Can't figure out what to do for Colorado

[actionshooter]

I want to go hunt Co this year but can't figure out what I want to do. I have 5 points for deer and elk, don't necessarily need to use them up and would be ok to keep collecting points. I have a buddy with no points who wants to go and is ok hunting anything... he would be good with a cow tag.
Thinking maybe putting in for an impossible 1st choice and taking a 2nd, maybe an over the counter Elk tag?

What would you guys do?

[Karl Blanchard]

Every year you dont hunt CO is a year you didnt get to hunt CO.  So regardless of options (elk are dumb) you should not be sitting at home when you could have a tag in hand

[Skyvalhunter]

Colorado is a state built for quantity not quality. Not to say a nice bull if that's what you are looking for can't be found. But it is a state that allows opportunity. So if your friend wants to hunt and isn't looking for quality and you are willing to go then apply for one of the units you know best or the one with statistically the best chance to harvest an elk.

[Bucks2Ducks]

Every year you dont hunt CO is a year you didnt get to hunt CO.  So regardless of options (elk are dumb) you should not be sitting at home when you could have a tag in hand

At least elk run away, unlike mule deer that only go ten feet and stop to look at you

[Mtnwalker]

Your 5 elk points doesn’t get you much in CO, but I would spend those 5 deer points on a unit where your buddy can get an otc bull tag. Quite a few decent options

[actionshooter]

I was thinking about trying to draw a tag as a 2nd choice for 3rd season mule deer, to keep building points, but it looks like the odds really suck, A lot of decent tags can be drawn with 1-3 points on the 1st draw, what's the point of the 2nd option?.... I'm so confused...

I'm missing how easy Idaho is...

[Mtnwalker]

Colorado considers everybody’s 1st choice before any 2nd choice are drawn so basically 2nd choice is the leftovers from the first round. Usually units with high tag numbers or lots of private land. There are a few ok deer hunts available as 2nd choice but overall not much to get excited about. I learned the hard way that saving your points gets you nowhere as I’ve been losing ground the last 4 years on a few units I had my eye on, wish I would have burned my points 5 years ago. You could look at something like a 62 3rd for deer and your buddy can get an elk tag but you have lots of options

[meatwhack]

With the changes Colorado made are they still requiring the purchase of deer and elk tags to put in for the draw or just a small game licens now?

[grundy53]

Just a small game license

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[meatwhack]

Cool thanks I gotta get that done in the next couple days.

[cardinalguns]

And that small game license plus habitat stamp will run you $91.75 before you even get to the big game selections.

What an effing ripoff. If it weren't for family there and my holding 14 points, I would give the state of CO my middle finger.

[Karl Blanchard]

It's less expensive to point build than most states.  It could be a 140+ license like most western states

[meatwhack]

It seems like it’s pretty close still to what it used to cost if you were doing deer and elk. I’m never good at keeping track of exactly what it was after the refund before.

[cardinalguns]

It's less expensive to point build than most states.  It could be a 140+ license like most western states

It is better this year- they don't stick you for the whole license cost and use your money to build interest until June. They charge the preference point fee (TRIPLE what it used to be) and you get charged for the license if you draw.

And by the way, my antelope tag for WY cost me $34.

[Karl Blanchard]

To get deer, elk, and antelope points in WY as a non resident its $120. It's only $117 in CO.