Colorado Hunting Thread

I drew a zero point 1st rifle elk tag (same tag I hunted last year). Nothing special, but it keeps a bit of the OTC crowd out.

 

Very lucky year for me. Drew cow moose on Tuesday with 7 points. Drew second choice muzzleloader deer and muzzleloader bull elk with 1 point on Wednesday. Drew rifle buck pronghorn today with 2 points. Going to be a busy summer of scouting and fall hunting that I'm looking forward to!

 

what do the points mean?

 

Very hard to answer this in a short message, but I'll try to explain from a high-level since I assume you aren't familiar with hunting from the question.

The states own the wildlife in the USA. The state wildlife agencies set tag limits and seasons to allow certain species to be hunted in certain areas of the state. In the west, the demand greatly exceeds supply for most of these tags, so there is a lottery system where everyone applies in a state for a chance at a hunting tag. Every state performs their draw in a different way and some are more complex than others.

In Colorado, if you are unsuccessful in drawing a tag in the lottery system, they issue you a preference point. This point gives you higher priority in the next year's draw for a chance at a hunting tag. If you are continually unsuccessful, these points add up. There are people with 25+ preference points in colorado that are apply for very coveted tags.

Hopefully this is helpful but happy to answer any more questions you have. It's a very complex system, but wildlife is doing very well in the USA compared to other parts of the world, so I'd say it's working!

 

That’s gonna be a busy 9 days of muzzleloader hunting

 

Yes it is. Luckily all 3 tags are in the same unit and I've hunted in it a couple times before for deer and elk. The cow moose is definitely the priority and the buck tag is just more of a cheap insurance policy in case I bump into one. I've only seen 1 buck in that unit down in a campground in 2 weeks of hunting and scouting.

 

cheers! I've only done OTC for small game and that was a few years back.

 

Page 3 (of the brochure, 11 of the PDF) under "Hunting Licenses Terms and Definitions" explains it pretty well.
https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/RulesRegs/Brochure/BigGame/biggame.pdf

 

FYSA:
Hunters invited to shooting range demonstration of non-lead ammunition by CPW at Cameo Shooting and Education Complex GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is inviting hunters to attend a range demonstration of non-lead ammunition at Cameo Shooting and Education Complex on Sat., June 8.

The event will start with a classroom learning session followed by a shooting range demonstration. Hunters will be given the chance to ask questions about hunting with non-lead ammunition and why they should consider making the switch. Sighted-in firearms will be provided. Hunters should not bring their own firearms to the demonstrations.

Demonstration Details:
When: Sat., June 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Cameo Shooting and Education Complex
3934 I 9/10 Rd, Palisade, CO 81526.

CPW, North American Non-Lead Partnership, The Peregrine Fund, National Wildlife Federation, and Sporting Lead-Free will be on hand to answer questions and provide education about the efficacy and benefits to wildlife of using nonlead ammo while hunting.

“This is a great opportunity for hunters to come out to learn more about non-lead ammo,” said Kristin Cannon, Northeast Deputy Regional Manager. “We had a great turnout at the Colorado Clays demonstration and are looking forward to the Cameo event.”

While these events are meant for hunters and education, media who are interested in attending the demonstration at Cameo must RSVP to Rachael Gonzales, Northwest Region PIO at rachael.gonzales@state.co.us no later than noon on Fri., June 7

 

Secondary draw is open until 6/28. The tag I applied for in Primary still had more than 20 “leftover”. I anticipate they’ll all get eaten up by Youth priority before I get a chance. Either way, got to pay our lovely state even more money for a chance to gamble. We’ll see.

 

This State sucks.

 

FYSA

 

Didn’t draw the tag in first draw. Saw quite a few in the secondary draw and of course no luck. Then leftovers come out Tuesday and third time was a charm. Finally got the tag. Either sex elk muzzy hunt

 

Banning the hunting of bobcat, lynx and mountain lion made the ballot? Whaaat... Thought it fell through?

 

This is like the 3rd time in the last 5 years lol. Colorado just keeps getting worse.

 

I don't think it's ever made the state ballot though

 

i remember them walking around olde town in Arvada asking for signatures and it didn't look like it was going well. Is the ban really necessary? I feel like the CPW would be on top of population control in either aspect.

 

I guess they finally got enough signatures.. What is somewhat misleading is it was pushed as "trophy hunting". My BIL as a guide has mountain lions hunted to better preserve the elk/deer population on the private land they guide on, on top of protecting the property owners livestock. I don't see that as strictly trophy hunting..

 

You’re correct. I worded my response poorly. I mainly meant they’ve been trying relentlessly the last few years even tho it kept getting shot down. Seemed it was almost inevitable to hit the ballot based on the political world we live in now.

 

Ah yeah.. been pushed for years. Same with the whole artificial insemination and life cycle of a cow before it's butchered