Colorado Draw Changes

[Gerald G]

If I’m reading this correctly, I have just as good a chance of drawing an elk tag as someone with 12-15 or more preference points.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/

[Gerald G]

I currently have 2 points and haven’t applied for another point in a couple of years.

[simek]

Not correct.

Pool 1 - Preference Point Draw: Only max point holders or near max point holders will draw. Unless you are a max point holder or near max point holder, you will not draw from this pool. It is possible to have zero chances to draw in this pool.

Pool 2 - Bonus Point Draw: Your chance of drawing increases as your number of points increases. You are not as likely to draw as someone with more points than you, but you have a better chance than someone with fewer points than you. You always have a chance, albeit it may be very small and will always be a function of others that are in this pool

So, an accurate statement is...As a max point holder, in pool 1, I have just as good a chance of drawing an elk tag as someone else with max points. Furthermore, in pool 2, I always have a non-zero chance to draw in this pool, and that chance is (a) better than someone with fewer points than I have, (b) just as good as someone with with the same number of points as I have, and (c) worse than someone with more points than I have

Max point holders still have the best chance of getting a tag, albeit, their chances are now less better. Also keep in mind that, as always, everything stated above is also contingent upon residency. That is, before any draw happens, the tags are split 75/25 resident/non-resident.

[easeup]

I suppose everyone's case is a litle different as to what your chances are. A guy with no points just had the Berlin wall taken down. The guy with 25 yrs of building points just got the finger. But either way if you are a non-resident your chances are still not that good; but better than they were.

the govment gives and the govment takes away.

[Killer]

The Golden age of hunting public land in Colorado has come and gone that is for sure. We may need a lawyer to apply for tags!

[Gerald G]

Thanks for the clarification simek

[WItoTX]

I will say, I give Colorado credit for allocating 25% of tags to non-residents. That is massively more than any other state. And something did need to be done about OTC hunters. We were successful, but man it was like white tail hunting on public land in Wisconsin. Getting up at 4 am, and hearing 4wheelers is a little ridiculous. 16 different camps at the trail head, and a half dozen camps the first 5-6 miles of the walk in, its just too much pressure, and the elk respond.

Personally, I am no fan of the new "draw" but hopefully it alleviates some pressure in the elk woods in September. This will make CO a better elk hunting state.

FWIW, my understanding is this new draw doesn't take effect until 2026, next year is just removal of OTC units.

[simek]

I will say, I give Colorado credit for allocating 25% of tags to non-residents. That is massively more than any other state. And something did need to be done about OTC hunters. We were successful, but man it was like white tail hunting on public land in Wisconsin. Getting up at 4 am, and hearing 4wheelers is a little ridiculous. 16 different camps at the trail head, and a half dozen camps the first 5-6 miles of the walk in, its just too much pressure, and the elk respond.

Personally, I am no fan of the new "draw" but hopefully it alleviates some pressure in the elk woods in September. This will make CO a better elk hunting state.

FWIW, my understanding is this new draw doesn't take effect until 2026, next year is just removal of OTC units.

The changes will take effect in 2028.

[WItoTX]

One other thing I would add. I met one of the committee members in the elk woods last fall. He told us flat out he was on the committee. He was very blunt, said too many out of staters are coming, in addition to the Colorado residents. He made the point that of all the trucks at the trail head. And I pointed out that yeah, when you only have two OTC units, that is where people are going to go. He agreed, and said CPW should not have reduced OTC units like they did, but elk numbers were dropping in those units.

We disagreed on many points, but at the end of the day, we agreed that there was far too much pressure in the woods, that guys like him and us, who go in 10-15 miles are now seeing pressure we've never seen before, and something needs to change. Elk coming in silent, cows jumping way sooner than usual, reduced calf rates. All those are points of agreement.

Where we disagreed was, look how much money comes from out of state. Me and my buddy alone spend $6k, including tags (I had a hub fail on my truck which was ~$1,000), we stayed in hotels the first and last night, and we went to local restaurants, bars, outdoor shops, bought souvenirs, etc...he claimed that didn't have a big effect, but talking with a few locals in town, they agreed hunters bring in a lot of money. Even in liberal Crested Butte. In the end, the committee was told not to consider financial implications, which I think would have changed the final draw process if it was considered. We also disagreed as to out of staters being the issue. Colorado plates were 75% of the trucks at the trail head, and out of staters don't typically know where to hunt like locals.