Keeping track, when you apply for multiple states, is a bit of a task for myself. Anyone have a good system?
How does everyone organize your preference points??
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eye in sky
Active Member
I set up an alert on my phone for 5 days prior to the deadline that includes a list of each animal I apply for. I keep track of my preference points on my Huntin Fool portfolio page on the Huntin Fool website.
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Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
I have a spreadsheet and it has hugely simplified our application process. I'm tracking 230 lines of app due dates and draws (10 people, family and friends) and the system works very well. Once you put it together it is very easy to maintain. I've never missed and app or deadline since using this and it's easy to know how many points we have at any given time.
The first line on the spreadsheet is the first app due (OR Spring Bear), the second is the second app due, and so on. That way when I finish an application, it is easy for me to look one line down and see when the next app is due. If I need to I can tickle the date on my phone, calendar or whatever.
I also list the draw dates chronologically. It makes it easy for me to see when a draw is completed compared to when certain apps are due, since I may not apply for a tag in some states if I draw in an earlier draw.
For me it goes something like this, top to bottom:
JAN 1………..DUE: OR Spring Bear - Jim……….2 points
JAN 1………..DUE: OR Spring Bear - Lee…......2 points
JAN 31……...DUE: WY Elk - Jim…………………….8 points
JAN 31……...DUE: WY Elk - Lee…...……………...4 points
JAN 31……...DUE: WY Elk - Mike…………………..8 points
FEB 12……...DUE: AZ Elk - Jim…………………...15 points
FEB 12……...DUE: AZ Elk - Lee…..………………..4 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Elk - Mike………………….10 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Elk - Aaron……….………..9 points
FEB 12……...DUE: AZ Elk - Alan…………………….8 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Elk - Hunter………………..6 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Elk - Fischer………………..3 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Elk - Lynn…………………...2 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Jim…………..24 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Lee…..……….4 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Mike…………..9 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Aaron….………8 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Alan……….…..8 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Hunter………..5 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Fischer………..2 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Lynn…………..1 points
FEB 20…....DRAW: OR Spring Bear
FEB 28…....DRAW: WY Elk
…and so on…..
The fields I track across the top are:
"COMPLETED in 2014" (When an app or draw is complete I enter "DONE" for that year)
"DUE DATE" (when I have to apply by)
"HUNT/DRAW" (for example "DUE: WY Elk" or "DRAW: WY Elk")
"NOTES" The hunt or points I plan to apply for, along with a few notes on the hunts I am the most interested in.
"% DRAW" (anticipated draw odds. I can tally the totals for each state, and each species, and chances for each person to draw). If the tag is drawn, I change this to 100%. If it is not drawn I change it to 0%. That way my totals give me a real time reflection of odds for a tag.
"ANTICIPATED DRAW YEAR" When I expect to draw the tag.
"PREFERENCE POINTS 2014" (Points or the current year's draw)
"PREFERENCE POINTS 2015" (Points expected for next year)
At the end of the year, I make a duplicate, and file the old one on my computer. I clean up the new one for the next year.
The first line on the spreadsheet is the first app due (OR Spring Bear), the second is the second app due, and so on. That way when I finish an application, it is easy for me to look one line down and see when the next app is due. If I need to I can tickle the date on my phone, calendar or whatever.
I also list the draw dates chronologically. It makes it easy for me to see when a draw is completed compared to when certain apps are due, since I may not apply for a tag in some states if I draw in an earlier draw.
For me it goes something like this, top to bottom:
JAN 1………..DUE: OR Spring Bear - Jim……….2 points
JAN 1………..DUE: OR Spring Bear - Lee…......2 points
JAN 31……...DUE: WY Elk - Jim…………………….8 points
JAN 31……...DUE: WY Elk - Lee…...……………...4 points
JAN 31……...DUE: WY Elk - Mike…………………..8 points
FEB 12……...DUE: AZ Elk - Jim…………………...15 points
FEB 12……...DUE: AZ Elk - Lee…..………………..4 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Elk - Mike………………….10 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Elk - Aaron……….………..9 points
FEB 12……...DUE: AZ Elk - Alan…………………….8 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Elk - Hunter………………..6 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Elk - Fischer………………..3 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Elk - Lynn…………………...2 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Jim…………..24 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Lee…..……….4 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Mike…………..9 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Aaron….………8 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Alan……….…..8 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Hunter………..5 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Fischer………..2 points
FEB 12……….DUE: AZ Antelope - Lynn…………..1 points
FEB 20…....DRAW: OR Spring Bear
FEB 28…....DRAW: WY Elk
…and so on…..
The fields I track across the top are:
"COMPLETED in 2014" (When an app or draw is complete I enter "DONE" for that year)
"DUE DATE" (when I have to apply by)
"HUNT/DRAW" (for example "DUE: WY Elk" or "DRAW: WY Elk")
"NOTES" The hunt or points I plan to apply for, along with a few notes on the hunts I am the most interested in.
"% DRAW" (anticipated draw odds. I can tally the totals for each state, and each species, and chances for each person to draw). If the tag is drawn, I change this to 100%. If it is not drawn I change it to 0%. That way my totals give me a real time reflection of odds for a tag.
"ANTICIPATED DRAW YEAR" When I expect to draw the tag.
"PREFERENCE POINTS 2014" (Points or the current year's draw)
"PREFERENCE POINTS 2015" (Points expected for next year)
At the end of the year, I make a duplicate, and file the old one on my computer. I clean up the new one for the next year.
