Applying for western hunts is like playing a dozen different board games at the same time. It is easy to get confused, make the wrong play, or worse case, miss your turn. To make matters worse, each game is slightly different,with different sets of rules and ways to win each game. Each state requires its own version of an application PhD to keep up with changing tag quotas, resident vs non resident allocations, how to best utilize the point system (if that state even has one), and the list goes on.
It’s not surprising that applying to hunt western states is a daunting task. Oftentimes, even residents of western states, only understand their home state just enough to apply each year. I personally know of residents of the west who have made each of these mistakes. None of us can fall asleep at the wheel if this is something we take seriously.
- Missing Application Deadlines
Although technology has definitely helped with this one, each year someone misses an important deadline. It seems like an easy one to avoid. My advice, during this time of year, take inventory of all the states and species within states you would like to apply for. Make note that some states have multiple different application deadlines for different species. Wyoming for example, has their non resident elk application deadline at the end of January. However, the moose, sheep and goat deadline is in March. And finally, their mule deer deadline (and resident elk application deadline) is later in May. This can make it easy to miss the one application you were hoping to apply for, just by mixing up the resident and non resident dates.
It doesn’t happen too often, but occasionally, states will move application dates from year to year. This is where following some social media pages or using a reputable service that is deep in the hunting industry will pay off. Alerts typically go out on the socials and email chains notifying everyone of application deadlines.
Lastly, my best advice, if the application period for a desired state/species is open…Apply! Don’t wait until the last minute or put it off. Most of the stories I hear about missing deadlines isn’t that they weren’t aware of the looming deadline. Most missed applications are simply from putting it off then forgetting about it. If it’s open, apply!
2. Not Gaining Points
To the non-western hunter, “points” must sound like a mythical scoring system or made up way to take extra money from hunters. Although there probably is some truth to both of those statements, in general, points are a necessary evil for western big game hunting. A “point” is awarded to a hunter applying for permits and giving them better odds over someone with less points. Without diving any deeper into point systems, suffice it to say that in the states that have a point system, generally it is advantageous to gain a point each year.
The mistake made is when hunters only purchase or acquire points for the specific hunt they are trying to draw right now. They don’t consider that in 5 or 10 or even 20 years they may want to hunt other hunts in other states that require a significant amount of points to draw a permit. I have many points accruing in states for species I have no interest in hunting now but I’m forcing myself to invest in the future possibility that I will want to hunt there someday.
Young hunters especially have trouble gaining points. They either don’t have the time or vacation from work or they don’t think they can afford the money. I understand that everyone has a budget but some of those same hunters spend thousands of dollars each year on new clothing, new bows, fancy rifle builds, etc. Spend money on points before new gear. Your future self will thank you. Eventually you will have much more vacation time and more expendable income to travel and hunt out of state. But you can never go back and gain points you didn’t buy.
Building points is like investing for retirement. At first, you seem to be getting nowhere and it only costs you money. Then, all of the sudden, you have double digit points across the west and you can cash in on those investments for an awesome hunt. If in doubt, gain the point at least.
3. Miscalculating Draw Odds
You’ve built up some points. You got an extra week of vacation next year. You and your buddies are ready to tackle your first western hunt. You’ve been researching like crazy, working out, and testing gear. You have just enough points based on last year’s draw odds. Everything is in order. You apply with all the anticipation of a kid on Christmas morning. The draw results are out. You open the email from the state…unsuccessful?! There are many reasons hunters miscalculate draw odds from year to year but in general we call it “point creep.”
Sometimes it actually is point creep. When demand outpaces supply for a specific tag/hunt, each year the required points to draw increases more than 1 creating an uncatchable mirage. Only the hunters with “max points,” the most possible points, will actually have a chance to draw. Point creep is one of the easier trends to spot though. Historical draw odd data available on fish and game websites for 2-3 years will show the signs. If there isn’t also a “random” pool of tags that doesn’t account for points, don’t waste your application when you simply can’t draw a tag.
Preference point swings are much harder to predict. This is where a tag/permit hasn’t reached “max points” demand but any given year the draw odds can be changed dramatically depending on who applies and how many points they have. For example, if a certain Colorado deer tag took 4 points to draw in 2023 you might apply with 4 points in 2024 assuming you will draw. However, if 2024 has prime season dates or the winter/spring weather is ideal, hunters with 6, 8, or 10+ points might decide this is the year to draw a tag. When they jump in the pool with substantially more points than the permit historically required, draw odds jump dramatically. This is especially true on units with low permit numbers because a small point swing can make a bigger difference on fewer permits available. Best advice to avoid these sudden point jumps is apply with more points than is required. If you know you want to hunt this year, have 1-3 extra points to force the draw. The notion you are “wasting” points is wrong. You have the point equity to force the draw. After all, isn’t drawing tags the point?
Of course, as was mentioned earlier, each state is different. Some states have no point systems. Some states have hybrid points systems. Some states have a pure bonus point system and you are never actually guaranteed you will draw. If you are unsure about point systems, want to draw more tags, or never want to worry about missing a draw deadline again, contact us. We can help.
Good luck in this year’s draws!
Dustin, The Huntian
