NDHunter
Veteran member
I thought I was doing well but I'm not doing well at all when it sounds like there are 1,000's of dads buying points all over hell for little Johnny.
Putting in Points for Sheep and Goat Were Should I put in ?
- Thread starter matt1glenn
- Start date
Multi-SpeciesHunter
Member
I'm 19 and glad I'm starting to apply now for these hunts. But wish I would have started even earlier by the sound of it haha..
Haha PointsHunter! Yes I have been applying for him in AZ, CA, CO, NV, OR, UT, & WY as soon as he has been eligible to apply so he has a good base of points built up in all those states...
Horniac
CoHiCntry
Veteran member
Then you add in all the guys putting in for there wives, grandmas and brother in laws! I think this is a big problem adding to the bigger problem. Like Guys post where he said there's a gal in WY who's drawn several sheep tags and she's not even crazy about sheep hunting... but her husband is! So, someone who is mildly interested takes a tag away from a guy who has a burning passion. This is just selfishness to me. I would never put my kids in for tags unless I knew for sure they we're interested and if at any time there desire was lacking, I wouldn't put them in anymore. You should have to take some type of "desire" test before applying! Lol!
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Don K
Very Active Member
Seems this is what I hear every time I check my draw results..........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5QGkOGZubQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5QGkOGZubQ
NDHunter
Veteran member
NDHunter
Veteran member
My son has been hunting with me since he was old enough to walk. He has drawn youth tags in AZ, NM, OR and an antelope tag in NV. Two years ago he and I were both able to draw a late Coues deer hunt in AZ and hunt together. I mostly buy him points though because as a student participating in scholastic sports and the travel time associated with the hunts, coupled with potentially date conflicting hunts I was applying for, it was very hard to find hunts that would work for him. Hopefully he will have more time to utilize his points and do more hunting after he completes graduate school and he will let me tag along! I have two daughters who have never shown an interest in hunting, and knowing this at an early age, I have never bought a point anywhere for either one of them...
Horniac
...but I digress - back to the original question. Assuming you are a NR,
1. For bighorn sheep I wouldn't waste my time or money on either MT or WY. CO maybe if you can afford to front the $2,009 tag fee but it will take 3 years just to become eligible for the draw. ID would also be on my radar unless I was more interested in deer or elk hunting there. NV and OR for sure if you can afford to front the license fees since in OR there are no points for sheep. In NV's system bonus points statistically give you an advantage, but with that being said, even a first year applicant lucky in the draw can draw a tag in their squared bonus point system.
2. For mtn goat, WY since it is a straight up random draw and points don't apply. CO maybe same criteria as sheep. I wouldn't waste my time or money in MT. ID same criteria as above.
Instead of wasting of throwing away $150 on MT Sheep and Mtn goat apps and $114 on a worthless WY sheep point I would put that money in a separate account and apply it towards guaranteed hunts in AK and Canada. Also look at some of the raffle drawings if you can afford to throw down $100 here or there. Some of the raffles have better draw odds than the state drawings. Just an opinion from someone who has been in the points race for many, many years and has seen the trends that the state's have taken towards NR tags especially the last few years...
Horniac
velvet5
Member
I'm 22. I've got 4 points for CA. 1 for UT. 1 for NV. money is an issue, however, i study hard. Huntin fool and Eastmans are a huge help. Im looking to get a BP for MT sheep. I figure i'm making an investment in my dream (a slam) i also figure i can outlive some of these guys and in 20 or so years, thing's may be different. All i know is this. $$$ every year for points sucks, but it's simply something i gotta do if i ever want a shot. Besides, theres always a random draw chance!
Doe Nob
Very Active Member
I apply for less than premium sheep units in MT and CO, I'll be re-evaluating MT this year to see if it still makes sense. I've chosen to not apply in WY looking at the backlog and the attrition rates. I apply in NM and will keep applying in AZ until I get my elk tag there, then I'll have to decide whether to keep going or not. UT you should apply for everything. ID does have some good looking draw odds, but steep entry fees. NM licenses are refundable and UT you can get one every other year. I apply for several "governor's" type raffle tags also (CO, MT, ID, CA, WY).
As far as mountain goat, I apply in MT, CO and UT. This one might be one to make a much easier case to not apply anywhere and save your money up for a hunt in BC. Bigger goats, no wait, just go when you have the funds.
I'm going to be plowing though a lot of elk, antelope and deer points in the next 5 years and then I'll have about 10 sheep and goat points and see where that puts me being just past 40 and realistically how old I'll be.
As far as mountain goat, I apply in MT, CO and UT. This one might be one to make a much easier case to not apply anywhere and save your money up for a hunt in BC. Bigger goats, no wait, just go when you have the funds.
