This is topic I drew a bighorn ewe tag in forum Member forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on May 23, 2006, 09:47 PM:
I spent close to a Grand this year in hunting application fees. So far, I got a refund for Moose & Mountain Goat, (I've got 9 preference points for each) and I got an ewe tag in lieu of the $251.00 refund - way better! They havn't drawn for antelope and I have 9 preference points in a trophy area prior to the draw, I'll get a refund and a tenth point or a tag this year.
They have yet to draw for deer and elk too. I applied for a buck and cow.
Boring topic, I know, but I want Leon' to keep his mind on hunting! ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
[ May 23, 2006, 09:48 PM: Message edited by: Locohead ]
Posted by JoeF (Member # 228) on May 24, 2006, 07:57 AM:
I'm not up on this preference points thing but it sounds like you are liable to hit them all at once one of these upcoming years. That would be my luck.
It is too bad that the world (population) is such that you have to have a system like this. I live in a state that is even worse (deer only). You have to apply way ahead of time, your tag is good for only one county - my property is divided equaly between two counties - I get to hunt only half of my property. You are pretty much guaranteed a tag, even a second antlerless only tag, if you desire.
I usually don't bother. I hunt another state. Head to the local quick stop, liquer store, etc... Buy the tag you want good for a fairly wide management area for antlered deer. Shoot antlerless anywhere, buy all of the over-the-counter antlerless tags you want in some management areas.
Good luck with this years' hunt and the drawings in the future.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 24, 2006, 10:35 AM:
Danny, the impression I have is you are a lucky son of a gun! Sheep, goats, elk, man I would much rather be lucky than good! (just kidding)
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on May 24, 2006, 07:21 PM:
Dude, aren't those bighorn tags a "Once in a lifetime" tag?
I'd love to hit on one of those! A buddy of mine is working on some PD mine property north of here and says he see's a heard of 19 Bighorns nearly every day. Of course, they are all on Mine property and protected. The ones in the huntable areas are all super spooky.
Good luck to you!
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on May 24, 2006, 09:37 PM:
Getting a second ram tag is darn near a "once in a lifetime" tag. I was indeed very lucky when I drew a tag after 5 years of applying. I know folks that have been applying for 13 years without drawing. The actual rule is that after a successful ram hunt, you must wait 5 years before applying for a ram again.
In Colorado, the way the preference point system works is this. On each application you are entitled to a first, second, and third choice of hunt codes. Each hunt code tells what species, which gender and which season etc. If you are unsuccessful for your first choice, then you are given a preference point. And these points increase your chances of being drawn.
Deer and elk tags are pretty easy to get drawn for. Bull elk tags can be bought over the counter State wide and for all areas statewide except private. Only a few areas are so called trophy areas and are managed accordingly. These areas can take anywhere from 8-12 years to get drawn for.
Anyway, if you wait say 10 years to get drawn, wait 5 to begin applying again, then wait another 8 years, it is a "once in a lifetime" tag for some folks. The mountain goat on the other hand is indeed a "once in a lifetime" tag. They only allow you to get drawn once!
I started applying young and hope to get another one someday. Here, there is a not very well known secret... It is fairly easy to get drawn for a ewe tag because almost everyone applies for rams. A ewe hunt is a great quality sheep hunt and I'm hoping she will make a nice looking mount right next to my ram! You cannot get preference points during that 5 year period after your ram hunt. In the past 4 years, I've drawn 2 tags for ewes.
Tim, those desert bighorns?
Good hunting everyone! ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
[ May 24, 2006, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: Locohead ]
Posted by TRnCO (Member # 690) on May 25, 2006, 06:08 PM:
Congrats, lucky Loco!! When you draw that moose tag, give me a shout and I'll tag along, in case ya need an extra back and pack to get it out!!
Posted by John/Alaska (Member # 25) on May 25, 2006, 07:08 PM:
Loco.. Congrates on the tag! Not to gloat but.. I can have Dall ram or goat otc. I do have to draw for elk.. You can too but it will cost you a year. Kidding aside I would take your tag! Man that is neat!!
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on May 25, 2006, 10:50 PM:
Thanks guys! T.R. you just might live to regret that promise! It was a promise, right?!?!
