Colorado elk season structure

[Indyridgerunner]

So, am I getting this right? 1st and 4th rifle elk are draw hunts and 2nd and 3rd season are OTC? I have 3 points and am leaning towards 1st rifle. I assume since there is a draw and deer season is not in, the crowds won’t be as high as the rest of the seasons? Are cow tags draw also or are they OTC during 1st? My Colorado experience has all been archery OTC.

 

[elkduds]

Its complicated. All rifle cow tags are by draw. All 1st and 4th rifle bull seasons are by draw. In OTC rifle units:

...Bull tags are otc, unlimited during 2nd and 3rd season. Units in white on this map are limited units, bull and cow tags are by drawing or leftover, after the drawings are over. OTC bull tags have antler restrictions, see brochure: https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/RulesRegs/Brochure/BigGame/biggame.pdf

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[Phaseolus]

1st and 4th seasons are draw only for all sexes.

 

[HighDesertSage]

But just because it’s draw doesn’t mean there won’t be a ton of people. A lot of units don’t sell out.

 

[GrantK]

while the numbers suggest that first or fourth would be less crowded I think it really depends on the unit, on a lot of the western slope I would argue that first feels like the most crowded season, even if there are not as many tags the people who go to the trouble of putting in for the draw almost invariably are going to be in the woods, and not spread out with some of them looking for deer... by the last couple days of second and third the woods can be empty, easy come, easy go I guess? if you have no points on the line people seem to be pretty loath to try hard...

choosing between first and fourth would depend on the unit and how you want to hunt, if you want to chase bugles first is your game, if glassing nasty sanctuaries is your game go 4th, just be aware that if the unit doesn't have low country a 4th season tag can be a PITA, same with a first season tag in an area that is more wintering ground.

 

[kbhillhunter]

ive hunted two different units during 1st season, one was dead, the other was an ATV-fueled shit show. So really just depends on the unit. Also, there are a lot of units where you can draw a 1st rifle tag with a second choice, in case you wanted to save your points.

 

[Muley_Stalker]

1st rifle is popular because it's a rifle season that can catch the end of the rut.

 

[Saddle]

Its complicated. All rifle cow tags are by draw. All 1st and 4th rifle bull seasons are by draw. In OTC rifle units:
View attachment 124559
...Bull tags are otc, unlimited during 2nd and 3rd season. Units in white on this map are limited units, bull and cow tags are by drawing or leftover, after the drawings are over. OTC bull tags have antler restrictions, see brochure: https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/RulesRegs/Brochure/BigGame/biggame.pdf

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Do draw tags have antler restrictions too?

 

[elkduds]

▶ AN ANTLER POINT is a projection of antler at least 1 inch long and which is longer than the width of its base. ▶ A BROW TINE means a projection of the antler at least 5 inches long located on the lower half of the antler. ▶ FOUR-POINT RULE: Bull elk taken in all seasons must have four points or more on one antler, or a brow tine of at least 5 inches long in GMUs: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 52, 53, 54, 55, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 131, 140, 161, 171, 181, 191, 211, 214, 231, 301, 361, 371, 411, 421, 441, 444, 471, 511, 521, 551, 581, 681, 691, 711, 741, 751, 771, 851 and 861.
▶ NO RESTRICTIONS: There are no antler-point restrictions for any season in GMUs: 1, 2, 10, 20, 29, 39, 40, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 56, 57, 58, 61, 69, 76, 84, 201, 391, 461, 481, 500, 501, 561, 591, 682, 791 or units east of I-25 (except unit 140). Antlers must meet the minimum length of 5 inches long.

Also, welcome to HT!

 

[Saddle]

▶ AN ANTLER POINT is a projection of antler at least 1 inch long and which is longer than the width of its base. ▶ A BROW TINE means a projection of the antler at least 5 inches long located on the lower half of the antler. ▶ FOUR-POINT RULE: Bull elk taken in all seasons must have four points or more on one antler, or a brow tine of at least 5 inches long in GMUs: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 52, 53, 54, 55, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 131, 140, 161, 171, 181, 191, 211, 214, 231, 301, 361, 371, 411, 421, 441, 444, 471, 511, 521, 551, 581, 681, 691, 711, 741, 751, 771, 851 and 861.
▶ NO RESTRICTIONS: There are no antler-point restrictions for any season in GMUs: 1, 2, 10, 20, 29, 39, 40, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 56, 57, 58, 61, 69, 76, 84, 201, 391, 461, 481, 500, 501, 561, 591, 682, 791 or units east of I-25 (except unit 140). Antlers must meet the minimum length of 5 inches long.

Also, welcome to HT!

thank you

 

[Muley_Stalker]

Also, if it hasn't been mentioned. Only OTC units are OTC in the 2nd and 3rd season. The rest are draw.