NDHunter
Veteran member
For some of you older guys, at what age do you think you would just say "screw it, I'm too old to sheep hunt" and drop out of the race? It probably depends on several factors but I'd be curious to get some opinions.
Putting in Points for Sheep and Goat Were Should I put in ?
- Thread starter matt1glenn
- Start date
Zim
Very Active Member
I've stayed fit, running 20 miles/week my entire life. But it didn't matter, my body is now falling apart at 55. Take your pick.......Atrial flutter in heart, pinched nerve in neck disabling right arm, on/off lower back pain, plantar facitiis, bad knees. These are serious issues with me that accumulated and wheels fell off this year. Any one of these flaring up while I have a long-awaited for primo tag in my pocket would slam the door on the hunt. All, combined with my inevitable slowing metabolism, are game changers. 
I am in for sheep points in several states, but I am now being forced to shift to easier access, less taxing areas. Whereas I prefer hardcore solo backpack into wilderness. It would just be a gamble now, even with my InReach device.
I am in for sheep points in several states, but I am now being forced to shift to easier access, less taxing areas. Whereas I prefer hardcore solo backpack into wilderness. It would just be a gamble now, even with my InReach device.
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woodtick
Veteran member
So what Zim is trying to say to us NDHunter is we better draw in 20 years or forget it!!!I've stayed fit, running 20 miles/week my entire life. But it didn't matter, my body is now falling apart at 55. Take your pick.......Atrial flutter in heart, pinched nerve in neck disabling right arm, on/off lower back pain, plantar facitiis, bad knees. These are serious issues with me that accumulated and wheels fell off this year. Any one of these flaring up while I have a long-awaited for primo tag in my pocket would slam the door on the hunt. All, combined with my inevitable slowing metabolism, are game changers.
Zim
Very Active Member
RICMIC
Veteran member
I agree with ZIM. I have worked hard to stay in shape all my life, and at 62 can still outdo most of the 40 somethings that have gone hunting with me. BUT, the parts are just plain wearing out and I would likely crash and burn by the third day on a tough sheep hunt. All of life's little accidents and all the wear and tear add up. In my case it is primarily arthritis; not much too can do about your bones wearing out. My best advice is to always be in shape instead of "getting in shape". Doing so your whole life will likely make you mission capable into your 60's.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
You are correct. My problems didn't really start to effect me until I got to my 70"s. Too many problems that are directly related to my football playing days.
Zim
Very Active Member
I am still doing everything I can to be active. I ride my bike almost daily in the summer. I even play ice hockey in a no check old man's league where most of the guys are in their 30's. I am the oldest guy in there I have met. I'll tell you a scary thing. When I do 5K runs, they have computer chips and chart everyone's age & time. Well it's a wake up call when I look at the chart and only 4% of the runners are older than me! But it is good to see my times are still in the upper third. It's just there are so many things that can break. I've learned to not push myself, go at slow steady pace during any activity, and shut it down immediately when a pain arises. Dial it down.
Haha oh ya forgot to mention, I have what the doctor calls systolic heart failure. Ejection fraction of 40 so my heart only pumps at 70% of average for my age. Nice handicap, huh? Doc does not know what caused it. I never drank, smoked, took drugs, etc. No blockages, it's just electric related. Sucks to get old.
Did frame homes for 20 years but thank god didn't play football like CC. Take care of yourself!
Haha oh ya forgot to mention, I have what the doctor calls systolic heart failure. Ejection fraction of 40 so my heart only pumps at 70% of average for my age. Nice handicap, huh? Doc does not know what caused it. I never drank, smoked, took drugs, etc. No blockages, it's just electric related. Sucks to get old.
Did frame homes for 20 years but thank god didn't play football like CC. Take care of yourself!
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The original question was where to apply for sheep and goats. The answer is everywhere they are offered. People draw tags when they least expect it. The odds are long, and the cost is high, but you must apply to have a chance. Unless you have a serious medical issue, age is mostly a state of mind. Hunt to stay young.
NDHunter
Veteran member
Just an update to what was discussed a little bit about the price for Montana's big 3. A new bill is being debated that would raise the NR price of these tags to $1,250 each. We'll see if it passes or not.
QuazyQuinton
Active Member
NDHunter
Veteran member
Sorry man. Don't shoot the messenger! HahaThanks for the heads up....and thanks for ruining my day.
Zim
Very Active Member
This is a really bad philosophy perpetuated by Don Peay and other charlatans who bank on stupid money financing their Ponzi schemes. It's just like anything else. There are some decent lotteries and some ridiculous. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to crunch the numbers and invest your money in draws with something less than astronomical odds like Utah.
