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Big Game Hunting => Out Of State Hunting => Topic started by: WapitiTalk1 on July 09, 2019, 10:54:58 AM


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Title: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: WapitiTalk1 on July 09, 2019, 10:54:58 AM
Just saw this came out.  Provided FYI. 

https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Commission/2019/July/Item.16-BGSS.Final.Recs-July.2019.PWC.pdf (https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Commission/2019/July/Item.16-BGSS.Final.Recs-July.2019.PWC.pdf)
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on July 09, 2019, 11:11:24 AM
Not a fan at all
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Bigshooter on July 09, 2019, 11:25:35 AM
 :yike:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on July 09, 2019, 11:56:06 AM
After next year I will be done with CO rifle hunting. Cant take a week that close to Thanksgiving and 2nd season is a freaking wed-Tues season. Cant split weeks so that season is out.  Very frustrating
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: idahohuntr on July 09, 2019, 01:42:46 PM
This change will definitely upend the points system...those 3rd seasons are like current 4th seasons...so I expect the 3rd season tag I've been after is going to be out of reach now.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: opdinkslayer on July 09, 2019, 06:00:45 PM
The big bucks are gonna take a beating & Colorado quality will suffer in the long run :twocents:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on July 09, 2019, 06:44:28 PM
The big bucks are gonna take a beating & Colorado quality will suffer in the long run :twocents:
for the life of me I cant figure out this move. It makes zero sense across the board
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: opdinkslayer on July 09, 2019, 06:51:01 PM
They are getting advice from Washington F&G?🤷‍♂️ :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: mburrows on July 09, 2019, 08:09:32 PM
My buddy and I have 3 points, planning on CO in 2020. how do you think this will effect the draw next year? Bummer to hear it puts a damper on your plans, you guys have done really well out there Karl
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: BULLBLASTER on July 09, 2019, 08:27:35 PM
The big bucks are gonna take a beating & Colorado quality will suffer in the long run :twocents:
for the life of me I cant figure out this move. It makes zero sense across the board
Wasn’t their reasoning for adjusting it to reduce pressure without costing much opportunity? Doesn’t really make sense to move all the pressure closer to the peak rut.

The residents may not like it since there is only one weekend in each season. It’ll be interesting to see if lots of point holders cash out in 2021 3rd season hunts too. Wouldn’t think it would cause too much prolonged creep though
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: mp.hunter on July 10, 2019, 07:46:25 AM
I will have 7 points in ‘21, probably burn those then myself with everyone else.


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Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: sjhgraysage on July 10, 2019, 04:04:05 PM
I thought I saw something about Colorado wanting to kill more buck deer to possibly help control the spread of CWD
I don't know if that is fact though?
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: idaho guy on July 10, 2019, 05:54:57 PM
It’s my fault after years of thinking about it I finally put in and boom they screw up season structure  :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: meatwhack on July 10, 2019, 10:17:19 PM
I wouldn’t say they’re screwed up. The dates are actually better for most of them.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: greenhead_killer on July 11, 2019, 06:38:53 AM
I’ve got 8 pets riding into this new series of dates. Still probably won’t get me the 4th season tag I’ve been chasing, oh well.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Bigshooter on July 12, 2019, 07:24:03 AM
I thought I saw something about Colorado wanting to kill more buck deer to possibly help control the spread of CWD
I don't know if that is fact though?

 :yeah:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Mr Mykiss on July 18, 2019, 09:56:11 PM
I’ve got 8 pets riding into this new series of dates. Still probably won’t get me the 4th season tag I’ve been chasing, oh well.
Me too but from all da hubbub it sounds like 4th is the new 5th and 3rd is the new 4th so just adjust accordingly:)
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Bigshooter on July 19, 2019, 07:58:55 PM
I have 15pts.  I'm going to have to decide if I want to try for a 4th season tag next year or a 3rd season tag the following year.  4th season is to late for me starting in 2021.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: BeerBugler on July 19, 2019, 08:12:22 PM
Seems like a good deal for guides, outfitters, private land owners and people with enough money to buy landowner tags. Going to make it tough for DIY non resident rifle hunters though. By the time your 3rd season tag starts most deer will be on private. A week is a completely different hunt when your talking about migrating mule deer.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: actionshooter on July 20, 2019, 09:03:44 AM
Damn, glad I burned my points this year.... Its going to be tough in the future.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Bigshooter on July 20, 2019, 02:54:10 PM
They were approved yesterday with some small changes.

