you'll probably never have enough points to hunt 2 or 201 for muzzleloader elk, go for 76 or 61

According to last years draw statistics, you may want to consider a few more units to apply in.  I assume that you had 14 points in the 2011 draw, and you now have 15 for this years draw.

According to my read on the statistics page, IF everyone applied for tags the same way they did last year, you could possibly draw a elk tag in unit 76 muzzleloader season this year, and a muzzleloader tag in unit 61 would take you at least another 10-11 years.... or more.  This is due to the number of tags that are issued and the number of applicants with more points than you have that applied for tags in those zones in 2011.

For instance, in 2011,  unit 76, Muzz season, everyone who applied with 15 or more points drew a tag.  In addition, there were 2 applicants with 14 points that drew a tag, and 17 people with 14 points that did not draw a tag last year.  Thus IF there were no changes to the applicant pool, you would be one of 17 (18 if you include yourself) applying for the 12 non-resident tags in 2012.

In unit 61, 67 people that had 15 or more points applied for the 6 tags that they give to non-residents.  In addition, 13 people with 14 points applied.  So, you can see that there are now 61 (67 minus the 6 successful applicants) people who have more points than you and 13 with the same amount of points as you.  Do the math and it is not a pretty picture.

Then there is the point creep, which is people who are sitting on the sidelines waiting for enough points before they even apply, or they get tired of waiting for the top tier zones, and they apply for something else.

I hope this is helpful rather than depressing, because I have more points than you and I am wondering if I should wait anymore also.......

The people who hunt units that take 3-6 points, and hunt them more often, are a smarter applicant than I.  I wish I wasn't so heavily invested in time and points. 

Good luck with your decision and your hunt.

This is crazy. I hunt every year with either 1 point, or none.

I guess that it all depends on a persons priorities on what and when they want to hunt.  I know of a couple of sleeper units in Colorado that you can usually draw with 0 points on the ML the big problem is that a lot of the access is controlled by private property, but I am lucky enough that I know a couple of the property owners there. 

I myself have been accumulating points for elk and deer for the last 16 years and plan on cashing in the deer points this year and the elk next year.  In those 16 years I have hunted both deer and elk.  The deer is usually a archery tag along with a either sex elk tag unless I plan on buying a OTC bull tag and then I usually have a late season cow tag.  I have never figured the need to limit myself to just one season such as muzzle loader.  Once I have used my points I will plan on doing ML seasons either every year or every other year depending on the units that I plan on putting in for.   

It certainly is crazy - to say the least.

I truly wish that I just earned and used up a few points every few years.  I know there are many good hunts to be found in units that require few if any points.  But in my case, I got caught up in the chase of wanting to go to a spot where I might see some really big bulls, and now I am where I am.  Hopefully I will draw a tag this year and get it over with.

I have not missed a year of Colorado elk hunting in 18 years - even when I had to go alone a few times.  

If I am able to shed these points this year or next, it will be earn one or two, and then use it/them from now on.

This is a great site and I thank you all for the information and tips that I have received from reading the wide variety of posts.