Lottery draws for species

[Rubone]

Here in NM most hunts are by lottery for public land. It is always a nail biter wondering if you will draw anything in a particular year. (That is unless money is no object and you can buy into a private land hunt!) So every year it is trying to determine which game unit makes sense, which hunts are a priority, which can be just for fun if it works out, etc. It can also be a cost issue for some as the hunts have to be paid in advance and then if you are not successful on the draw the cost is refunded. So you have to be able to commit up front. Every year I put in for what I deem a possibility for me in my part of the state with a random oddball. I usually put in for Pronghorn Antelope, Deer, Elk, and Oryx (the oddball). There are a couple other species I like but they can be extremely difficult to draw, or logistics make them tough, like Javelina, Barbary Sheep, or Ibex. So last week the draw results were posted a week early, and hooray, I drew an Antelope hunt and a cow Elk. Great news for me! The Antelope is a bit tougher as it is in a game unit that is about 200 miles away, so it will require a good scouting trip up front. The Elk hunt is close enough to sleep in my own bed. Antelope is late August, Elk not until mid November. But that is just around the corner.

 

[Captcurt]

Arkansas has had a drawing for elk for 23 years. I have applied nearly every year and still no permit. This is one reason why I don't buy lottery tickets. The only thing that I have won was a bottle of perfume when I was 12. That was 58 years ago and I don't wear perfume.

 

[Rubone]

I draw a Cow tag about every other year. I have also drawn a couple of "Once in a Lifetime" tags, a Valle Vidal Bull Elk, and a White Sands Missile Range Oryx. Both quite a few years back. I am primarily a meat hunter so prefer the Cow hunts although Deer is Buck only and Antelope is mature Buck except for special hunts like youth and mobility impaired. Here is a Cow from a couple years ago, and the last Valle Vidal Bull hunt was with my hunting partner about 10 years ago, a nice 6X6.

 

[George P]

I spent two decades in northern NV, big game were all via lottery; if you weren't drawn, you'd get an extra point towards next year. Elk, if successful, was once in a lifetime, as were all of the bighorn sheep species. pronghorn, if successful meant you had to wait 5 years before even applying again

 

[Rubone]

No "points" here, so you can't build up extra credit. I could have tried for Bighorn but chose not to. They are actually quite close by, but there are fewer tags given than fingers on one hand. I put in for Antelope for 20 years before I ever drew one. Drew the "once in a lifetime" Valle Vidal Elk first time I applied. No rhyme or reason.
On a hike with my wife and the dogs..
.

 

[NMachine]

I draw a Cow tag about every other year. I have also drawn a couple of "Once in a Lifetime" tags, a Valle Vidal Bull Elk, and a White Sands Missile Range Oryx. Both quite a few years back. I am primarily a meat hunter so prefer the Cow hunts although Deer is Buck only and Antelope is mature Buck except for special hunts like youth and mobility impaired. Here is a Cow from a couple years ago, View attachment 995024and the last Valle Vidal Bull hunt was with my hunting partner about 10 years ago, a nice 6X6. View attachment 995020

Is that you taking a wiz in the back? Lol

 

[NMachine]

Nice bull though!

 

[Rubone]

Is that you taking a wiz in the back? Lol

Nah, I was taking the picture...

 

[Robert]

The draw here in CO is a joke. It heavily favors out of state hunters and leaves residents grasping at straws or crappy OTC tags. I mean, I get it, a non resident cow tag is inching closer to $500, and they will spend that much or more while they are here. But I friggin live here and I can't draw a decent unit. I am currently saving my points for a good unit, but that is no guarantee. Public land hunting in CO has become absolutely ridiculous. Way over crowded and way too much pressure. But hey, DOW gets that money...

I've spent the last few years hunting in NE. It's way more fun and even with half the state hunting with me I didn't feel pressured by other people and I filled half my tags.

 

[H&Hhunter]

The draw here in CO is a joke. It heavily favors out of state hunters and leaves residents grasping at straws or crappy OTC tags. I mean, I get it, a non resident cow tag is inching closer to $500, and they will spend that much or more while they are here. But I friggin live here and I can't draw a decent unit. I am currently saving my points for a good unit, but that is no guarantee. Public land hunting in CO has become absolutely ridiculous. Way over crowded and way too much pressure. But hey, DOW gets that money...

I've spent the last few years hunting in NE. It's way more fun and even with half the state hunting with me I didn't feel pressured by other people and I filled half my tags.

