Hunting License you regretted buying?

[Rich M]

Regretted not getting a buck antelope tag on my 2017 hunt - walking around with doe tags only reminded me that we all hunt for different reasons and in the future, there is no way I'm driving 30 hrs each way without any tag I might want to have, just in case.

Regretted my choice in hunting partners before.
Also got screwed by being a passenger and not the driver.

I don't regret not chasing the point game and the feeling that I need to hunt every hunt for every species in every state. Satisfied with how things are going and feel a couple of trips is enough.

 

[mallardsx2]

I can relate to that one for sure as I also regret my choice in hunting partners over the course of a couple trips I have taken.

 

[Winchester]

I haven't regretted any of the tags I've drawn or purchased.
I got some nice tags and went hunting ... I didn't always tag-out but no regrets.

 

[Prerylyon]

"Regret" is a strong word for my personal experience, but it would be the last couple of times I applied for, and drew, 2 doe tags out in Wyoming. It made a lot sense to apply for more than 1 doe tag: relatively cheap, "more meat for the freezer", fairly low stress hunt, and so on.

But, what I found was that after filling one tag, I felt guilty about being away from home and my family for so many days, and as I drove into town to get ice for my meat, that sentiment only grew and grew. I decided that I had had my fun, and turned the truck east to head home; leaving 1 tag unfilled.

Now, I have 7 kids, some with special needs, and no local relatives to help my wife when I'm away; just to give a frame of reference for my feelings of guilt. I'm grateful for my family granting me a few days to play cowboy out west. [emoji6]

So, til things get a little less chaotic at home, or one of the kids joins me on the hunt, I'm only going to get 1 tag/trip.

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[hunter25]

I can relate to that one for sure as I also regret my choice in hunting partners over the course of a couple trips I have taken.

This is why I generally don't go with partners other than my son. I don't want to be disappointed, and I really don't want to drag down someone else.
I know my limitations and won't impose them on others.

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[Grademan]

No regrets on tags but i do regret not taking my wife on more of my hunting trips. Besides the fact its nice having her around on the long drives it has allowed me to take more of them.

 

[HighPlainsHunter]

Regretted buying a leftover bull tag many years ago when I was a non resident hunter just getting started. A cow tag in a good area would have been a much better choice in hindsight. I used to be more focused on horns, now I focus on having an enjoyable hunt regardless of horns or success.

Rich, you are missing the point just focusing on horns. It's ok to spend time in the field with just doe tags, and gasp, even without any tags. In fact millions of people come here every year just to look at things like antelope, and many drive just as far as you did or even further. Try to keep that in mind.

The other thing I regret is buying sheep points when I was getting started. I later realized that I was not a sheep guy, did not spend time in sheep country on a regular basis, did not go find sheep to look at when I travel, etc.. For about 3 years I was like 95% of the idiot hunters who just wanted a picture of myself next to a dead sheep. If the only reason you would go spend time around sheep is if you have a tag to shoot one, then you aren't really a sheep guy. If you don't spend time looking for sheep in sheep country on at least an annual basis you are probably not a true sheep guy. If you have more fingers than times you have seen sheep in the wild or successful big game hunts stop pretending to be a sheep enthusiast on the internet.

 

[HighPlainsHunter]

I can relate to that one for sure as I also regret my choice in hunting partners over the course of a couple trips I have taken.

That's not surprising since you complain about the people every where you hunt. Nebraskans were the worst with people parking by you and walking by you, and those kids laughing. Country 2 in Wyoming folks mistreated you apparently as you have complained about them numerous times. And those "dutchies" as you refer to are the worst poachers known to man back in your neck of the woods.

My guess is if we asked the people you are referring to they would have a similar story to yours.

 

[BKC]

I drew a doe antelope tag on the Crazy French ranching for wildlife in southern Colorado years ago. I didn't care about a doe antelope as I was there to scout it for possible deer or elk future tags. The one rule of ranching for wildlife is that the entire ranch must be available for the hunt, which in my case was scouting. I got a good lesson in how the rules are enforced and where they let you ( tell you ) to hunt. Needless to say, there was no way in hell they were going to let me up where the elk and deer were. I was told by the ranch manager that was how it was going to be. When I turned to look at the local DOW ( now CPW ) officer, he turned away from me and walked away. You have to do your homework on the RFW hunts. I drove to New Mexico and walked north into Colorado into a state wildlife area and glassed that country from up above. I may or may not have been confused about where the property line was when I was up there ?

 

[JimP]

I have read quite a few of the rules on the RFW locations here in Colorado and am not impressed with what they allow and what they don't.

Most say right in their rules that there is no scouting, ATV's, or wandering around from your designated areas. I looked at one and they had a hunter check in at 7am where you would draw your hunting area. I figure that by 7am I wanted to be in the area that I am going to hunt.

If anyone is looking at a RFW hunt I suggest that they read their rules before you even think about putting in for the draw.

 

[Joseph]

Can't say I ever regret buying a tag, I do question the reason I buy a moose tag every year for my region. There is a draw system for any bull and a one month season for spike\fork, I always apply for the any bull tag because I always see a few of those even though being a total lottery system(no priority) and the odds being what they are chances of ever drawing are slim. I do buy the spike/fork tag every year but have only seen one of those ever in the twelve years I've lived here.

