2004 Archery Elk...Which state?

[Orso]

If you were going to plan an archery Elk hunt (or rifle) for 2004 which state would you pick? Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado....??? and Why?

I am just trying to get a head start. My beginning research will be questions like...Which state has good herds of Elk? Best chance of getting a tag. Public land access.

BTW - this would be a public lands hunt. Do it yourself type of hunt. I would want to hunt at least 10 days, preferably 14. Have a base camp with trailer and then do a spike camp a couple days at a time if needed by backpacking in.

Maybe a JHP event?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[fpscabs]

Orso
I put in for AZ this year by myself because of this main reason:
If I get picked in CA, it costs me $270 or so, in AZ it runs about $370 for better elk. I will be putting in for AZ next year. They (AZ game site) have a great site with excellent descriptions and good general maps. I figure, if I got picked, it would have been a do-able hunt, even by myself. We can talk about it sometime. I do have a point for elk and deer.

 

[DeerKing]

Just depends what size elk you are looking for. If you are strictly looking for meat than its Colorado hands down. More elk than any other state by far, over the counter tags and plenty of public land make getting an elk relatively easy, even with archery equipment. Also with a little more effort a quality bull can be had. Arizona is a draw, not sure about New Mexico. For big bulls Arizona and New Mexico are probably better odds... but good luck getting a tag in a premium area.

 

[wmidbrook]

Part of the enjoyment of hunting to me is seeing new & different country. So, I've had a tendency to go to different places in the west based on what's appealing at application time. I don't think that helps success as much as sticking with an area and getting to know it real well...as long as it's a good area that is.

Like deerking said, CO has way more elk than any other state and you're guaranteed an archery or rifle tag. You're also guaranteed bull elk tags in Utah, Oregon (archery only), and Utah. Montana's pretty much an every other year tag at least for rifle. You can draw a General Wyo bull tag on an average of every 3 years via the draw.

These OTC tags are great plan 'B''s in my estimation if I don't draw a limited entry tag or land some other tag.

If you're only after meat and are just as happy with a cow, Wyo & CO both have great cow tag opportunities. So does Utah though cow tags usually are not a guaranteed thing. Not sure about cow tag odds in NM and AZ.

Another thing is can I do a combo hunt when chasing after elk? In CO it is about impossible to do this unless you buy landowner deer tags via their Ranching for Wildlife program. Oregon, Idaho, I think also Montana (would have to double-check Montana) and Idaho afford good combo hunting opportunities. You can usually get a handful of tags in Wyo where seasons overlap if you're willing to shoot one antlered or horned animal and does/cows.

Value-wise, Oregon archery tags have been a real good deal especially for combo hunts but OR will be raising prices next season.

I'm in the points game for elk in OR, CA and will eventually include NV, AZ, CO too. NM is a draw but you can expect to pay $1000 above tag price on average for guaranteed landowner tags there. Landowner tags can be a good value for the self-guided hunter if you're looking for bigger bulls and less crowded hunting conditions if you don't draw limited entry elsewhere.

A local archery club hunts up in Oregon and their camp fluxes from 10-20 people over the month long season. They do pretty well--that's been going on for a handful of years now and is a great, inexpensive way to get into elk hunting. I'm sure there are other opportunities like that out there.....Maybe someone will organize a similar JHP hunt somewhere next season.

 

[Speckmisser]

I'm already planning Oregon archery elk for 2004. Not sure just where yet, although I've had messages with a handful of JHPers about different areas. The only thing that'll change this plan is another lucky break like this year (won a CO guided elk hunt in a raffle) or a significant upswing in my finances.

I'm choosing Oregon for a couple of reasons. First, it's cheap. Either sex archery tags can be had OTC for most areas. It's close to NorCal, which means I can do multiple short trips (3-4 days) if necessary. It's also easier to do combo hunts.

My second choice would be CO, although the simple issue of distance is a limiting factor. I'd figure nothing less than 10 days to two weeks for a hunt, and that would be the only chance to go, since most of the hunting periods are only a week or two anyway.

Getting out to CO enough to scout public land is another problem, added to the fact that the license is already a shade under $500 and likely to increase again next year. But that's the state with the most elk and odds are good for a dedicated hunter. Kicking out for a drop camp on private land, or a semi-guided opportunity would be a good plan if affordable.

I don't know much about the other states, though. NV seems like it's a little expensive and hard to get drawn. AZ sounds like it may not be a bad deal, if you know where you're going.

Ahhh... so many options, so little time and money!

 

[COHunter]

For me its Colorado hands down !!! The price is right IMO at $30.00, oh yeah and I live there too

 

[DeerKing]

wmidbrook
You won't have to buy a high price deer tag in Colorado to do a combo hunt. In many, many of the units a deer tag can be drawn with zero points. And I'm not talking crappy units where no one else wants to get. There are lots of units that are undersubscribed. Then you buy an OTC elk tag and your good to go on the combo hunt. Best of luck to you all, it won't be long!

