Relying on NR OTC Tags?

[Prerylyon]

With WY's 2019 NR draw now in the history books, some of us flat landers that didnt draw are getting ready for plan "B".

How many of you nonres guys, that hunt public lands, rely on OTC tags to hunt elk most years? How has that worked out?

In my case, CO OTC is looking like the best plan b option. Sure, there may be a decent leftover tags out there I could grab in one of the states, but its not guaranteed. There are some limited draw cow hunts in CO that I have a chance to draw with 0 pts (but not a slam dunk). It would not hurt to try, but due to the draw deadlines in WY, I would have to choose not to apply for some deer/lope tags that interest me, which I could draw, due to vacation time and financial budget constraints, in the case I drew all said tags. I'd have to choose one or the other. Lol

Sorta burnt out on draws and wondering how guys do with OTC tags; are they really that bad? Should I just save my $$ and go small game hunting in the mountains instead to learn a unit/practice calling without a tag in pocket and wait another year? I call that a 'pretend elk hunt', but it doesn't sound like a bad time at all, really. I am not at all focused on a trophy at this point in the game. Getting a spike or cow down would be huge accomplishment I'd be proud of.

Regards,

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[Bonecollector]

I know we spoke briefly about this, but ARCHERY would open up a few more opportunities.

 

[eastmont]

I've quit putting in for draws in other states (with the exception of MT sheep/goat/moose since I grew up there). I've found way more enjoyment on OTC out of state hunts now. I've done archery Colorado for four years now, I've shot a bull every other year. I take the first legal thing that comes in front of me.

I did apply/receive a OTC Wyoming tag this year so I will be going on that adventure. I've found that planning a guaranteed adventure every year is 10,000 times more fun than drawing a special unit after X # of years.

In summary, drop the draw system. Buy a tag. Go hunt. You will not regret it.

 

[Timr245]

I've quit putting in for draws in other states (with the exception of MT sheep/goat/moose since I grew up there). I've found way more enjoyment on OTC out of state hunts now. I've done archery Colorado for four years now, I've shot a bull every other year. I take the first legal thing that comes in front of me.

I did apply/receive a OTC Wyoming tag this year so I will be going on that adventure. I've found that planning a guaranteed adventure every year is 10,000 times more fun than drawing a special unit after X # of years.

In summary, drop the draw system. Buy a tag. Go hunt. You will not regret it.

What he said X10!!! Im of the exact lines of thinking. Hunting every year is far better than dreaming of elk hunting. If you want to fight the odds but kill a monster bull when you do draw, start applying in PA haha. I’ll guide you and put a 350+ down almost guaranteed. Otherwise, me personally, Im just going hunting every year wherever I can. Didnt go this year becuase I was hesitant to do solo & I kick myself everyday for it.

 

[Prerylyon]

I've avoided archery for awhile since I lack the bandwidth, due to family/life situation (without getting into it), to practice enough that I would feel comfortable taking ethical shots.

I've been an Iowa rez for 16 yrs, have a older, but still nice Matthews bow; yet I don't bow hunt here for those reasons.

When things calm down and I can give it time, I will get back into archery hunting; for now, I will stick to using firearms.

For those nonres that hunt with OTC tags, was hunting pressure a negative factor on your hunt?

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[Slugz]

I'm a resident and rarely OTC hunt archery or rifle......with that being said.....I would prioritize leftover tag options first then OTC second. Plenty of solid hunt elk tags on that list every year from 1st rifle bull tags to cow tags in all four rifle seasons and sometimes even late season tags.

Every year I get my B cow tag off the leftover list.

Lastly, those OTC 2nd/3rd rifle seasons have a lot of people in the woods........that should be your last option after exercising all others.

 

[Prerylyon]

I'm a resident and rarely OTC hunt archery or rifle......with that being said.....I would prioritize leftover tag options first then OTC second. Plenty of solid hunt elk tags on that list every year from 1st rifle bull tags to cow tags in all four rifle seasons and sometimes even late season tags.

Every year I get my B cow tag off the leftover list.