Commission approved a new rifle season structure for deer and elk west of I-25. Here's what it looks like with 2020 dates:

5 day first rifle elk only, starting first Saturday after Oct. 9: Oct. 10-14, 2020

9 day second combined deer and elk starting on Saturday 14 days after start of 1st: Oct. 24-Nov. 1, 2020

7 day third combined deer and elk starting on Saturday 14 days after start of 2nd: Nov. 7-13, 2020

5 day fourth combined deer and elk starting on Wednesday 11 days after start of 3rd: Nov. 18-22, 2020
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Bigshooter on July 20, 2019, 02:58:13 PM
2021 2nd season will be October 30 - November 7th.  That's close to 3rd season dates this year.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 25, 2019, 04:16:09 AM
I liked the first option better.  To be honest, there’s WAY too many out of state hunters in CO. Most residents wish they would make elk a draw for all out of state guys. Not trying to bash out of state hunters, but most residents try to stay away from the OTC seasons because it’s just too damn crowded for elk, and the state completely screwed up the draw system, so now there’s going to be tons of point creep.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 25, 2019, 07:14:54 AM
I liked the first option better.  To be honest, there’s WAY too many out of state hunters in CO. Most residents wish they would make elk a draw for all out of state guys. Not trying to bash out of state hunters, but most residents try to stay away from the OTC seasons because it’s just too damn crowded for elk, and the state completely screwed up the draw system, so now there’s going to be tons of point creep.
you guys have THEEE best otc elk and no points/low points mule deer hunting in the lower 48. If a resident isn't having good hunts every year that is on them not non residents.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 25, 2019, 08:22:21 AM
I liked the first option better.  To be honest, there’s WAY too many out of state hunters in CO. Most residents wish they would make elk a draw for all out of state guys. Not trying to bash out of state hunters, but most residents try to stay away from the OTC seasons because it’s just too damn crowded for elk, and the state completely screwed up the draw system, so now there’s going to be tons of point creep.
you guys have THEEE best otc elk and no points/low points mule deer hunting in the lower 48. If a resident isn't having good hunts every year that is on them not non residents.

It’s not a matter of having good hunts, it’s a matter of fighting the crowds, which have gotten ridiculous.  Look at what you posted, of course we have the best OTC elk tags and low point deer tags.  That leads to WAY too many hunters. Not only that, when they changed the point system, point creep started skyrocketing.   Heres the interesting thing though, most the guys I know get their elk every year, and most of that is on private land, so the published success rates are very skewed.  I was talking to my neighbor the other day, and two years ago in an area that had almost zero pressure the previous 10 years, they counted 31 horses go by. And that was 4 miles into the wilderness area. Most locals won’t hunt the OTC unit’s, and they rely on the draw, returned tags, land owner tags, etc.  BTW.  Around 90,000 out of state hunters come to hunt CO every year.  You can’t even get away from the crowds in the wilderness areas.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: cem3434 on August 25, 2019, 09:09:15 AM
They should be thanking all of the out of state hunters for paying to manage Colorado's game and the game department.  Without all of those out of state monies, the game populations and opportunities probably wouldn't be as good as they are now. It always pisses me off when local hunters complain about how "your" local spot has gotten harder to hunt due to out of states. Find a new place or go deeper, but stop whining about your honey hole going away and blaming the out of state hunter who are probably funding a large majority of Colorado's  game management.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 25, 2019, 10:51:04 AM
It’s not that there are out of state hunters, it’s the quantity and the OTC tags.  Most residents would much rather they double our tag fees, and put out of state hunters in a draw.  Colorado has 280,000 elk, and they sell about 225,000 elk tags.  About 80,000 to non residents.  Roughly 35% of all big game hunters in CO are out of state hunters.  That’s a bit ridiculous.   And if you think you can “just go deeper” then you haven’t hunted CO’s OTC elk season.  This is the land of horses and wall tents.  Like I said, everyone is happy to have out of state hunters, it’s the numbers that people have a problem with.  That, and the fact that they made changes to the application process, which caused major point creep.  Residents who have hunted draw units where they could draw every year, or worse case, every other year, are starting to have to wait 3-4 years to draw the same units, and the Hunting didn’t get any better.  That reduced opportunity is what is pissing a lot of guys off.  I don’t like that they are pushing the seasons back, but if it reduces the number of out of state hunters due to increased snow and bad weather, Im all for it! 
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: cem3434 on August 25, 2019, 11:07:03 AM
Your response is exactly the whining I'm talking about and pushing the seasons isn't going to keep anyone from coming there to hunt. You want to have your cake and eat it too. The 35% of non residents bring in over 50% of the department annual revenue from sales. Are you really so ignorant to think that the average hunter would support significant  resident increases to minimize out of state hunters? Trust me if the State thought that they could get that money out of the average CO resident hunter, then it would have already happened.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 25, 2019, 12:14:14 PM
I stand by my statement. Residents act like they are the only ones who have to deal with NR. Guess what, NR affect NR hunters hunts too. For a decade I've been hunting CO, and in the "crappy" units with all the tags and NR hunters and never once have I had an issue finding a killing very quality animals. So like I said before, if a guy isn't filling tags and having a good hunt he need only look in the mirror to see the issue. 

