I have 9 elk points in CO. I obviously won't get drawn in units 1, 2, and a few other select hunts but about anywhere else.

I'd like to do a wilderness type gun hunt with a chance to hunt mature 6 pts - I don't care what it scores. I should clarify 'wilderness' - it doesn't have to be in a designated wilderness area just don't want to deal with alot of people. I'd prefer DIY but would also consider a drop camp in a good area.

It doesn't seem to make much sense to keep collecting points. I'll never have enough to hunt the primo units/seasons so might as well hunt an area with a decent population of mature bulls while I can still do it on my own.

So... if you had 9 points, what you do?

1) what weapon - rifle, muzzleloader

2) what season

3) what units to consider

Thanks.

If I were in your shoes, I'd be thinking hard about an archery or muzzy hunt in unit 76. I don't know how many points to ensure a tag, but if you're not in it for a top-tier Colorado bull, and rather for the opportunity to chase mature bulls, it would be worth a shot.

Oh, and don't get me wrong, there are some great bulls in that unit...

Whoops... it looks like 2016 non-residents required 12 points for archery and 18 for muzzy. I had no idea it took that many points these days.

As you know 9 points won't get you into any premier area.

Anyone holding over 4 points needs to just go hunting, Not much diff between 4 and 15 points.

76 will be mentioned here, and its a good unit, not great but good.

For unit 76 in 2016,
Archery, 80 percent drew with 12 points.
Muzzle loader, 17 percent drew with 17 points.
Rifle was 50 percent with 14 points.

bwinters, you have 9 points, who else has points in your 'group'?

This a solo deal?

EL - yeah I saw that as well. Actually some hunts in units 20, 49, 61, 66, and 76 require more points than I have. I haven't archery hunted in ~ 10 years thanks for major shoulder surgery. I may start shooting again - I loved it and hunted almost exclusively with a bow for the preceding 10-12 years.

K - no one in my group has more than 4 pts so it might end up being solo hunter but with buddy going along for the ride. I'm sure he'd love to haul elk off the mountain <G>

Also agree on the 4 pts thing. I really had no plan and just kept putting in for points because they were/are free. Plus I've been killing elk in areas I've been hunting. I've managed to kill a couple 6pts and nice 5 in the last 5-6 years so I haven't really felt the need to go to a 'better' unit. It just seems senseless to keep acquiring points given I'll never get into the 15-20 point units/hunts. I am open to suggestions on about anything reasonable. Or just spend them on a 3-4-5 pt unit/hunt and move on.

For a rifle hunt in Southern Colorado 9 pts would be just a slightly short of what you would need to get a hunt in 76 or 61.

There are other options for sure but those are both good hunts and really great areas to see. 76 has actual designated wilderness but hunter numbers are kept manageable in both.

I'm thinking with 9 you would probably be looking at archery or muzzleloader, or 4th rifle (which could make that 6x6 hard to find).

I drew a CO 49 first rifle elk tag with 10 points in 2016 (50% NR drawn with 10 points). I killed a 6 point bull opening morning. The unit had good numbers of elk and good access. Even in the wilderness, getting where I needed to be wasn't that rough without horses. I was surprised by the number of folks I ran into, on foot in the woods, who were scouting the unit during first rifle to see if it was worth burning their points there…

I doubt I'll ever accumulate that many points again.

I think you are kind of i no mans land.To many for some mediocre areas,not enough for great areas.

I'd burn them for a ML bull tag in unit 12.

I have the same amount of elk pts but I also have 10 deer pts. I am burning 8 pts. in WY for elk this year and in 2018 I will use my WY deer pts. So I will have 11 or 12 pts by the time I use them for elk in CO. I will be definitely using those for a muzzleloader hunt and most likely in unit 67.

If you want to for sure draw this year I would look at muzzleloader in unit 4 or 48. Another one that is possible to draw for muzzleloader is unit 33 & unit 49.

I don't need to burn them. I see a couple of units that need 10-11-12. I'll likely just hang onto them for a couple more years. I also have the same number deer points.

If you don't need to burn them, don't you are in no man's land. Give it a few more years, no point in using them outside of 76, 61 2nd through 4th seasons.

I'm glad I'm out of that race. I just hunt elk, 1st rifle season for me.

Good Choice!

Me too, Bob.

With 10 points you're entering "no man's land" with few really good choices for spending that many points. As a NR you can't hunt RFW either, so you'll be in it for the long haul waiting to hunt something in the future.

And I wouldn't spend my points for a muzzy hunt in the flattops either as you'll need 11 points to "maybe" get in, but you'll be contending with a lot of "Cabela's Man" archers.

I'd say spend them in Unit 49 first rifle. There are only 80 tags available, it's a big unit and there are good elk numbers and good sized bulls. I know Unit 49 well and have hunted it many times.

Whoops.Didn't catch the NR part.

Wow! That stuff has gotten crazy! I hunted 49 twice with four points.

Be curious to see how bad the winter kill ends up being this year. If the current rate of snow continues, it could get ugly. Just saying that I would watch that carefully before burning up 9 points in 2017.