Is there a certain section or area that might be recommended for success at harvesting a representative bull or cow? Not looking for a trophy as this would be the first time ever going. Just want to get a shot opportunity at an elk. Thanks

A lot of good information to be had on line and on Colo Division of Wildlife website. A big question to ask before good recommendations can be given is whether you plan on putting in for the drawing or getting an over the counter tag? It makes a big difference on recommending areas.

Im open to doing either. I will check out the CO site.

If you're schedule is easy to manipulate, apply for a draw season, if you don't get it (you will know way in advance), then you can do the OTC tag, same cost minus the app fee and you earn a preference point.

Check bowsite.com, even if you aren't planning to bowhunt.

If you want to start putting in for the drawing and gaining preference points unit 61 has outstanding hunting but drawing that tag is going to take a while. Good hunting can be had buying an over the counter tag and hunting unit 62. My personal favorite for over the counter opportunities are units 551 and 51. You can use Montrose and Gunnison respectively as home base for hotels or to buy supplies from. Both towns offer good airports and connecting flights and rental cars if you need to fly in.

I wouldn't say good airports, gunnison is a rough flight if you get put on a crop duster....better drink in Denver before getting on that plane.

I would pass on unit 51, personally feel that it's been hunted hard and the majority of the elk will find their way to private property. Mt. Evans has been holding a nice herd, and while it's draw only theirs a good chance of getting it with no points.

Before you jump in to the preference points game make sure you fully understand what you are signing up for.

Point creep - the number of points required for these hunts keeps going up every year because there is a large pool of people ahead of you. I started applying in CO with the intent of non-resident archery elk in unit 61. When I started applying people were drawing that tag with as few as 7 points. Last year I had 14 points and there were still 84 applicants who had MORE points than me and the state only gave out 17 non-resident tags. That might lead you to beleive that in 5 years I could draw that tag, but its worse than that. There are always other people like me who have been accumulating points and will jump in as their time grows near. When trended over several years, the number of people ahead of me only goes down about 10 people per year, which means I would have another 8 years before drawing the tag or 22 years total. I cashed my points in another unit and got out.

Changing Rules - Nothing stops the state from changing the rules on these hunts. Several years ago Colorado severly cut back the number of tags going to non-residents. What if they to it again, or even close those prime areas to non-residents completely? What are you going to do about it?

Changing Prices - Nothing keeps them from raising the prices either. Wyoming did this on sheep preference points going from a $7 fee to $100. What if you apply for 10 years and it goes to $200/pt or $300?

Environmental changes - Fires, logging, disease. A lot can happen to your prime unit in 2 decades while you accumulate points.


On the plus side - Colorado has started a hybrid drawing on their hardest draw units which will give a slight chance at pulling a random tag (reveiw the details). I think all Wyoming draw units have a percentage awarded in random draw.

Good luck, just make sure you research it before you jump in.