People in general like to complain and blame others for their short comings. There's too many non residents so that's the issue.  Then when that gets capped and their tag fee's double they will scream about that as well. And leta not forget about the endless list of small towns who would become abandoned ghost towns or reduced to a few meth labs without the MILLIONS that NR hunters bring to those economies 🤦‍♂️
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 25, 2019, 12:20:16 PM
I stand by my statement. Residents act like they are the only ones who have to deal with NR. Guess what, NR affect NR hunters hunts too. For a decade I've been hunting CO, and in the "crappy" units with all the tags and NR hunters and never once have I had an issue finding a killing very quality animals. So like I said before, if a guy isn't filling tags and having a good hunt he need only look in the mirror to see the issue. 

People in general like to complain and blame others for their short comings. There's too many non residents so that's the issue.  Then when that gets capped and their tag fee's double they will scream about that as well. And leta not forget about the endless list of small towns who would become abandoned ghost towns or reduced to a few meth labs without the MILLIONS that NR hunters bring to those economies 🤦‍♂️

Are you aware of the application changes and what it’s done to the point system?  BTW. Killing elk isnt the problem.  And something tells me you don’t kill an elk every year like you claim. 
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 25, 2019, 12:28:38 PM
I stand by my statement. Residents act like they are the only ones who have to deal with NR. Guess what, NR affect NR hunters hunts too. For a decade I've been hunting CO, and in the "crappy" units with all the tags and NR hunters and never once have I had an issue finding a killing very quality animals. So like I said before, if a guy isn't filling tags and having a good hunt he need only look in the mirror to see the issue. 

People in general like to complain and blame others for their short comings. There's too many non residents so that's the issue.  Then when that gets capped and their tag fee's double they will scream about that as well. And leta not forget about the endless list of small towns who would become abandoned ghost towns or reduced to a few meth labs without the MILLIONS that NR hunters bring to those economies 🤦‍♂️

Are you aware of the application changes and what it’s done to the point system?  BTW. Killing elk isnt the problem.  And something tells me you don’t kill an elk every year like you claim.
never claimed to kill an elk every year. I seldom even buy an elk tag. I'm a mule deer guy. But EVERY SINGLE SEASON I see bulls I could shoot. EVERY single year.

Yeah I'm tracking the app changes and creep is no more an issue now as it was 5 years ago. That's just the name of the game in every state. WY is even worse.  I personally liked paying my cash up front and wish it was still that way but it's not, so I adapt, look for draw trend changes and get out ahead of it.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 25, 2019, 12:33:52 PM
The new applicants into the system from 2 years ago have ZERO affect on the guy with 3 or more points. And the vast majority of those new players arent even applying for points. They got in because it was cheap. The. We small game license requirement nuked quite a bit of those guys.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: cem3434 on August 25, 2019, 12:48:48 PM
I stand by my statement. Residents act like they are the only ones who have to deal with NR. Guess what, NR affect NR hunters hunts too. For a decade I've been hunting CO, and in the "crappy" units with all the tags and NR hunters and never once have I had an issue finding a killing very quality animals. So like I said before, if a guy isn't filling tags and having a good hunt he need only look in the mirror to see the issue. 

People in general like to complain and blame others for their short comings. There's too many non residents so that's the issue.  Then when that gets capped and their tag fee's double they will scream about that as well. And leta not forget about the endless list of small towns who would become abandoned ghost towns or reduced to a few meth labs without the MILLIONS that NR hunters bring to those economies 🤦‍♂️

Are you aware of the application changes and what it’s done to the point system?  BTW. Killing elk isnt the problem.  And something tells me you don’t kill an elk every year like you claim.

From the sounds of, neither do you and that's why you're pissy. I think Karl is spot on and you're just bitching to bitch at this point because you have yet to make any valid points on how non residents adversely impact CO other than "over crowding" of your PUBLIC LAND hunting spots.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 25, 2019, 12:52:28 PM
I stand by my statement. Residents act like they are the only ones who have to deal with NR. Guess what, NR affect NR hunters hunts too. For a decade I've been hunting CO, and in the "crappy" units with all the tags and NR hunters and never once have I had an issue finding a killing very quality animals. So like I said before, if a guy isn't filling tags and having a good hunt he need only look in the mirror to see the issue. 

People in general like to complain and blame others for their short comings. There's too many non residents so that's the issue.  Then when that gets capped and their tag fee's double they will scream about that as well. And leta not forget about the endless list of small towns who would become abandoned ghost towns or reduced to a few meth labs without the MILLIONS that NR hunters bring to those economies 🤦‍♂️

Are you aware of the application changes and what it’s done to the point system?  BTW. Killing elk isnt the problem.  And something tells me you don’t kill an elk every year like you claim.

From the sounds of, neither do you and that's why you're pissy. I think Karl is spot on and you're just bitching to bitch at this point because you have yet to make any valid points on how non residents adversely impact CO other than "over crowding" of your PUBLIC LAND hunting spots.
OUR public lands
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: cem3434 on August 25, 2019, 01:26:21 PM
Agreed  :tup:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: PlateauNDN on August 25, 2019, 05:06:56 PM
Karl not killing a elk every year isnt for lack of trying. I'd say for lack of freezer space due to cramming Muley's in every available spot. :tup:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 25, 2019, 06:29:08 PM
I stand by my statement. Residents act like they are the only ones who have to deal with NR. Guess what, NR affect NR hunters hunts too. For a decade I've been hunting CO, and in the "crappy" units with all the tags and NR hunters and never once have I had an issue finding a killing very quality animals. So like I said before, if a guy isn't filling tags and having a good hunt he need only look in the mirror to see the issue. 

