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Started By
Message
Preference points
Posted on 1/5/18 at 11:20 pm
Posted on 1/5/18 at 11:20 pm
So I've been watching wayyy too much meat eater and this dude has me rareing to go. I've always dreamed of these kinds of hunts and I'm patient enough to start planning years in advance.
What say you the bet way to get into and learn this type of glass and stalk type hunting. My ultimate dream is to kill a monster elk and a respectable mullie.
My fear is I would be wasting my time trying to gain preference points in the wrong states or even worse that I would build up a bunch of preference points and not fill out a tag.
I'm thinking Wyoming and Montana are some good options for doing a long grind on building preference points. Others I should be looking at?
Also what are some good high chance of succes hunts/draws that I should look into in order to get some practice. Ideally I would like to be able to do this without an outfitter so if I spend a few years scouting areas and learning that hunting on hunts that won't burn my preference points that would be great.
I'm sure none of this makes sense but if anyone has any experience with this type of stuff any information would be greatly appreciated.
What say you the bet way to get into and learn this type of glass and stalk type hunting. My ultimate dream is to kill a monster elk and a respectable mullie.
My fear is I would be wasting my time trying to gain preference points in the wrong states or even worse that I would build up a bunch of preference points and not fill out a tag.
I'm thinking Wyoming and Montana are some good options for doing a long grind on building preference points. Others I should be looking at?
Also what are some good high chance of succes hunts/draws that I should look into in order to get some practice. Ideally I would like to be able to do this without an outfitter so if I spend a few years scouting areas and learning that hunting on hunts that won't burn my preference points that would be great.
I'm sure none of this makes sense but if anyone has any experience with this type of stuff any information would be greatly appreciated.
Posted on 1/5/18 at 11:27 pm to Timmayy
From my paran who did everything otc/on his own starting out, his advice after hard lessons learned was to just suck it up the first time and hire yourself a guide. That tip came from multiple years of no kills and easily $15000 spent in doing so.
Meateater has had the same effect on me, been planning for a while.
Meateater has had the same effect on me, been planning for a while.
Posted on 1/5/18 at 11:35 pm to MrJudgeSmails
Yeah and I'm ok with doing that too. But from my understanding you still have to build up preference points if you want to kill a really big gun even if you are hiring an outfitter because you need the preference points to draw desirable locations.
I say you need but more like its very helpful. I understand that some of the tags are random drawn.
I am also not aversed to attempting to draw easier game in order to practice while I am building preference points.
I say you need but more like its very helpful. I understand that some of the tags are random drawn.
I am also not aversed to attempting to draw easier game in order to practice while I am building preference points.
Posted on 1/5/18 at 11:38 pm to Timmayy
I've been looking at the kaibab hunts in Arizona. Looks like about a 10 year draw for NR but the mule deer are absolute giants.
Posted on 1/5/18 at 11:47 pm to jgthunt
Speaking of which ^ jgthunt has what sounds like an awesome trip lined up, y’all should talk. I wish I could go but can’t swing it at the moment otherwise I’d have already stolen it from him.
Posted on 1/5/18 at 11:53 pm to MrJudgeSmails
I definitely can't swing it yet. Don't even start my job until the summer. But want to get the ball rolling
To be honest sitting in a tree stand or a box stand hasn't ever been my biggest attraction and this type of hunting combines everything that I love. I'm trying to plan a few end all be all trips utilizing my preference points but along the way every other year or so I would love to do some smaller hunts.
Atleast that is the idea
To be honest sitting in a tree stand or a box stand hasn't ever been my biggest attraction and this type of hunting combines everything that I love. I'm trying to plan a few end all be all trips utilizing my preference points but along the way every other year or so I would love to do some smaller hunts.
Atleast that is the idea
This post was edited on 1/5/18 at 11:55 pm
Posted on 1/6/18 at 5:52 am to Timmayy
Ive been building points for sheep in several states for years. My son is three and I have already begun building points for him as well, so that when he turns 15 or so he will be near the top of the bonus point systems in most states that use them.
