Pref Point/Application Season Mentally Overwhelming

[DIYLife]

Hi everyone, hope the off season has treated everyone well. The end of January marks the start of the hardest time of the year for me. Every year I go through the application process for Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and sometimes other states. This is the hardest part about hunting for me. I feel mentally defeated every year over points, what units to put in for, what states to try to draw in and which ones to wait in. I hunt with 2 other guys and our points are spread out all over the place. We try to consolidate where we can but combining 14 points and 2 points is really a difficult thing to do. This situation has got the best of us a few times where we just opt out of spending the money then regret it later when a state like Wyoming takes away all our points for not applying after 2 years.
I think the biggest problem is what we do is we don't have enough time to get out to each state to find a good deer/elk unit to set our sights on. WE are just gathering points blindly, which leaves us short of the awesome trophy units but wasteful for burning up 7-8 points on areas that take 3. We also desire different type of hunts mostly due to age gaps/vacation time. My uncle is in his 50s and can take whatever time off he wants from work. He is set on hunts that are easier on the body and where he can have a chance at a true trophy buck/bull. He is also willing to pay $$$ for trespass fees in places like colorado/wyoming. My cousin and I are in our 20s and don't get much time off to hunt. A week is about the most we can get at at time, and only can do it once or twice a year. We also don't have a ton of money to put up for a trespass fee, especially in a unit that takes so many years to draw. We are happy with a shot at a 4 point deer, we don't have to see a 180 inch buck to be happy.

With all that being said, I guess my questions are:

Does anyone have a system for applying for points in different states?

How do you guys persevere through the research/application process with a group of people?

Do you use any resources other than what is provided by each state to makes your decisions?

Any help, advice, or opinions on the topic would be appreciated.

 

[Tim McCoy]

. There is no one right way to go about it. Most of my hunting now is with family for meat, not horns. I started out for meat, then chased horns for 15-20 years and now about 75% of my hunts are meat hunts, with kids/grandkids. So depending on goals and sometimes as we age, things change. You may find your goals and your uncles are very different, making it hard to put in together, but you can always go along on a hunt without a tag. Once you are set on a strategy you like, much of the frustration should go away.

 

[Calbuck]

Communication is key. You and your party need to talk it out and come to mutual agreement on hunt goals. If you always seem to hunt 3 point units, pick one and learn it well and enjoy. If you really NEED to draw one of the higher point units, have a backup OTC plan and go to that unit EVERY year to learn it well. That's my .02 cents

 

[DIYLife]

Tim,

Thank you for your input. We do a lot of trips supporting one tag holder. Those hunts are great, any time spent together is a win for all of us. With such little vacation time during the fall its hard to get your own meat after a week of helping the other guys. We have always talked about MT but never actually put in for anything there. Maybe that could be a opportunity hunt like you mentioned.

 

[swampokie]

New mexico really simplifies it with no point system. Oh yeah and makes it near impossible to draw. Simple though as all you have to do is send app and wait for refund.

 

[DIYLife]

Callback,

I agree with the comm piece for sure, thats the biggest shortfall. We live in different states right now, which created that issue. We do have some OTC tags that we use as back up plans, which makes for a great time. I think we need to get on the same page and find one of these 3-4 point units you are talking about.

 

[DIYLife]

swampokie,

That is how things are done in Idaho too. We don't even put in for the highly sought after tags and still don't seem to draw for deer or elk. At least there are decent OTC tags available up here.

 

[mallardsx2]

Great post.

I am in the same boat.

Its overwhelming and sometimes I wonder if it is really worth it.

My Fiance' is at her whits end with me. She just shakes her hear and wonders how hunting could be this complicated.

On top of it all I apply for points for her and almost all of my friends as well because few of them understand the process.

To further fuel my frustration when you call and inquire about the process to the agencies half of them give you attitude because you are the 50'th person to call that day asking the same questions. On top of that, the amount of tags given to non-resident hunters in every state makes me want to puke. And to think that so much of these states income is coming directly from the non-resident hunters bringing business to their states really makes me angry.

I have a lot of money invested in the points that I have and it is a small amount of points compered to some of you guys.

I'm in my early thirties and most of the good units will be out of reach for me in my lifetime. This is very frustrating because it wasn't until a couple of years ago that I could even afford the extra cash to pay for these applications and points...furthering my frustration and putting emphasis that hunting is a rich mans game. Oh ya and I had 5 Colorado Elk points before I went into college and that's when they changed the law for the two year "Apply or loose them all" (Now back to the 10 year) period and they took away all of my points because I literally couldn't afford to apply...(That was really cute)

To sum things up from my end: The saying you have to pay to play even related to public land DIY hunts.
When I do draw you can bet 100% that I'm going to give it my best and I will take as much time I can to give myself the best chance at filling those tags that I have so painstakingly applied for year after year. Maybe the best thing a non-resident can do is to just suck it up and buy a landowner tag on a good place to hunt. At least he wouldn't be so stressed about applying. Your paying the piper no matter how you look at it.