I do really regret the one year I didn't buy a mule deer tag(OTC) and had to watch a beautiful four point for about ten agonizing minutes broadside at less than 100m. Don't ask me why I didn't buy it, I have no excuses. Every year I always question why I buy a bull elk tag(also OTC) when I have never really gotten into elk hunting even though I live in what is considered some of the best elk country in our province. I almost always hunt solo and usually far from the roads. I prefer mule deer and whitetail hunting, I'd rather take two deer than one elk.

 

[HuskyMusky]

main regrets were;

getting gout before a hunt...

hunting what I view is the wrong part of the season...


all were Learning experiences however!

I think I know more now when applying for certain tags... but certainly more to learn!

 

[BAKPAKR]

I agree with Joseph - I do not regret buying any license or tag but I do regret a few decisions not to buy a tag for a second species. Two tags I wish I bought were a bear tag in Montana when I was moose hunting up near Glacier and ran into a huge black bear (also ran into a couple of grizzlies) and a second deer tag when I was muzzleloader hunting for elk in northern Idaho and ran into a big mulie.

 

[BKC]

I have read quite a few of the rules on the RFW locations here in Colorado and am not impressed with what they allow and what they don't.

Most say right in their rules that there is no scouting, ATV's, or wandering around from your designated areas. I looked at one and they had a hunter check in at 7am where you would draw your hunting area. I figure that by 7am I wanted to be in the area that I am going to hunt.

If anyone is looking at a RFW hunt I suggest that they read their rules before you even think about putting in for the draw.

Jim, I was at the Ranch house at 7 am, when I was supposed to check in. That is where I met the local DOW officer, I will withhold his name. Although I was scouting, my main purpose, I had a valid tag to hunt the entire ranch. I was never going to hunt this for deer or elk, as I would never waste so many points on a check in every morning and having to find out that a certain area was off limits because they have their cows in that pasture or whatever B.S. reason they want to use to keep you away from the best animals. That is part of scouting and you live and learn.

 

[Rich M]

Rich, you are missing the point just focusing on horns. It's ok to spend time in the field with just doe tags, and gasp, even without any tags. In fact millions of people come here every year just to look at things like antelope, and many drive just as far as you did or even further. Try to keep that in mind.

We've done this before. LOL!

Again - I don't care about the size of the horns. I'm actually against trophy hunting.

Have also been to WY on vacation, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, etc.. Well worth the trip.

We have to agree to disagree.

 

[Bonecollector]

Can't say I ever regret buying a tag, I do question the reason I buy a moose tag every year for my region. There is a draw system for any bull and a one month season for spike\fork, I always apply for the any bull tag because I always see a few of those even though being a total lottery system(no priority) and the odds being what they are chances of ever drawing are slim. I do buy the spike/fork tag every year but have only seen one of those ever in the twelve years I've lived here.

I do really regret the one year I didn't buy a mule deer tag(OTC) and had to watch a beautiful four point for about ten agonizing minutes broadside at less than 100m. Don't ask me why I didn't buy it, I have no excuses. Every year I always question why I buy a bull elk tag(also OTC) when I have never really gotten into elk hunting even though I live in what is considered some of the best elk country in our province. I almost always hunt solo and usually far from the roads. I prefer mule deer and whitetail hunting, I'd rather take two deer than one elk.

I need to get up and hunt with you sometime my friend. Some of the pictures have you posted are sweet. I love Che king our new areas.
I?ve been going west 8 years and have yet to hunt same place twice.


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[Bonecollector]

"Regret" is a strong word for my personal experience, but it would be the last couple of times I applied for, and drew, 2 doe tags out in Wyoming. It made a lot sense to apply for more than 1 doe tag: relatively cheap, "more meat for the freezer", fairly low stress hunt, and so on.

But, what I found was that after filling one tag, I felt guilty about being away from home and my family for so many days, and as I drove into town to get ice for my meat, that sentiment only grew and grew. I decided that I had had my fun, and turned the truck east to head home; leaving 1 tag unfilled.

Now, I have 7 kids, some with special needs, and no local relatives to help my wife when I'm away; just to give a frame of reference for my feelings of guilt. I'm grateful for my family granting me a few days to play cowboy out west. [emoji6]

So, til things get a little less chaotic at home, or one of the kids joins me on the hunt, I'm only going to get 1 tag/trip.

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Hunting alone can take it toll as well. We all have our limit when it stops being fun. About 6-7 days solo not seeing another person in the backcountry is good for me. With a partner or if wife would go I would not leave until snow pushed me to migrate down out of high country. [emoji23]


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[swampokie]

My one and only Colorado otc elk license

 

[Dos Perros]

Regrets are for cowards.

 

[LCH]

We've done this before. LOL!

Again - I don't care about the size of the horns. I'm actually against trophy hunting.

Have also been to WY on vacation, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, etc.. Well worth the trip.

We have to agree to disagree.

Don't like hunting antlerless animals.. against"trophy" hunting.. What do you do, fish? Lol