Just stay away from the draws that are nothing more than taxes on people bad at math.
I think in the future the bulk of sheep hunters will generally be 50-60 years old whose parents started purchasing preference points when they were 12 years old and continued buying them for another 15-20 years. The reason I say this is that kids can't afford the points and most young adults won't buy points as the 30 plus years of waiting to draw a tag seems an eternity to them and not worth the sacrifice.
If I were 30 years old and just starting out I would ignore the draw odds and apply for a sheep tag every year and forget about how many years I'd need to get to the top of the points heap. As you know, each year in Wyoming 25% of the sheep tags are available to anyone.
I drew a sheep tag the first time I applied at age 33.
I drew my first moose tag the 2nd year I applied at age 34.
I drew my 2nd moose tag at age 48.
I will draw my 2nd sheep and 3rd moose at age???
I drew an area 128 deer tag 3 of 4 years in a row.
My wife drew a bull buffalo in '99 (only 4 tags given out that year).
My wife drew her 2nd "once in a lifetime" bull buffalo two years ago.
My point for all this is that you can draw any tag any year. The odds may be against you but they're just as good as everyone else's odds. When there is the opportunity to draw a tag the glass is always half full. Only when a state denies you the opportunity to draw is the glass empty (and there are several empty glass states out there). So if you can afford it, apply for the tags on your wish list. If you can't afford it for a few years and you lose your points don't worry about it and apply again when you have the money.
If I were 30 years old and just starting out I would ignore the draw odds and apply for a sheep tag every year and forget about how many years I'd need to get to the top of the points heap. As you know, each year in Wyoming 25% of the sheep tags are available to anyone.
I drew a sheep tag the first time I applied at age 33.
I drew my first moose tag the 2nd year I applied at age 34.
I drew my 2nd moose tag at age 48.
I will draw my 2nd sheep and 3rd moose at age???
I drew an area 128 deer tag 3 of 4 years in a row.
My wife drew a bull buffalo in '99 (only 4 tags given out that year).
My wife drew her 2nd "once in a lifetime" bull buffalo two years ago.
My point for all this is that you can draw any tag any year. The odds may be against you but they're just as good as everyone else's odds. When there is the opportunity to draw a tag the glass is always half full. Only when a state denies you the opportunity to draw is the glass empty (and there are several empty glass states out there). So if you can afford it, apply for the tags on your wish list. If you can't afford it for a few years and you lose your points don't worry about it and apply again when you have the money.
MWScott72
Active Member
This is a sterling example of why I stopped putting in for these tags. Who knows, by the time someone draws a tag after 30 years of putting in, the tag might be 5-10k. And that's not including the app fees over that time period!
Sorry...not for me anymore. I'll save my money and put it to work elsewhere.
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
They should make the price of the big/once in a lifetime tags the same for res and non res.
Honestly hosing non-res while res pay nothing is not a good business model IMO.
There's no reason a res can't pay 200-500 for a once in a lifetime type tag.
We really need a multiplier rule/law I think, 8-10x max, and 5x would be much more fair IMO.
HuskyMusky
Veteran member
I certainly would not be putting in for Sheep in WY, especially if you have 0 points.
The only option I could see is trying to get lucky and drawing in the random lottery for a sheep...
someone said you had to pay the $100 for the pref point in wy for sheep, but I believe it's possible to apply every year and not buy a point, and just hope for he random lottery tag... which to me is the only sane option.
aside from sheep population exploding in wy, if things stay as is, I see no reason to start applying for sheep in WY.
The only option I could see is trying to get lucky and drawing in the random lottery for a sheep...
someone said you had to pay the $100 for the pref point in wy for sheep, but I believe it's possible to apply every year and not buy a point, and just hope for he random lottery tag... which to me is the only sane option.
aside from sheep population exploding in wy, if things stay as is, I see no reason to start applying for sheep in WY.
NDHunter
Veteran member
Unless they changed it, which I highly doubt, they automatically give you a point and deduct $100 off your refund. So no, you cannot just apply for the random draw only.
If a guy is fairly young and is going to actually apply for a tag every year and try to pull one in the random draw, then it might be worth it. But if a 30 year old is just going to buy a point every year and hope to eventually be able to use his points to get a tag, then I'd say it isn't worth it to get into the points game.
I have been putting my son in for points since he has been eligible to apply. He is now 21 years old and has 10 NR sheep and 10 NR moose points. If they don't cut the NR quotas, he will probably be able to draw a moose tag at some point but might not live long enough to draw a sheep tag...
Horniac
PointsHunter
Member
Sheesh! I'm 40 with 15 Sheep/Moose points and thought I was doing ok. Does your son have other states as well? That's "exceptional parenting!"