The Elk Thread

[AZ&F'sDaddy]

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.

I'm in the same boat. Frustrating. I am cashing in my points in MT this year for a private land elk hunt; I have way more points than I need to draw. Next year? I had thought that I would finally try to draw in AZ, but maybe I should do the best I can with what I have in CO. I would be interested to know what you end up doing, Snapperhead.

[AZ&F'sDaddy]

I'm in the same boat. Frustrating. I am cashing in my points in MT this year for a private land elk hunt; I have way more points than I need to draw. Next year? I had thought that I would finally try to draw in AZ, but maybe I should do the best I can with what I have in CO. I would be interested to know what you end up doing, Snapperhead.

Anyone? Any thoughts? Developments?

[jaker_cc]

I think points are losing value across the west. In my opinion draw and hunt what you can draw now. I don’t see any changes coming that will benefit the non resident with a pile of points.

[justletmein]

States have learned they can rake in a pile of cash from people who don't even go hunt, it's free money for them.

[wytex]

I'd say put in for the better licenses even if you don't have the PPs to draw and have a chance in the random draw in Wyoming.
Meanwhile you could be hunting cow elk almost every year if you wanted to while waiting to draw that bull license.
Our reduced price cow licenses are not a bad deal.

[Texans42]

Anyone? Any thoughts? Developments?

CO decrease in NR tag % are going to hurt, it’s going to jump PP creep even more, eventually they are going to implement PP burn for 2nd choice also. I’m trying to burn 15 pts this year, as my main unit went to NR draw and they don’t even know how many tags will be allocated to NR, so I doubt I’ll draw 2nd going forward. So I put in for a good unit I should draw w/15. Key being should.

[diamond10x]

At this point in the game across the west you're danged if you do and danged if you don't. Reminds me of the old adage of timing the market so you buy low and sell high but it never really works out that way it seems. States are moving to try and price out/squeeze out the NR hunter and so its really just how much you're willing to hold onto those points, pick up second choice tags, or burn them knowing they're going to be gone before you can cash them in for what you had originally planned.

Hunting as a NR is not high on the list for me at this point in my life so I'm holding out and will continue my strategy of basically swinging for the fences in every state for the foreseeable future and if I get screwed so be it. Can't win if you don't play.

[Texans42]

At this point in the game across the west you're danged if you do and danged if you don't. Reminds me of the old adage of timing the market so you buy low and sell high but it never really works out that way it seems. States are moving to try and price out/squeeze out the NR hunter and so its really just how much you're willing to hold onto those points, pick up second choice tags, or burn them knowing they're going to be gone before you can cash them in for what you had originally planned.

Hunting as a NR is not high on the list for me at this point in my life so I'm holding out and will continue my strategy of basically swinging for the fences in every state for the foreseeable future and if I get screwed so be it. Can't win if you don't play.

Hard to argue that!!! Good news is some one always draws the OIL or LE tag

[Snapperhead94]

Anyone? Any thoughts? Developments?

Thought I'd draw Arz archery but it didn't happen. Nephew got a youth, cow hunt in Unit 10 so we'll do that. Hate the idea of dumping points because of what might happen. Think I'll continue my plan for the other states, keep building points for Colorado mule deer and cash in Colorado elk whenever. Problem I have for Colorado Elk is many units only require a few points, but I'll never catch up for 2, 10 etc. I'm caught in the middle.

[AZ&F'sDaddy]

Thought I'd draw Arz archery but it didn't happen. Nephew got a youth, cow hunt in Unit 10 so we'll do that. Hate the idea of dumping points because of what might happen. Think I'll continue my plan for the other states, keep building points for Colorado mule deer and cash in Colorado elk whenever. Problem I have for Colorado Elk is many units only require a few points, but I'll never catch up for 2, 10 etc. I'm caught in the middle.

Same for me. I have 19 points for elk in Colorado. We should sue the state.

[James]

0 for 3 on elk states, back to the drawing board.
Montana and NM are posted. Congrats to who drew

[Bulldawg87]

Nothing in NM draw here on Elk or Muley. Now I will have to wait for my second opportunity in NM with landowner tags and see what I get there. Hoping for at least one archery tag still.

[solocam_aggie]

4 red bars for me. Oh well. Took a new position at work that's going to be pretty demanding this first year. Im not too heartbroken.

Seen where Jaker's wife hit the NM jackpot!

[Texans42]

Nothing in NM draw here on Elk or Muley. Now I will have to wait for my second opportunity in NM with landowner tags and see what I get there. Hoping for at least one archery tag still.

Same boat, daughter drew Youth deer though.

[Texans42]

4 red bars for me. Oh well. Took a new position at work that's going to be pretty demanding this first year. Im not too heartbroken.

Seen where Jaker's wife hit the NM jackpot!

She draw DBHS or RMBHS?