So I know that in the future, I want to go hunting for Elk and Mule Deer somewhere in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, etc. I am 30 years old, and have never put in for anything. I also know that (due to a two year old and newborn) that I will not realistically be ready to go on a hunt like this for another three years or so and would be willing to wait even longer. I am looking for advice as to which states and areas I should be focusing on. I am thinking that I should start at least buying points this year but do not know where to start. I would most likely use an outfitter for at least a semi guided hunt but probably guided for the first time (Unless someone on here wouldn't mind bringing a beginner along to show me the ropes ;-) ) . I also will be interested in the opportunity at a very nice mule deer or elk, and not just killing any animal as hunting out west won't be an every year deal for me. Since I know weapon of choice is important, I am planning on a rifle hunt most likely. Any advice or helpful resources would be appreciated.

Each states draw is very different. I would start with this Randy Newberg video on the different drawing systems and then watch his state specific videos for ones you are interested in.



If it were me I would get points this year in Wyoming and Colorado and go ahead and apply in New Mexico this year. You won't get points in NM but its cheap and if you draw this year its worth figuring out how to make it work.

For Utah and Arizona you will have to buy a license each year just to get a point which priced me out of those states.

Check out huntin fool, parks and wildlife websites of the states you are interested in, and also outfitter websites have good information. I'm in the same phase as you, but started my research about a month ago. Its addicting just looking into it!

BTW does anyone know when Colorado draw for 2018 will open? Still not seeing on website- I did register for an account today finally.

I think today is the deadline to apply for Arizona, so if you're interested in getting points there, need to decide quickly.

Yesterday was the AZ deadline for paper applications for elk and antelope. The deadline for online applications for these species is February 13, 2018.

The AZ deadline for deer, sheep, and bison is June 12, 2018.

However, today is the deadline for Wyoming non-resident elk applications.

Can you buy points in Wyoming through a later date?

Yes. You can buy points in WY until October 31st for antelope, deer, elk, rocky bighorn, and moose.

harge57 said:

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If it were me I would get points this year in Wyoming and Colorado and go ahead and apply in New Mexico this year. You won't get points in NM but its cheap and if you draw this year its worth figuring out how to make it work.

For Utah and Arizona you will have to buy a license each year just to get a point which priced me out of those states.

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So if I know that I don't want to go on a NM hunt this year, but do in the future, you're saying that it won't hurt me to not apply at all this year? Are all the good elk units that are "really hard to draw" a lottery system?

If you can't hunt NM this year, don't apply. There are no preference points.

Right. There are no bonus or preference points in NM.

Edit: agingcowboy beat me to it.

Yep. All lottery no point system.

Thanks guys. So I am guessing that all the hunting show guys who hunt NM every year are getting private LO tags most likely?

Yep.

Below is a link to a pod cast from Randy Newberg and the Gohunt guys. This will get you what you are looking for.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hunt-talk-radio-randy-newberg-unfiltered-hunting-conservation/id1012713381?mt=2#episodeGuid=c6f67190d15c3bc1e3c0fb130b659c2a

Rokslide is a good forum for this. Check out gohunt and huntinfool.
Preference point states where it will make a difference are Arizona, Wyoming, maybe Colorado (for rifle) most archery is OTC, Idaho, Nevada.

New Mexico is a good state but odd are low for outa staters and there are no preference points you can build.
Good units in Utah are 20 years of PP. Elite units in Montana/Colorado is similar.

Eastmans puts out some info like you're looking for

Take the family on a road trip to Colorado this summer. Scout an otc area. Talk to locals. Get some intel. Pick up info starting now, even if you don't hunt this year.

Am I reading correctly, draw applications open march1 for Co? http://cpw.state.co.us/buyapply/pages/hunting.aspx

I got bit by this bug last year. Newberg's videos are actuallly what did it . In fact I listened to that linked podcast today. If you don't think you can go for three years that's up to you but my advice is not to wait. Go on a Wyoming Antelope hunt this year, that's what I did this past year and it was a blast. I spent the months leading up to it researching units and draw odds and picked up gear that I could use for not only that hunt but elk and mule deer hunts down the road. Antelope is a lot less pressure for a first timer out West, higher odds of success and you still learn things like the logistics involved in driving 1.5 days for a hunt. If you do you're research you can do it with zero points in Wyoming.

