Play the odds or burn points?

[TexanSam]

Folks, after not getting a charge on my credit card for Arizona (as expected lol) I am now at a cross roads as to how I apply for my western hunt this year.

My original plan was to apply in New Mexico for elk and antelope and then if that didn't work out, regroup with my friends who also weren't successful in their individual New Mexico applications and go in as a party app for for deer in the cowboy state. My friend's do not have any points anywhere, and I have a few here and there, but have 0 for deer in our backup state.

I then looked at gohunt and saw what 2 elk points could get me in Colorado, and realized that maybe it's time to burn em!

Not that I am wanting y'all to tell me what to do, but I just want to know what everyone's thought process would be with this situation. To summarize this is what Ive come up with so far

Try for New Mexico, party app as backup:
- Closer to home (if drawn)
- Bigger Bulls
- More Familiar with New Mexico and prospective backup area
- Backup plan would mean celebratory beer with the boys at the end

Burn points in Colorado:
- Get to do a true wilderness hunt
- Higher Success rates
- could maybe get a leftover or 2nd choice cow tag for the bros
- Different scenery (everywhere I've hunted out west has been more or less a desert)


I know I have more options than this, and to be honest I may not do either of these options. I just want to see if there's anything I'm missing or maybe some details somewhere that somehow might change the way I look at things. Thanks!

 

[Muskeez]

All depends on your goals. Size of bulls may not matter as much as time with friends and family and seeing new beautiful country. The only help I can give you probably is to suggest try to draw whatever you want and last resort if you get none you can always do OTC tags for elk in CO, see some awesome country and maybe even shoot one.

 

[LCH]

The way I look at it depends on a couple things.. Are you all in whether you get tags or not (willing to help a buddy fill a tag)? Can you do 2 trips if you're lucky enough to draw NM and CO? Are you willing to hunt alone?

Personally, I pick the hunts I want to do, and if someone wants to come along great, if not I go solo. The thing also, when you're applying in multiple states where the draw periods overlap, is you have to be prepared for a scenario in which you may draw multiple tags in multiple states.

Sometimes I do party apps, but in random-draws we often apply individually, with the idea that if one person draws the other guy(s) help scout/pack/etc. Would your buddies be willing to do a group hunt in NM even if not everyone has tags? A free ride and some elk steaks in exchange for packing some meat is a good deal in my view, but I understand that a lot of people need to have a tag of their own to justify the time commitment.

You guys could all apply individually for elk in NM, upping the odds that somebody will draw. But, if everybody's gotta have a tag to have fun, then I'd plan a sure thing for your primary hunt. If you can swing 2 trips, do your CO elk hunt or try for a NM tag in addition to the group trip.

It gets tough trying to plan a good trip for several people of varying experience and point levels. The good thing is that there are so many opportunities to choose from, although that's partly what makes the planning process so tough.

 

[Pelican]

You can return a tag in CO for a fee and get your PP reinstated if you draw. You won’t get a PP for this year though if you return the tag. So, you could apply for both and return your CO tag if you draw both states.

 

[npaden]

I vote apply for both and see what happens.

 

[TexanSam]

You can return a tag in CO for a fee and get your PP reinstated if you draw. You won’t get a PP for this year though if you return the tag. So, you could apply for both and return your CO tag if you draw both states.

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. I can return the tag in Co and get money back?

 

[Pelican]

I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. I can return the tag in Co and get money back?

Yep. If you draw a tag in CO, you can return it and get your PP restored and get your $$$ back as long as you return the tag more than 30 days before the season starts. I think the fee is $15.

 

[Pelican]

The return process is described on page 16 of the 2019 Colorado big game brochure.

 

[TexanSam]

Yep. If you draw a tag in CO, you can return it and get your PP restored and get your $$$ back as long as you return the tag more than 30 days before the season starts. I think the fee is $15.

The way I read it was that you had to choose between getting points back or $$

 

[WildWill]

Yep. If you draw a tag in CO, you can return it and get your PP restored and get your $$$ back as long as you return the tag more than 30 days before the season starts. I think the fee is $15.

Pretty sure Pelican is dead on most of your money back but no point. I looked into it last year due to fires in my elk unit. But reading the refund application it says restoration of points or money so sounds like you would have to choose.

As to your first question I've learned to never rely on New Mexico for a tag. Put in for both if you can do both great if not turn in Colorado tag.

 

[mtmiller]

The way I read it was that you had to choose between getting points back or $$

Pretty certain this is correct. I had a knee issue a few years ago and a handful of points and drew. I was able to return the tag 30 days prior the season and had the choice of retaining my points or getting a refund. It was a few years ago though.

 

[WildWill]

There is something new in the Regs that states before June 14th you can reverse a tag rather than return it. I'm not sure exactly what that means other than it said no $15 app reversal fee.

 

[npaden]

Hunters who were awarded a license in the draw may now call in during our designated window to reverse the license. The reversal window is between when big game draw results are released til June 14th at 5pm. The $15 refund processing fee will be waived for reversals til June 14th at 5pm. If a big game license is reversed during this time frame and the customer chooses to have their preference points restored, the customer's preference points will only be restored to pre-draw level and the customer will not gain a preference point for 2019. If the customer chooses a refund, they will not receive a refund for their qualifying license, application fee, or habitat stamp.

Hunting License Refunds, Reversals and Exchanges

cpw.state.co.us

Looks like you still have to pick whether you want your points or your money back even if you do the new reversal option. You just have the $15 processing fee if you do it before June 14th.

 

[Pelican]

Oops. Typed “and” instead of “or”. Money or points returned. My apologies for the confusion. I should proof read my posts.

 

[elkduds]

The reissue on returned tags after the draw is a sweet deal for hunters w flexible schedules. By all means, draw a 4 point tag then turn that sucker in. Be advised this system increases point creep, though.

 

[TexanSam]

I don't think I put enough emphasis that if I went the New Mexico route that there is a deer draw in the summer that a party app would be feasible for. Also Pelican, it's okay, I make that typo all the time lol


Normally I could just make two trips, or turn in the tags to keep the points but I just got a promotion so I'm trying to not to spend too much time away, and on top of that I'm saving money for a big purchase in the not so distant future so I don't really shouldn't pay for 2 tags this year anyways.