Well, my little strategy didn't work. I picked a preference point for my first choice and buck tag for unit 69 third season thinking it was under-drawn and I'd get it. javascript:emoticon(':sad:') I was wrong. At least I have two points for next year and hopefully can get a left over tag. My dad drew a muzzleloader buck tag however which is good and my fiances son drew a rifle doe tag and has a preferance point for next year.

It might of still been under drawn, maybe 200 hunters applied for 100 leftover tags and thus only 50% drew it as a 2nd choice. I hope you can get a good leftover tag in a decent unit. I play the 2nd choice game a lot and thankfully it's worked for the last few years. Are you going with your Dad on his MZ hunt?

Hiker, yes, I drew a muzzleloader Bull Elk tag which I am very excited about. I didn't have any preferance points and figured I would get a point and second choice cow tag. I am totally psyched about this bull tag and think I have a good chance of filling it. I am hunting the entire season and going to give it the effort it deserves! My dad has a muzzleloader cow and buck deer tag so, we are looking good in the tag dept. and should be bringing meat home.

You can bet I will be following the left over tag info and will be in line somewhere at o' dark thirty the day they are ready to go. My fiances son drew a first time youth second choice doe tag with a point for next year. I am taking him and hopefully can get a left over deer tag for the same season and unit. I am also hoping for a third season left over cow tag as well and I still have to see if my antelope tag comes through. Hey, I like to hunt. javascript:emoticon(':D')

Is your MZ tag in 69 also?
If so I think that gives you both the Wet mtns and Sangres because it's one of those "..also valid in.." type tags.
Great unit. Some rough country.
Good luck!

Alamosa, it's actually 861and where we go it's still pretty rugged country. We don't have horses at this time so a lot of groundpounding is the norm. Are you hunting in the Valley?

I actually live in Pueblo now. In years past I have taken elk in the San Luis valley. I'm hunting near Durango this year.

I have been scouting the Wet mtns for a possible 2008 hunt in units 69 and 84.
Below are a couple photos from last weekends scouting hike.

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Good luck in unit 861. That is spectacular country. Lots of vertical terrain.

Very cool pics. I am planning on a 2009 (when I will likely have an elk point again) unit 84 muzzle or early bull season rifle hunt. Have a friend with horses who can pack us to a spike camp for the hunt on the backside of the Greenhorn.

That shell looks like a Federal High Energy round in 338 Mag. Now that will put a big bull on the deck!

Take care

Yeah, I bought some of those .338 High Energy's. What was I thinkin' ????. Fortunately, they don't shoot very well out of my gun. I drew a statewide MZ bull tag so the cannon stays home this year. Really looking forward to the hunt his year. Good luck on yours! We'll slay 'em! I'm looking at Units 14 and 17 pretty hard. I've hunted 12 and 23 and 24 mostly.

Damn straight fellers hopefully we'll all be packing meat and some good horn home this season. On a side note no Antelope tag for me this year, but I do have three points for next year and hopefully can get a quality buck hunt in next year.

Best of luck to all of you!

Alamosa

What unit are you going to hunt around Durango this year? Which hunt?

I hunted first hunt either in 75 last year and really wanted a second chance this year, but got dropped to my second choice of first hunt either in 74. If you are in 75 I can pass on what I learned last year in PM if you like.

Good luck
HMG