Should I bank a preference point

[NirvanaFan]

Hello everyone!
First post here, so bear with me if this is a very novice question. I'm from Western NY and looking to hunt CO in the first rifle season of 2015. The unit I'm looking at seems to have decent success and has ran 100% draw rate for the first rifle season. I'm not 100% set on hunting this unit, but I've spoken to someone that has experience in this unit and ran my plans by him. He gave me some tips and have decided that this is where I want to hunt.

Having said that, I'm nervous about not drawing a tag in 2015 for this unit. What happens if more people look at this unit and decide to put in for the 1st rifle season draw next year? It's possible that I wouldn't draw a tag.

So, would it make sense to put in for a preference point this year so I have one banked for next year? Having a preference point for next year would virtually guarantee me a tag.

In all likelihood, I'll draw a tag with no preference points, but I'm nervous. What should I do?

[WapitiTalk1]

Welcome to the forum Joe! Glad to see you jumped on board and looking forward to seeing you around the campfire. I'll defer your question to the Colorado cats...I'm sure they'll chime in. Again, welcome!

[Indian Summer]

How many applicants were there and for how many licenses? if it was 100% last year it has to have damn good if not guaranteed odds again.

But... the deciding factor is you can't draw if you don't try. If you want to hunt this year apply for it. If you don't draw there's always plan B.

Welcome aboard, Joe, I like you already.

[cnelk]

HI Joe,
PM me the hunt code and I will run the history of draw odds for you, it will show how many applicants, how many tags, etc

But to answer your question, YES. Always get a Pref Point when you can

[Indian Summer]

HI Joe,
But to answer your question, YES. Always get a Pref Point when you can

Can you get a license and still get a point down there Brad?

[cnelk]

Yes

[NirvanaFan]

Brad, I'll PM you in a few minutes once I get to the required number of posts.

According to the CO Parks & Wildlife PDFs here http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/Big ... stics.aspx odds of drawing this GMU as your first choice have run 100% for years.

If I get a preference point this year, and list this unit as my first choice next year, I'll use up that preference point, right? What if it isn't needed because they had more tags than people that listed this GMU as their first choice? For example, let's say the quota was 500 tags. If 400 people listed this GMU as their first choice (including me with 1 preference point), they would take all 400, and draw 100 tags for the people that listed this GMU as their second choice. Would I lose that preference point, even though it wasn't needed?

[cnelk]

Joe got your PM.
The NR draw went into the 2nd Choice round by a few applicants. As long as the the herd does suffer any winterkill or other setbacks, theres a good chance of the allotment of tags will stay the same.

As far as next year. If you get your PP this year [and a tag 2nd choice], you would be guaranteed a tag next year. But thats not the way to go about it.
Next year, 1st choice should be another PP, 2nd choice should be your unit. Then, if all stays the same, you get your SECOND Pref Point AND the tag again.

The only time time PP are used is in the 1st Choice.

This time next year you should be able to determine if the applicant pool stayed the same, and if the tag allotment stayed the same.
If nothing changed, you will be well on your way getting tags for a good unit and collecting PPs along the way.

Let me know if you have any more questions

[NirvanaFan]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks for the help!

[Triplebhunters]

Welcome Nirvanafan.
Cnelk has you covered good. Points are $40 this year, not a bad price for a little insurance. It will also get your hands on going through the application process. One thing I have noticed since I've started western research is the point requirements also change with the economy, when there were a lot of folks laid off more of them went hunting.
Find yourself a range where you can shoot long distance.
How far west In ny are you? We are just west of you in pa. I think Joe would be just south of you. Think if there is enough locals we could get Joe to set up a Elk Training Camp around here.

[NirvanaFan]

Thanks Triplebhunters,
I live around Rochester NY, and hunt in a small town about 30 miles south. Shooting 200 or 250 yards is doable there. I think I could stretch it out to 300, but that's about as far as I can go. That should be long enough, right?

[Triplebhunters]

Those parks (meadows) are huge out west. It's going to boil down just like us archers
"Shooting within our Abilities"

[Csrbowhunter]

Does anyone know how to just put in for a point? I'm hunting this year with a buddy that just moved out there last year. He's not much help when it comes to filling out for tags. This year were just hunting with a general tag area 16 but he wants me to hunt next year in area 20 I think. I was in CO website last night but couldn't figure out how to just put in for a point.

[cohunter14]

Use this hunt code for your first choice: E-P-999-99-P

The good news is that if you are hunting this year, you won't have to pay the additional $40 for the point

[Csrbowhunter]

Use this hunt code for your first choice: E-P-999-99-P

The good news is that if you are hunting this year, you won't have to pay the additional $40 for the point

So use that code but pay for a general tag?

[Triplebhunters]

Use this hunt code for your first choice: E-P-999-99-P

The good news is that if you are hunting this year, you won't have to pay the additional $40 for the point

So use that code but pay for a general tag?

Yes, use that as First Choice. Then where it says "If unsuccessful, send me("X one):" X one. Or put in a Hunt Code for second choice.

[Elkduds]

The good news is that if you are hunting this year, you won't have to pay the additional $40 for the point [/quote]

This is true only if you draw a limited license in the 2014 drawing, as 2nd, 3rd or 4th choice, according to p.5 of the 2014 big game brochure. If you do not buy a limited license for the same species as the point you apply for, the point costs $40 unless you had a CO fishing, small game, big game or furbearer license in 2013. Clear as mud, right?

[cohunter14]

Yeah, clear as mud, lol! Thanks for pointing that extra info out elkduds, forgot to mention that.