Non-residents

[coueswt]

I have been applying in Oregon,Utah,Nevada and Wyoming for the past six and seven years and haven't drew a tag yet in these states. Also,New Mexico has been bad to me the past three years. Hopefully i will get a deer and sheep tag here. Colorado points only.

 

Anyone else draw any great tags in other states and can share some pictures? I think next year i will put in for something other then the red desert for goats in WY and maybe draw a tag atleast.

[Snapshot]

The draw system can be tough on the personal psyche sometimes, but with the demand for tags exceeding what is available, the luck of the draw can be frustrating. I have never been lucky on a consistent basis, but I keep trying. Last year I drew both my first choice New Mexico elk and deer tags, this year I only drew my first choice deer, and I am hoping for my first choice AZ deer as well and that will give me two good hunts to look forward to.

I only apply for Arizona and New Mexico, and occassionaly Colorado, I may get a Colorado Archery Elk tag just so I can hunt ELk even if I am not successful in scoring on an animal, I still just enjoy being in the mountains. That is one good thing about Arizona and Colorado, there is good opportunity for Bowhunters with over the counter permits.

Those Red Desert Wyoming goat tags are tough to draw, but keep your chin up and next year you may draw all your good tags and you will have to decide how to find time to travel to hunt them all.

[TAM]

I agree the western states various big game drawings can be tricky, but with a little research and luck you should be able to do much better than zero tags in six years. Take Wyoming for example, I know the red desert areas have very low odds, but I also know that there are several other units in Wyoming with good quality and much lower odds. Also there are many areas with easy draw odds and big goats, they just have some private land issues. With a few phone calls a person could find these ranches and work out a deal with the rancher. Not all of them want money for hunting there property, and I know some of them would love a few mindfull hunters to come and reduce the antelope population on there property.

 

Each year look over the draw odds for the various hunting units and look for potential sleeper units. I know in Colorado there are units for deer that can be drawn by non residents with 0-1 preferance points and these units have world class potential. In fact I think the world record typical mule deer was killed many years ago in a pretty easy to draw unit.

 

Utah has the limited draws which can be difficult to draw, but they also have general hunts which are much easier to draw. In fact, most years there are usually left over archery tags for deer in Utah. The general rifle deer hunts could probably be drawn every other year in the unit I hunt.

 

Nevada has difficult draws as well but with a litttle research you can also find the sleeper uinits. I drew a deer tag there for this fall and it was the first time I ever applied. I had zero points. I'm hunting the early season, and we'll be back packing in to get away from other hunters, but at least I'll be hunting the high country in October. There are good genetics in my unit and the possibility is there for a monster, but for the most part we'll be looking for 180 inches or better.

 

I also drew a deer tag and another antelope tag in New Mexico this year. This is my third antelope tag in 4 years over there. Deer used to be over the counter over there, but you can still draw tags on a pretty consistant basis if you do your homework. I've only had one archery bull tag 4 years ago, but we drew that the first time we applied.

 

Sorry to ramble on, but my point is that you've got to play the game if you want to go hunting. Each year my goal is to get one or two good tags. I have to apply for 25 tags a year to achieve this, but it can be done. Look at all your options, apply for every bonus/preferance point you can apply for. Even apply for points if you don't think you'll be able to hunt there for a few years. You never know when an opportunity may present itself. I've been applying for deer points in Kansas for four years now even though I doubt I'll be able to hunt there anytime soon. At least I'll have enough points to garuntee me the tag when I decide to go. Talk to ranchers, land owners, guides, and outfitters, you never know when someone might surprise you with some information that enables you to hunt a prime piece of property or helps you get a special tag. Look into getting land owner tags, or putting in on the Outfitter draws they don't all charge as much as you might think and the odds are often much, much better than the regular draws.

 

Good luck!!!!