 

[njdoxie]

Seems a lot of folks think you can't have a good hunt unless u draw a limited hunt, resulting in points paralysis....not true, if points are stressing you out, then forget about points, find an OTC unit, hunt it yearly and learn it well. my 2 cents



I only collect elk points in CO, it's a no-brainer, I don't worry about ever using them, I hunt otc every year and love where I hunt, if some year I have enough points to draw a limited tag then fine, point doesn't cost me anything since I'm buying a license anyway.

 

[Shooter]

Application season is one of my farvorite times of the year. But it did take me a few years to come up with a strategy. If you are only applying for draw tags I think you are missing out on some good otc tags. And if you are only hunting otc tags then you are missing out on some great draw tags. I usually draw a tag or 2 every year and add in an otc tag, which gives me 2 or 3 good to great hunts every year. Now it doesn't always work out like that, but more often than not it does.

My main focus is mule deer so in most states I don't build up a lot of pts for mule deer because I want to hunt them every year. I'm not much of an elk hunter so I put in for units that have high quailty but will take a long time to draw. Because when I draw I want to have a really good hunt since I don't care as much about hunting elk. Antelope I plan on hunting every 2-4 years in WY. So when I have enough pts to draw I draw the tag and hunt.

 

[DRUSS]

I don't have much of a system but I usually try to plan a couple of hunts each year that I know I will have tags to get-otc ,or easy draws. then apply for each state as deadlines approach. if I don't feel I have a good chance of drawing what I want or just know its not feasible this year ( $$$$ or time off work, or conflicting hunts) I will apply for hunts that I feel are worth canceling my planned hunts or buy pts. but I understand the frustration of application season ( I think we all witness this at some point) I personally have about 7-9 pts in most the states I apply in. but feel I am in no mans land of sorts in some states, or still not a chance. but sooner or later some person has to draw so I keep trying............

 

[DIYLife]

After reading through all these responses I feel like everyone is in a similar boat. As stated earlier OTC tags in the same units are a great way to pass the time between drawing tags. I guess the key to the initial issue i am having is establishing a rotation for those long drawn out tags and sticking to that system. From there we will just have to hit the same OTC units, put in the time, and have a little luck.

 

[Slugz]

All,

Some comments based mainly on Colorado elk as that's my family focus year after year. We "horn" mule deer hunt every 2-3 years or so and doe/leftover tag deer hunt every year. I sense a lot of frustration over the systems, draws and planning so I will offer this in no particular order.

1. IMO there is no reason at all to bag/save points for elk in Colorado. Now if you are looking for an easy hunt close to trails, ranching for wildlife or a trophy bull managed area (360) then that's another story all together. You need points. Now that being said I routinely in notoriously crowded, terrible GMUs glass up 330 size bulls and bigger with out seeing another hunter. Hint hint do some homework. and get boots on the ground.

2. I routinely hunt a limited archery unit every other year. Years I don't draw I hunt an adjacent OTC unit, same herd, same terrain.

3. If you are a horn hunter and are looking for that 330 or bigger bull then boots on ground, ton of glassing and the commitment to go after him is all that is needed. With some planning, crunching, studying numbers and past draw results to show you the way.

4. Every year there are great leftover tags to be had. 1st rifle bull, 4th season cow to name a few.

5. If you are traveling a long distance then maximize your tags per season. For example if you are 2nd or 3rd rifle OTC hunting with your A tag (bull) then why didn't you just grab a cow tag also (B tag). Regardless of what walks in front of you, if its brown its down. I know of a guy last year who drops a cow (rifle), while beginning to walk to his downed animal the rest of the herd (didn't know they were there) comes out to see what the ruckus is about. Tail end charlie is a very very nice 6 x 6. He could have filled both tags but let him walk. He had meat on the ground.

Lastly, expectation management is key. A lot of people are saving and banking because they want a limited unit. Do you think the animals know where the GMU lines are at? Plenty of OTC, general tags (WY), leftover places to go with great animals and great numbers.

Gents I say this cause I think sometimes we get too spun up over bagging points. Its a great time to hunt out west. Get out and go, you just may be surprised what you glass up! Just offering up a different perspective. All the best.

 

[88man]

I'm Guessing productivity at work suffers a bit Too. LOL

 

[Horsenhike]

I'm Guessing productivity at work suffers a bit Too. LOL

"How do you use so much data on your phone?"-Mrs. Horsenhike