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Draw Elk Hunts
#6213256
03/07/16 10:30 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 156
LandAgent
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 156 |
I'm 25 and finally at the point where I want to start looking into some draw tags for elk. I've never done one before and just want some input on the process, recommendations for specific states/units, experiences you've had, etc... Its been my dream to go on a elk hunt and I know drawing tags aren't the easiest thing to do, so I want to start putting in for them now at a young age. Any info on any of this will be helpful and just would like to hear what everyone has to say who has gone through the process. Thanks for reading!
Hunting Land & Ranch Sales. I would love to help you buy or sell your dream property! Feel free to contact me anytime with any questions you may have. http://www.landsoftexas.com/member/339510Colby: 940.205.7311 cwalding@v-re.com
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6213303
03/07/16 10:58 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,864
PMK
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,864 |
why not just go to a unit that has OTC license for a few years to build up points plus lets you go hunting ... best of both worlds while waiting for one of the preferred units with draw only
"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."
~PMK~
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: PMK]
#6213429
03/08/16 12:11 AM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29,034
Western
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29,034 |
why not just go to a unit that has OTC license for a few years to build up points plus lets you go hunting ... best of both worlds while waiting for one of the preferred units with draw only This^^^ You need to figure out what state you're interested in and read their tag regs. Getting a tag is half the battle if you're going DIY, good place to hunt is another half. In any case, you need to narrow down a state and familiarize yourself with their rules.
If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is not for you..
"Don't trust everything you read on the Internet"- Abraham Lincoln Dennis
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6214062
03/08/16 01:54 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,136
EddieWalker
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,136 |
There are so many people putting in for the best tags that the odds are very low to get drawn for a premier area. Every state has their best spots, but there are also those areas that are good without the history of producing bulls that score over 400 points. A 350 bull is a great bull in my opinion. If I was going to get back into doing that, I would get contact every state and have them send you the applications for hunting elk. Figure who you can still get it in for before the deadline, and start playing the game.
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: Western]
#6214117
03/08/16 02:26 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
why not just go to a unit that has OTC license for a few years to build up points plus lets you go hunting ... best of both worlds while waiting for one of the preferred units with draw only This^^^ You need to figure out what state you're interested in and read their tag regs. Getting a tag is half the battle if you're going DIY, good place to hunt is another half. In any case, you need to narrow down a state and familiarize yourself with their rules. Yep, if you have the funds apply everywhere with an elk draw and hunt CO OTC waiting to draw a LE tag.
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6219463
03/11/16 05:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 511
Fitzwho
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 511 |
Basically what everyone else is saying. Don't want your first elk hunt to be 10 years from now when you finally draw that once in a lifetime tag. There are OTC tags for 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons in most of the Colorado units. Another thing to do is to try and familiarize yourself with the unit you want to choose as your "dream" elk unit. One way to do that is looking for other species that are easier to draw in that unit. If it's a limited entry elk unit that will take 10 years to draw, but you can hunt mule deer every other year, do that so you know where you are going.
This is my first year putting in for the draws in the states. It gets confusing looking at all of them. You have to float the tag costs in NM, CO, WY, and MT. The rest of the states you only pay an application fee and only pay for the tag used you draw it. You have also missed a few states elk deadlines as well (namely UT and AZ).
I actually drew my first tag already, a non-resident unguided Black Bear tag on Kuiu Island Alaska that I am working on the logistics of right now. Will hopefully be planning that hunt along with muzzleloader mule deer hunts in both UT and NM.
Permian_Skullworks on Instagram
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6220027
03/12/16 12:08 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6,164
Chief Joe
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6,164 |
Get'er done while you are closer to 25! Dream hunt of a life time has different meanings. I got to go on the deram hunt last year with a great group of men, OTC, in Colorado.. Couldn't ask for prettier country or better company. Didn't score on an elk and I'd like to go again but still a dream hunt! If you are willing to travel several states offer draw opportunities as very reasonable prices. Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania to name three.
"It is the same boiling water that softens the rice, which hardens the egg." It's not always about the circumstances, but what you are made of....
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6224149
03/15/16 03:39 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 353
Deep Sea
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 353 |
In Colorado you can put in for the draw and get your money back if you don't get the draw you can choose a refund. On the off chance you do get drawn, that is great, if you don't get drawn, you can apply that same money to an OTC tag. We will be in Unit 70 for second rifle, come on out.
Scott Eastty AW Scott Construction Company Bastrop, TX 512-845-0187 For all your metal building needs, state wide. www.acscott.com
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6224153
03/15/16 03:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,414
ZK-315
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,414 |
Are you hunting a different unit this year Deep Sea?
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6224165
03/15/16 03:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 353
Deep Sea
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 353 |
Scott Eastty AW Scott Construction Company Bastrop, TX 512-845-0187 For all your metal building needs, state wide. www.acscott.com
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6224211
03/15/16 04:32 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,414
ZK-315
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,414 |
Yup, 71. I though you found a spot that had elk and was hoping for the insight
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6224213
03/15/16 04:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 353
Deep Sea
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 353 |
I am trying to put in for the draw for a cow tag, just hard to part with that 500 since work has been slow.
Scott Eastty AW Scott Construction Company Bastrop, TX 512-845-0187 For all your metal building needs, state wide. www.acscott.com
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6224216
03/15/16 04:39 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,414
ZK-315
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,414 |
Not a bad plan, but wont they reimburse you if you don't get drawn?
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6224227
03/15/16 04:48 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 353
Deep Sea
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 353 |
yes they do, but still hard to let loose of the money Only worked 3 weeks all year, had more than double that already. It's all good, just cramping my hunting style!
Scott Eastty AW Scott Construction Company Bastrop, TX 512-845-0187 For all your metal building needs, state wide. www.acscott.com
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Re: Draw Elk Hunts
[Re: LandAgent]
#6224231
03/15/16 04:56 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,937
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,937 |
LandAgent, If there is any chance you will someday want to hunt one of the BIG game animals like big horn sheep for example, you should research for the states and hunts you would do and start applying for preference points on those now. I'm over 50 and it is too late for me to start. I would either be too old, too out of health, or dead before I could do those type of hunts by the time I had enough points to reasonably have a chance to draw a tag. Point creep on a lot of hunts makes them near impossible to draw unless you start when still young. Those type of hunts are way too expensive to do privately for a working man about to retire. I do build points for Elk, Deer, and Antelope in a couple states and will be able to have a decent pick of places to draw when I start cashing them in. But I regret not starting in my 20s collecting points for the more sought after hunts in the country like bighorns and mountain goats. Similar to what others have said, I like the strategy of doing Bow, OTC, Fishing, and smaller game hunts in or near the same Primo areas I have been building points for.
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