Help Me Pick Elk Season - CO First vs. Second Rifle

[shannerdrake]

Hey All,

I need some help picking a season for this fall. My hunting partner and I have narrowed it down to Colorado first or second rifle for elk (and maybe mule deer). However, we need some help choosing! We will be hunting DIY on private land.

First rifle - we can draw elk and we would be elk only hunting as there is no deer season. According to GoHunt, success rate for first rifle elk is averaging 30.2% over the last 5 years.

Second rifle - elk is OTC, so we would save our points, and we could draw mule deer so we would have both tags. GoHunt success rate for second rifle elk is averaging 14.2% over the last 5 years. Mule deer average around 50% success rate during second rifle in this unit.

A few questions - those of you who know better, does it really make sense that you are more than twice as likely to kill and elk in first rifle (30.2%) than in second rifle (14.2%)?

Would you be willing to give up the increased success rate of first rifle to gain a 50% success rate chance at a mule deer AND an elk?

The land we hunt (we have hunted here a few times before) does have elk and mule deer in the same areas. I have seen and harvested both deer and elk on the property before. Also, regardless if we go first or second rifle, we will be the first hunters on the property this fall.

Thank you in advance!

 

[WildWill]

I could see how the reduced pressure and earlier dates of first season could up the harvest percent that much. Would be especially beneficial on public. But with your situation having private property with no prior pressure I'd go 2nd all day.

 

[Nick87]

I could see how the reduced pressure and earlier dates of first season could up the harvest percent that much. Would be especially beneficial on public. But with your situation having private property with no prior pressure I'd go 2nd all day.

I agree. Unless the private is access fee or something in which case it might be worse depending on the size of the property.

 

[Dsnow9]

^ this

 

[shannerdrake]

I agree. Unless the private is access fee or something in which case it might be worse depending on the size of the property.

Thank you - what do you mean by “access fee?”

It’s private land that we pay a “trespass fee” to hunt on, but regardless if we go 1st or 2nd, we’d be the first hunters in the 2025 season for either species.

 

[shannerdrake]

I could see how the reduced pressure and earlier dates of first season could up the harvest percent that much. Would be especially beneficial on public. But with your situation having private property with no prior pressure I'd go 2nd all day.

Thank you!

 

[Nick87]

Thank you - what do you mean by “access fee?”

It’s private land that we pay a “trespass fee” to hunt on, but regardless if we go 1st or 2nd, we’d be the first hunters in the 2025 season for either species.

Yah trespass fee is what I meant. But if your the first hunters regardless, I'd go second season definitely. Makes it even better imo.

 

[WVmike]

I agree with all of the others and if animals are moving between public and private, you have the best of both worlds in that you don't have to turn around away from the private land, you can go after them like you would on private.

 

[cohunter14]

Another vote for 2nd. Don't read too much into those statistics as they are a guess, at best, from the CPW. 2nd season will allow even more time for the animals to be pressured onto the private land too.

 

[shannerdrake]

Thanks everyone! I REALLY appreciate the feedback and comments. I am shocked, but so far we are at 100% in favor of 2nd rifle.

 

[cgasner1]

Personal id ask if I wanted to hunt elk or deer. If you really want an elk I’d go first season show up early and scout it and get your bull killed. If you just wanna go hunting and shoot something I’d go second season. Sometimes this is like a magnifying glass and it works better to focus on one thing.

 

[Mallardsx2]

If you’re paying a fee I would for sure prefer to have both tags.

Lot of research would need to go into this though before applying.