The Most Important Data...

[ScottR]

What do you all consider to be the most important data to look at when researching hunts out West? There is a LOT of information available and the challenge is sorting it out into meaningful pieces. After that which pieces do you all use as your go tos?

 

[D_Dubya]

1. Draw odds/points required
2. Trophy potential
3. Harvest success rates

 

[Micah S]

1 Ability to draw a tag
2 Success rate and the reason for the success rate.
3 Buck to doe or bull to cow ratio
4 Ability to achieve my goals on that hunt.

 

[dan maule]

1. Draw odds/points required
2. Public Access
3. Harvest success rates
4. Season Dates
5. Water sources identifiable from satellite maps, springs identified on topos
6. Areas with limited road access
7. Land features such as rim rock and canyons

 

[kidoggy]

I always look to where I heard a big one was killed the year before .

 

[mallardsx2]

1. Draw odds/points required
2. Public Access
3. 3 year average harvest success rate
4. Season Dates

 

[Ikeepitcold]

1. Draw odds/points required
2. Trophy potential
3. Harvest success rates

X2 for this

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I tend not to hunt many new areas. States and units that I have had good success in are my main targets. That said, preference points required for a successful draw are my number one piece of information I want. I have already done the research (often times many years before) and usually am very familiar with the area I want to hunt.

 

[Hilltop]

1- Draw odds/points required for multiple years
2- Animal population
3- % accessible public
4- # of other hunters/permits to determine pressure

I could care less what is published for success rates because most of that is inaccurate for western states imo.

 

[Yell Co AR Hunter]

It is getting to be my billfold is the first thing to consider. I would like to apply for more hunts to up my chances.

 

[BKC]

1. Quota of tags available
2. How has that changed over the years, if they keep going down, there is a reason.
3. points required, I dont like burning them unless I have to.