The Elk Thread

[jaker_cc]

Lol. Fingers crossed its my first choice for early archery, even though the moon will be brutal for that time period. My second choice was late rifle again, even though I said I wouldnt apply again to that hunt. Odds were so slim either way I didnt think it mattered lol.

with all you learned last season maybe that late hunt will be a different experience for you this round. Early archery on 0 points would be like hitting the lotto. Fingers dressed for you

[Bill]

Dang. That is right where I am scheduled to hunt this fall - hunt 799-21. I am not sure of the precise unit.

799-21 is hunting districts 702, 704, and 705, which are on the other side of a big state.

[diamond10x]

I just somehow doubled up on bull tags in AZ. Drew last year and just noticed another $650 charge from AZGF with only 1 point!

I need to start putting in as a group with this guy haha.

Will find out if I drew an AK roosevelt permit this Friday but I'm not banking on it.

[Snapperhead94]

Dang, no CC activity from Arizona today. Applied to Unit 1 with 19pts. Nephew got drawn for Youth cow so that'll be fun.

[MooseontheLoose]

No charges from AZ here either. Shot for the moon though, so wasn't expecting much.

[AZ&F'sDaddy]

Dang, no CC activity from Arizona today. Applied to Unit 1 with 19pts. Nephew got drawn for Youth cow so that'll be fun.

I also had 19 but just put in for another point. So, I will be competing with you next year for a tag with 20. Oh!-But, I will be doing their hunters safety course, so that will give me 21.

[RutnBuk]

CO potentially screwed me bad this year. The NR OTC archery closure is crap. Not going to burn 15pts in a 100% private unit just to get a tag. I hope the have enough tags to draw second choice, but rifle tags they don’t so Guess I may burn my points this year in a public unit. Waiting call back still on # of archery tags they will allocate to NR still, no one seems to know.

I guess on the bright side will be a cheaper year for me this year, depending on how many elk tags I draw.

They going after the non res hunters and all point collectors. Ive heard (not sure if its taking place this year or in the future) that even if you draw a 2nd choice list A tag they will be taking your points as well. They are also considering this even for the leftover draw. Any list A tag will clean your points out. They think this will help with their point creep issue.

[BTLowry]

They going after the non res hunters and all point collectors. Ive heard (not sure if its taking place this year or in the future) that even if you draw a 2nd choice list A tag they will be taking your points as well. They are also considering this even for the leftover draw. Any list A tag will clean your points out. They think this will help with their point creep issue.

I guess at least you drew an "A" list unit if you are going to lose your points vs just drew any tag.

Does suck for everyone that has been playing the game and just as you get set to score the winning point the game rules get changed

[RutnBuk]

I guess at least you drew an "A" list unit if you are going to lose your points vs just drew any tag.

Does suck for everyone that has been playing the game and just as you get set to score the winning point the game rules get changed

Yep. Im sitting on 26 elk points. Takes 28 for what I want. I hear theres a big change coming in 2028. So no matter what, 2027 Im cashing in.

[diamond10x]

No Roosevelt's tag for me, as I suspected. Dad did draw a Mountain Goat tag so looking forward to doing that with him.

Do all of you point high point holders been hunting elk over the years or just accumulating to hunt whatever unit it may be when you decide to cash them in?

[Snapperhead94]

I started purchasing points in AZ, NM, Utah, Colorado, etc about 23 years ago when my kids were born with the hopes that I'd go on some bucket list trips once they were out of the house. I've drawn a few over the years, accompanied others who drew and bought LO tags a few times but my intention was to be able to draw premier tags. I'm getting real close but point creep and changes really have me thinking about cashing in.

[James]

I have points all over the West, for the most part they’re overated IMO. I’m too deep in to stop applying/ buying points now though.

For example, Colorado - there is only three units that take 7-15 points to draw, and they’re taking one more point to draw each year. I have no problems with Colorado changes, and I’m sitting at 11 points. I have more confidence in the 0-2 point unit I have hunted several years than some of the double digit units I have never put boots on the ground in.

Arizona - struck out
Montana - tag I am ready to draw
New Mexico - wish I could draw every year. Landowner tags are outrageous.
UT and WY - I think I’m wasting money

Fingers crossed I am back in elk woods come September somewhere.

[jaker_cc]

I would love to see every state become a true draw, but it will never happen. Points are too valuable to the states selling them and there are far too many people already in line to start over now. I’ve been applying and drawing tags out west for 13 years and I’ve drawn some great tags. But it’s getting harder and harder to acquire even decent tags across the west than it used to be. The only way to assure quality tags is to play the points game if I’m this deep into the game. My other option is to move to a state that I can elk and deer hunt in. It’s their state and their rules, if I want to hunt there then that’s the game I’ve got to play.

The guys that have no elk hunting experience and a ton of points are the ones I’m worried about. Drawing a dream tag and having zero experience or knowledge would not be ideal for me.

[diamond10x]

The guys that have no elk hunting experience and a ton of points are the ones I’m worried about. Drawing a dream tag and having zero experience or knowledge would not be ideal for me.

This is what I wonder about a lot. Everyone is able to make their own choices as to what they want personally. I just have to wonder if it ever crosses guys minds that been accumulating for so many years but haven’t had any experience, how that tag they waited for so long going to work out remotely to their expectation or what have you.

Been playing across the west for a long time as well but have given up elk, deer, and antelope hunting for the time being unless I draw the near impossible odds I put in for. Often wonder to myself now if I draw one of those tags how long it’ll take for me to knock the rust off and hopefully not just **** away a great tag/opportunity.

[justletmein]

I'm gonna be in that boat with mule deer. Wife and I don't have a lot of points but each have 6 and 5 in both WY and CO. I've never hunted them and don't have any plans to for the next several years at least, probably have 10+ before I even try. Kinda concerned about burning 10 points and running around blind. I've seen one good one while Elk hunting and that's it, some doe here and there. Seen three monsters on BLM in February but I don't know how or where to hunt them. The good news is between the two of us that's 4 years of decent points so if I blow it the first year or two we still have two more to go. Still hate to waste the first two though.