upon GMUs and tag#s <10, 11-100, 101-250,251-500, 501-999 and 1000>.
Stepping back and looking at it you see which herds are over objective. Some will always be over objective and other will come and go based upon many factors from year to year. That being said why not hunt your primary tag in an area that is always over objective? That way your secondary tag can always come from the leftover. That puts you in your GMUs every year more or less hunting the same herd and terrain depending on your style.
The Grand Mesa, Gore Pass, North Park, White River and Troublesome Creek herds will provide some outright solid hunts. Some even during muzzleloader a week before the peak of the rut!! Which is mind boggling in this day and age of people complaining about the tag system IMO.
So in summary.....your second choice matters if you are in the gang that wants to hunt every year. Hope this helps.
All the best
