View Full Version : 2024 Big Game!
Since I'm starting this thread two days before the deadline, I wonder if everyone here is too old and decrepit to go hunting anymore? J/K, but I'll be 3 yrs into my 7th decade and I won't give up until I have to. You have until Tuesday at 8 p.m., to complete the applications online.
I just finished the deer, elk, and pronghorn apps, and will pick up a concurrent bear tag on Aug 6. I mostly hunt NW CO where the big game die off in 2022 has meant dramatic reductions in licenses available. No more OTC, no more two- elk tags available. To deal with point creep, all 1st choice licenses give up and reset preference points, so I'll dump 11 points to hunt bull in 23/24, previously an OTC unit. But, I know and love that country. A $avings for me is that I won't apply for moose again because in 5+ years, I wouldn't want to wrestle a moose again. Plus, the preference point fees takes the fun out of applying for bighorns, goats and moose.
So, post about your hopes and harvests for 2024.
Cheers!
I burned my elk points last year so it will be a few years before I'm back in a draw unit so OTC it is again. Hoping I draw my archery deer tag that I have been able to get ever other year for the past few years. Put in for a pronghorn point, it will be a few years before I have enough points to hunt pronghorn anywhere that is worth it.
First time I'm doing Muzzleloader. Dialed in with a friend and his high rate of harvest spot.
Deer in 104 on a friend's ranch. Going to be OTC Bull only for 3rd rifle this year.
Little Dutch
03-31-2024, 20:48
Still hoping for a sheep and goat tag one of these days.
Applied in a new (to me) unit for deer that I saw a lot of while bear hunting last year. Applied for elk and pronghorn in my usual area again, but am unlikely to draw the tags because of the die-off.
I’m not eligible for moose again until next year.
I didn’t apply for bear this year.
I doubt I’ll draw any big game tags unless area 50 muzzle loader draws as a second choice. I *might* hunt OTC elk, but there was a LOT of orange in my backup area last year, making it a pretty discouraging hunt.
It’s looking like another small-game season for me.
Just finished with the applications
Should draw bull elk 2nd rifle
Applied for moose fsag
Applied for pp for pronghorn and will hunt otc archery out back
Applied for pp for mule deer and for a doe tag late season out east
Waiting for my doe tag to arrive, unit 63 on my nephew's place. Hunted there last year, deer were thick as flies. But I arrived with a severe foot injury, which blew up overnight to a "can't walk" issue. Wasn't any way I was going to shoot an animal that I couldn't deal with, I couldn't even carry pkgs of meat from my truck to the freezer back home. Nope, mission aborted, this is another year.
Still hoping for a sheep and goat tag one of these days.
Applied in a new (to me) unit for deer that I saw a lot of while bear hunting last year. Applied for elk and pronghorn in my usual area again, but am unlikely to draw the tags because of the die-off.
I’m not eligible for moose again until next year.
I didn’t apply for bear this year.
I doubt I’ll draw any big game tags unless area 50 muzzle loader draws as a second choice. I *might* hunt OTC elk, but there was a LOT of orange in my backup area last year, making it a pretty discouraging hunt.
It’s looking like another small-game season for me.
Saw more elk in 2 big herds than I've ever seen in my life last year. All on private and locked up BLM land.
Hoping the Muzzleloader hunt in a different area is a smart move.
I went ahead and put in for a moose tag for the first time this year, along with elk and deer, after seeing 9 moose in rapid succession last year, and dozens more the year before… not sure of my odds in that draw, but we will see what happens.
Good luck to everyone in the draw and in the field this fall!
Little Dutch
04-11-2024, 07:13
I went ahead and put in for a moose tag for the first time this year, along with elk and deer, after seeing 9 moose in rapid succession last year, and dozens more the year before… not sure of my odds in that draw, but we will see what happens.
Good luck to everyone in the draw and in the field this fall!
Bad news! You need 3 moose points before you are even eligible for the draw lottery. Minimum points for moose is 3, cow and bull.
Good luck on the elk and deer tags..
(That reply wasn’t meant to be flippant, tone is hard in print.)
Bad news! You need 3 moose points before you are even eligible for the draw lottery. Minimum points for moose is 3, cow and bull.
Good luck on the elk and deer tags..
