The deadline for applications to draw a 2017 Colorado big game tag is April 4.
For hunters, deciding which species and units to apply for can be the most stressful part of the year. It can be even more stressful than the hunt itself. The slightest paperwork mistake could mean the difference between bagging a trophy elk and walking away empty-handed. 2017 will be the last year that Colorado Parks and Wildlife accepts paper applications. With the deadline fast approaching, the easiest way to apply is through CPW’s online portal, and you can access the online application here: www.co.wildlifelicense.com/start.php. If you haven’t decided on the GMU you want to hunt yet, you can always apply for a preference point. Preference points are essentially extra entries into the draw. Each year, hunters have the opportunity to collect preference points in lieu of a first choice. Each GMU has different odds of drawing a license; the more competitive a unit is, the more preference points necessary to draw a tag. There are some trophy elk units in Colorado that require more than 20 preference points in order to draw a tag. If you aren’t entirely sure yet which GMU you want to hunt, or if you want to start planning for the hunt of a lifetime two decades from now, you can enter the code E-P-999-99-9 as your first choice hunt code. You can then apply for another tag as your second choice, or pick up a leftover or an over the counter license later in the year.
With the application deadline so close, we’re going to assume that you’ve chosen which Game Management Unit (GMU) you want to hunt. The hard part is deciding which seasons and methods of take to apply for.
In Colorado, big game licenses are classified as either List A, B, or C. Colorado hunters are only allowed one List A tag and one List B tag per species per year. The general rule of thumb is that buck and bull tags fall under List A, while permits to hunt antlerless deer and elk fall under List B.
Before you choose what to draw for, you need to decide whether you’re hunting for trophies or meat. If you are hunting this year for a trophy to hang on the wall, then it makes sense to apply for the earliest possible license available for your preferred method of take.
Every year, hunters report the highest success rates in the early seasons. By the time later seasons roll around, the animals remaining have been dodging bullets and arrows for months and perfected the art.
Take GMU 85 – just west of Trinidad – as an example. Elk hunters during the first rifle season reported a 34 percent success rate last year. One in every three hunters during the first season went home with a bull. Hunters during the second rifle season, however, only saw a 16 percent success rate and by the time third rifle season came around, only 11 percent of elk hunters in GMU 85 filled their bull tag.
The first hunters to take shots have the highest likelihood of bagging their game. So, if you’re hunting for a trophy and don’t care if you only get to hunt one elk or deer this year, then apply for the earliest permit in the method of take you are most proficient in.
If you are looking to fill your freezer multiple times over, or just want the opportunity to hunt the same species multiple times, then consider trying to draw a cow permit. Yes, this may seem counter-intuitive since everyone is battling over coveted bull and buck tags, but hear me out. For elk, fourth and late season cow tags have much higher success rates. In some GMUs, as many as 70 percent of later season cow hunters end up filling their tags.
Since all of these later season cow tags are considered List B, that means that someone can lock in a cow tag then buy a List A third rifle season antlered tag over the counter. If your main goal is to end the year with meat in the freezer, this strategy can maximize the likelihood of filling at least one of your tags.
Your odds of bringing home a trophy might be lower, but your odds of hunting two elk or deer in a single year will be much higher.
It is possible to draw for a first or second season tag and still pick up a leftover cow tag later in the year. If you are willing to pounce on the leftover listings the minute they’re released, this might be a viable path for you to take, but there will be many more variables outside your control.
This all is a lot to think about, especially for those just starting out in the sport. The most important takeaway is to make sure your application gets in by the April 4 deadline. Even if you aren’t sure whether you want to hunt this year or if you typically only pick up over the counter tags, use the E-P-999-99-9 code to gather a preference point. Then, you’ll be in an even better position to hunt the GMU of your choice next year!
