Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Where would you start buying points

Ranching for Wildlife tags in CO are for residents only

Lot of good advice here, thanks.

A few things: I know I can hunt and be successful and "go every year" by using OTC tags etc. That's not what I want. I took a CO cow last year and scratched the itch of just getting an elk. I don't desire to go every year.

Saving money and paying for the NM Ranch hunt might be the better idea... However, does it feel like the traditional elk hunt you read about in the magazines, etc?

I have been applying to PA every year for the last 8 years. I figure I started young enough, and if I stay healthy, eventually I'll draw there. But that's a long shot. It's also not the traditional elk hunt that I'd be after.

Again thanks for all the great suggestions. I'll start researching all of the suggestions!

-jake

The public ones are, but not the ones controlled by outfitters. They are for anyone putting out the money.

New Mexico ranches are just like hunting on public. If they have elk, they are in pretty country. The only difference, is that you are guaranteed access and a permit. Some charge quite a bit, though, which is just economics, as people are willing to throw them the money. Many sell all of the access to outfitters, but I think that you can still find some on your own. Game and FIsh may even help you.

Tough to tell what things will be like in 10 years. Wyoming is a solid bet and so is Utah if you don't mind waiting more than 10 years.

16 years ago I started applying in Utah. At that time the area I was after took about 10-12 points, obviously mucho higher than that now as I still haven't drawn. Well, maybe this year...

An area that takes 10 points now will likely be in the high teens 10 years from now.

I'd save $100 a month and just buy a landowner tag in a good unit when you could afford it. Seems like most states offer those and it would eliminate donating money to 5 or 6 states and hoping to draw someday.

Buying a RFW/CWMU/Landowner tag is probably the best way to go if you intend this to be a once or maybe even twice lifetime thing. If you want to go more, build points in lots of states and be sure to apply every year to the ones that don't have point systems (ID, NM).

Learn to archery hunt.

Over the counter baby.......over the counter.

Saddlesore
I think you hit it on the head, Colorado hybrid (or welfare point system) was a sucky way to cheat the people with years invested in attempting to get a tag. If only 9 tags were available and they pull one of two for welfare tags, your odds really change. This is what happens when the bean counters are pushed to come up with more and more money.