That being said for elk in the 2-3 point range I think you're best value would be the Wyoming General tag which you can draw with two points.

With 2 or less points you can draw some really good Colorado mule deer tags as well.

There's guys on this forum with way more experience than me out West. I have to say though, IMO, if you do an antelope hunt and then say an Elk hunt on an over the counter tag in Colorado (which I'll be doing this year) in the mean time I think you'll be much more equipped and prepared for success for whatever glory tag it is you are deciding you want to build points form down the road. And you'll be hunting!

Thanks for the info. I actually killed an antelope in New Mexico last September, but it was a private LO tag so I didn't even take part in the whole applying process. I feel like I am in a weird situation, because I have a deer lease here in Texas, and hunt hard for whitetail all fall. I don't really have the budget or time to go on a western hunt every year. What I am realistically thinking is that I would like to build points in Wyoming and Colorado, wait until my budget, schedule, and preference points all line up, then book a hunt with an outfitter. The OTC elk tags do peak my interest a little though. Are you planning on doing DIY on your elk hunt?

Ya I was in a different situation. Struggling to find a place to hunt in Texas, frustrated that I wasn't hunting enough and the western DIY opportunities just struck a chord with me.

I started building points for elk, deer and antelope in CO and WY. Likely adding Arizona to the list this year. If you're willing to hunt a late season tag you can draw some good ek units in AZ with 5-6 points. Those same units will take 15 plus for an early season tag.

If you're looking for just one really good hunt a couple years down the road maybe just save money and splurge on a a guided New Mexico LO hunt where you'll likely smash a huge bull.

We're doing an elk drop camp in Colorado this year. It's not guided but an outifitter takes you and you're gear on horseback a few miles away from the roads and pressure and has a camp set up with canvas tent and stove etc for you to hunt out of. That's the idea at least, there's some shady drop camps out there so we've been researching for a while.

What you described was what I did in 2016. Did a drop camp with an outfitter in CO unit 24. The wrangler gave us some pretty good information, and I had researched the area pretty in-depth. Ended up shooting my bull within about 200 yards of one of my main Google Earth scouted spots.

I know, we exchanged emails last year when I was researching. Actually just recently spoke with Holly up there. Good chances we may be going with the same outfit. Probably finalizing this week.

That sounds like a blast and is something I have started looking into. Are CO OTC tags pretty much a for sure thing? Or does the outfitter ensure you will get a tag? I am really focusing on mule deer first, as I don't have high enough ceilings in my current house to hang an elk lol.

gohunt.com is pretty cool, but expensive. it shows all the draw odds for each unit and trophy potential. randy newberg has a free month promo. I will get on there and find my favorite spots to go, then get depressed that it will be 15-25 years before i would draw these places. That is if point creep does not lengthen it even farther.

ursusguy said:

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What you described was what I did in 2016. Did a drop camp with an outfitter in CO unit 24. The wrangler gave us some pretty good information, and I had researched the area pretty in-depth. Ended up shooting my bull within about 200 yards of one of my main Google Earth scouted spots.

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ursusguy would you be up for me bouncing a few ideas off you? I went and did a DIY last year in 23/24. I had a blast figuring it all out and ended up shooting a cow on the second morning. This year I am planing on going back but I am going for a bull. I have a few places in mind but I would like to bounce them off somebody that has been in that area. Let me know and I will message you with a few questions. I am NOT asking for your honey hole just asking a few general questions.

Thanks for your help.

OTC are a sure thing by definition. Can get pretty crowded which is part of why paying to have someone haul my white a$$ back deep away from the roads appeals to me. Obviously need to book with them in advance.

