Originally Posted by
Champlain Islander
People like Flags with 20 someodd points are the only ones who can really use the points system effectively but may never live long enough to get that once in a lifetime tag they have been paying for all through the years. Hunters age out and that once in a lifetime hunt using a cane can be tough. Like the article says the worst case is to die with a hat full of points. DOW wins hunters lose is the end game. Another plus for hunters if they allow banking of unused points is that a hunter like flags who has a lifetime of points could decide to use the points for 2 or 3 high value hunts that he wouldn't have wanted to burn all of his points on by chosing one of them.
I really wish I could give an answer or even a solution for the preference point issue. As noted, I am sitting on a lot of points. Currently I have 24 points for elk, 18 points for deer, 3+11 weighted for moose, 3+10 weighted for sheep, 3 for mountain goat, 3 for pronghorn, and I used up 14 points for bear this year. I have already taken a bighorn and a mountain goat so I'm not putting in for those any longer and since they raised the application price for moose I haven't put in the last couple of years. I cashed in 12 points for pronghorn several years ago and took a nice buck. I stockpiled my points when I was on active duty since they didn't cost active duty CO residents back then. Even with all the elk points I have I still can't get the unit 2 tag that I want as a non-resident. If I was a still a CO resident I could get it but not as a non-resident. I can pretty much get any deer tag I want and will probably try for that next season. I have been playing the point game for a long time and am not getting any younger.
I really think the only realistic solution is to put a 5 year moratorium on points. Simply quit issuing them and let the people with the points use them. If they don't then they lose them. Then start over with a new system that factors in what they have learned about the point game. One thing they could do is remove the option to just buy a point without applying for a tag. You want a point, apply for a tag. When CO first began the point system nobody, including me, ever thought some of these tags would take 25+ points. That was unheard of but they can't justify slamming the door on those of us that have played by the established rules of the game. If they do the 5 year thing I mentioned then I would have to decide if I am going to continue holding out for the unit 2 tag or cash them in on a tag for another unit like 61 which is also a very good unit. I would either use them of forfeit them and the decision would be mine to make.
The bad part about the system they have in place is that new hunters will never be able to catch up to the point creep. Someone like me can sit it out because I have the points to do it. But not one of my nephews can play the game and neither can my brother because he cashes in the points when he gets 3 or 4. The system works for me but I admit I am the only one I know of that can say that. One thing is certain, they will have to do something and I just hope they don't wipe out my 24 points. That would really irritate me since I played the game by the rules they put in place.