this will prob be a heated topic, but im gonna ask anyway, we all know that in some areas landowner tags in hard to draw controlled hunts obviously gives privileged people way way better chances at shooting trophy elk. where I was hunting we called in several monster bulls over from priv prop, several, it was crazy to see how many monster freaking bulls were on this guys property and they knew exactly where prop line was too. during early rifle hunt there's only 35 tags in that zone, but that doesn't include the 15 or so landowner tags this guy gives to his buddies. these guys are guaranteed at least a 330 bull, at least. unfair advantage? hell yes it is, would I take advantage if I could? hell yes I would. should it be scored the same as a dyi public land hunt? I don't think so. they will be though.
landowner tags and scoring
- Thread starter ivorytip
- Start date
Musket Man
Veteran member
Maybe Im missing something on your scoring question. Why should an elk be scored any different if he is taken with a landowner tag?
birdhunter
Active Member
I don't think it should be scored differently. However, I do wish B&C would apply the same rules to private land as Wyoming does for its record fish. If the fish is caught on a private land pond, it cannot be recorded in the record books unless that pond is open for anyone to catch a fish. So, if a guy caught a fish on that pond and it should be the state record and he is the only one able to fish that water, it will not be accepted into the state record books. I don't know if this would help landowners let other people on but I don't think it would hurt.
exactly, scoring would obviously be the same, but let it be known it was a private land hunt, a lot easier with a landowner tag in those hard to draw zones, these huge private property areas in a zone should be thier very own zone cuz only certain people can hunt it and they don't even have to put in for it. make since?
CrossCreeks
Veteran member
Believe Me I Understand Everything you are saying about land owner tags, but if you are hunting next to private land and call one of the many monster bulls across the boundary onto to private land and are luck enough to harvest the animal should it be scored any different ? It sure would not make your bull any less of a trophy because you called it off private land. I guess we all can envy a landowner who has a set up like you describe. Also it is amazing that the animals know the property lines so well, especially the real monster bulls and bucks.
Hilltop
Veteran member
I really do understand your feelings. A certain amount of personal pride comes from the DIY public land harvest. However, you as the hunter are the one who judges the quality of your trophy. I personally don't need a scorer to legitimize the size of my trophy but I don't hold it against others that do. If a guy needs to see his name in writing and is willing to pay whatever for that, it doesn't bother me. Placing that individual in a different category won't likely change how he hunts and it surely won't change how I hunt.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
As long as the animals are "wild" and not high fenced in, then they are free to roam outside the private property. They should be considered for records just like any free range trophy.
My sentiments exactly. My uncle owns a commercial cattle ranch in central Oregon. It is bordered on 3 sides by public land. I cant even begin to count the number of times I've been stalking a herd of elk only to see them turn and cross the fence. Boom Boom Boom from the public land. In fact, IMHO, the only advantage that I have hunting there, is there are less people. In my experience, in this area, the elk move so much and so frequently that I really don't feel like I have much of an advantage other than less pressure. My opinion is that if the animals can move freely from private to public, and vice versa, they should be scored the same.
i agree they should be scored the same. my point is, with a landowner tag you need not put in for a hard to draw tag, its yours every single year. for example. oct 1 is opener for rifle in this zone, 35 tags, one of hardest hunts in the state to draw. would be nice to get that tag every year just cuz I know a guy, and trust me, im getting to know some of the guys
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Veteran member
Ivorytip
In your post you kind of put down a person who can buy a land owner tag. Maybe the guy that bought the landowner tag, put everything he owned on the line and his dedication and hardwork and wiliness to sacrifice everything paid off. why put that person down? I guess I am not understanding the rationale about people with money being less of a person.
In your post you kind of put down a person who can buy a land owner tag. Maybe the guy that bought the landowner tag, put everything he owned on the line and his dedication and hardwork and wiliness to sacrifice everything paid off. why put that person down? I guess I am not understanding the rationale about people with money being less of a person.
Sfjeeper
Active Member
What would be the difference it you shot a trophy bull on your buddies 100 acre property? Would you want that to be scored differently as well? If it was private land and no one else can hunt it, wouldn't that be the same thing? Unless we are talking high fences, because then we're talking about something all together different. We all known you can buy your way into the books. It's always been that was. When I read a story about some guy getting his 10th sheep slam. I think, good for him. I cannot get upset just because I cannot afford it. I still love seeing the pictures of incredible animals. I don't begrudge anyone for the animals they get. Even if they are bought and paid for. All I can do is try to get the best animals, and have the most enjoyable hunting experiences.I can.
Ivory, I completely understand your way of looking at it. The unit I put in for had 242 tags in 2013 and had 1,793 applicants. It's a fairly tough tag to draw also. The way my uncle works his land owner tags is like a revolver. He takes a list of his family that would like to hunt and he rotates it every year. He doesn't ever sell his tags. The last time I had a bull tag was 2009. I know not all land owners do this, but for me, in my situation, I don't feel like I have any better shot at killing a good bull than any one else does. The only thing it really helps me with is that every 5-8 years my odds of getting a tag are much better. He doesn't tell anyone who's on the list. We have to put in for the draw and If we draw a tag, great. If we don't, and we are on the list, we get a landowner tag. I'd much rather draw a regular tag, as it opens up the opportunity to hunt millions more acres. With the land owner tag I'm confined to his property. Not that that is a bad thing, it's just a lot less ground to look at.i agree they should be scored the same. my point is, with a landowner tag you need not put in for a hard to draw tag, its yours every single year. for example. oct 1 is opener for rifle in this zone, 35 tags, one of hardest hunts in the state to draw. would be nice to get that tag every year just cuz I know a guy, and trust me, im getting to know some of the guys
Fink
Veteran member
Those are my thoughts on the issue. No different than waiting on bulls to come out of parks to be shot.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I'll bet that almost all of them that do come from private land, that the private prop is not high fenced to keep everything in. Most of us are not saying private property kills should not be considered for records, just the ones from high fenced ranches that do not allow animals to leave on their own.
It's all relative. Bull taken on a top LE unit vs a bull otc. Bull taken with traditional vs compound. Muzzy vs rifle. I'll always be more impressed with a otc archery diy bull than a guided le bull. Not saying I wouldn't take advantage if it was in my finances, but when it comes to scores money unfortuanately has become a huge factor.
I'm not sure how I feel about landowner tags. But, private landowners are feeding and housing a lot of game animals and my experience is that they value that resource as much or more than most. There are always people who have more than you and some have advantages that you don't have. Just don't let that become an issue that impacts your hunting in a negative way.
Being from the South, I am grateful for the tremendous amount of public land that I can access in the West. It seems like you just need to embrace the challenge of public hunting and enjoy the experience. After all, regardless of the way it is portrayed on TV, hunting is not about the BC score.
Being from the South, I am grateful for the tremendous amount of public land that I can access in the West. It seems like you just need to embrace the challenge of public hunting and enjoy the experience. After all, regardless of the way it is portrayed on TV, hunting is not about the BC score.