Interesting comment on out of state hunters being given preference on draw tags. I’ve heard that said but don’t have any hard evidence to back it up. OTC elk hunting in Co on public land is a joke, I’ve pretty much given up on it. Low point draw units are the same. I have a couple of secret spots left but they are going fast. All of Colorado needs to be draw only and we need to limit non resident tags to a 10% cap.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Here is a great article on why Colorado is so messed up. It’s actually kind of depressing to read. With over 20 sheep points I doubt I’ll ever draw a Bighorn in this state. Your government at work here...

https://blog.eastmans.com/colorado-application-explosion/

 

[TEXASJD]

Interesting comment on out of state hunters being given preference on draw tags. I’ve heard that said but don’t have any hard evidence to back it up. OTC elk hunting in Co on public land is a joke, I’ve pretty much given up on it. Low point draw units are the same. I have a couple of secret spots left but they are going fast. All of Colorado needs to be draw only and we need to limit non resident tags to a 10% cap.

The draw here in CO is a joke. It heavily favors out of state hunters and leaves residents grasping at straws or crappy OTC tags. I mean, I get it, a non resident cow tag is inching closer to $500, and they will spend that much or more while they are here. But I friggin live here and I can't draw a decent unit. I am currently saving my points for a good unit, but that is no guarantee. Public land hunting in CO has become absolutely ridiculous. Way over crowded and way too much pressure. But hey, DOW gets that money...

I've spent the last few years hunting in NE. It's way more fun and even with half the state hunting with me I didn't feel pressured by other people and I filled half my tags.

I'm not sure I would agree, I'm on year four putting in for Mule deer its costing 100$ for a point now if you don't get drawed. If the hunting is on federal land I don't think there should be any preference shown to in state hunters because the land is equally all of ours.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I'm not sure I would agree, I'm on year four putting in for Mule deer its costing 100$ for a point now if you don't get drawed. If the hunting is on federal land I don't think there should be any preference shown to in state hunters because the land is equally all of ours.

That’s a valid point, and in those regards all of the other states that cap out of state tags need to immediately stop doing it. Which is most western states.

 

[TEXASJD]

That’s a valid point, and in those regards all of the other states that cap out of state tags need to immediately stop doing it. Which is most western states.

I would agree with that.

 

[jmr40]

Public land hunting in CO has become absolutely ridiculous. Way over crowded and way too much pressure.

I guess that is a matter of perspective. Statistically I have better odds of killing a bull elk with an OTC tag in Colorado than I have of killing a legal whitetail buck here in Georgia on public land. The 2 times I hunted Colorado I never saw another hunter other than the ones in my party. Of course I rarely see any here in GA on public land either. If you get more than 1/2 mile from the road that takes care of 90% of them.

I won't comment on Colorado deer. There are issues there with the deer population and I have no idea if it is being managed properly. But I can kill a deer here. If I'm driving 1600+ miles one way I'm going to spend the nearly $700 for a bull elk tag.

As to the draws if there is anything giving non-residents an edge I'm unaware of it. Either you have enough points to hunt a unit or you don't. I have a BIL who buys a point every year and probably has 15 or more. He used to hunt there about once every 4-5 years, but hasn't made it back since about 2005.

At my age I doubt if buying points will help. I'd need at least 6-7 to do me any good and I doubt if I have another 6-7 years where I can still climb the mountains. My plan is to go back this fall and buy another OTC tag, maybe the next year. After that give I'll either give up, or look into paying for a guided private property hunt.

And BTW, for Robert and H&H just to let you know that I do love your beautiful state. I'm leaving June 4 and bringing my 3 oldest grandkids to camp and visit your state for about 2 weeks. We did this with the oldest 3 summers ago. The plan was to do the same with the next 2, but my oldest grand daughter said we couldn't go without her too. I have 2 more that we'll bring when they get a little older. Will probably get in a little scouting while there and come back in late October for the 3rd season.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I guess that is a matter of perspective. Statistically I have better odds of killing a bull elk with an OTC tag in Colorado than I have of killing a legal whitetail buck here in Georgia on public land. The 2 times I hunted Colorado I never saw another hunter other than the ones in my party. Of course I rarely see any here in GA on public land either. If you get more than 1/2 mile from the road that takes care of 90% of them.

I won't comment on Colorado deer. There are issues there with the deer population and I have no idea if it is being managed properly. But I can kill a deer here. If I'm driving 1600+ miles one way I'm going to spend the nearly $700 for a bull elk tag.

As to the draws if there is anything giving non-residents an edge I'm unaware of it. Either you have enough points to hunt a unit or you don't. I have a BIL who buys a point every year and probably has 15 or more. He used to hunt there about once every 4-5 years, but hasn't made it back since about 2005.

