Colorado, to build points for Moose, Sheep, Goat? 0 currently.

[HuskyMusky]

since CO doesn't take CC from non-res for S,M,G,

for the first year in a while I have the ability to appy for 1-3 of these species and start building points.

I kind of just assumed I'd hunt them in other states, since I have about 10pts for them in most of the other states.

However I know CO has bow only options, so perhaps building points and going the bow only route for these species in CO is an idea?

Any suggestions/advice? I'm 36, so hopefully many decades left of hunting...

I'd prefer to gun hunt them in the future, but am not opposed to maybe a bow hunt one day...

but with point creep, am I wasting my money on CO?

Also what is your view of first, second, third specie to apply for if can only afford 1 or 2 vs all 3? ie, go for moose then goat then sheep... I'm kind of leaning towards moose and goat before sheep, but am open to advice/draw odds, say if sheep is easier to draw.

Thanks!

 

[JimP]

After you get your first 3 points in the Colorado system you do have a chance since you need 3 points to be even considered in the pool for a tag. It then goes into a bonus point pool instead of a preference point system and you do have a chance, a slight one but a chance.

You can do the same with Utah but theirs is a hybrid bonus point system where if there are 2 or more non resident tags offered for the hunt 1/2 of the tags go to the top point holders to draw to and 1/2 go into the random draw

 

[CODAK]

Check out the draw stats on the CO DOW site. NR has very little amount of tags for each species, in limited areas. You will need to get very lucky and to put in for a very long time. It's hard enough for us residents to draw... Good Luck

 

[hoshour]

Like JimP said, nothing is going to happen until you have 3 points, so go ahead and start buying your points. Colorado has maybe the best draw system for trophy species, so it's a good place to build points.

 

[eye in sky]

I'd pick the two animals that you would really like to chase someday and start putting in. You only live once and other than CO sitting on your money for a month, you won't lose a bunch of money if you don't draw.

 

[sheephunter]

Some people do get lucky--many moons ago I drew my mountain goat tag the very first year I was eligible. One sure way to never get drawn is to not apply.

 

[JimP]

One other thing about the Utah draws is that a non resident can put in for all the OIL animals. Goat, sheep, moose, and bison where residents can only put in for one a year. Also if you purchase the mandatory hunting license near the end of the draw you can use it again the next year as long as you apply before it expires, they are good for 365 days from date of purchase. Also Utah does not charge your credit card for the tag until you draw but charges $10 per application.

 

[Doe Nob]

Next year its going from paper only to online for NR...I expect a hefty odds torpedo in 2021..

 

[mallardsx2]

After reviewing the odds for everything three years ago I decided it wasn't financially viable to even consider trying to apply.

As soon as they make it an online application the odds are going to get really bad...

I accepted the fact that I am not going to hunt one in this lifetime. Maybe the next... lol

 

[Bonecollector]

Mallard, there is always BC or Alaska...
That's where I'll look to once the kids are grown.

 

[wy-tex]

As far as moose is concerned going bow only does not affect your draw chances. The moose tags are drawn by your PP with no respect to the season your are applying for. All NR going into the same moose drawing, the tags are allocated as a total for an area and not separated for an archery and rifle drawing. I have 3 PP for moose , NR, and 7 weighted points and still couldn't draw. Now it's too much money for me. Many do draw with only 3 PP so it's possible. I wonder what their price increase will be in coming years.
I defer on sheep and mt goat, don't have PP in any state other than Wyoming, no PP for Wyoming mt goats.

At least in Wyoming you can buy PP without having to apply for a license if you don't have the funds to apply a particular year.
I would certainly listen to advice from the guys above.

 

[Alabama]

Also what is your view of first, second, third specie to apply for if can only afford 1 or 2 vs all 3? ie, go for moose then goat then sheep... I'm kind of leaning towards moose and goat before sheep, but am open to advice/draw odds, say if sheep is easier to draw.

Generally Moose is the easiest draw, with goat as 2nd and sheep as 3rd. It definitely depends on the units you choose though. I say pick the one you want the most and go for it.

 

[mcseal2]

I didn't start putting in for moose points young enough in any of the western states to think I had a great shot of ever drawing a tag. I started saving for an Alaska moose hunt instead and am going in 2018. Still not cheap, but I know I get to hunt this way.

 

[brushcreek]

if you want to hunt moose check out Newfoundland, Canada. I went last year for around $5K including tags, lodging, airfare, etc.

 

[Bonecollector]

Brushcreek - How'd you do in NF ?

 

[brushcreek]

Brushcreek - How'd you do in NF ?

hunt of a lifetime

 

[mallardsx2]

Mallard, there is always BC or Alaska...
That's where I'll look to once the kids are grown.

Ya for a cool 20K you can go shoot a goat or a sheep. lol

I shot a moose in Canada and I can tell you for free that I had under 3K in that trip at the time...

There is no way I would pay for a high dollar AK moose hunt. I went to Ontario 5 times and had less in those 5 trips than I would have had in 1 trip to Alaska.

But that's just me!


And to anyone who can afford to go to AK I mean no disrespect! If I could afford to go I would go in a heartbeat because the terrain in Ontario is rather boring compared to AK

 

[Bonecollector]

That's what I was referring to by British Columbia!
I agree with you on all fronts.

 

[BKC]

I started applying for moose in the mid 90's, when they were first hunted in colorado, after introduction from Utah in the late 70's. I'm still waiting to draw my moose tag. I drew my goat tag in 97 and sheep tag in 01. The weighted point crap that the cdow started, now cpw, just to appease the whiners that want everything right now, has only made it more difficult for me to draw these tags. Put in for three years and then you basically have as good of chance as anyone to draw. You can't draw if you don't put in! Or in my case, you can't draw, even if you do put in. I shouldn't bitch too loud, hunting has been good to me.

 

[JimP]

I would say that having drawn a goat and a sheep tag that Colorado's draw has been very good to you. I waited long enough that I finally quit putting in last year for all 3.

Now the draw system that they use if you have the 3 preference points to get into the draw and X amount of bonus points you are ahead of those that just have the 3 preference points. Every year that you don't draw betters your odds for the next year even if by just a percentage point over those with fewer bonus points.

But I understand your frustration. It's the pits to see someone draw with the bare minimum points while you are sitting on a bunch and just end up getting a check back in the mail.