2016 Plans

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
8,358
4,750
83
Dolores, Colorado
I know, I know 2015 is still here but early in 2016 (really only a couple of months away) tag applications will be starting to come due. I have been doing a lot of thinking and pretty much have my year set....if my draw luck is good!!!

Antelope - Will only be hunting Colorado, cashing in my 15 points. I am sure I'll get the tag of choice for me. Point in Wyoming to build for a 2017 hunt.

Deer - Point here in Colorado as I burned all of mine this year on a successful 4th season hunt. Wyoming will be another point to go with the 10 I have now.

Elk - I'll be putting in for a 4th season cow as second choice, first choice will be for unit 1 or 2 so I can get in the hybrid draw. Pretty sure I'll get another point.

Moose- another point here in Colorado. Will make 3 so I can get in the draw in 2017

Desert Sheep- Colorado. I have applied every year since 2000, my luck has to change sometime.

Scouting - Will be making a couple of trips to Wyoming this summer to scout out a couple of new areas for hunting in 2017.

I am also looking into a spring hunt for turkey & pigs in Texas.

That's it for me.
 

OldGuy

Member
Apr 11, 2011
70
0
Mid-America
Most likely an antelope hunt in Wyoming. Some public area mixed in between the private, but I have permission on most of the private stuff. Got 3 PPs, last year it took 2 for 100% draw.

We'll see,
 

chaddarnell

New Member
Jul 3, 2012
14
0
Starting the process of changing my elk hunting area. Kinda dread it ,not sure I can find what I am looking for.
 

Slugz

Veteran member
Oct 12, 2014
3,664
2,341
55
Casper, Wyoming
CC, planning next year is never too early!! We have our standard elk plan here we execute every year. Family puts in for a limited draw archery or muzzle tag (usually draw with 1or 2) last few years someone has drawn with ZERO. Second choice will be same unit 1st season. If all that falls through will get A tags for horns and B tags for a 4th or late season hunt. I took two great guys to elk camp for the the first time western hunting experience this year. That was very rewarding. Hopefully they can come again. As always great Eastmans Forum, I'm here to help with any Colorado questions or planning. 276 days till the archery opener! Yeah I count.
 

siwulat

Active Member
Sep 6, 2014
160
0
Minneapolis
I'll be trying to work the WY antelope draw to get a point and a second choice tag in an ok unit. Hopefully one with a little more public land than my first trip. Then it's whitetails at home. Limited budget for me
 

hoshour

Veteran member
I'm planning on hunting antelope in WY. Hoping to get drawn on a good deer area in ID. If I don't, I may go OTC in MT.

Building points for all the main species in WY and CO.

I'm ready to quit wasting my money on sheep except in states where it takes little money to try.
 

Musket Man

Veteran member
Jul 20, 2011
6,457
0
colfax, wa
I have no idea what Im doing yet. I could prob draw deer in CO or elk in WY but Im not sure its going to be a good year to dedicate the time I want to those hunts so I might hold off a year.
 

sneakypete

Veteran member
Aug 9, 2011
2,821
275
Oakdale Ca.
Montana Foresure for elk and deer. I've been thinking of trying for antelope also in Montana. I'll put in for elk and sheep in Calif! Points for Wyoming !
 

go_deep

Veteran member
Nov 30, 2014
2,650
1,984
Wyoming
2 Turkey tags, 2-3 Antelope tags, 1-3 deer tags, and 2-3 elk tags, plus a bunch of fishing, and dumping some predators in the winter. All in Wyoming.
Do have 13 points for Bear in Wisconsin, and I guess at some point I'll need to do something with them, but don't really care just yet.

Good luck in the up coming draws everyone!
 

sheephunter

Active Member
Jan 29, 2012
245
10
Colorado
Pretty sure I've got the points for an early high country deer tag. As far as elk, I'll be waiting to see what my best friend from out of state wants, he is fighting cancer and I don't know if he'll be able to hunt (or if he'll even survive) so if he wants to try to hunt elk I've gotta be there for him.
 

tdcour

Veteran member
Feb 28, 2013
1,100
26
Central Kansas
I'm sure I'll be putting in for elk in NM again this year. Points in Utah for deer and elk. Need to get started in Wyoming and Colorado as well with points. Wyoming deer and elk and Colorado deer and possibly elk. I'd rather hunt not as good units than play the point game for 15 years so I'm not planning on saving them for very long.