At my age I doubt if buying points will help. I'd need at least 6-7 to do me any good and I doubt if I have another 6-7 years where I can still climb the mountains. My plan is to go back this fall and buy another OTC tag, maybe the next year. After that give I'll either give up, or look into paying for a guided private property hunt.

And BTW, for Robert and H&H just to let you know that I do love your beautiful state. I'm leaving June 4 and bringing my 3 oldest grandkids to camp and visit your state for about 2 weeks. We did this with the oldest 3 summers ago. The plan was to do the same with the next 2, but my oldest grand daughter said we couldn't go without her too. I have 2 more that we'll bring when they get a little older. Will probably get in a little scouting while there and come back in late October for the 3rd season.

jmr40,

When is the last time you hunted Colorado? In the last five years I’ve seen an exponential rise in the number of hunters. In fact I’ve been unable to get “deep” enough into the back country to avoid people. The new trend is “endurance” hunting, where guys gear up with micro light equipment and get in as deep and steep as possible. And believe me when I tell you that I go in deep. Even archery season is becoming a stumble fest.

Like I said I’ve still got some secret honey holes but they are getting harder to find and harder to keep secret. If you’ve got an OTC unit that is not packed and it actually has huntable/killable elk on it you need to keep very quiet about it. I’ve had people tell me about their great unit with very few hunters, then go in to tell me about how they’ve only seen one or two elk in the last 10 seasons in those “great” uncrowded units. Or on the other hand there are the “great” OTC units that have good elk populations and are absolutely shoulder to shoulder with elk hunters.

I’ve seen some stuff in OTC units that makes my skin crawl. Like three separate guys all shooting at the same elk then racing to it once it’s down to claim it. My buddies wife shot her first elk last year and dropped it. When they got over to it a couple of guys were standing over it claiming it. Fortunately they had it all on film and the game warden straightened it out but what a nightmare. I am getting to a point where I’m unwilling to put up with the BS it takes to hunt OTC or low draw point units in CO. Then again I’ve killed somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 elk in my life so it isn’t the burning desire for me that is for some.

It’s all a mater of perspective and tolerance I guess.

 

[shootbrownelk]

I'm not sure I would agree, I'm on year four putting in for Mule deer its costing 100$ for a point now if you don't get drawed. If the hunting is on federal land I don't think there should be any preference shown to in state hunters because the land is equally all of ours.

The animals belong to the residents of the state, not the Feds.

 

[TEXASJD]

The animals belong to the residents of the state, not the Feds.

I don't think so talk to any parks and life or fish and game in any state and they will tell you they belong to the state. But if you use that logic then any activity you do on any federal land should cost you more and you should have less access to it if you are not from the state that it happens to be in. Federal land does not belong to the government it belongs to us U.S. citizens.

 

[TEXASJD]

As a private land owner (which I am) I believe that the animals on my land belong to me, Because when I hit one with my truck the state is not going to pay for it.

 

[WrongHanded]

If you're having a hard time hunting elk in CO, you need to get cosy with some land owners in Estes Park. The elk there spend most of their time split evenly between front lawns and the golf course.

 

[H&Hhunter]

As a private land owner (which I am) I believe that the animals on my land belong to me, Because when I hit one with my truck the state is not going to pay for it.

What does the state of Texas believe?

 

[TEXASJD]

What does the state of Texas believe?

Its there deer till you hit it

 

[TEXASJD]

If you're having a hard time hunting elk in CO, you need to get cosy with some land owners in Estes Park. The elk there spend most of their time split evenly between front lawns and the golf course.

That sounds like a plan lol, but I'm just trying to get a mule deer tag.

 

[shootbrownelk]

I don't think so talk to any parks and life or fish and game in any state and they will tell you they belong to the state. But if you use that logic then any activity you do on any federal land should cost you more and you should have less access to it if you are not from the state that it happens to be in. Federal land does not belong to the government it belongs to us U.S. citizens.

Just because it's Federally owned land does not mean that US citizens can have access to it. If you hunt or fish in a state that you're not a resident in, it does cost you more to take game & fish. it's called a non resident license. Of course if you want to hike, bird watch or play pocket pool then it's free. But you know that.

 

[WrongHanded]

As a private land owner (which I am) I believe that the animals on my land belong to me, Because when I hit one with my truck the state is not going to pay for it.

The concept of hunting conservation is to ensure that we maintain healthy population levels, and part of the reason for that is make sure there are enough animals to hunt. If everyone that owned land could kill whatever animals they wanted whenever they wanted, we would have very few wild animals. It's a case of a Tragedy Of The Commons, and the laws are in place to try and prevent it.