(That reply wasn’t meant to be flippant, tone is hard in print.)
haha no worries. That's perfectly ok and not a surprise :)
encorehunter
04-11-2024, 20:02
I put in for an RFW tag that I probably won’t draw with 25 points. We are now looking at moving out of state, so maybe O should have burned them. We will see.
Little Dutch
04-11-2024, 22:06
I put in for an RFW tag that I probably won’t draw with 25 points. We are now looking at moving out of state, so maybe O should have burned them. We will see.
I hope you get it!
So, when are the draw results supposed to come out?
Little Dutch
04-21-2024, 00:43
So, when are the draw results supposed to come out?
Sheep and goat emails came in the other day. I was unsuccessful.
End of May
Ah, thank you! Much grass amigo!
Just got confirmation I did draw a buck tag again and a moose preference point. Still waiting on Elk results (next week, presumably).
Yay!
Successful Hunt Code
Product: D00 - Deer Application
Hunt Code: DF063P5R; List: B
Antlrlss Rifle
063
Yay!
Successful Hunt Code
Product: D00 - Deer Application
Hunt Code: DF063P5R; List: B
Antlrlss Rifle
063
Congrats!
A big goose egg on both deer and elk today.. Pretty much expected it on the elk as I cashed in my points last year, didn't get the deer tag that I've been consistently drawing with 1 point every other year though.
Just got confirmation I did draw a buck tag again and a moose preference point. Still waiting on Elk results (next week, presumably).
Elk draws today.
Drew a rifle buck tag, nothing special but it's great to have tag in my pocket. Didn't draw an Elk tag. That was for a unit a buddy drew last year with the same points. A little bummed about that one. We'll see how pronghorn goes today.
Little Dutch
05-30-2024, 13:20
Still hoping for a sheep and goat tag one of these days.
Applied in a new (to me) unit for deer that I saw a lot of while bear hunting last year. Applied for elk and pronghorn in my usual area again, but am unlikely to draw the tags because of the die-off.
I?m not eligible for moose again until next year.
I didn?t apply for bear this year.
I doubt I?ll draw any big game tags unless area 50 muzzle loader draws as a second choice. I *might* hunt OTC elk, but there was a LOT of orange in my backup area last year, making it a pretty discouraging hunt.
It?s looking like another small-game season for me.
I drew an Area 50 B tag for elk. I used to hunt 50 quite a bit, but it's been a handful of years since I spent some time back in there. My old hunting area had been marked as closed off as a bird of prey nesting area (or something similar) a few years ago. I'm not sure what that means for walk-in hunting access; if the signage is still up I will have to call to find out unless someone here knows.
Good luck on your draws and subsequent hunts everyone.
I drew an Area 50 B tag for elk. I used to hunt 50 quite a bit, but it's been a handful of years since I spent some time back in there. My old hunting area had been marked as closed off as a bird of prey nesting area (or something similar) a few years ago. I'm not sure what that means for walk-in hunting access; if the signage is still up I will have to call to find out unless someone here knows.
Good luck on your draws and subsequent hunts everyone.
Usually those bird closures only last through the spring while they are tending their nests.
drew my second season bull elk tag and late season doe tag for eastern plains.
drew my second season bull elk tag and late season doe tag for eastern plains.
Skunked on the Muzzle Elk, drew plains doe tag 2nd rifle. Going to hunt the JB homestead this year. :-)
JB got his Elk and a Buck tag. I'm planning to just tag along the opening weekend on the Muzzleloader to help pack out if needed. I will put in secondary draw for a cow tag in our other GMU and will still get an OTC bull there as well. Here's hoping it won't be like last year.
Didn't even bother, the present CPW is an anti-resident-hunter agency dedicated to revenue collection and EV parking spots.
Ok, my doe tag is a "List B" - does that mean I can buy another one like it after August 9th, as a leftover or OTC? Kinda unclear on the "list" concept.....
whitewalrus
06-01-2024, 14:53
Ok, my doe tag is a "List B" - does that mean I can buy another one like it after August 9th, as a leftover or OTC? Kinda unclear on the "list" concept.....
Means you can get an A or B list tag as well, either second draw, leftover or OTC.
You can only have one list A. You can have either 2 B or A and B.
C are unlimited.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ok, my doe tag is a "List B" - does that mean I can buy another one like it after August 9th, as a leftover or OTC? Kinda unclear on the "list" concept.....
