I agree Andrew - haven't taken the time to figure out which state or states would be best to start some points in...it is really hard to think about those that might be $100+ per year just for a point...and you could be in for $800-$1500 before you ever draw a tag. CO is nice especially for those that already hunt each year an OTC area, a point is basically a net cost of $3...so I have been getting them each year. So much of the state is OTC though...I have no problem sticking to OTC. Many think that OTC does not produce good bulls, it sure appears otherwise from what I've seen. Yes, top draw units produce more top end bulls and better success ratio, but there are spots in most units for these bulls to get big...and No, I don't consider my bull big
AZ., NV.,CO. in that order. Every state is different building points and drawing tags. Some you can draw in only a few years and some take 10-14 years depending on the DMU. Forget Ca. It's a max point draw with only 10% going to a NR. It took me 25 years to draw my Tule bull tag as a resident. I have max points on sheep and I may die first.
Tony - my bull WAS a dream come true for me - and I'll shoot a smaller bull (or a cow) next time if I get the chance. I was only saying that my bull is not considered what guys are looking for when trying to apply to "draw units" that require points. I have very little experience estimating bull scores, I'd guess mine to be 250-260" bull...I think a lot of guys consider over 300" before you are talking "big." I love to hunt, and eat wild game - so the antlers are truly the cherry on top. It took me exactly one day of elk hunting to change my thoughts from "I'd sure like to hold out for a bull" to "I will shoot any legal elk - and be Dang proud of it" I must add that my elk meat has been such a hit with my family, every way I've cooked it we have all liked it. Sweetest words I've heard in a long time were the wife and kids saying "you need to shoot another elk" as we shared some at the dinner table
I have been to unit 66 in CO. near Gunnison. This is a points unit but next to it is unit 67 which is OTC. Went with a buddy who got a tag for mule deer and elk and I went to call. We saw mule deer over 200" and saw 22 racked bulls not including spikes and hundreds of cows over 2 weeks. He shot a mule deer that scored in the high 180 and a large body 5 by 6 Elk. All in the same week and with a bow. It was one of the best hunts I have been on. You can draw a tag in 1 year or it may take 3 or 4 years. You need to time the rut, we went the first 2 weeks in September and it was perfect. We would set up in a spot where we had saw elk and do alittle calling and the bulls would run in screaming. There is nothing like it and you will be hooked for life.
Colorado is a complete waste to begin bank rolling points in for the long term. Point creep prevents you from ever drawing the top tags by this point, so if you don't use them in 3-6 years you are wasting time/money. Same goes for many other states. I will say if you want the best chance at a HUGE DIY Elk, banking a decade or more of points in NV, AZ, UT will be your best bet. I'm halfway there, but will be atleast 6-7 years more before I attempt to cash any in.
Agreed. Kind of once going back to land you already know each year. I'm sure we could do some spike camps if we wanted to get out further. Will has that other unit he likes that takes a few points so that may be an option soon. Will could certainly steer you in the right direction.
So let's take Arizona for example. If I start compiling points, do I still have to pay for a non-resident license each year, and only get the tag refund when I don't draw? I may have misread that the other night.
Yes. Most states require You buy a NR license before applying for the draw. So 10 years@$150/year for a point is $1,500. BUT, once You draw it's a great unit for 180 plus mulies, 320 plus bulls, 75 plus speed goats. Or drop $18k to hunt the Indian reservations right over the wire from these public DMU's. AZ. and NV would be the 2 states to focus on point building.
So it just comes down to is $1500 plus a $600 tag worth a week long public land hunt on a once in a lifetime unit/state.
Yes. You may draw before with goodluck or You could buy a landowner tag in NM. This website is awesome for DMU specific info and state draw stats. https://www.huntinfool.com/
There are easy ways to recoup that license cost... go hunting there. The best part of buying that Arizona hunting license every spring for the draw is that they have OTC deer hunting for essentially the entire southern half of the state during the rut (December/January) for both Coues and Mule Deer. Javelina can be added on as well. But yes, the points game is an extremely expensive road to go down. If you only plan to allot 7 days to a premium once in a lifetime tag though, it's not worth banking the points for a decade or more. Just use the points sooner for bottom-middle level units. I view points in this way.... I'd much rather have $2k+ banked into a tag for a DIY hunt in the best unit known for huge bulls, than spend the $4-8k that most guys do to go guided in very mediocre areas. I'm building points across 4-5 states for 15-20 tags (probably 6-7 species total). About half of them I will for sure draw in the next decade or so... Some, I likely will never draw. BUT, in 7-8 more years I'll have a really really good chance of drawing a premium tag of some sort each year. I don't plan to annually elk hunt, so I'm banking points in NV, UT, and AZ hoping to draw the best tag available in each state only once. IDC if I can't go for another 7-10 years. PLENTY of areas in other states to go to in the meantime if I did want to go elk hunting annually too.
Don't know. Thinks I'd rather just buy a hunt on private land and hunt when and where I want to. And even go to canada.
There's certain satisfaction that comes with a public land hunt do it yourself style.... Not to mention you can't buy a hunt w trophy potential equal to some of these units that take 10-12 years to draw without forking out some SERIOUS cash ($15k+)... Come out cheaper with much higher trophy potential IF you play the points game smart.
330 plus bull, 180 plus mulie, 80 inch speedgoat, any Tule Bull? That private ranch=10K-20K. Have You priced a Canadian Bull,Ram, Goat hunt? Building points just takes patience.
Sounds too rich for my blood.... after all that, Matt, your buck is even more impressive after hearing all that!
Aside from units like 61 what are some of the draw units like in Colorado? Obviously trophy potential won't be the same as NM, AZ, NV, or UT, but should be a more quality hunt than the OTC units correct? Maybe to break it up every 3 or 5 years.
Can you have a more quality hunt than a public land hunt with a bunch of awesome guys and doing it DIY? I guess it depends on your definition of quality ...to me, Will and the boys sound like the most fun and educational
Haha twisting my words Tony! I guess quality wasn't the right choice. I am no doubt looking forward to seeing everyone in September, and can't wait for all the stories, lessons, and just seeing the mountains in general, as I've never been. Any elk seen or killed would just be icing on top.