Lastly, those OTC 2nd/3rd rifle seasons have a lot of people in the woods........that should be your last option after exercising all others.

Thanks for the advice, Slugz.

Unf, some of this amounts to a chess game for us in the off season, trying to figure it all out and it can start to mess with ya.

I needed some guidance and encouragement on considering options; and I get what your suggesting.

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[go_deep]

Fortunately there are tons of options, that being said it can make it really hard to decide what the heck to do. Maybe you can find another forum member that has a Elk tag in an area you want to hunt in Wyoming? Help be a pack mule, learn some of the area, and still do a little small game hunting also.

 

[mustang8]

I personally am going to see how the first round of PP elk hunting goes, should be able to draw an area 34 tag next year in WY, and if its not all its cracked up to be then we will look into more of the OTC tags and start over. Will be out there Muley hunting this fall and scouting for elk. Cant wait to get back out there. Is it October yet?

 

[LCH]

I've done the leftover and OTC route on deer and pronghorn several times and had good hunts. Unless you've got the serious itch to elk hunt though, I personally would see what happens in your deer/pronghorn draws, then try for a CO leftover if necessary. I noticed this past year that many of the cow hunts that took a point or 2 to draw showed up on the leftover list, some decent deer hunts too. You can always get your OTC tag as a last resort and probably still have a great hunt.

 

[Dos Perros]

So you didn?t draw in the first state to announce and it?s already time to talk OTC? Still got AZ MT NM and others. I didn?t draw WY but still figure less than 3% chance I?m going OTC.

 

[dirtytough]

I’ve hunted rifle otc in Colorado 3 times and every time I had a good hunt. Yes there were a few other hunters around. They never messed up a hunt though. I also got a leftover cow tag one year. And it was possibly the funnest elk hunt I have been on. All that is a long way of saying if you can get a tag, get it and go hunt.

 

[Prerylyon]

So you didn?t draw in the first state to announce and it?s already time to talk OTC? Still got AZ MT NM and others. I didn?t draw WY but still figure less than 3% chance I?m going OTC.

'2xdogs,

I hear ya. I know I'm whining, but 2 yrs in a row now in WY I had the draw go south on the type 6 cow draw. Last yr, a unit that had odds running for several yrs in the mid 20% that I applied for dropped to 8%. This yr, a different unit we applied for, that was running in the 30-40% range historically, had its tags cut in half and see a 3x growth in applicants. High end odds there plummeted to 6%, and with party apps, they were likely far worse. Just seems to be getting harder in that draw.

I'm gonna go for something in Colorado draw next, if that doesn't pan out, will work through the leftovers list like my mother in law at a yard sale. [emoji38]

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[swampokie]

I must be choosing the wrong otc hunts because my Colorado otc has been like an atv track extravaganza. I them went to the wilderness and got stomped by horses and outfitters. I did however find elk and quite a few but so had everyone else. Im sure there are better places out there but I haven't found them yet in Colorado otc. This was archery I could only imagine what rifle was like.

 

[eastmont]

It took me four years to find a place that I wasn't seeing another hunter on the same ridge at least every other day in the wilderness. But then again, I still got into elk. I don't go to CO expecting solitude. I expect to hunt my tail off, and compete with other hunters.

 

[HighPlainsHunter]

I'd look at Montana or Idaho well before I considered hunting with an OTC colorado tag. General Montana tag would be hard to beat for your situation.

Alternating between Wyoming and Montana General tags while hunting the same areas would be a good long term strategy.

 

[NDHunter]

Have any points in CO? In my opinion, CO is a fantastic state for 0-2 point units. Quality will never be off the charts but at least in the limited quota units, it won't be a pumpkin patch of hunters. I've never hunted the OTC seasons there but from what people have told me, I have no plans at all of doing that.

 

[Slugz]

"In my opinion, CO is a fantastic state for 0-2 point units. Quality will never be off the charts but at least in the limited quota units, it won't be a pumpkin patch of hunters."

And theres the secret sauce that takes time, effort, time to research!!!!! Kudos