 

[COHunter]

DeerKing
Thats a great looking Bull. You live in Colorado too ?

 

[wmidbrook]

I'm going to take a second to comisserate with Speckmisser.....

Lack of time 'n dinero .....but, there's just the faintest hint of light at the end of my career tunnel about 2 to 3 decades out. I might just get to experience a few months of steady huntin' at that point.....

Personally, I'll probably go to Oregon next season unless I end up in a honey hole this season in New Mexico. I got a sweatheart deal on a landowner authorization in a unit where success rates run higher than any archery unit (except the 2 or 3 limited entry archery units) in Oregon. Both are either sex tags but the unit I'm going to in NM has only a third of the number of hunters in the same-sized unit roughly.

The good thing imo about Oregon is that its archery season was extended to the end of Sept. this year....so, the likelihood of hitting the peak rut in Oregon may be better. Plus there are some big ol' P&Y/B&C class bulls up in Oregon in counties known for B&C mulies--for rifle, it's all limited entry in eastern OR.

Cost-wise, it's going to be about $400 more for me to go to NM than OR this year...such is life. Yes, the trek is 3-4 hrs longer for me to go to NM. So what's that $400 going to get me???

Bull:Cow ratios in NM are typically twice as good as units in OR. Also, success rates run very high in many NM units...sometimes twice as high as the best OR archery hunts. Then there's the hunter pressure factor. Archer densities are about a third of what they are in the areas I've hunted in OR. And, lastly, OR doesn't hold a candle to NM in terms of the numbers of behemoth bucks & bulls harvested....I hope it's worth it~!

But, to give credit where credit's due...there are very big bulls in OR and outstanding deer hunting. And I really wasn't competeting with more than a few other hunters in the areas I was archery huntin' in OR last season.

 

[wmidbrook]

I stand corrected....Thanks for setting the record straight deerking. Great bull too! DeerKing, gotta link to a listing of undersubscribed deer units where a draw for achery is a sure thing? Any recommendations? Those stats might be interesting to look thru.

 

[Oregon Archer]

im trying to plan a hunt for elk next year in Colorado. only reason im choosing that state is because my brother lives out there.

now if you are looking for a good value Oregon is a good place to start. like stated earlier we are going to have an increase in out tag fees but it will still be cheaper than a lot of other states for non residents. most of the state is open with an OTC tag. same for deer. some units have antler restrictions but most are any elk. we also have the advantage of having two types of elk to pursue and three types of deer if you are interested in a combo hunt. plus the bear and cougar pops are way up and an opp at one isnt uncommon during elk season. current tag price for an OTC elk tag is 306.50 and 58.50 for a non res license. deer tags are i believe 176.50 for non residents or close to that.

 

[DeerKing]

wmidbr
Go to www.wildlife.state.co.us the go to "hunting" on the left side of the page. It will give you a directory for where to find the info you are looking for.

If you need specific places feel free to send me an email, I could certainly point you in the right direction. I run a hunt consulting business but I don't mind giving a guy some good free information to get started. Thanks about the bull. This is last years...
DeerKing2001@yahoo.com

 

[One Track]

Muy bonito!!!

 

[fpscabs]

"I want one, I want it nowwwwww!"
Nice looking

 

[DeerKing]

COhunter
Yep, born and raised. Longmont specifically, just down the street from where ever you live.

 

[COHunter]

DeerKing
Actualy your up the road from me, I live in the Springs.

Those are some great Bulls, Congrats

 

[snoopdogg]

Oregonia folks, it's pretty nice. Although New Mexico sounds good for the above noted reasons, I'm still doin' Oregonia. For all of the reason Speck and Oregon Archer (thanks again OR) stated.

I started with rifffle year 1 and the last year was with bow. I'll be headed up there about Sept 10 or so. Seen lot's more elk during archery and you get to rut hunt. God bless over the counter tags that are "reasonably" priced.

Deer King, nice pics. Oh yeah, the bull aint too bad either....

 

[Oregon Archer]

hey snoop when you are ready to come up here give me a holler and maybe we can hook up for a day or two and chase some elk together.

 

[snoopdogg]

Archer,

I'm headed up late night 9/9 or early 9/10 for a week. Send me a PM.

 

[Orygun]

OR units are managed for either high yield-high hunter numbers or minimal hunter-higher quality. Just because a hunt has few tags doesn't always mean lots of animals. The Minam Unit is almost all wilderness, does not have the animal densities, but the quality of the bucks/bulls is phenominal.

The higher hunter units tend to be very roaded, like the C zones in CA. Which means lots of road hunters. That means some places the dust doesn't settle on the roads, even in archery season.

They ODFW is talking about limiting some of the archery hunts in the next few years on both sides of the mountains. Some open areas will require drawings, they may shorten some hunts, etc. Something to keep in mind. Also, tag fees are going up a bit next year.