Other than that if I don't draw NM I'll be heading to SD for OTC archery deer most likely and will still be able to do some KS hunting. Hoping my uncle and his buddies that go elk hunting with us can draw out in KS for their first WT deer in western Kansas.
 

bigmoose

Active Member
Jan 2, 2012
377
123
Yerington Nevada
I hope to be antelope hunting in Wyoming next year. I've got 5 points and should be able to get a good tag. I've got 7 points for deer but I'm still undecided whether I should apply or even where to apply. It would be nice to hunt antelope for two weeks and then deer for two weeks. Now that I'm retired, I could do this.

I have 1 point in Nevada for deer and I could draw a tag there. That would be great!

I have 10 points for California antelope and I would love to get that tag.

This year went fast and like CC, I'm already planing next year... good luck to all in the draws!
 

Aught6Fan

Member
Feb 25, 2013
83
1
Eastern WA
I'm not sure yet either. I do know that this year I plan to hang up the bow and muzzleloader, and use centerfire rifle.

I do plan on Idaho spring turkey and, if I tag out early, maybe chase turkey in WA. Possibly spring bear in Idaho.

Spend a lot of time this summer and early fall fly-fishing in an area I'm interested in for ID moose for 2017. Then I have to decide, I've wanted to hunt King Eiders and other sea duck in Alaska, but the cost is pretty hefty for ducks. Or I may apply for ID mule deer again this year. I'd also like to hunt blacktail in western WA, but if I do that I would want to dedicate all my time to hunt them. With time and money constraints I will only do one of these.

I do have an AZ quail hunt planned for next Dec. or Jan. Throw in some bird hunting and maybe a little waterfowling and I'll be book!
 

hoshour

Veteran member
Montana Foresure for elk and deer. I've been thinking of trying for antelope also in Montana. I'll put in for elk and sheep in Calif! Points for Wyoming !
Sneakypete - MT is not the greatest state for antelope unless you just want to combine it with another hunt.

CA actually has the highest percentage of record book pronghorn bucks of any state, if you can get drawn. Nonresidents have almost zero chance but since you're a resident, make sure you put in for your home state!
 

hoshour

Veteran member
I looked at the CA pronghorn MRS table from last year and saw that there were over 15,000 applications with max points last year going after 139 tags!

There is a random draw but the highest odds for rifle in our table was 1 in 200 and the best for archery was 1 in 50.
 

Musket Man

Veteran member
Jul 20, 2011
6,457
0
colfax, wa
I thought MT antelope was a decent hunt when you could draw pretty easy but after all the die offs and tag cuts I dont think alot of units are worth the points they take now.
 

cmbbulldog

Active Member
Jul 18, 2011
264
21
Lets see...

I might burn my 8 points for elk in WY. Probably just get a 9th deer point. Might do an antelope hunt depending on draw results in other states.

Put in for AZ for sure, all species... I have a lifetime license, so you never know.

Will go deer hunting in CO next year, whether I burn points or get a LO tag. Will help a friend on his elk hunt in CO.

Put in NM for elk and deer. Probably trophy hunts in early October depending on the draws.

Put in for longshot tags in UT and NV.

Try and get a good deer tag in Id.

Stressful time of the year trying to plan it all out where I can get 2-3 real good hunts.
 

WapitiBob

Veteran member
Mar 1, 2011
1,385
58
Bend, Orygun
App strategy so far:
WY Antelope, last unit with decent odds. I need more tags issued to help.
new UT mid Oct rifle Elk
AZ late rifle, the new nr changes won't help so it will be the same random odds as last year
OR rifle Elk, random draw; OTC archery Elk if I don't draw.
 

hoshour

Veteran member
I thought MT antelope was a decent hunt when you could draw pretty easy but after all the die offs and tag cuts I dont think alot of units are worth the points they take now.
Montana pronghorn bucks don't run real big on average and they don't have a high percentage of book bucks. I'm tempted to say it's the winters but Wyoming has great bucks and pretty much the same winters. Genetics, I guess. The soil is certainly good enough to produce some nice elk and deer.
 

missjordan

Veteran member
Dec 9, 2014
1,136
22
Missoula, MT
I'm crossing my fingers I draw a good deer unit in mt, if not there's always a backup. I will be heading into the draw with 6pts for all species except antelope. And will probably buy points again for Utah and wyoming.