John, you guys don't have to draw for Dall or Goats? ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
[ May 25, 2006, 10:52 PM: Message edited by: Locohead ]
Posted by TRnCO (Member # 690) on May 26, 2006, 05:47 AM:
Heck, I've got experience in doing it, and this one was bigger than any thing growing here in Colo., so, YES it is a promise!!
Tell ya what, I'll help you on your moose if you'll help me!! I saw 2 bulls and 2 cows and 1 calf moose last year while elk hunting! And where they were, wouldn't have been too bad of a packing out job!!
And on another note, if there are a lot of trees to pack out through, there is a better way of packing out 65+" antlers, but there weren't any trees to go through where we packed mine out of! It took us 9 packs to get mine out, 3 people three trips/packs each!!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on May 26, 2006, 11:06 AM:
News to me? I've hunted Colorado for years and didn't even know they had moose? (west slope, primarily)
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on May 26, 2006, 11:37 AM:
I called in a cow moose while calling coyotes up at North Park about ten years ago.
Posted by TRnCO (Member # 690) on May 26, 2006, 02:23 PM:
Yip, the north central mountains have the most, around the Grandy area, north toward Walden, is well known for many moose!!
I called in a bull last year, while elk hunting. I had a visual on him at about 250 yards, and called him into easy bow range. If I'd only had a moose tag!!
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on May 26, 2006, 11:05 PM:
T.R. you are absolutely way too good my friend. You've got a deal! How many points do you have? Did you say the moose came to an elk bugle?
Leonard,
I think the meese we have here are Shiras moose from Wyoming. I'm pretty sure they were introduced to Colorado in 1979. Not to say that some couldn't of migrated south. Why not, Wyoming flavored Wolves do!?!? Much of the terrain in Colorado looks just like Wyoming.
P.S.
T.R. is that your buddy Rick Paillet the "Tweety" master"? GREAT BULL, man!!!
[ May 26, 2006, 11:16 PM: Message edited by: Locohead ]
Posted by TRnCO (Member # 690) on May 27, 2006, 06:40 AM:
You'll like this, I have all of a BIG 2 points for moose ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
. So, I got a few years yet to wait!! I may get back up to AK. again before I get to hunt moose here. When I called that bull moose in last year, I just used my mouth and did the nasally sounding cow call. He came over there and started grunting, or what ever sound that is they make. I got some decent pics. of him.
Yeah, that's Rick. I went with he and his dad on that trip.
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on June 07, 2006, 10:41 AM:
I also drew a cow elk tag and a buck tag in my area! Wooo Hooo!!!!!! NO BEEF for dinner next year! I can't believe I didn't draw for antelope though. I now have 10 preference points for the area I want to hunt. It is in the far NorthWestern part of the state. Just below the Red Desert area of Wyoming.
Know anything about that area Cal'? Speaking of Wyoming Big-game. I've a cousin that lives just South of Saratoga. I think he gets something like 3-5 deer and elk tags a year. Can that be right? Is it feasible for anyone to get multiple tags up there?
Posted by Tim Behle (Member # 209) on June 07, 2006, 11:22 AM:
You have inspired me Danny!
We have another week to put in for our fall hunts. So I just put in for Desert Bighorn sheep, and Elk, up in unit 27. I've never hunted either of them, and have only ever seen a couple of them in the wild.
If I hit, I wonder how much trouble I'd have convincing AZHunter to come show me how to do it?
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on June 08, 2006, 08:20 AM:
Tim,
Consider hunting ewes once before you get a ram tag. You will learn so much about hunting sheep. Its a lot different than most hunting.
Here's a wierd one for you. I've litterally seen probably mmmm I guess well over 100,000 elk in my time, maybe lots more. If less, not by many. I've seen lots and lots of sheep and mountain goats here in our gamey state.
But (and I say this with great regret) I've never seen a wild bear! Everyone sees bears in Colorado except for me! I would think shooting a bear (and tube skinning it) would be much more difficult to accomplishment in Arizona!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on June 08, 2006, 10:45 AM:
Danny, I think I know the area you talk about?
Area 201, 1 & 2, a lot of antelope and good numbers of buck mule deer all around Dinosaur, Little Snake River. No elk, to speak of, at least I don't remember? I used to go up there a lot, before they made it a draw zone.
I also have poor luck with bear. It's an event when I see one, and it's usually at night.
Good hunting. LB
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