People in general like to complain and blame others for their short comings. There's too many non residents so that's the issue.  Then when that gets capped and their tag fee's double they will scream about that as well. And leta not forget about the endless list of small towns who would become abandoned ghost towns or reduced to a few meth labs without the MILLIONS that NR hunters bring to those economies 🤦‍♂️

Are you aware of the application changes and what it’s done to the point system?  BTW. Killing elk isnt the problem.  And something tells me you don’t kill an elk every year like you claim.

From the sounds of, neither do you and that's why you're pissy. I think Karl is spot on and you're just bitching to bitch at this point because you have yet to make any valid points on how non residents adversely impact CO other than "over crowding" of your PUBLIC LAND hunting spots.

Let me explain the point creep system to you.  CO changed the system two years ago and made it easier to apply for point.  Units that USED to have 1000 applicants for 500 tags, now have 2000 applicants for 500 tags. That means a unit you could draw every other year, will now take about 4 years to draw.  A group of guys my FIL used to hunt with from VA ran into it his year.   Not enough guys in their camp drew, so they will be hunting OTC, which will put more pressure on OTC hunts.  The change basically only affected out of state hunters, because they had to fork out $500+ for their tags before they drew, knowing they would get a refund if they didn’t.  Residents only had to fork out $40 for a tag, so it was no big deal.  Spending $600 for a tag knowing you might not get the money back for 3-4 months scares people off.  CO changed the system so now you only have to buy a $40 qualifying license for out of state hunters.  That nearly doubled the applicants over night. Time will tell how many hunters it will add to the OTC seasons, but my guess is it will be a bunch, as I know a group who’s hunting OTC for the first time in 20 years.

 I also call BS to the guy who said he could have killed a bull every year.  I know guys who hunted landowner tags for cows two years ago and didn’t see an elk until December, they didn’t get close all season, and that season is 3 months long.   Outfitters don’t have that kind of luck, and some of them own the land they hunt on.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: BULLBLASTER on August 25, 2019, 06:40:08 PM
I think you are misunderstanding your own draw system. You have to buy a $90 license now to apply as a nonresident plus $9 per species. You are right that the first year they changed it there was a massive increase but that was because people weren’t understanding they would be charged $40 per point later on.

Just a heads up you might want to think a bit before calling bs on guys like Karl. He is the real deal.

He has in fact killed an elk every year I’ve known him though not in Colorado, but both times I’ve been to Colorado we had opportunity’s at bulls in otc seasons and public land if we would have had tags.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 25, 2019, 06:59:42 PM
This year you did.  Last year you didn’t.  And you don’t need a qualifying license to hunt OTC.  I understand our system perfectly well.  Id prefer they charge $200 for a qualifying license.  That’s why I would have preferred the mid week- mid week season.  Less hunters.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: cem3434 on August 25, 2019, 07:13:56 PM
So just to recap, every single post you have in this thread is whining about YOUR loss of opportunity like you have more of a right to hunt then the rest of us because you're a resident.  We pay more and have every right to hunt the same animals in the OTC units as everyone else. If you don't like hunting crowded areas, then you should probably reconsider where you hunt and the OTC tags you chose to buy. WA is probably one of the most crowded states when it comes to OTC hunting because of the amount of hunters and significantly less game to hunt, so your preaching to the choir. Don't forget how hard it is to draw a tag here either, because your draws that take 4 points to draw would probably take 20 points to draw in WA....and only if you're lucky.

Like others have said, you should be careful with calling out guys like Karl because you don't know anything about him. Get over yourself and go whine on monstermuleys because I don't think you're going to get much sympathy from your fellow hunters on this site. :twocents:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 25, 2019, 09:31:28 PM
This has gotten entertaining :chuckle: 

You can call bs all you want, but I'd like to think my track record pretty much speaks for itself. I don't even go looking for bulls but can't get away from the damn things in CO. They really screw up a good muley spot :bash: that's where having a buddy around who does have an elk tag  comes in handy :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Bigshooter on August 25, 2019, 10:33:07 PM
Some of you need to relax.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 26, 2019, 09:39:36 AM
This has gotten entertaining :chuckle: 

You can call bs all you want, but I'd like to think my track record pretty much speaks for itself. I don't even go looking for bulls but can't get away from the damn things in CO. They really screw up a good muley spot :bash: that's where having a buddy around who does have an elk tag  comes in handy :chuckle:

I’m not calling BE on your hunting ability, it’s just that weather, moon, hunting pressure, etc play a HUGE roll in CO elk.  Two years ago we had full moons and 70 degree weather at 11,000ft.  Nobody saw elk, and it wasn’t because they weren't good hunters.  I know we’re several very nice bulls are right now, but who knows where they will be when the shooting starts!  These two guys will be gone in about a month,  and I see them every day!   So, I don’t buy it when guys say they “could” kill an elk every year, even though they don’t buy a tag.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: BULLBLASTER on August 26, 2019, 09:52:03 AM
Believe what you want....