Yes, you can have one list A tag
You can get one list A and one list B, or two list B tags.
You can get any number of list C tags, or one A and one B plus any number of list C or two list B and any number of list C tags.
Little Dutch
06-01-2024, 16:28
Ok, my doe tag is a "List B" - does that mean I can buy another one like it after August 9th, as a leftover or OTC? Kinda unclear on the "list" concept.....
Dependent on how much time I have as the season gets closer, I will likely buy an OTC for rifle season 2. I'll hunt my B list season 4 tag either way. I'm out of meat, 2 elk would be helpful.
So, I'll only get one weekend to do this, quite likely Oct. 25/26/27. My drawn tag is a DF063P5R, so I could (hopefully) get a second DF063P5R doe tag, or a DM063P2R buck tag, correct?
Private land. The DM063P2R buck tag opens Oct. 26, which would be perfect.
This relative's property is fairly small, but the mulies were thick as rabbits there last year. Of course I had to injure my damned foot and couldn't walk.....
Little Dutch
06-02-2024, 19:01
So, I'll only get one weekend to do this, quite likely Oct. 25/26/27. My drawn tag is a DF063P5R, so I could (hopefully) get a second DF063P5R doe tag, or a DM063P2R buck tag, correct?
Private land. The DM063P2R buck tag opens Oct. 26, which would be perfect.
This relative's property is fairly small, but the mulies were thick as rabbits there last year. Of course I had to injure my damned foot and couldn't walk.....
63
63
Oct. 26–Nov. 3 Buck D-M-063-O2-R A
Nov. 9–15 Buck D-M-063-O3-R A
Nov. 20–24 Buck + D-M-063-O4-R A
63
private land
only
Oct. 26–Nov. 3 Buck D-M-063-P2-R A
Nov. 9–15 Buck D-M-063-P3-R A
Sept. 1–Oct. 31 Doe D-F-063-P5-R B
Correct, you have a B tag. You can get one more B or A tag. Also as many C tags as you can snag.
I go for doe tags because I just want meat. But there were several young bucks around there too. Wouldn't mind running across this one again.....
96687
That's just about a wall hanger, there. Get a buck tag next time.
[Wave]
That's just about a wall hanger, there. Get a buck tag next time.
[Wave]
Thinkin' I'ma gwine do that.....
Unsuccessful on my second draw attempts..
Awarded my secondary draw on a Cow Elk.
Firehaus
07-15-2024, 19:30
Archery Colorado elk 1st & 2nd draw with 13 tags available = 0
Archery Kansas whitetail = 0
1st time I didn?t draw Kansas deer ever. Crazy.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
filled my archery tag a couple weeks ago. My best "backyard" buck so far.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53980498543_6bdc0925ca_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2qf5ayK)IMG_20240821_190617698_HDR (https://flic.kr/p/2qf5ayK) by Tim Richard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156405073@N02/), on Flickr
filled my archery tag a couple weeks ago. My best "backyard" buck so far.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53980498543_6bdc0925ca_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2qf5ayK)IMG_20240821_190617698_HDR (https://flic.kr/p/2qf5ayK) by Tim Richard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156405073@N02/), on Flickr
Beautiful buck! Congrats!
I arrived at the Palisade farm to irrigate one last time and to finalize packing for the elk hunt beginning Saturday in the Flat Tops. Studded snow tires are mounted on the old Tundra to pull the '67 Prowler camp trailer up the snowy road to camp. There was a good foot of snow exiting Eisenhower and over Vail pass, so it will be white around camp. It looks like the best chance for fresh snow is next Monday. I'll see if this old body can still climb Burro Mountain and down into the South Fork.
buffalobo
10-27-2024, 07:06
In my world that is about as Norman Rockwell as it gets.
Lever action and hanging venison.
Masterpiece.
If you're unarmed, you are a victim.
got lucky and found a bull on the 4th eve. of 2nd rifle. He died in about the worst spot and position possible. Thankfully I had a friend tagging along and with his help we were able to get him untangled from the dead logs in a position to field dress. Without my friend along, I don't know what I would've done. Head/antlers were bent back and tangled in the log in front of him and his legs were under the log to my left.
