I've had to stop at several check points over the years, as well as been approached in the field a few times (always pronghorn hunting). I think the longest I've been at a check point was 5 min. I guess I'm a sheep too, as I've never seen it as a bother.
I have both--the chest freezer is currently unplugged. I prefer the stand up for organizational purposes (i.e. ease of finding what I'm looking for on a daily basis). However, after hunting season, both are usually running.
Missed out on my first choice doe (a tag that I've been able to pick up on leftover day for over a decade!). However, I'm looking forward to exploring somewhere new with my second choice doe tag.
Agreed that heath of the herd is what they are focused on. You can see the state rationales by unit in the proposed hunting season presentations on the regulations landing page at WGF; They are not setting the season structure based on COVID.
You are mistaken.
(1) Look at the bottom of page 19 of the 2020 Big Game Brochure. You will clearly see the two elk codes BrokenChicken listed as part of the hybrid for 2020.
(2) Look at the draw summaries BrokenChicken posted. Look at the box outlined in green, last row of the first table...
I'm sure it is a range of things. E.g. mistakes, people applying in a group to hunt with family/friends, thinking they have inside info to some specific animal to go after, to people who just don't care or understand the draw system, etc.
Perhaps I'm too much of a data nerd. Its just given the...
In general your understanding is correct, but in these instances it is due to the hybrid draw. In units that take more than 10 points for a resident to draw (averaged over, I think, three years), up to 20% of the tags are randomly drawn by those with 5 or more points.
Same here.
2nd choice elk, based on the CC hit and increased points. While I received emails on deer (2nd choice) and moose (point), I've received no emails on pronghorn or elk yet.
https://cpw.state.co.us/secondary-draw
My understanding it is a random draw for everyone with two tiers: (1) youths, and (2) everyone else. In other words, they will do a random draw of all youth's first, then a random draw for the rest of us.
See link above.