In my opinion the draw and lottery systems are reaching a tipping point. There are more and more people building numbers every year to the point where, especially in preference states, a newcomer will have no statistical chance at drawing one of the top area tags. This is why a lot of folks, like Randy Newburg, keep saying states should revert back to a true simple lottery draw system, at least you would have the same chance as every other hunter applying.
My advice to you would be to pursue OTC tags while you can. In Montana you can buy a combo elk & mule deer tag and hunt public land with success. Will you kill a 360" bull or a 200" buck? Highly unlikely, but you will have a very good shot at a representative of the species. This is where you could travel each year and learn an area. You can forget drawing multiple tags in good areas to hunt year after year, it is far more of a "once in a lifetime" deal for tags now. If you are serious about getting into the tag game then I would recommend calling up the folks at Huntin' Fool, Go Hunt, or one of the other tag application services and pay them to help you. The regulations and rules vary by state and it is EXTREMELY complex to try to learn every application system and deadline.
Not trying to rain on your enthusiasm at all, just giving you the truth. I really hate the application systems in some states and wish it would go to a straight lottery, but this is the game we must play until we hit the powerball.
ETA: I forgot to mention, look up Randy Newburg's podcasts from last year. He does a state-by-state breakdown of the application process. It is gold, although it may have changed for upcoming years, but it will at least help explain things to you.
In my opinion the draw and lottery systems are reaching a tipping point. There are more and more people building numbers every year to the point where, especially in preference states, a newcomer will have no statistical chance at drawing one of the top area tags. This is why a lot of folks, like Randy Newburg, keep saying states should revert back to a true simple lottery draw system, at least you would have the same chance as every other hunter applying.
My advice to you would be to pursue OTC tags while you can. In Montana you can buy a combo elk & mule deer tag and hunt public land with success. Will you kill a 360" bull or a 200" buck? Highly unlikely, but you will have a very good shot at a representative of the species. This is where you could travel each year and learn an area. You can forget drawing multiple tags in good areas to hunt year after year, it is far more of a "once in a lifetime" deal for tags now. If you are serious about getting into the tag game then I would recommend calling up the folks at Huntin' Fool, Go Hunt, or one of the other tag application services and pay them to help you. The regulations and rules vary by state and it is EXTREMELY complex to try to learn every application system and deadline.
Not trying to rain on your enthusiasm at all, just giving you the truth. I really hate the application systems in some states and wish it would go to a straight lottery, but this is the game we must play until we hit the powerball.
ETA: I forgot to mention, look up Randy Newburg's podcasts from last year. He does a state-by-state breakdown of the application process. It is gold, although it may have changed for upcoming years, but it will at least help explain things to you.
This post was edited on 1/6/18 at 5:55 am
Posted on 1/6/18 at 9:22 am to 10MTNTiger
No rain here. I saw that that was the trend and I'm perfectly ok with holding out ten or 15 years for a monster. I also saw some otc stuff in Colorado and I was thinking pronghorn in Wyoming.
I have a very long road of building back into my hiking gear though
I have a very long road of building back into my hiking gear though
Posted on 1/6/18 at 9:51 am to Timmayy
I have 10 points for Elk in Colorado. 6 points for Mule deer. Max points for sheep and goat. I have points in WY and Montana as well.
It's an expensive proposition every spring. And it is becoming less beneficial as the years pass. For example, on unit might take 14 points to draw. But looking at the draw reports you can see lots of people with 13, 12, 11 points also applied. If the numbers are larger than the number of tags available than the number of points required next year will go up. It's frustrating.
Now, if you want to hunt, apply for 1st choice in a great area and put 2nd choice to an area with leftover tags (even if they are cow tags). You get your preference points and get to hunt and learn during the process. If you can get into an area near where you want to eventually hunt, you can scout as well.
