Just entered my first draw

Best of luck to you!

I play the draw game in UT, CO and ID. My advise is to have a backup plan so you can hunt no matter the draw results.

I'm not familiar with how Maine does it. But in most places you accumulate points for being rejected. The more points you have, the better your odds are. I'd think the chances of being drawn for something like this with no points would be absolutely zero. From my understanding in Colorado you need 10-15 points just to get into the lottery and it is one tag per lifetime for moose.

Here in GA it works that way, but you don't normally need more than 1-2 points to get picked. In most of GA you can just show up to hunt most public land with no quota's. But some of the more popular places do have a drawing There is a pretty good management area 15 minutes from the house that is a quota hunt for big game rifle season. They do a hunt in October each year and another in November with a 1000 hunter limit. I can, and do archery hunt and small game hunt there a lot since there is no quota for that.

The October hunt normally has 1500-2000 applications. The November hunt rarely has even 1000 apply. I always list the October hunt as my 1st choice and the November hunt as #2. I always get picked for the November hunt and get the October hunt about every other year with the point I get for being rejected the year before. If I do get the October hunt I always get both since fewer than 1000 apply for that hunt.

I put in for my first draw tag this year also!
I'm hoping to draw a NV antelope(and get back home before my soybeans are ready to harvest!).

oregon Odfw switched almost all tags to draw unless its cougar. cougar you can get additional tags for. deer are draw only east of the Cascades. Elk too. spring bear is draw only.

courtgreene said:

I know it’s weird to say that at 40, but draws are not things we see much in the Southeast. Having said that. I decided to put in for maine moose this year, realizing I can’t afford to go, but that’s ok because odds of getting drawn are, what, 10k to 1?

now watch me get drawn anyway.

good luck everyone.

Click to expand...

I remember my first season in Nevada, I drew a mule deer AND an antelope tag; some of my co-workers who lived there all their lives had never drawn an antelope tag, and most were lucky to draw a deer tag every 2-3 years. I managed to draw 6 deer tags in 15 years, but then I wasn't putting in for the biggest trophy areas either.

I only put in for my own state draws. No points awards here either, and no buying points. You pays your money, you take your chances!
I also drew an antelope hunt the second year in a row after putting in for about 20 years with no joy.
Plus I drew a cow elk which I seem to do every couple of years or so. I prefer cow tags as I am a meat hunter, not a trophy hunter.
Unsuccessful on Oryx and Mule deer. But the deer hunts have been pretty poor the last few years. Very few animals seen. Oryx are cool but tough to hunt, and a bit far away from me.
Two out of 4 is pretty good. Now to do my part.
On a side note, a good friend in Colorado drew a moose last year after trying for 20+ years....

George P said:

I remember my first season in Nevada, I drew a mule deer AND an antelope tag; some of my co-workers who lived there all their lives had never drawn an antelope tag, and most were lucky to draw a deer tag every 2-3 years. I managed to draw 6 deer tags in 15 years, but then I wasn't putting in for the biggest trophy areas either.

Click to expand...

if i didnt hunt every year with a tag, i would move.. or become extremely discrete

I applied for the hardest to draw tags (poorest draw odds) in Wyoming, just like I've done for the past decade since geezerhood membership. I drew an elk tag in area #100 type 1 (any elk) for Wyoming's Red Desert elk herd. The draw odds are less than 1% in the random resident draw. Finally I got lucky!

I've had pretty good luck in my state. Drew deer-management and javi and paid fees and couldn't go because I ended up in the hospital with covid and complications afterward. Looking forward to trying this year.

My wife and I Got lucky this year. We both got doe tags and got our draws for Elk. Now I have to find that monster blacktail from last year. Beautiful 5 point.

courtgreene said:

Update, didn’t get drawn. I’ll keep building points. Maybe when I’m like sixty I can get a chance at one.

Click to expand...

Sorry you didn't get drawn this year, buyout will eventually. Like you stated in your Op, build your points for when you can go.