I’ve been there and seen it with Karl, granted only two years but we saw bulls.
@coachcw killed this bull in a heavily hunted otc area 2 years ago in the full moon and heat.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 26, 2019, 09:55:40 AM
In the heat with all that snow on the ground? 🤣🤣🤣🤣.    You pretty much just lost all credibility. 
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 10:24:03 AM
Just give up chris. He's a resident so he knows better than you. That bull you posted from 2 years ago obviously is from a google search image and not killed by a very well respected member of this forum and that bull definitely wasnt hanging in a bachelor group of 5 other legal bulls in a dark patch of timber on a north face hiding from all the hunters walking circles far below :rolleyes:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: nwwanderer on August 26, 2019, 10:34:52 AM
Might want to check out CO conditions, snow (or hail) one day may lead to 75 the next, very fickle climate that can have its way with you.  Be careful out there
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 10:49:26 AM
Might want to check out CO conditions, snow (or hail) one day may lead to 75 the next, very fickle climate that can have its way with you.  Be careful out there
and snow can hang in that dark timber for a long time even if the weather warms. I found snow at 8k feet in the trees in Idaho last weekend and it was 81 out that day. That mountain life is a fun one :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: NWCoho on August 26, 2019, 12:56:35 PM
Well I got to meet Karl and his hunting party a few years ago in CO through a friend.  Funny thing is we had been hunting the general area for years but had never ran into each other.  Now that i know who they are i see them on the roads but never run into them in the woods.  I think they're road hunters :chuckle:.  I see a lot of the same animals that Karl speaks of and i can tell you what he is saying is true.  I understand and i'm sure he does as well there is always the fact you could have missed or spooked the animal.  I say the same thing about the elk.  My Kid last year said your that sure i could get a nice elk i'll go.

My hunting buddy has lived in the area we hunt for 37 years and the other is the local warden.  They tell me how it was and the good old days but also tell me how the out of state rev really helps CPW and the area.  I would think that's true in every state that gets some OOS hunters. 

I think the biggest thing is as hunters we need to stick together if we all get into my state crap we will all loose something we love to do.  We have seen it with trapping, hound hunting and gun laws.  We all get the frustration of the points and seasons but all we can do is give them our 2 cents and move forward and enjoy what we get.

Those are a couple nice bucks thanks for sharing.

pic of last years elk. It was rather warm but still some snow.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 26, 2019, 03:27:28 PM
Killing an elk now and then, and being able to kill an elk every single year, are two totally different things.  If you can, good for you! Your one of the 0.1%.  But I don’t believe it when someone says they can kill an elk every single year, but they don’t even have tag.  Reminds me of the guy who says he killed an elk at 500 yards, when in reality it’s a 250 yard shot.  As far as seeing elk, I see elk every year as well, with the one exception of the year it was hot.  And I don’t mean it warmed up a little after it snowed.  I mean it was 80 in the valley, 70 at 11,000ft, and there hadn’t been any moisture to even knock the leaves off the scrub oak. Hunting with snow on the ground doesn’t constitute “hot”. Riding a horse wishing you had shorts and a tee shirt on in mid Oct because your sweating you balls off is hot.  That doesnt mean I can kill elk every year.  There’s a reason the average unit has about 12% success rate on bulls.  So when someone tells me they can shoot a bull EVERY year, I find that hard to believe, even in CO.  Btw.   The first picture is my spotted at about 1800 yards.  It’s the big white one in the middle.  The second is at about 5 yards after he got caped. Seeing elk in CO is typically very easy, killing them is where it gets a lot more difficult.



Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 03:58:25 PM
Why would I buy an elk tag when I am go there to hunt deer :dunno: I could care less about bulls. There could be 350 bulls around every corner and I still wouldn't buy an elk tag. Those who know me, know that is not an exaggeration. I guess you know me and my successes better than all the guys chiming in who actually hunt with me or guys who know the camp :tup:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: BULLBLASTER on August 26, 2019, 04:12:19 PM
Why would I buy an elk tag when I am go there to hunt deer :dunno: I could care less about bulls. There could be 350 bulls around every corner and I still wouldn't buy an elk tag. Those who know me, know that is not an exaggeration. I guess you know me and my successes better than all the guys chiming in who actually hunt with me or guys who know the camp :tup:
I guess the bull in the picture i posted wasn’t actually shot at 990 yards either Karl. We’ve been fooled all these years.   :yike: I am guessing we can assume the same for the buck I killed last year at 730 yards. Musta been like 230 or so.  :chuckle: if I even killed it at all.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 04:18:08 PM
Why would I buy an elk tag when I am go there to hunt deer :dunno: I could care less about bulls. There could be 350 bulls around every corner and I still wouldn't buy an elk tag. Those who know me, know that is not an exaggeration. I guess you know me and my successes better than all the guys chiming in who actually hunt with me or guys who know the camp :tup:
I guess the bull in the picture i posted wasn’t actually shot at 990 yards either Karl. We’ve been fooled all these years.   :yike: I am guessing we can assume the same for the. Yak I killed last year at 730 yards. Musta been like 230 or so.  :chuckle: if I even killed it at all.
I just wish I had my old phone because this thread would be 12 pages of CO stuff both dead and alive :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 26, 2019, 05:43:17 PM
Why would I buy an elk tag when I am go there to hunt deer :dunno: I could care less about bulls. There could be 350 bulls around every corner and I still wouldn't buy an elk tag. Those who know me, know that is not an exaggeration. I guess you know me and my successes better than all the guys chiming in who actually hunt with me or guys who know the camp :tup:

Your in the 1% of the 1%.  Congratulations.  You do what residents on private ranches  have a tough time doing, and you do it at nearly 10x the state average, in OTC units none the less.  Like I said, killing elk in CO is one thing, having a 100% success rate for 10 years in a row, well that’s just a little hard to imagine. Even the Ranching For Wildlife tags don’t have that success rate, because crap happens!
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: whacker1 on August 26, 2019, 05:56:09 PM
Thank you all for the entertainment.  There is no doubt that the change in format on front loading the cost to back end funding the cost of tags has increased participation in the application process, but even those states that still require full funding are seeing increase in applications.  The economy has been good for a long time and people have money again and they are spending it.  I am really curious what this all looks like at different benchmarks.  I don't think we will see any significant difference in 5 years, continued point creep is my guess.  In 10 years, including a recession of some sort in there at some point, that will be the tell tail sign as to what participation and drawing non-resident and resident tags looks like.  25 years........well then nearly all of the baby boomers will be nearing the end of their hunting career with the youngest being 80.  So between the next 15-25 years, I am curious to see what point creep looks like.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 26, 2019, 06:19:37 PM
Why would I buy an elk tag when I am go there to hunt deer :dunno: I could care less about bulls. There could be 350 bulls around every corner and I still wouldn't buy an elk tag. Those who know me, know that is not an exaggeration. I guess you know me and my successes better than all the guys chiming in who actually hunt with me or guys who know the camp :tup:
I guess the bull in the picture i posted wasn’t actually shot at 990 yards either Karl. We’ve been fooled all these years.   :yike: I am guessing we can assume the same for the buck I killed last year at 730 yards. Musta been like 230 or so.  :chuckle: if I even killed it at all.

Wait, you killed your bull at 990 yards?  And that’s what you consider “kill an elk every year”?  Well hell, if that’s the case, I could kill an elk every year off my back patio, during hunting season; with a tag!”  And yes, I have permission to hunt it!  But that’s not what 90% of hunters think when you say “kill an elk every year”!

This was taken off my back patio.  And there was at least one 330”+ bull in the herd.


Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jjhunter on August 26, 2019, 06:21:19 PM
I’ve only killed 1 mule deer in Colorado on 6 tags.  What percentile does that put me in?    :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 26, 2019, 06:35:48 PM
I’ve only killed 1 mule deer in Colorado on 6 tags.  What percentile does that put me in?    :chuckle:

That makes you a normal hunter, and about average for success rates.  Considering all the private land tags, guided tags, etc, that’s actually not too bad if you did it on your own. Here’s a couple more that I “could” have *censored*.  This guy was at about 750-800 yards.  I don’t remember exactly, but there was no way to get to him. I don’t consider that an “opportunity” since I draw the line at 500 yards on my range finder.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: kentrek on August 26, 2019, 06:45:35 PM
This is getting good  :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 26, 2019, 06:55:28 PM
This is getting good  :chuckle:

Here’s another group I was “in”.  “In” being about 1200 yards! 🤣🤣
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Jonathan_S on August 26, 2019, 07:08:06 PM
Looks awful dry. Surprised those elk were still around


 :peep:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 07:11:12 PM
You crack me up.  Pretty sure that isn't my bull and pretty sure I didnt shoot 990 yards. Hell I've never even shot an elk past 200 yards :chuckle: let's not confuse my ability to stumble into elk with others shots and harvests.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Trompsing around on private where you arent seeing elk because they haven't pushed down is insanity. Lots of ranching for wildlife and other private dirt sucks for elk unless the snow flies. If you arent into elk, go find elk. It's literally that simple. Weather too hot? Go higher and find the secluded timber they are using. Snow piling up? Find the migration corridors and transitional areas they hold up in. Elk are no different in CO as they are montana, Oregon, washington, idaho, or wyoming. You obviously know it all and are the master of CO hunting so I'll just bow out of this one. Someday I'll get it figured out and our camp will kill a few animals :rolleyes:

P.S. JJ is being a smart arz. Only reason he has eaten tags is he holds out for way above average animals. Pretty certain if he just wanted to fill a tag he would be 6 for 6 on those deer tags :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: BULLBLASTER on August 26, 2019, 07:21:53 PM
Why would I buy an elk tag when I am go there to hunt deer :dunno: I could care less about bulls. There could be 350 bulls around every corner and I still wouldn't buy an elk tag. Those who know me, know that is not an exaggeration. I guess you know me and my successes better than all the guys chiming in who actually hunt with me or guys who know the camp :tup:
I guess the bull in the picture i posted wasn’t actually shot at 990 yards either Karl. We’ve been fooled all these years.   :yike: I am guessing we can assume the same for the buck I killed last year at 730 yards. Musta been like 230 or so.  :chuckle: if I even killed it at all.

Wait, you killed your bull at 990 yards?  And that’s what you consider “kill an elk every year”?  Well hell, if that’s the case, I could kill an elk every year off my back patio, during hunting season; with a tag!”  And yes, I have permission to hunt it!  But that’s not what 90% of hunters think when you say “kill an elk every year”!

This was taken off my back patio.  And there was at least one 330”+ bull in the herd.
Reading comprehension man... neither Karl or I claimed to have killed that bull I posted. We were sitting there when our buddy did kill it tho.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 07:25:45 PM
Why would I buy an elk tag when I am go there to hunt deer :dunno: I could care less about bulls. There could be 350 bulls around every corner and I still wouldn't buy an elk tag. Those who know me, know that is not an exaggeration. I guess you know me and my successes better than all the guys chiming in who actually hunt with me or guys who know the camp :tup:
I guess the bull in the picture i posted wasn’t actually shot at 990 yards either Karl. We’ve been fooled all these years.   :yike: I am guessing we can assume the same for the buck I killed last year at 730 yards. Musta been like 230 or so.  :chuckle: if I even killed it at all.

Wait, you killed your bull at 990 yards?  And that’s what you consider “kill an elk every year”?  Well hell, if that’s the case, I could kill an elk every year off my back patio, during hunting season; with a tag!”  And yes, I have permission to hunt it!  But that’s not what 90% of hunters think when you say “kill an elk every year”!

This was taken off my back patio.  And there was at least one 330”+ bull in the herd.
Reading comprehension man... neither Karl or I claimed to have killed that bull I posted. We were. Out sitting there when our buddy did kill it tho.
and that buddy has killed more bulls at spitting distance with a bow (and really big bulls at that) than everyone commenting on this thread combined but yeah he is just a two bit hack of a hunter :rolleyes: can't believe they even let Coachcw participate on this forum he is so pathetic :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: BULLBLASTER on August 26, 2019, 07:26:48 PM
Karl’s camp sucks at hunting in Colorado...
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 07:30:41 PM
That was 2018 and 2017. Here is 2016. That's all I have due to the great phone loss of 2019 :'(
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 07:33:26 PM
That's 10 deer over 170, 6 of which were over 180 and 2 of those over 190 in 3 seasons. I rest my case that elk are dumb and interfere with good mule deer hunting. They need to give everyone elk tags so they can kill more of them and free up more habitat for mule deer :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 26, 2019, 07:38:27 PM
You crack me up.  Pretty sure that isn't my bull and pretty sure I didnt shoot 990 yards. Hell I've never even shot an elk past 200 yards :chuckle: let's not confuse my ability to stumble into elk with others shots and harvests.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Trompsing around on private where you arent seeing elk because they haven't pushed down is insanity. Lots of ranching for wildlife and other private dirt sucks for elk unless the snow flies. If you arent into elk, go find elk. It's literally that simple. Weather too hot? Go higher and find the secluded timber they are using. Snow piling up? Find the migration corridors and transitional areas they hold up in. Elk are no different in CO as they are montana, Oregon, washington, idaho, or wyoming. You obviously know it all and are the master of CO hunting so I'll just bow out of this one. Someday I'll get it figured out and our camp will kill a few animals :rolleyes:

P.S. JJ is being a smart arz. Only reason he has eaten tags is he holds out for way above average animals. Pretty certain if he just wanted to fill a tag he would be 6 for 6 on those deer tags :chuckle:

