Advice for a Hunting Newbie

[Pancho Villa]

Hello all,

I am a 100% hunting virgin in Co. Only ever did some halfassed hog hunting with friends back in Texas, so completely unfamiliar as to how its done here.

I have a few questions.

1. Due to a pregnancy taking up a bunch of my time, I didn't have time to put in for a deer tag and am going to have to try for OTC. Are there any left by now?
2. Are the tags left only in areas that are "slim pickins" or what is the deal with that?
3. What is the best method to actually get your shot in and take home some meat? I'm young and reasonably fit, so if it requires some hiking, even with a load, I am OK with it.
4. By the time you pay for the butcher to handle it, about how much will your average deer cost to bring home, for how many lbs of meat?

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to answer. With a baby on the way I am suddenly more interested in hunting as a way to add in some grass-fed meat at a (hopefully) reasonable price to our diet.

[DFBrews]

Deer is draw only but there are elk OTC tags try and grab a late season tag.

It is called hunting for a reason. My advise is study the area you are going to hunt during the summer start finding game trails natural choke points and things along those lines. make yourself as familiar with the land as possible. also a great way to get into shape for the season Hiking with weight is a whole different ball game than running or jogging
Also I always try to get an either sex tag so if a shot does present itself i will bring home something instead of just getting a picture thru the scope.
and hiking is a must there are quite a few people out during hunting season your odds go up the farther you are from civilization.
I can not answer the cost of processing question as I have always done it myself. 1-2 bucks a pound would be on the high side i would imagine.

[spencerhenry]

there are NO over the counter deer licenses. there will probably be some leftover licenses for deer in various units. elk is over the counter in most of the western half of the state for seasons 2 and 3, 1st and 4th are draw. but there are probably leftovers for many seasons and units.
if your objective is just to put meat on the table, the best bet is a cow tag. there are usually leftovers for cow tags in quite a few units, i would go for an earlier season because the weather is usually better, and the animals havent been chased around as much. a leftover 1st season cow tag for a unit that has high animal numbers would be my choice.

[DFBrews]

there are NO over the counter deer licenses. there will probably be some leftover licenses for deer in various units. elk is over the counter in most of the western half of the state for seasons 2 and 3, 1st and 4th are draw. but there are probably leftovers for many seasons and units.
if your objective is just to put meat on the table, the best bet is a cow tag. there are usually leftovers for cow tags in quite a few units, i would go for an earlier season because the weather is usually better, and the animals havent been chased around as much. a leftover 1st season cow tag for a unit that has high animal numbers would be my choice.

Hmm interesting I always go for late season with the hope that the snow has limited the animals range a bit less likely to see them at 11,000 ft plus

[Chaffee2]

If your looking for cheap meat forget hunting unless you have a rancher or a farmer in the family that has a land owner permit. Processing will cost around $150 or more over here anyway.

But if you want some extremely good, healthy meat then hunting is the way to go. As others have said a cow elk is the way to go for lots of good meat. Sage fed deer do have a flavor to them, grass or crop fed are much milder.

What I've learned is to get at least 1/2 mile from road to get away from other people in a area far away from a city and be patient when hunting. Lots of slow walking, glassing and lots of sitting and waiting.

Practice practice and practice some more with whatever rifle you are using so when the scope comes up and the animal is in the crosshairs there are no surprises when you pull the trigger.

Good luck

[Pancho Villa]

"Cheap" takes 2nd place to "good." Give an idea: we're buying a quarter of a cow on the 15th, grass fed premium stuff. So I'm just wondering if the price is comparable - about $6.50/lb. If its as cheap / cheaper when all is said and done, I am definitely in.

Thank you for all the advice.

Question then: whats the difference between an over-the-counter and "leftover" tag? And how do I go about getting a leftover tag?

[DFBrews]

"Cheap" takes 2nd place to "good." Give an idea: we're buying a quarter of a cow on the 15th, grass fed premium stuff. So I'm just wondering if the price is comparable - about $6.50/lb. If its as cheap / cheaper when all is said and done, I am definitely in.

Thank you for all the advice.

Question then: whats the difference between an over-the-counter and "leftover" tag? And how do I go about getting a leftover tag?

should be much cheaper than that especially if you already have a appropiate hunting rifle. Have you eaten much venison or elk? they can be gamey deer more so than elk it is stupid lean as well you have to mix pork to get good burger patties that do not fall apart the processer will usually do that for you if you ask.


here is the link to leftover licenses OTC tags can be bought in most sporting goods places

Click click boom

[JohnTRourke]

I dunno the rest, but I do know the processing

elk, figure $200 to $225 by the time it's all done.

[Pancho Villa]

I dunno the rest, but I do know the processing

elk, figure $200 to $225 by the time it's all done.

What's the range of edible meat you'd get for that much money?