201 or 61?

[Jason Balazs]

Hi fellas,
Well this years hunt was a bust. between broken camper axles and what not, we did not get into the elk. I hunted with one of the Sitka athletes over on the Grand Mesa and saw more bear than anything. My wife saw one bull and two cows running together in the timber and that was it.

Anyway, I have ten points now for elk and was wondering your thoughts on either saving for 201 or drawing a 61 tag. I have a couple of things here.
First, I am in the Military and have been for the last 24 years. Most of you guys who know me from elk camp or wherever already know that. I am not stationed in Colorado at the moment. So, I have been saving my points for 201, which I should have enough the year I retire 2023. I could draw a 61 tag, but would only maybe get a week to hunt, or save my points for 201 for the year I retire and hunt the whole season. I still will hunt OTC for a week or so a year.

Just wanted to get your thoughts. My Bud Danny Farris and his dad shot a couple of monsters in 201 last year and filmed it for Peterson bowhunting.

Thoughts?

 

[iccyman001]

Hold out and save it for your retirement gift for yourself.
If you do it right then you can tailor your terminal leave around hunting season

My vote is 201

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

I\'m an Oregonian boy, so I wouldn\'t be much help for unit selection......GO DUCKS!

But let me thank you for your service!

 

[Deertick]

Spend \'em ... tomorrow is not a guarantee for anyone.

 

[otcWill]

What Deertick said. Actually, I wouldn\'t count on being able to draw 201. It will require liklely close to 30 or more points by 2023. You may even end up chasing 61 for a few years before you draw because of creep. Burn em! Buy a trespass fee for a retirement present in unit 40!

 

[cnelk]

Jason
You are considered a Colorado resident yes?
Even with military status? Im not sure how that works.

I would definitely start looking at 61, its a great hunt and memories are better made sooner than later!

Like Will said, I doubt you will get into 201 and 61 maybe chased for a year or two longer depending applicants and tag allotments.

If you get into 61, I know a spot... dont we Buglemaster??

 

[rudyc]

My Grandfather once asked me \"Who promised you tomorrow?\"

I\'d say go when you can, while you are still healthy.

 

[Ol' Arky]

Anythin\' can happen anytime... :think: :think:

I wish now I\'d done a lota things when I was healthy enough and not \"save\" it for retirement or later in life...

If I had it to do all over again I would have lived for the day and not the future...

All I\'m sayin\' is the same thing that a few others have said... Ya may never, even if healthy, draw 201 even as a Colorado resident... I\'d go for 61 and talk to Brad and a few others for a bit of help.. :upthumb: :upthumb:

 

[cohunter14]

Another vote for 61 for all of the same reasons everyone else has mentioned.

 

[Buglemaster]

Yes we do Brad. A very special spot that I still have dreams about a full month later. I will be 59 years old next month & will start all over in the point game. I think I could still get to that spot at 75...mabe.... If someone will push my wheelchair...

 

[WW]

Hate to bust you bubble Dave, but unless you get lucky and hit the hybrid 5 point draw you won\'t ever get old enough to ever hunt 61 in your lifetime again. Too many guys are getting tired of chasing units 2, 10, and 201 and they are dumping BIG points on lesser units like 61 and 76. So you can throw the odds game out the window.

 

[cnelk]

This fall - 2014 - there were 68 Resident tags for 61.
Here is the breakdown

39 people had 12 PP
12 people had 13 PP
2 people had 14 PP
6 people had 15 PP
4 people had 16 PP

So, out of the 68 tags, 63 took 12 points or more. 5 people with 11 points got tags.
The above equation took 12 people with 14 or more PP out of the game...

I hope this helps

 

[Jason Balazs]

Jason
You are considered a Colorado resident yes?
Even with military status? Im not sure how that works.

I would definitely start looking at 61, its a great hunt and memories are better made sooner than later!

Like Will said, I doubt you will get into 201 and 61 maybe chased for a year or two longer depending applicants and tag allotments.

If you get into 61, I know a spot... dont we Buglemaster??

Yes Brad I am still considered a Colorado Resident. I will definitely keep this in mind.

As far as seeing points go up, that is true as well. I have been saving for area 2 for 3rd Rifle for Deer and when I started, it took 6 points, now it is some God awful number. It is disturbing, for that is such a large area and they only give out eight tags or so. There are so many deer there that it does not make sense. I can\'t remember the last time I deer hunted in Colorado. Shoot, I think 1994? I killed a monster 5X5, but that was even before they started the draw system.