Lastly, don't overlook hunting with a guide with available tags. You will learn a great deal by hunting with an expert. It is expensive but do the comparison. 1500-2000 dollars for a week long DIY Elk hunt in the high country for 3 or 4 years while learning and being unsuccessful would easily pay for 1 quality Elk guided Elk hunt.
It's an expensive proposition every spring. And it is becoming less beneficial as the years pass. For example, on unit might take 14 points to draw. But looking at the draw reports you can see lots of people with 13, 12, 11 points also applied. If the numbers are larger than the number of tags available than the number of points required next year will go up. It's frustrating.
Now, if you want to hunt, apply for 1st choice in a great area and put 2nd choice to an area with leftover tags (even if they are cow tags). You get your preference points and get to hunt and learn during the process. If you can get into an area near where you want to eventually hunt, you can scout as well.
Lastly, don't overlook hunting with a guide with available tags. You will learn a great deal by hunting with an expert. It is expensive but do the comparison. 1500-2000 dollars for a week long DIY Elk hunt in the high country for 3 or 4 years while learning and being unsuccessful would easily pay for 1 quality Elk guided Elk hunt.
Posted on 1/6/18 at 10:08 am to nogoodjr
That's something I need to learn about.
Does buying a guided elk hunt not require any preference points or is there no chance involved? If that is the case what is the size range that you aren't looking at getting into.
Do you have better chance at shooting a monster elk with experience and enough preference points to get you into a good unit or do the units you buy into with a guide have the same caliber of elk?
Does buying a guided elk hunt not require any preference points or is there no chance involved? If that is the case what is the size range that you aren't looking at getting into.
Do you have better chance at shooting a monster elk with experience and enough preference points to get you into a good unit or do the units you buy into with a guide have the same caliber of elk?
Posted on 1/6/18 at 10:11 am to Timmayy
shite id love to go shoot a cow. I just want to go.
Posted on 1/6/18 at 10:27 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
I'll definitely shoot a cow before a shoot a bull
Posted on 1/6/18 at 12:55 pm to Timmayy
Definitely get an otc tag and go. Elk hunting has to be experienced to appreciate it.
Do your research, call DOW folks and take a trip. Take guys with you you can stay with for a week in a tent. My first hunt was a drop camp and they're fine but you can kill elk own your own.
I can hunt CO for about $1500 if I bring food, tent camp and have someone share the trip costs.
I've been nine times and killed 2 cows and 1 5x6. One of the cows was a New Mexico ranch hunt. Fun but not a DIY hunt.
First kill was a cow by myself on my third trip.You can do this.
Do your research, call DOW folks and take a trip. Take guys with you you can stay with for a week in a tent. My first hunt was a drop camp and they're fine but you can kill elk own your own.
I can hunt CO for about $1500 if I bring food, tent camp and have someone share the trip costs.
I've been nine times and killed 2 cows and 1 5x6. One of the cows was a New Mexico ranch hunt. Fun but not a DIY hunt.
First kill was a cow by myself on my third trip.You can do this.
Posted on 1/6/18 at 1:11 pm to Timmayy
Gohunt.com
You are on the right track with Wyoming. Son and I cashed in antelope points in Wyoming this year and had a great hunt. We Plan on burning deer points for Wyoming this year.
One problem with building points is “point creep”. Basically, your points are worth less with every passing year.
You are on the right track with Wyoming. Son and I cashed in antelope points in Wyoming this year and had a great hunt. We Plan on burning deer points for Wyoming this year.
One problem with building points is “point creep”. Basically, your points are worth less with every passing year.
Posted on 1/6/18 at 1:17 pm to Timmayy
Meathunter is going to do to biggame what duckcommander did to duck hunting.
And neither of those is good.
And neither of those is good.
Posted on 1/6/18 at 1:21 pm to fisherofmen
When I go it'll be for a week on public land in a tent. I can't wait.
Posted on 1/6/18 at 1:27 pm to 257WBY
Will you share some general info on your antelope hunt? My wife and I each have 7 PP’s for Wyoming antelope. Trying to decide what to do as far as keep buying or go. Thx
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