Funny thing is, the year it was hot, we went higher!  I spent 3 days glassing above tree line in a 5 mile radius. Still didn’t see elk.  Guess what, we  went into town for supplies and you know what we found out from the locals?  Due to the lack of water and drought, they went DOWN!  Down into the private land! The locals were amazed that they had already come out of the high country and down into their wintering grounds near the river where the water was. Locals who had been in the area for 40-50 years had never seen the elk down that early.  Then again, they’d never seen a drought like that either....  BTW. I never said how many tags I’ve eaten or haven’t eaten. Your just assuming.   I simply said I don’t believe that a person who could have had a tag if they wanted to, could have also had a 100% success rate over a 10 year period on OTC legal bulls.  I fully admit I had a year when I didn’t see a thing.  Why?  Not because I didn’t know the area, escape routes, migration routes, timber etc.. We didn’t see elk because the elk weren’t  there! And that’s just elk hunting. Now, you tell me why a month after peak foliage, there was still this many leaves in the aspen trees.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jstone on August 26, 2019, 07:39:19 PM
Well sense that area sucks and you don’t kill much
How about some digits.
 8) :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: BULLBLASTER on August 26, 2019, 07:43:53 PM
Well sense that area sucks and you don’t kill much
How about some digits.
 8) :chuckle:
(509) 82.... wait was it phone numbers you want?  :dunno: :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 07:44:33 PM
Miscommunication there. The tag eating was in reference to JJhunter not jetjockey. Just realized that JJ would also apply to your handle as well :chuckle: jjhunter is being a smart arz
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 07:46:01 PM
Well sense that area sucks and you don’t kill much
How about some digits.
 8) :chuckle:
hey old man you stay out of my area! It's at capacity with all these dang NR party crashers :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: jetjockey on August 26, 2019, 07:47:10 PM
That's 10 deer over 170, 6 of which were over 180 and 2 of those over 190 in 3 seasons. I rest my case that elk are dumb and interfere with good mule deer hunting. They need to give everyone elk tags so they can kill more of them and free up more habitat for mule deer :chuckle:

Looks like a lot of elk camps to me.  Grant it, the deer aren’t as big, but they aren’t the target either.  And we arent talking about deer.  I never questioned your deer hunting.
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 07:51:43 PM
Well I guess you proved it! I'm lying and I've never actually seen an elk in CO. I've killed an elk every year for the last decade in WA but those CO elk are too elusive for me. Since I don't buy an elk tag, those imaginary bulls i have well within rifle range  don't count. Glad we cleared this up and I was able to get that off my chest.  :tup:


 :rolleyes:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: grundy53 on August 26, 2019, 08:09:37 PM
Killing an elk now and then, and being able to kill an elk every single year, are two totally different things.  If you can, good for you! Your one of the 0.1%.  But I don’t believe it when someone says they can kill an elk every single year, but they don’t even have tag.  Reminds me of the guy who says he killed an elk at 500 yards, when in reality it’s a 250 yard shot.  As far as seeing elk, I see elk every year as well, with the one exception of the year it was hot.  And I don’t mean it warmed up a little after it snowed.  I mean it was 80 in the valley, 70 at 11,000ft, and there hadn’t been any moisture to even knock the leaves off the scrub oak. Hunting with snow on the ground doesn’t constitute “hot”. Riding a horse wishing you had shorts and a tee shirt on in mid Oct because your sweating you balls off is hot.  That doesnt mean I can kill elk every year.  There’s a reason the average unit has about 12% success rate on bulls.  So when someone tells me they can shoot a bull EVERY year, I find that hard to believe, even in CO.  Btw.   The first picture is my spotted at about 1800 yards.  It’s the big white one in the middle.  The second is at about 5 yards after he got caped. Seeing elk in CO is typically very easy, killing them is where it gets a lot more difficult.
I've killed a branched bull every year for 11 years straight and that is in probably the worst elk state (Washington). Karl is a way better hunter than me. If he says he could do it he could. He's a different breed. You have the highest population of elk in the nation. They don't just dig tunnels or leave the state. They are there. If you can't find them hunt harder.

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Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: High Climber on August 26, 2019, 08:34:06 PM
I can pee way farther than all you guys
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Karl Blanchard on August 26, 2019, 08:37:19 PM
I can pee way farther than all you guys
that may be true but my 7 year old would whip you in distance and longevity.  I'm in awe at how he can drink one capri sun and then piss 130oz  :chuckle:
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: High Climber on August 26, 2019, 08:39:16 PM
I can pee way farther than all you guys
that may be true but my 7 year old would whip you in distance and longevity.  I'm in awe at how he can drink one capri sun and then piss 130oz  :chuckle:
Ah the good ole days!
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: grundy53 on August 26, 2019, 08:44:38 PM
I can pee way farther than all you guys
that may be true but my 7 year old would whip you in distance and longevity.  I'm in awe at how he can drink one capri sun and then piss 130oz  :chuckle:
Yup. I have three boys it's amazing.

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Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: actionshooter on August 26, 2019, 09:12:15 PM
I can pee way farther than all you guys
that may be true but my 7 year old would whip you in distance and longevity.  I'm in awe at how he can drink one capri sun and then piss 130oz  :chuckle:
Yup. I have three boys it's amazing.

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I really miss those days... now I'm lucky not to stain my boots :)
No pissing contest here...
Title: Re: New Colorado Big Game Season Structure 2020 - 2026
Post by: Mr Mykiss on September 08, 2019, 03:42:26 PM
You guys are literally the reason that all of my hunting hero’s are half-known Hunt-WA members...not television “smoked him” personalities!! Piss on that.
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