APPLY... APPLY... APPLY...
Hunting in the west is a game of lotterys and drawings. Half the battle is won and lost in the off-season when applications are filled out and submitted.
You can't play this game by applying for one species or for one state.
The way to play this game is to apply for everything that you MIGHT ever want to hunt in every state.
This is the way that we apply for deer, elk and antelope.
In states that offer bonus points, you should do 1 of 3 things...
1) Always apply for the true trophy units. The units that are really tough to draw. You might get lucky and draw them the first year or two that you apply but, more than likely, it will take a few years. However, you will eventually draw that golden tag.
2) If funds are a little tight and the state offers it, BUY THE POINT! Instead of having to submit the entire tag fee, they will sell you a point for a few bucks. After you buy a point or two, you can start putting for tags.
3) Buy a Landowner permit in an extremely tough to draw premier unit and then apply to the drawing for the same tough to draw units. If you draw a tag, you sell your landowner permit. However, never buy a landowner permit in a good or really good unit because you lose your bonus points. Only buy tag in the exceptional premier units.
In states that do not offer bonus points, you should do 1 of 4 things...
1) If this is a state that you really want to hunt, you apply for a really tough draw for your first choice and a sure draw on your second choice.
2) If there are a couple of states that you wouldn't mind hunting but you can only hunt one, you apply for tough draws on your first choice and apply for 50-50 draws on your 2nd choice.
3) If you really only want to hunt the premium units, you treat it like a bonus point state by just applying for the tough draws.
4) Buy a landowner permit is a good or better unit, then apply for premier units. If you draw, you sell the permit.
For other animals like sheep, mt goats, moose, ibex and etc...
You have one plan of attack. Apply in every state that they are availible. Somebody has to draw these tags, it might as well be you.
The way I approach each season is to do a couple of guaranteed tag group hunts each year. We will generally book the entire week and negotiate a group price.
We are always in SE Alaska shooting monster black bears. We sometimes head for BC's Vancouver Island as well.
We always do a New Mexico Antelope hunt.
We always do a coues deer hunt in Mexico.
We sometimes do a mule deer hunt in Montana or Wyoming.
The key is to pick and choose your opportunities and to use the power of GROUP booking when going with a guide. The guide is happy because he has a full camp. You and your buddies will be happy because your hunt is cheaper.
Heck, we have even bought landowner tags using the power of the Group before...
Anyway... APPLY APPLY APPLY!
SA
ps. the nevada deadline for the guide draw is March 12th (always apply w/ a guide in Nevada because you get 2 drawings and extra points) and the Wyoming Deadline is March 15th (check to see if there is any significant odds difference between the general $273 draw and the special $473 draw).
