2019 Blowout Hunting Season

[GoldenRing270]

The 2019 season will be my last big blowout hunting season before becoming a school teacher. I imagine after that I will be lucky to hunt weekends for the first few years. The time has come to burn the out of state points. I currently have 9 preference points for Colorado deer and elk. I also have 8 points for Wyoming deer. I am hoping to get some advice from some of you who have experience hunting these states. I am really just looking for general information on which tags would be smart to apply for. I did a bunch of research a couple years ago on different units/ draw odds but I have a feeling it has all changed and without having ever hunted either state it is an overwhelming decision to say the least. This will be a DIY hunt. I am open to any type of hunting... high country, sage, timber. It really doesn't matter but it is important that the dates line up so that I can make it happen in one big trip. I'm planning to make a 2-3 week trip driving over and hunting both states. I'm not sure if I should try to draw all 3 tags or just focus on a couple. At the very least I would like to burn the points for deer in both states. I wouldn't mind hanging on to the elk points and continuing to accumulate them with hopes of making a future trip. The logistics of throwing elk into the mix seems like it could be a bit over the top but it would be cool to make all 3 happen if possible. I am planning on making some phone calls to biologist and trying to dig up the draw odd info but I figured it wouldn't hurt to start here at hunt-wa. To give an idea of what I am looking for in the hunt... I enjoy getting away from crowds/roads. I love to hike in the backcountry but lately I have been running into issues with my knees on super steep stuff. I'm looking for something with 100 percent draw odds based on the number of points I have because waiting until 2020 is not an option if I don't get lucky. It doesn't have to be a premier trophy unit but I don't want to "waste" the points on an overcrowded crummy tag either. Although I would love to have a chance at a monster, mostly I just want to explore some new country and see some deer and have a decent chance at a mature buck. September/October would probably work best as I am sure camping 3 weeks in November could be brutal and I put in for November WA tags but I am open to it as well. My preference is rifle but I also have a muzzleloader. So based on all of this info, What would you do? Any info that you can share would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[Stein]

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[bobcat]

I don't know anything about Colorado but in Wyoming, your 8 deer points, even though it seems like a lot, won't get you much. You could draw a Region G deer tag which would be good if you want to hunt in mid-September and if you're in shape to backpack into the high country. The only other one I personally know of that would be a good hunt with 8 points would be the type 2 tag in unit 119. There is also a type 1 tag with a better season (November 1st) but it took 12 points to draw last year. The type 2 has about an 80% success rate but the season is October 1st so it's not as good as the type 1 season. Your other option with your 8 points would be apply with 2 or 3 friends for one of the regional deer tags, which most of them, other than Regions G & H, can be drawn with 2 points or less.

[idaho guy]

I have never hunted either state wish I had info for you. Go All out!! I did that one fall in Montana before I graduated college since I knew I would have to get a job!  :chuckle:and maybe move out of state. I hunted my butt off and I am so glad I did. It was over 25 years ago and still one of my best hunting years ever. Have a great season

[huntnnw]

definitely wouldn't burn that many points on Sept/October deer hunts unless you can get a early Sept hunt. There is a transition period in Sept where the bucks move out of alpine where once very visible becomes a very tough hunt when that happens. There are a few CO high hunts in Sept, but they take a lot of points for the better units such as unit 74 and 82 are up to 14 or so points to draw.   Id be looking at November hunts or just hang onto the points and accumulate more and do OTC units and still make a trip to states without burning points.

[Bigshooter]

I would apply for Region G in WY.  Maybe unit 43 in CO for the early rifle hunt.  But I'm not sure you would draw.

[GoldenRing270]

Thanks for the replies. What I may end up doing is just hunting deer in Wyoming this year and continuing to build points for Colorado deer and elk. It seems simpler to just make one big trip to one general area and spend 2-3 weeks. Plus I could buy an Idaho tag and make a separate trip to hunt there.

I did some digging today focusing on Wyoming and it looks like I could draw unit 141, 117 and potentially unit 125 if I did the special draw.  Region G sounds good but it seems like it could get really crowded. I could potentially hunt the entire season if needed though. I left messages with a couple of bio's today to get a better idea on units 141 and 125.

I've had a great time hunting the Washington general rifle season so an October hunt doesn't discourage me even though I understand it will be tougher to find deer. A limited entry October tag in Wyoming must be hands down better than fighting the Washington pumpkin patch right?

[deerhuntr4885]

Yes it is.  I would do the region G hunt and pack in for the season.  You should be able to do well.  Remember you need a resident or guide for a lot of that unit  there are great bucks outside the wilderness as well.

[Karl Blanchard]

The good is you can draw one of literally a dozen killer 3rd season or 4th season tags in CO.  Any of which will be vastly better than any of the premier WA draw tags. 

The bad is you are in a tough spot in Wyoming where those 8pts dont buy you much over some much lower point units.  G is all I'd be looking at with those points

[bobcat]

I wouldn't use your points on 125, deer numbers are low and not much quality. I think 141 would be a good hunt and you could draw if you pay the extra for the special draw. Hunting pressure would certainly be less than with the general Region G tag.

[jjhunter]

Yes it is.  I would do the region G hunt and pack in for the season.  You should be able to do well.  Remember you need a resident or guide for a lot of that unit  there are great bucks outside the wilderness as well.

You are thinking of H; no wilderness in G

[Mtnwalker]

The good is you can draw one of literally a dozen killer 3rd season or 4th season tags in CO.  Any of which will be vastly better than any of the premier WA draw tags. 

The bad is you are in a tough spot in Wyoming where those 8pts dont buy you much over some much lower point units.  G is all I'd be looking at with those points

I also have 9 pts in CO... I’d like to hear more about these killer tags