I would usually never discuss specifics on an open forum, but with this many points involved it's not like I am comparing notes on an OTC unit (or even units that require 1-3 points).
I am a resident w/9 points. While I'd love to hold out for 2,10, & 201 it looks like I will never draw unless I get lucky w/the hybrid draw. I took a flyer this year on one of the glory northwest units but the odds are almost nill.
I'm cashing in next year and leaving the rat race, what would you guys do w/10 points?
I am considering 851 & 76 right now. 61 would be awesome of course, but I'm not quite there yet.
Glunt@work - Is the general consensus on 76 ok? It may be anecdotal, but I remember seeing previous threads complaining about the unit being "over rated". Could be just salty tag soup people though.
cnelk - I agree! This is more about having a great time with animals that are not as pressured, and a reasonable chance at a 320 would be nice as well.
Nobody has had any comments regarding 851, which may be telling.
That said, everyone I know who's hunted 76 in recent years had a great hunt. Those who didn't probably had their sights set too high for a big score. I hunted 2 several years ago and contrary to what people might think, there aren't 340 and bigger bulls running all over. Yes, there are big bulls in every unit, a few more in the premium units, but it's more about the quality of the "hunt" rather than bringing home a guaranteed 320+ bull.
I will continue to play the hybrid draw and give it 5'ish more years.
8pointer - Honestly had not thought of it, I hunted 48 as a teenager right next door. I will do some research now, thank you!
I did not harvest an elk, but experienced some encounters in Unit 2 that made the 21+ years of waiting worth while. I also passed on a ton of bulls I should have arrowed, and would have likely taken if it had not been such a long wait- but I am satisfied with the outcome. I was also not going to drop $1800 on an Elk Pedestal that was not a true giant. Someday, I will have my dad's bull he took on our hunt and it will be a great reminder of our experience there together.
I can also remember one late December night coming back from Montrose at Christmas when the kids were still small, just up out of the river heading back to Colorado Springs on 24 outside the Junction, and a massive elk herd was coming out of the river up towards Buffalo Peak and we stopped for about 15 minutes as hundreds and hundreds of elk passed around our vehicle, some great bulls- a memory we all will remember as it was honestly unbelievable.
Grasshopper's Link
I think 49 took about 4 points to draw the archery tag. I expect that will go up with baby boomers getting out, and the pay later draw system.
Grasshopper - Thank you, I will keep up with it. 49 would be rather convenient and is really worth a look.
sisabdulax - That's interesting. I was wondering why the 851 archery tag is NOT a part of the hybrid draw, while the rifle tags are.
MatthewsMan - I wouldn't regret waiting either if I had a hunt like that! Being in my late 30's, I can absolutely wait 10 more years and still have what it takes to get after it. I may be speaking to the choir here, my only beef is the point creep. Maybe I am mistaken though, some comments on this thread seem to infer that point creep comes and goes, it's a product of us hunters (the market essentially) dictating what we're doing with our points.
re: 360 bull on OTC. I hear from many great hunters that the occasional big boys are in CO OTC units, I just have yet to see any in 15 years. Hopefully one day!
I'm new to bowsite, so if I have asked anybody to spill too much info I apologize. I just figured with the amount of points required for these units, it was harmless.
Burn the points and plan to hunt a solid elk hunt every 4 to 5 years in CO.
Play the off years on general/low point specific unit WY tag and lower demand AZ units, swing for the fence in NM for Gila units, with OTC CO elk only as a filler tag.
WY general tag/low point unit specific tags for archery and some of the low-demand AZ hunts/NM hunts can be as good or better than the best elk hunts in CO.
Build points for deer and try to get some good deer tags in the off years as well.
I tagged along with a bud 3yrs ago in 76 for a week. Difference was avg size bull was much better in 76.
Thank you everybody for the advice! This site is a great resource and I hope I can contribute some meaningful content.
The other hardcore hunters seem to still have great hunts and screaming bulls in OTC units. I hope I can get to that level one day.
Sorry to disagree with several guys on here, but 76 isn't worth dumping a lot of points on. Most folks don't tell you of the guys sneaking into 76 to chase elk, or the Southern Ute chasing elk in 76 cause they legally can. 76 gets hunted harder by guys without tags then guys with tags! Going into the Nuche takes money. Either bring your own horses in of have one of several outfitters drop camp you. Nine to twelve miles into the Nuche will put you in areas that don't get hunted from the guys going three to four miles in. Lots of outfiiters have camps right on the edge of 76, and kill bulls from camps just as they cross over. Seen it way too many times. A few outfitters have been fined when they've been caught with hunters in 76, and two oufitters lost permits because of this. Chasing bulls in 76 takes time and horses, really good horses. If I were to dump my points in 76, it'd be for a rifle permit, and I'd go in through Creede or Lake City, and pray it doesn't snow while I'm in there. A few years ago, I went in with a good friend and outfitter that had a first season gun tag. Snow was too deep to go where we wanted, horses were having a tough time, elk where moving through, and he ended up dumping a small bull just to punch a tag. We had snow a few years back in September over night, knocking down one tent, leaving the guys to swim their way out. Standing around the fire at 2 in the morning, praying for it to let up so we could saddle up and get out. Made for a long eight hour ride... Heck, even Jake Powell will tell you that 76 isn't what it used to be, and he outfitted in 76 for over 20 years!!
I'm anxiously awaiting draw results of course, anybody figure out the new backdoor yet?
