So it's about time to start thinking about next years hunt strategies.....Here is my dilemma, two friends from out of state want to come and do a high country archery deer hunt. They both have one point and I have four. I don't really want to burn my points at this time, especially for a lower unit. Do you guys have any suggestions? It looks like we could draw an archery deer tag for Maroon Bells or Holy Cross, but maybe I'm reading the 2014 preference point stats wrong.... Just looking for ideas. Any help would be appreciated.
CO Archery suggestions
- Thread starter westenvy
- Start date
I don't know much about Holy Cross but I've hunted Unit 43/47/471 several times. Never ventured into Maroon Bells but I believe its in Unit 43. It takes zero pts to draw for residents and NR's. A few lucky residents draw as second choice. Your buddies could burn their point if they wanted and you could try your luck with a second choice tag. Then if you're unlucky get an OTC elk tag so you could join them and hunt as well. I definitely wouldn't burn 4 pts (or 1 for that matter) for a unit that all first choice apps get drawn.
There are folks with a lot more knowledge than me that will prob chime in. Thats all I could come up with. Good luck. Looks like I might be in the same unit again with a cow tag. Trying to build a few points the next few years.
There are folks with a lot more knowledge than me that will prob chime in. Thats all I could come up with. Good luck. Looks like I might be in the same unit again with a cow tag. Trying to build a few points the next few years.
ColoradoV
Very Active Member
- Oct 4, 2011
- 819
- 935
Drawing the 43 block as a 2nd choice is now a thing of the past. These units got a ton of press, followed by more press, and all of this has added a bunch of people putting in. Or the # of folks putting in over the last 4 years has doubled and that = no leftovers! Last year all residents who put in with 0 points did not draw.
So if you points are very valuable to you - you could buy a LO voucher or burn your point but there will be 0 chance of drawing the 43 block for you as a 2nd choice anymore as those days are gone.. It went from 98 leftover tags in 2012 to 0 in 2014 and I dont see it changing anytime soon.
So if you points are very valuable to you - you could buy a LO voucher or burn your point but there will be 0 chance of drawing the 43 block for you as a 2nd choice anymore as those days are gone.. It went from 98 leftover tags in 2012 to 0 in 2014 and I dont see it changing anytime soon.
A friend of mine drew second choice as a resident last year. He was lucky. He lives in unit 43. And unless the website is inaccurate it shows 1st choice resident 100% and 15 went to 2nd choice. I'm not sure he has any interest in trying for 2nd choice just trying to help a guy out.
ColoradoV - you have any advice for him ? Him and I both might be reading the stats wrong and I have no clue about Holy Cross
ColoradoV - you have any advice for him ? Him and I both might be reading the stats wrong and I have no clue about Holy Cross
ColoradoV
Very Active Member
- Oct 4, 2011
- 819
- 935
Sorry looks like I am wrong that is not my intent. Haha yea if your friend drew and hunted - I dont think he could have read that wrong 
!
I got my info from the hunters trailhead stats and not the CPW stats page. They (HT) say that only 95% of residents drew archery in the 43 block (43, 47, 471) but the CPW stats are usually more correct - I know of guys who did not draw as a 2nd choice last year but it sounds like one could still could get a tag. Since I did not know anyone who drew as a 2nd I just assumed the stats at hunters trail head were correct.
They also have cut quite a few tags (90ish) from the archery season in the past 3 years so that will have a positive effect on the 43 block quality/hunt but make it harder to draw especially as a 2nd choice.
The interesting part is that NR hunt numbers in 43 have doubled since 2010 and res applications are up over 60% in that same time frame.
! I got my info from the hunters trailhead stats and not the CPW stats page. They (HT) say that only 95% of residents drew archery in the 43 block (43, 47, 471) but the CPW stats are usually more correct - I know of guys who did not draw as a 2nd choice last year but it sounds like one could still could get a tag. Since I did not know anyone who drew as a 2nd I just assumed the stats at hunters trail head were correct.
They also have cut quite a few tags (90ish) from the archery season in the past 3 years so that will have a positive effect on the 43 block quality/hunt but make it harder to draw especially as a 2nd choice.
The interesting part is that NR hunt numbers in 43 have doubled since 2010 and res applications are up over 60% in that same time frame.