Thankful for the elk hunting weather that finally rolled in. Action was really slow until the cold and snow rolled in. Hardly any other shots from other hunters in the area either.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54109433211_488be964da_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2qrsZmg)IMG_20241031_164553 (https://flic.kr/p/2qrsZmg) by Tim Richard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156405073@N02/), on Flickr
buffalobo
11-01-2024, 10:35
Good looking beast.
And folks think hunting is easy, just stroll out into the forest and murder that creature.[emoji849]
If you're unarmed, you are a victim.
.455_Hunter
11-01-2024, 11:17
My son and I went out last weekend. All we saw were quarter to half-million $$$ hunting camps (multiple diesel trucks, fancy tailers, and ATV/RTV fleets) without any dead elk. Our $500 expenditure seemed pretty mild for the same level of success.
Little Dutch
11-01-2024, 14:47
I am not going to be able to make 3rd season Elk OTC rifle this year. My B season draw elk tag starts on Nov 20. Part of me is really hoping for a huge snow in the area because I know of two valleys they drop into around December and I am thinking it might push the elk there early. The other part of me doesn't want to hike in a foot of snow. I'll let you guys know if I get one.
Congrats to those who harvested this year.
got lucky and found a bull on the 4th eve. of 2nd rifle. He died in about the worst spot and position possible. Thankfully I had a friend tagging along and with his help we were able to get him untangled from the dead logs in a position to field dress. Without my friend along, I don't know what I would've done. Head/antlers were bent back and tangled in the log in front of him and his legs were under the log to my left.
Thankful for the elk hunting weather that finally rolled in. Action was really slow until the cold and snow rolled in. Hardly any other shots from other hunters in the area either.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54109433211_488be964da_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2qrsZmg)IMG_20241031_164553 (https://flic.kr/p/2qrsZmg) by Tim Richard (https://www.flickr.com/photos/156405073@N02/), on Flickr
Good job TR!
Harder than those deer that were licking your fire ring last weekend!
You'll have to start packing a come along in the kit if you keep doing that.
kidicarus13
01-13-2025, 22:45
Sounds like Colorado has enough unfairness to go around for everyone... https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/colorado-big-game-draw-changes/
"The only way that is possible is that [CPW is] taking away the value of preference points from people who've been loyal to Colorado who have applied for years for those points", Colorado guide and social media personality Cliff Gray said in a recent Instagram video. "Plain and simple. If you have accumulated a ton of points in Colorado, you just got fucked."
buffalobo
01-14-2025, 09:46
Depends on which side of preference points you are on.
If I had decades worth of time and money in preference points I'd be pissed.
Unless big game licenses are going unsold to residents each year, twenty five percent is too much for non-resident.
Sent from my SM-A037U1 using Tapatalk
As was stated also in that article is that CDOW should've kept the drawings for elk, antelope, deer as random draws from the beginning, instead of the point system. BUT they didn't and so here we are.
IMO, the other issue that is making things worse is the fact the CDOW keeps making fewer and fewer units as OTC units so now guys that are chasing points and wanting to hunt every year are finding crowding worse and worse in the few remaining OTC units. I suspect eventually all units will be draw only, which it sounds like archery is the first to get there.
Firehaus
01-15-2025, 10:16
As was stated also in that article is that CDOW should've kept the drawings for elk, antelope, deer as random draws from the beginning, instead of the point system. BUT they didn't and so here we are.
IMO, the other issue that is making things worse is the fact the CDOW keeps making fewer and fewer units as OTC units so now guys that are chasing points and wanting to hunt every year are finding crowding worse and worse in the few remaining OTC units. I suspect eventually all units will be draw only, which it sounds like archery is the first to get there.
It?s crazy that some archery units are draw, when the later rifle units are otc. Seems backwards to me given archery success rates vs rifle success rates.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It?s crazy that some archery units are draw, when the later rifle units are otc. Seems backwards to me given archery success rates vs rifle success rates.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Guiding associations make a lot more money guiding rifle hunters than archers so they have a pretty big lobby fighting against rifle otc changes. There is really only one organization that shows up at cpw meetings representing the archery community.
Firehaus
01-15-2025, 10:59
Guiding associations make a lot more money guiding rifle hunters than archers so they have a pretty big lobby fighting against rifle otc changes. There is really only one organization that shows up at cpw meetings representing the archery community.
Always follow the money. Thanks for the info.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.