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Zim
Very Active Member
Ya I've been using a spread sheet like UH describes as well. In addition, I built a calendar horizontal bar chart that highlights the span of each hunt, so I can see how they overlap. I change colors according to the odds. Red means realistic 10%+, yellow 10%-. The rest, like sheep tags, in grey. I found this necessary as my points climbed to the top draw pools. In 18 years I have never missed a hunt due to overlap. I just apply carefully. I also subscribe to HunterAlerts.com for application reminders.
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Musket Man
Veteran member
Nothing hi tech here. I keep a folder with info I have collected for each state. For app dates I watch the MRS and use the table at the start of it. I only apply in 5 states including my home state so my apps arent to complicated.
The Deer
Member
WapitiBob
Veteran member
Don K
Very Active Member
norcalhunter
Member
I have a folder for every state I apply in. I used to write down where and when I applied in a notebook but last year I made an Excel spreadsheet for all my applications. The spreadsheet seems more efficient to keep track of due dates, points and apps.
The Deer
Member
Eberle
Veteran member
I have a membership to Hunters Trailhead $25 a year. Money well spent! It tracks your points & emails you reminders. It has lots of features, including a map of the US. You click on a state, select species, unit & weapon. It will give you the draw odds, how many tags & apps. It will also trend the last 5 years. It is really worth the money.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Jim's gonna probably wait a couple more years until his kids are a bit older, so he can be gone for 3 weeks and make best use of those points
mt-mike
Active Member
Compared to how organized some of you are, I kind of wing it. I'm doing it for myself only and I'm real serious about a total of four states. Some suggestions and pitfalls based on what I've learned along the way:
1) There is no substitute for starting early to build points for difficult to draw tags. It's easy to procrastinate on jumping thru hoops when the reward is 20-years or so out there. Don't do it!
2) Make sure you understand the terminology (example: the difference between preference and bonus points) and rules in each state you're applying for ( example: Don't waste your points by applying first choice for an easy to draw unit when you could have drawn it with a second choice and keep your points. I did this on deer in WY the third year of their new point system because I was offered an opportunity to hunt on a private ranch. As a result I no longer have max points and may never be able to draw the very top units.)
3) Once you've built up a significant amount of points in multiple states, be careful that you don't create conflicting hunts in the Event you are successful drawing multiple tags. You can only be one place at any given time!
1) There is no substitute for starting early to build points for difficult to draw tags. It's easy to procrastinate on jumping thru hoops when the reward is 20-years or so out there. Don't do it!
2) Make sure you understand the terminology (example: the difference between preference and bonus points) and rules in each state you're applying for ( example: Don't waste your points by applying first choice for an easy to draw unit when you could have drawn it with a second choice and keep your points. I did this on deer in WY the third year of their new point system because I was offered an opportunity to hunt on a private ranch. As a result I no longer have max points and may never be able to draw the very top units.)
3) Once you've built up a significant amount of points in multiple states, be careful that you don't create conflicting hunts in the Event you are successful drawing multiple tags. You can only be one place at any given time!
I have a spread sheet set up. It even figures cumulative odds with points accounted, then accounts after each unsuccessful draw the odds of drawing any remaining outstanding tags. It allows me to withhold certain tags from my cumulative odds if they are too easy to draw and skewing the system (like an easy-to-draw Wyoming antelope tag).
It has taken years to put the spread sheet together, but with 43 applications this year... it saves my bacon. For example, I know that statistically I have a 15.69% chance of drawing a sheep tag this year.
Sadly, I enjoy research/application season almost as much as I enjoy hunting season. It is a sickness.
I would post it up so you guys could use it, but honestly it would take hours to try and teach how to use it. Somebody smarter than me could probably lock certain fields and make it more user-friendly, but I am not that good with Excel.
It has taken years to put the spread sheet together, but with 43 applications this year... it saves my bacon. For example, I know that statistically I have a 15.69% chance of drawing a sheep tag this year.
Sadly, I enjoy research/application season almost as much as I enjoy hunting season. It is a sickness.
I would post it up so you guys could use it, but honestly it would take hours to try and teach how to use it. Somebody smarter than me could probably lock certain fields and make it more user-friendly, but I am not that good with Excel.
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I fell like this might be the start of a support group. I am glad I am not the only one who spends half of their life looking over draw odds and preference points. My biggest problem is that one of the places I like to hunt is OTC, so I just keep drawing points in some states, and I don't know when I will even put in for a tag. One of these days, I am going to put down the bow and pick up my rifle, and some animals are going to be in trouble...maybe. lol
Muleys 24/7
Veteran member
Same here, it can be a combo of stress and fun.... simalar to a hunt. So many choices and depending what you put in for, some luck may be needed as well.
Musket Man
Veteran member
I dont think thats a problem. Its good to have an OTC area so you have a place to hunt while you are building points and on the years you dont draw anything else.
ChadH
Active Member
I do a very similar set up to what UH does. I have the Excel Sheet that lists the state, Species, due date, points, and odds for drawing. After the year is over I file it away and start filling in the sheet again. The MRS helps a lot with have one place with all the dates in it for western hunting. When it comes to my home state of Michigan I just keep a log on the spreadsheet of my elk and bear points, and the DNR send me e-mails of when applications are due so if something slips past me i get a reminder e-mail from them.