OTC Elk

[MileHighTiger]

Hi, new hunter here and hoping to get out in 2nd/3rd rifle in 2021 while I start to build points in CO (another list of questions for that, but I'll keep it simple for now and just address OTC). Can someone explain to me the OTC process for elk in Colorado?

1. When do I need to purchase this tag if I want to hunt 2nd/3rd?
   1. Do they go on sale after the draw occurs in April, or after the start of the 1st season?
2. Are there set GMUs that you're able to hunt, or are all GMUs essentially "fair game"?
3. Can you hunt private if you get permission from landowners on these tags?

I plan to truck/backpack and be the "weekend warrior" while I'm getting my feet wet, so having opportunities and schedule flexibility to go during 2nd or 3rd would be optimal. Any advice is much appreciated! Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse - if there is another thread dedicated to these types of questions, please point me in the direction. Eager to learn!

 

[ScottR]

A lot of guys with more experience in CO will chime in on this, but our valid units column in TagHub helps sort that out easily.

 

[JimP]

Hi, new hunter here and hoping to get out in 2nd/3rd rifle in 2021 while I start to build points in CO (another list of questions for that, but I'll keep it simple for now and just address OTC). Can someone explain to me the OTC process for elk in Colorado?

1. When do I need to purchase this tag if I want to hunt 2nd/3rd?
   1. Do they go on sale after the draw occurs in April, or after the start of the 1st season?
2. Are there set GMUs that you're able to hunt, or are all GMUs essentially "fair game"?
3. Can you hunt private if you get permission from landowners on these tags?

I plan to truck/backpack and be the "weekend warrior" while I'm getting my feet wet, so having opportunities and schedule flexibility to go during 2nd and 3rd would be optimal. Any advice is much appreciated! Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse - if there is another thread dedicated to these types of questions, please point me in the direction. Eager to learn!

You can only hunt one season and not both. So you will need to decide on which time frame you want to hunt. Second season will be the busiest with the most hunters. Third season you may have more weather to contend with since it starts in November.

The OTC tags will be on sale next spring, I can't remember just when they start but with a OTC you can wait until the week before the hunt to purchase one.

There are certain units that are open to hunt with a OTC tag. The guide book will be out next month before the application period opens and it will show you what units are open to OTC along with all the rest of the rules and regulations such as antler point restrictions. A lot of the units will have a minimum of 4 points on a antler to be legal.

You always need to have permission to hunt private and you can hunt it if it is in a OTC unit but if it is in one of the draw units then you can not hunt it unless you purchase a landowner tag from the landowner

 

[taskswap]

Hard to add to what JimP said - he's one of the forum's old-timers. But for convenience I can save you a few seconds looking this up and give you a sense of what he means about the "valid in some units". This is the table of "valid units" for a 2020 OTC Rifle 2 / 3 tag:



So basically it means you buy the tag and you can hunt in any of those units.

Jim, I think the OTC tags actually are not available in spring? I was pretty sure you had to wait until after the draw before they were available for purchase... This is from the same guide:



MileHighTiger, the #1 thing JimP is pointing out is crucial: get that guide and read it cover to cover! The 2020 version is here: https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/RulesRegs/Brochure/BigGame/biggame.pdf . It's very dense and can be difficult to read, but every detail in there is important. It covers all of the requirements, how the system works, where you can hunt, and so on. When the 2021 guides come out if you're on-file with CPW for any reason, they'll mail you a copy for free, and you can pick them up in any hunting or sporting goods store like Jax or Cabelas. I think I got mine in Feb...

 

[MileHighTiger]

Oh absolutely, the big game brochure is one of my main reading materials right now haha. Good thing season is later in the year, so I have plenty of time to read up. Now to figure out the point/draw system...

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

O thing to remember, OTC tags are basically unlimited. In a lot of units you will have LOTS of company.

 

[JimP]

The point draw system in Colorado is simple.

If you look at the odds report and it says that a unit takes 10 points to draw, then it takes 10 points to draw. It is likely that there are no second choice tags let out in those type of units. However if there is a unit that only takes 1 or 2 points to draw then it is likely that there are chances that you could draw as a second choice.

A good way to get to know a unit is to find one that has second choice cow tags. Then you can purchase a preference point and get into the second draw for a cow. Then if you draw you can go hunting cow elk along with gaining a point. Just remember that if you ever draw your first choice in the draw even if it is a cow hunt that you loose all the points for that species and then have to start all over again. I did this for 17 years building points for a great unit for a muzzle loader hunt. I hunted every year with either a cow hunt or a OTC tag.

The big thing is that you need a qualifying license to put in for the draw, and being a resident it isn't too bad. You can just purchase a combination small game and fishing license or just the small game license and you are good to go

 

[taskswap]

I don't personally use what I'm about to mention, but some may find Colorado's "Drawn Out At" report to be handy. It's basically the same data as the Recap report mentioned above, but presented specifically for that one question: "what would I have needed to get that tag."