Horsenhike
Very Active Member
That's my plan. Random draw or minimum points for everything. Figure if I swing for the fences twenty times a year eventually I will luck out.
2018 non-resident preference point fees
- Thread starter QuazyQuinton
- Start date
Dark Mavis
Active Member
Alabama, I'm going to stay in the game until my knees and hips won't let me hike up the hill anymore. 70 year old me will be mad at 34 year old me for giving up the point game if he doesn't get to hunt a sheep.
I have a plan. I'm sticking to the plan. There are several states that I buy points for that I have no plans on hunting anytime soon. 10 - 15 - 20 years from now, kids will be grown and gone, and I will start cashing in on some big time hunts. Got to think long term. Throwing money into the various game and fish coffers is just part of the game.
I have a plan. I'm sticking to the plan. There are several states that I buy points for that I have no plans on hunting anytime soon. 10 - 15 - 20 years from now, kids will be grown and gone, and I will start cashing in on some big time hunts. Got to think long term. Throwing money into the various game and fish coffers is just part of the game.
Alabama
Veteran member
$165 for a 1 in 225 or worse chance seems like a lot of money for a little chance of drawing.
Alabama
Veteran member
Oh I agree completely on the long term goals and plans. I apply in a LOT of states and I want to hunt sheep so bad it hurts! I just wonder if I had taken Umpqua hunter's advice about saving up and going north would've been better in the long run.
See, I told you sheep hunters and those who want to be sheep hunters are crazy! Me included! I started adding up how much I spend every year on non-refundable fees: let's just say it's scary how much.
For one state, one time, I agree.
Long haul, I don't agree.
The problem with the whole argument of "saving money to go North/South" is, you're going to be hunting a white sheep the "cheapest"...and those are going to run 15k+. If you're talking RMB, Stone, or Desert more than that.
The way you win this game is to just stay the course and apply for a sheep everywhere you have a chance and hope you stay in good enough health to hunt into your mid-60's to early 70's...at least for Rockies and Desert sheep.
Glad I didn't listen to the nay-sayers, who said the same thing, when I started applying...
I would have to agree with Buzz on this one. While the outlook may look grim when you look at draw odds and the amount of people in each preference point pool, there are many unknowns there. 1) what will change in the future 2) (especially pertaining to sheep) how old are the people applying. Sorry, not may 70 year old people can still make it in sheep country 3) how many of the individuals with points can afford to put in for a tag that year, and are actually applying. As of last year, I think roughly only 30% of the individuals in the point pool actually applied, and I would be willing to bet many of those individuals are in the 1-2 point pool just hoping for a random tag and not working for points on the long haul.
My take is as long as lots of points are bought, states will ride the $. If folks quit buying them, well that won't happen. But I agree, the systems are not sustainable for many. BP systems are more likely to remain unchanged, than PP systems where there are few if any random draw tags. In a BP draw, you have a chance...
DH56
Active Member
I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I have 15 Shiras Moose points and holding. I am at the crossroads on what to so and with the increase, it will add more expense to this hunt. Between getting up in my years(just tuned 61) and I am not as able to walk the Big Horns like I use to(I'm a non resident), I most likely will need to make a decision soon.
I was holding out for Unit 1, 42, or 38 but will most likely never draw until I get max points and maybe not even then based on what I see, so I may be looking to do something else...... in a lesser unit the next year or two, before it's too late.
I was holding out for Unit 1, 42, or 38 but will most likely never draw until I get max points and maybe not even then based on what I see, so I may be looking to do something else...... in a lesser unit the next year or two, before it's too late.
Hilltop
Veteran member
I think the biggest impacts will be to moose points/applicants (cow). I just can't see guys paying that much for a cow moose specifically. Maybe during this first year or two people will burn their points on a cow to get out of the game but I can't see non-residents planning to pay $2500-$3000 for a cow moose. I would be surprised to see a lot of change on the bull moose applicants/points. It is novelty type of hunt... people will still pay for that chance once in their life.