I'm going to be plowing though a lot of elk, antelope and deer points in the next 5 years and then I'll have about 10 sheep and goat points and see where that puts me being just past 40 and realistically how old I'll be.
Careful with the UT license every other year tactic. Was changed this year to say the license must be valid on draw date, so depending on when you bought in 14, you may be very sorry... The so called UT license trick now has a very small window, if any at all, better check the dates and hope the site does not crash and you can get it done at the last minute.
Doe Nob
Very Active Member
U got anything to back that up? I aksed some other places and they said you only need a valid license at time of application not time of draw.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Yep the problem is in Arizona, make sure you have a new hunting license there.
You can get two years of applications out of a Utah license if you apply late one year, then earlier the following year, just so less than 365 days has elapsed.
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okielite
Banned
Only place worth applying as a NR IMO is Idaho.
I dropped Wyoming a few years ago and wont waste my money and time waiting 30 years to draw a tag.
I dropped Wyoming a few years ago and wont waste my money and time waiting 30 years to draw a tag.
SoDakSwag
New Member
First off, I want to thank everyone on the forum for providing such good information. I catch myself reading the forums for multiple hours and gaining a lot of information, just waiting for one day to put it to use. I wish I had more to share but I am from Eastern South Dakota and don't have much to contribute. (If anyone needs any info on waterfowl or pheasant hunting let me know. haha I even have some good land to hunt for people that help me out)
That being said, I am 28 years old, FINALLY out of school, FINALLY have a steady income, in good shape (hope to be for the next 25 years) and am ready to start applying for some of these once in a lifetime hunts out west. I wish I would have started earlier.
From what I have read some say it's not worth it in WYO but I've done some research and Unit 4 has decent odds and others with the point creep maybe not. Idaho seems like good odds too. Montana's website is very hard to navigate but some say decent odds, some say not very good. All I'm looking for is a good experience and a bighorn to hang on the wall and be proud of. Any suggestions from people are appreciated, it's pretty awesome reading all the opinions from people that have real world experience. I'm just looking for the "what would you do if you were me" suggestion. I would probably be looking at hiring a guide for this hunt wherever I go.
Thanks
That being said, I am 28 years old, FINALLY out of school, FINALLY have a steady income, in good shape (hope to be for the next 25 years) and am ready to start applying for some of these once in a lifetime hunts out west. I wish I would have started earlier.
From what I have read some say it's not worth it in WYO but I've done some research and Unit 4 has decent odds and others with the point creep maybe not. Idaho seems like good odds too. Montana's website is very hard to navigate but some say decent odds, some say not very good. All I'm looking for is a good experience and a bighorn to hang on the wall and be proud of. Any suggestions from people are appreciated, it's pretty awesome reading all the opinions from people that have real world experience. I'm just looking for the "what would you do if you were me" suggestion. I would probably be looking at hiring a guide for this hunt wherever I go.
Thanks
This is the perfect time to start looking at the states draw systems for 2016, just keep in mind their systems and costs change and they are usually not favorable to current participants. Read how each state works, look at the odds/costs and get started. The eastmans MRS book may be a good tool.
Where many make mistakes is in not fully understanding how each draw works. Some are random draws, some use preference points (most points wins), some use bonus points (more chances the more points you hold), some will square bonus points, some have hybrid systems (Co. I think), and so on. Many hunters will put in where the statistically can't draw. Many states have separate tags in lotteries and auctions, in addition to their regular draw system. You can put in for as many as you can where you have a chance to draw and will spend lots. What would buying a hunt in CA cost? Were I starting out, planning to put out about 1k a year in multiple draws, I'd look hard at hunting white sheep in AK or CA. Odds are that is the most cost effective, albeit they are not bighorn sheep.
But someone has to draw, even if the odds are abysmal. You are young enough that in 25-30 years many in front of you will be gone from the draws... There is no easy or pat answer to your query.
Where many make mistakes is in not fully understanding how each draw works. Some are random draws, some use preference points (most points wins), some use bonus points (more chances the more points you hold), some will square bonus points, some have hybrid systems (Co. I think), and so on. Many hunters will put in where the statistically can't draw. Many states have separate tags in lotteries and auctions, in addition to their regular draw system. You can put in for as many as you can where you have a chance to draw and will spend lots. What would buying a hunt in CA cost? Were I starting out, planning to put out about 1k a year in multiple draws, I'd look hard at hunting white sheep in AK or CA. Odds are that is the most cost effective, albeit they are not bighorn sheep.
But someone has to draw, even if the odds are abysmal. You are young enough that in 25-30 years many in front of you will be gone from the draws... There is no easy or pat answer to your query.
SoDakSwag
New Member
Thanks for the input. These forums are a great resource and I appreciate all the help. Doing homework on various state's GFP websites is a good way to pass some time and dream of hunting. ha