First OTC hunt questions

[Thommy94]

Planning on doing my first Elk Hunt 2 gun season Colorado this year and I am overwhelmed. I will be doing a bag pack hunt.and need some help
1 Not asking for your hunting spot however could you recommend some units for a knew hunter to start off in and name of the trail heads to park and hike in
2. For example if I choose to hunt unit 24 does my tag limit me to hunt only that unit.
3.Can I buy an over the counter tag and have it mailed to me.

Appreciate the help and advice

Thommy Rees

 

[LCH]

Invest in some quality cold-weather gear, 2nd rifle is in November this year! You might not need it, but you probably will.

You can buy your tag online, and it's good for any OTC unit.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

2nd & 3rd OTC tags are good in lots of units. Almost all the elk units have the OTC unlimited licenses. You can also buy the tag online cpw.state.co.us click "buy & apply" option or by phone (800) 244-5613 or phone. I would suggest looking at the regs online and call and ask them to send you the 2021 Big Game booklet (probably not printed yet).

 

[go_deep]

Someone from Colorado chime in here, but I thought Colorado had a number you could call that would help with your hunt planning?

 

[JimP]

If you purchase a OTC tag then you can hunt in any unit that is OTC. The Colorado Guide Book will be out shortly and you can look at it to see what units are ope to you.

As for a unit, what I would do is to go to the CP&W web site and do some research on their hunt planner. It gives some detailed facts about each and every unit in the state. Unit 24 is as good as any other unit and for a pack in hunt it may be better than the rest since it does have wilderness areas where a lot will shy away from. For other units you can find other wilderness areas such as in 36, or 44, 45, and 444. There are others but those are the ones that I am familiar with.

For the license what I would do is to apply for a preference point as my first choice, and then check the box for a OTC elk tag as a second choice and the license and tag will be mailed to you. All you will be out doing it this way is the application fee but you will end up with a PP and a tag.

Invest in some quality cold-weather gear, 2nd rifle is in November this year! You might not need it, but you probably will.

You can buy your tag online, and it's good for any OTC unit.

Second rife is in October, it always has been and always will be. it is usually the third Saturday in October. Now third season is in November usually the first Saturday. But cold weather gear is always a smart idea. I have seen 3' of snow and temperatures down to zero during second season here.

I guess that I screwed up they are later this year, I didn't figure in the extra gap between seasons

For 2021 the second season dates are 2021- 10/30- 11/07

 

[JimP]

Someone from Colorado chime in here, but I thought Colorado had a number you could call that would help with your hunt planning?

That would be the Hunt Planner, the number will be in the Guide Book when it comes out.

 

[LCH]

If you purchase a OTC tag then you can hunt in any unit that is OTC. The Colorado Guide Book will be out shortly and you can look at it to see what units are ope to you.

As for a unit, what I would do is to go to the CP&W web site and do some research on their hunt planner. It gives some detailed facts about each and every unit in the state. Unit 24 is as good as any other unit and for a pack in hunt it may be better than the rest since it does have wilderness areas where a lot will shy away from. For other units you can find other wilderness areas such as in 36, or 44, 45, and 444. There are others but those are the ones that I am familiar with.

For the license what I would do is to apply for a preference point as my first choice, and then check the box for a OTC elk tag as a second choice and the license and tag will be mailed to you. All you will be out doing it this way is the application fee but you will end up with a PP and a tag.



Second rife is in October, it always has been and always will be. it is usually the third Saturday in October. Now third season is in November usually the first Saturday. But cold weather gear is always a smart idea. I have seen 3' of snow and temperatures down to zero during second season here.

I guess that I screwed up they are later this year, I didn't figure in the extra gap between seasons

For 2021 the second season dates are 2021- 10/30- 11/07

Thanks Jim.

Yep, 2nd rifle is mostly November this year.

Applying for a tag enables the pp purchase, but it'll add roughly $100 to the cost. Nonresidents must buy a small game license to enter the draw. Don't need it to buy an OTC tag.

 

[JimP]

That is true, you need a small game license but that allows you to shoot grouse and rabbits while you are hunting.

 

[taskswap]

In addition to the regs/brochures Colorado actually has an "Elk University" section of their site:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. The agency manages 42 state parks, all of Colorado's wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. CPW issues hunting and fishing...

cpw.state.co.us

Don't be fooled by the home page. It may be only 5 "Chapters" but each of those has 10-15 units inside with a ton of good information. It would be a great place to start researching. They cover not only the elk themselves (behavior, that kind of thing) they also cover Colorado's licensing system.

 

[Dave C]

Planning on doing my first Elk Hunt 2 gun season Colorado this year and I am overwhelmed. I will be doing a bag pack hunt.and need some help
1 Not asking for your hunting spot however could you recommend some units for a knew hunter to start off in and name of the trail heads to park and hike in
2. For example if I choose to hunt unit 24 does my tag limit me to hunt only that unit.
3.Can I buy an over the counter tag and have it mailed to me.

Appreciate the help and advice

Thommy Rees

Tommy
I've been looking at an OTC elk hunt this year. I've tried 2 in Idaho but wasn't able to get a tag this year. Have you teamed up with anyone to do your hunt? I find it much easier with a team.
Unfortunately this year my 2 buddies drew tags in a different state that I don't have points for. I'm looking for someone that is willing to make the commitment to hunt.
Let me know if interested. If not, I hope your hunts successful. Even when I didn't harvest anything, it was still an awesome experience.

 

[Big Chief J]

As mentioned, the CO website has a lot of good information. Get in good shape too, your legs and lungs will thank you.

 

[Thommy94]

Tommy
I've been looking at an OTC elk hunt this year. I've tried 2 in Idaho but wasn't able to get a tag this year. Have you teamed up with anyone to do your hunt? I find it much easier with a team.
Unfortunately this year my 2 buddies drew tags in a different state that I don't have points for. I'm looking for someone that is willing to make the commitment to hunt.
Let me know if interested. If not, I hope your hunts successful. Even when I didn't harvest anything, it was still an awesome experience.

Yea me and my best friend are going. Should be an adventure I’m just looking forward to getting out there. It’s a bit overwhelming. Still can’t decide an area to hunt .Seems like there is always something negative I read on the forms once I pick an area. I’m might just put numbers on the wall and throw a dart and pick that way. We will be picking a unit unseen and hoping for the best. I’ve been doing a lot of research working out the details of trail heads and access points which is the hardest thing for me to find. I know I have to do the work. Just like dear hunting took me years of hard hunting and driving all the back roads. I’m at the stage with my dear hunting it’s all paid off. I was looking at 12 13 and 24.

 

[RICMIC]

You need to keep in mind that most of the hunting shows, and even stories in Eastmans and the MRS are geared towards the biggest critters on the mountain. Consider OTC as opportunity areas that give you the guaranteed tag, and a chance at a real "trophy". In an "any elk" area, on an OTC unit, I would consider any legal elk to be the focus of your hunt, and suggest that you take the pressure off yourself to only shoot the biggest bull in the woods. Hike, hunt, enjoy, repeat. Good Luck