I've built points (1-3pts) in 3 states but would prefer to hold onto them for another couple years until I get some experience chasing these animals and trying to figure them out.
I don't want to play the long term point game but I'd like to get into some units that have a little less pressure and a chance at a quality bull down the road after I have some experience and know what I'm doing.
Initially I was debating Wyoming General or CO OTC but a majority of what I've read seems to push me away from that option. Id be willing to burn my points on a lower point unit in CO if it meant dealing with less people and upping my chances at seeing elk. I know I'm going to have to deal with people on any OTC or lower point unit but from what I've read I'm better hunting the lower point draw units are over the OTC units.
I'm really just trying to gain some experience and understand these animals better before burning points in a good unit. I'm just trying to get out there and start gaining some knowledge and experience
I've considered drop camps but it seems like those are hit and miss and I don't seem to see too many great reviews or stories about those. Almost seems as if I have just as good a shot on my own.
If anyone has any info they are willing to share PM me or comment some ideas here. I'm open to other states and ideas even if it's an antlerless hunt. I just want something where I can do and be in an area I can watch and learn elk behavior and tendencies and maybe come home with some meat.
Thanks in advance
I have no issue burning points on smaller point units 2/3pt units but I also don't want to burn those if I'm not really gaining anything as far as better quality hunt if that makes sense ? If a 2pt unit doesn't gain me much more than an OTC then I'd prefer to hold onto it a few years to gain that small edge on a 4-6pt unit and I'll hunt OTC or General tags gaining experience through that
I'll 100% hunt OTC no issue but if I can burn a couple points and have a little better odds by all means ill choose that road.
I've read posts all over the internet from 2002 up to recent and I'm just trying to pick people's brains on their thoughts and opinions on how things are now. Some of that older info helps but some of it doesn't apply much now either
The key to elk hunting is just covering a bunch of ground and analyzing the sign you see. Thats what I do.
Ouch!
Better start packing your stuff.
Bottom line is if you want to hunt elk you're most likely going to have to hunt some Colorado OTC, at least until the entire state becomes draw. Since you're not in the long haul points game I would hunt Wyoming general whenever you can draw and you might as well hunt Colorado whenever you can draw a 2-3 point tag. A 4-6 point tag is probably not that much better and probably not worth the extra wait if you'd rather not hunt OTC. Your choices of lower point units is getting to be fewer every year.
You'd be wise to get some experience in OTC units before you burn any points but if you're only burning 2-3 points it's not that big of a deal. You might as well hunt those units when you can because if you build points for another 2-4 years, due of point creep your options will probably be those same units you could have hunted 2-4 years prior. In other words, the extra 2-4 points won't get you much. Keep in mind that there's no guarantee that a 2-3 point unit will be better than an OTC unit or that a 4-6 point unit will be better than a 2-3 point unit. How good a hunt will be will be determined more by your ability to find and figure out the elk and your commitment to killing one. A rookie or non motivated elk hunter in a 4-6 point unit most likely has lower odds than an experienced and motivated hunter in an OTC unit. I've had OTC hunts that were much better than hunts that took 1-3 points to draw. Also, more points to draw does not guarantee reduced hunting pressure. In 2020 I hunted a Colorado unit that now takes about 8 points to draw and I experienced the most hunting pressure I've ever experienced. Some of that may have been Covid related though.
Get out there and good luck!
You have gotten some dang good advice, go with it man--------->
Good luck, Robb
I've got 0 issue hunting OTC I probably should've worded it differently. Mike kind of answered what I was curious about
I guess I was just curious if a 2/3pt unit doesn't offer me more opportunity than a OTC then should I hold onto those points and get into the 4/5pt range and hunt OTC tags until then.
:)
Yes, some spots are busy but most OTC days I don't see or hear another hunter when away from the road or access trails.
These will likely be considered the "good old days" 20 years from now. My advise is go as often as you can.