Changes coming to CO draws

Starting in 2028 50% of all elk, deer and pronghorn tags will be going to highest preference point holders.
However the big change will be 50% of all tags will be going in a random draw where preference points won’t matter.
Another big change will be all tag splits now will be 75% resident and 25% nonresident. Other than the big 3 units in the past the percentages have been 65% resident and 35% nonresident.
A couple of key takeaways from this news are.

1 Point creep is going to get insanely worse than what it already is.

2 Units that a newer hunter once thought they never could draw will have a chance to draw on the random side of the draw. Some of the units that would fall into this are 2, 10, 201, 40, 49, 61 and 76.

Keep in mind there is no more OTC Archery elk for nonresidents either.

When I started building points 12 years ago for elk it took 10 points for unit 76 archery elk. Last year it had 28% success at drawing with 18 points for nonresidents. Point creep is a terrible thing across much of the west.

I am officially getting out of all western draws. I could draw a random tag (I haven’t done it in 14 years yet) but I will never catch up on the preference point side. I have been in the Utah draw for 14 years and I just can’t catch up to point creep for any elk units and a booke cliffs muley tag.

Units 2 & 10 in just a couple years creeped from 21 to 31 pnts. I’m back up to about 14 on elk. I will never in my lifetime draw the species/units I want. Sad part is if I do a 1st rifle or muzzle in most of the other units I go to, I’ll burn 14 for what I could have done with 6

I’m going to be applying in hopes to be drawn on the random side.
It does stink they make it very tough to get a non resident tag but I kind of get it.

I would like to see it split for Private & state land Vs National forest and price the tags accordingly. I get having a resident tilt of the scale towards hunting on state owned land and of coarse private. But BLM programs and National Forest is all of our tax money at work – not just local.

I’m not sure how things work with tags and what not but how is it that friends of mine can go on a rifle Colorado elk hunt every year? These are guided hunts and they have almost a 100% success rate. Just curious.

walleyesforme wrote:

I’m not sure how things work with tags and what not but how is it that friends of mine can go on a rifle Colorado elk hunt every year? These are guided hunts and they have almost a 100% success rate. Just curious.

Over the counter tags and in Colorado, landowners can sell their private landowner tags

walleyesforme wrote:

I’m not sure how things work with tags and what not but how is it that friends of mine can go on a rifle Colorado elk hunt every year? These are guided hunts and they have almost a 100% success rate. Just curious.

Colorado still has 2nd and 3rd season rifle tags that are in OTC units for residents and non residents.
All archery OTC units are now draw for non residents.

Full draw wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>walleyesforme wrote:</div>
I’m not sure how things work with tags and what not but how is it that friends of mine can go on a rifle Colorado elk hunt every year? These are guided hunts and they have almost a 100% success rate. Just curious.

Colorado still has 2nd and 3rd season rifle tags that are in OTC units for residents and non residents.
All archery OTC units are now draw for non residents.

Which seems ass backwards

For the record, it won’t be going to the “other” 50% of non resident tags to a true random draw like NM, but will be more of a bonus point system vs the preference points. Technically someone with little or no points will have a chance, but the odds will still be slim vs if you have a few points.

waldo9190 wrote:

For the record, it won’t be going to the “other” 50% of non resident tags to a true random draw like NM, but will be more of a bonus point system vs the preference points. Technically someone with little or no points will have a chance, but the odds will still be slim vs if you have a few points.

That is correct. I missed that part when I posted

walleyesforme wrote:

I’m not sure how things work with tags and what not but how is it that friends of mine can go on a rifle Colorado elk hunt every year? These are guided hunts and they have almost a 100% success rate. Just curious.

$$$$$
Buying LO tags and/or paying for access.
I agree with Randy Federal land should be open to everyone for a random tag.

The courts have ruled that the state is to manage the wildlife for its residents. Basically saying the wildlife in the state belong to the residents not non residents. Who owns the land has no bearing.

Keep in mind 25% of the tags in Colorado going to non residents is the best any western state offers. Lots of states are at a 10% allotment for non residents.