Colorado Opportunity Elk

[Bullshot]

If you look at the odds of how many of those once in a lifetime type hunts end up with someone in that 0-5 pt level you’d be surprised, more than you’d imagine. Got the money you’ve got a change

It only looks like good "odds" in that bracket since there are so many additional low point applicants, so someone drawing there might be almost inevitable, but for any one of them very improbable. in reality, odds are very very poor, and comparatively poor when pitted on an individual basis against those with more, for anyone with low points.But yes, always a chance.

Beating a dead horse but the answers are vastly different:

There are X applicants with 0-5 points - what is the probability one of them draws?

-vs-

I have 0-5 points - What is the probability I draw?

 

[Rodzilla]

Same here, 18 points for Elk and 3 for deer, may try to burn the elk points and a low point unit and skew someone's draw odds. Joking aside, looking for a unit that took two points less last year anticipating a 1-2 point creep in some of the better units.

 

[Kiwi]

I really need a definitive answer to the NR elk and deer point creep for 2026 haha

I have some hunts in mind and how I have to choose based on what I can draw, assuming a point creep of x.

 

[Bowhuntrben]

Thinking I'll probably put my dad in for muzzy elk. He has 18 points going into this year. It has less to do with trying to burn points because of the upcoming changes and more to do with the fact that he'll be 75 this year.

I have 18 points for elk and deer but don't plan on using them this year. My son's hunting opportunities and possibly my dad's are a much higher priority for me.

 

[Addicting]

Thinking I'll probably put my dad in for muzzy elk. He has 18 points going into this year. It has less to do with trying to burn points because of the upcoming changes and more to do with the fact that he'll be 75 this year.

I have 18 points for elk and deer but don't plan on using them this year. My son's hunting opportunities and possibly my dad's are a much higher priority for me.

Same boat, kids opportunities are out weighing me burning points heavily. We can only eat so much elk and my daughter already has two elk tags in the line up.

I really wanted to burn CO points this year too.

 

[Zim]

So I settled on my opportunity elk hunt choice last night. Will try for unit 551 archery. Probably only a 30-40% chance, but I’m familiar with it. My only concern is if it’s worth the $800 NR fee.

 

[jvanhoy]

That all depends on your definition of worth. I’ll gladly give CO 800 bucks every year to have an opportunity at an elk and hike around in some gorgeous mountains with a bow in my hand. Bringing back an elk is just a bonus. If you don’t feel that way maybe it’s not worth going on a hunt just to burn your points or build up a few more till you can get the hunt you started building them for?

 

[Zim]

That all depends on your definition of worth. I’ll gladly give CO 800 bucks every year to have an opportunity at an elk and hike around in some gorgeous mountains with a bow in my hand. Bringing back an elk is just a bonus. If you don’t feel that way maybe it’s not worth going on a hunt just to burn your points or build up a few more till you can get the hunt you started building them for?

For me that's a wild card. I won't know until I get there because of my heart failure. Don't know what I can handle hiking any more. I do plan to sit wallows in my climber half the time if I can find some hot ones. I'd like to at least bring back a cow. Don't need any more trophy bulls. I'd fly out to scout & visit my grandkids but I can't go until after the application deadline. One good aspect is since I'm retired, I can hunt the entire archery season (unless I pull a random longshot in another state). Can even go early to scout a week. I guess with 5 weeks I should be able to get my $800 worth one way or another.

 

[cgasner1]

So I settled on my opportunity elk hunt choice last night. Will try for unit 551 archery. Probably only a 30-40% chance, but I’m familiar with it. My only concern is if it’s worth the $800 NR fee.

I don’t think it will be “worth” it for you. Seems like your to worried about the money spent and not the adventure gained. I’ve put well over twice that up for a tag this fall that probably doesn’t have the quality the one your applying for does. It puts me in the field for a week with a friend I haven’t got to hunt with for a couple years it’s money well spent.

 

[Zim]

I don’t think it will be “worth” it for you. Seems like your to worried about the money spent and not the adventure gained. I’ve put well over twice that up for a tag this fall that probably doesn’t have the quality the one your applying for does. It puts me in the field for a week with a friend I haven’t got to hunt with for a couple years it’s money well spent.

I don't have a choice. I'll be on SS next week. I'll be monitoring everything dollar wise for the first couple years. "Worth" it will be relative. Lots of moving parts and unknowns in my case.

 

[cgasner1]

I don't have a choice. I'll be on SS next week. I'll be monitoring everything dollar wise for the first couple years. "Worth" it will be relative. Lots of moving parts and unknowns in my case.

Then just stay home and hunt local. Your putting so much emphasis on the money spent I highly doubt you enjoy the trip. I’ve spent enough time around people like that I personally don’t care to anymore. Last year one of the guys in our group spent a hour complaining about the price of his meal in bethels after our moose hunt and stiffed the waitress because his meal was 100 bucks. The other guy and myself added another 20 to our tip for having to deal with him. You may not be that extreme but if the money means that much to you I highly doubt you’ll enjoy this trip

 

[Nick87]

and stuffed the waitress because his meal was 100 bucks.

Pics or it didnt happen.

 

[cgasner1]

Pics or it didnt happen.

Ow believe me it did. I couldn’t wrap my mind around how a grown man can sit there and stare at a menu for 20 min then be pist at the price of his bill when it shows up.

 

[NoWiser]

I guess with 5 weeks I should be able to get my $800 worth one way or another.

That’s less than $25.00/day for the tag. Go and enjoy it. You’ve had more good tags than anyone could dream of. Just go hunt without the stress of one in your pocket. You might find it’s not so bad.

 

[Nick87]

Ow believe me it did. I couldn’t wrap my mind around how a grown man can sit there and stare at a menu for 20 min then be pist at the price of his bill when it shows up.

I took a family member on a hunting trip once. Was a late season hunt so we were in a hotel and ate at the attached restaraunt at night. Same deal refused to tip and kept mentioning how expensive the trip was. I dont know if he didnt plan on eating or what. Trips do get expensive. But you have to know that going in. I asked him later that year if he wanted to buy preference points moving forward. I think he thought I was trying to sell him snake oil and refused. I always hear through the grapevine now how I never invite him back.