Colorado Elk Trophy potential??? To hunt or to collect points???

[ttewes]

Hi guys and gals,

Last year I hunted a new unit in Colorado during the September muzzleloader season and was fortunate to take a 300+" six point bull. This is a very statistically mediocre unit that is also rugged and can be very difficult to hunt. This is also a unit where I can get an OTC bow tag every year and the September muzzleloader tag probably every-other-year. Is it worth me collecting preference points in CO and bowhunting this unit every year until I have 10+ points for a different unit? Or should I continue to burn a point or two on the muzzleloader hunt when I can? The reason I ask these questions is I know there are 330+" bulls in the area I hunt and I don't know how much I would be gaining by looking into the more high-profile units. Do Colorado's premier elk units typically produce a good number of 350+" bulls each year? Just some food for thought...no matter what I will be elk hunting each fall.

 

[okielite]

Might be better off to keep hunting that same area in CO every year and build points somewhere like WY if you want to try a new "trophy" area out.

 

[Conrad8899]

Just my opinion. Not worth collecting the points. Just look at the top units. It 20 plus points to draw the premium elk units. And sum of the other units are on the rise to... JMO

 

[ttewes]

Thanks okielite and Conrad. That's certainly the way I am leaning...hunt this area in CO each year (with bow or MZ) and then collect points in WY, AZ (bow), and UT (bow). Am I missing something about the premium elk units in CO? Are they really worth 20 years of waiting? Maybe someone from CO or someone who has hunted one of those units can share some perspective.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

There is nothing better than continuing to hunt the same area, especially if you are getting your animal. The better you know the area' the better your hunt will be.

 

[Retterath]

For me getting out and hunting elk is what i want to be doing so the premium units dont apply for me right now, i will be hunting wyoming on general every other year or colorado every year if i dont draw wyoming and then puting in for trophy unit in utah,nevada, arizona. You have to decide how important it is to u to shoot a 350" in colorado. If your shooting 300" bulls in the unit u hunting every other year i would be more than happy with that unit. Good luck

 

[In God We Trust]

I am in the same boat as you. I hunt a unit that I kill a good bull in 2 out of 3 years. Nothing giant but respectable 300" 6 point bulls. I am happy to have that year after year. I will take that over the lunacy known as the Colorado points game. Waiting 20 years for a tag in Colorado if you already have a good unit doesn't make sense. Do what others have stated and keep hunting the same unit. Start building points in other states for trophy tags. I buy points for Wyoming and Nevada as far as out of state goes. Plus Idaho is a straight up draw so put in for a good unit there every year. You can't win if you don't play.

 

[ttewes]

Thanks for the information guys. That makes a lot of sense with regard to a game plan. On average, how many points does it take to draw an above average unit in Wyoming? I have hunted in CO and MT, but would like to get to WY in the next few years. Any information is appreciated as I am relatively new to the western hunting scene.

 

[missjordan]

I think you'd have good if not better chances in a "mediocre" unit that you know the ins and outs of rather than taking a chance in a "trophy" unit that you will only hunt and scout the year you draw a tag. There are big elk hiding in not so known units they just will be harder to come by than in the trophy units. Of course I'd try building points elsewhere you just have to decide what time frame to build points is appropriate for your hunting plans and goals.

 

[Matthoek21]

Not sure about WY question as I plan on buying my first point this year. There are two options one costing more dinero than the other with better chance of draw odds. Think you would need at least 6 points and then your chances increase for a good unit especially if you apply for special draw tag.
As for Colorado I recommend you stay with your currrent plan. I have hunted 3 different units all unsuccessful I might add. Two were over the counter one was draw. Every unit I've ever hunted I have seen or had an opportunity at a nice 6 pt bull. Had I had a rifle or muzzleloader I definitely would have had several nice 6 pt bulls. My point is just like the others have stated stay with what you know. Don't get caught up in the hype! Much rather hunt every year than sit on the sidelines and hope. A lot of the trophy units will probably stay out of reach in CO. Try UT, AZ, or WY for your big bull chances. But hey who's to say you may find that big bull in your current unit without the wasted time. Good luck with whatever your decision. Just my .02 cents

 

[ttewes]

Thanks everyone for your responses. That certainly is reassuring. Plus, I want to be on the mountain every fall...it's just too much fun to miss out on!

 

[NDHunter]

I would definitely do a muzzleloader tag every other year in the same unit. If it's got rough country, I'll bet there are a few big bulls that are always able to survive. Also, I would say your odds of shooting a monster in the next 20 years will be drastically better if you have TEN muzzleloader tags in the same unit versus maybe getting ONE tag in a primo unit.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I would definitely do a muzzleloader tag every other year in the same unit. If it's got rough country, I'll bet there are a few big bulls that are always able to survive. Also, I would say your odds of shooting a monster in the next 20 years will be drastically better if you have TEN muzzleloader tags in the same unit versus maybe getting ONE tag in a primo unit.

This is basically what I do. But as a resident , I need fewer points. This year I applied for a point as first choice and a M/L cow tag as second choice. I will draw the cow tag AND get another point. M/L tags are much easier to draw, so it works for me.