There's decent mule deer opportunities in Colorado with 0-2 points. Some guys here have actually done it and may chime in. GoHunt is great for that kind of research. It's not cheap but I spend more time on there than I do TexAgs probably.

So what is the timeline on something like this?

Put in to get drawn
lotto happens this spring
if drawn you can hunt for your tag anytime in the season later this year?

ETA I read through the PDF for Arizona and it looks like you apply for a certain hunt that covers a region and about a week time frame, is that right?

For Colorado mule deer, most of the units that have good quality deer and public land are going to take you some time to draw. Since you are thinking about an outfitter, don't discount the units east of I-25. Some really great deer come from the eastern half of the state and the draw odds are much better.

I've been doing some research into this. Initial stuff. One of the things that stuck out to me the most for advice was not to wait around for the perfect unit that everyone wants to hunt. Try and get out every year and hunt out west so that when you do get that dream unit you know what you're doing. You have strategies, a trusted outfitter if you want, gear you know will work, how to logistically do this. My first thought as someone with little knowledge was to just start building points for future hunts. I didn't realize most states offer otc tags for big game. Maybe not the most desirable units and maybe not trophy animals, but it gets you hunting.

Yes, this is definitely the best plan.

GoHunt.com is a good organized source. But yes, you pay. I've been surprised at the wealth of information on TopRut.com. It's free. TopRut also includes an easy tool to generate Google Earth overlays for public land. I used this extensively last year, because I much prefer using Google Earth for my PC scouting to onXmaps.

I apply and build points for a lot of different species in most western states. Some are ridiculous odds that I'll probably never draw. Others have enough point creep that it may take 20 years to actually draw a deer or elk tag. I look at a lot of the non-refundable fees as a worthy donation to the state. That said, here a few ideas for more opportunity hunts and choices for your future:

Colorado: True preference point for deer, elk, and antelope.
Elk - No points required
You could have fun learning an OTC unit and hunting every year. If funds are available go ahead and build points while you're OTC hunting, this could get you in a less pressured unit down the road.
Deer - 0 to 2 points (maybe a few more for a rifle)
Colorado has great mule deer hunting without a big point commitment.

Wyoming: Preference point system (with a smaller percentage of random draw).
Good elk, deer, and antelope opportunity anywhere from 0 to just a few points. Research their tag allocation and the differences between Special Draw and Regular Draw. I've killed an antelope and a mule deer in Wyoming over the last three years with 2nd and 3rd choice units, meaning I still gained a point each of those years.

New Mexico: No point system.
Apply in New Mexico in years you're willing and able to go. Applying with an outfitter can increase your chances.

Idaho: No point system.
With a lot of OTC opportunity for deer and elk. They do have limited draw units that require purchasing a hunting license prior to applying. So if you commit to an Idaho OTC hunt one year, you could apply for a limited draw unit or even a rare species (sheep, goat, moose) to get your name in the hat.

Montana: Bonus point system for limited entry units.
It's still pretty easy to get tags in Montana for general season units. They have started to sale preference points for non-resident general season but I don't think they have been needed (yet). You could pick one up for insurance if you wanted to hunt Montana in the next few years. I believe the general season preference point must be purchased every two years or you would lose them.

Oh that's right. Completely forgot.

Sure. It was interesting, AgLA06 and I were only a few miles apart, both got bulls, but very different hunts. I probably saw more total elk, but he saw way more bulls than I did. I was up top, and he was more midslope in a migration pattern coming off the top. I want to say he had bulging (if he pops up he can say one way or the other), I had NO bulging, purely glassing.

If it has been fairly mild, stay up top and glass, but watch the vegetation and tracks. If you get a decent snow dump or the temp drops hard, be where you can drop about a 1,000 feet. With the how steep the dropoffs are coming off the tops of the Flat Tops, it's pretty easy to figure out where they will be coming down. Once we had our snowstorm, we didn't see another elk or any fresh sign on top. Every day prior to that, it wad borderline easy.

We saw a total of 3 hunters off in the distance all week.

I shot my bull just south of Trapper Peak.