Tag draws?

[jeff]

I just got my 39th unsuccessful notice for sheep. If my luck doesn't change soon I'll be to old to hunt sheep!

 

[JPbowhunter]

I just got my 39th unsuccessful notice for sheep. If my luck doesn't change soon I'll be to old to hunt sheep!

There's always MT unlimited!

 

[jeff]

There's always MT unlimited!

I've researched that hunt quite a bit and to be realistic my chance of seeing a ram let alone getting one are probably slight less than zero.

 

[Bullthrower338]

There's always MT unlimited!

I I am from MT and there is a reason that there are unlimited sheep tags in those areas. Very difficult hunt, a lot of times the quota of two or three sheep remain unfilled. Seeing sheep is quite easy, there is a turn out on the road that you can see them just about any time. Getting to them and out is the difficult part. Jack Atkinson used to guide those units, not sure if they still do or not. Trophy quality is also severely lacking in the area. They are true MT genetics, the rest of the state has been cross bred with Alberta Rams and ewes introduced. I looked into it for several years and even went on a walkabout once just to see. I do know one gentleman that scored on one. 3/4 curl and was super pleased with that after living with the sheep for a couple weeks. He is half crazy and harder than Chinese arithmetic! Also had access going through private property where he could get a horse into the back country pretty well. Definitely an adventure! I for one am past the point that I think I could handle it.
Cheers,
Cody

 

[LivingTheDream]

@jeff where were you unsuccessful?

So far I have struck out in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah...Nevada and Arizona to go. But I haven't been putting in that long only 8 years so my hopes of drawing are slim.

 

[jeff]

@jeff where were you unsuccessful?

So far I have struck out in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah...Nevada and Arizona to go. But I haven't been putting in that long only 8 years so my hopes of drawing are slim.

I've only applied for sheep in Montana, Idaho and Oregon.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Well between the two of us we pretty much have the west covered!

 

[cagkt3]

Tough luck for sure...hopefully you connect on a tag soon.

I was able to draw a buck tag in UT for mule deer...hoping I can connect with one this year.

 

[flatwater bill]

I got my 22nd straight rejection for Utah muley last week. That was bad enough. But 39.....that hurts...........FWB

 

[JimP]

I got my 22nd straight rejection for Utah muley last week. That was bad enough. But 39.....that hurts...........FWB

Sounds like you are putting in for the Henry Mountains. It was fantastic hunting there back in the 70's and 80's before they closed it in 96 and then made it a LE area. I hunted it as a general hunting unit for years.

For anyone putting in for sheep out west, it is a pipe dream. Granted someone has to draw those tags but I personally think you would be better off heading north and just getting a outfitter and hunt them. That is unless you need a Desert Bighorn or a Rocky Mountain Bighorn for a slam.

 

[flatwater bill]

Jimp..........been alternating H Mtns or Pansaug...............also put in for bison, both sheep, antelope, elk and goat varying numbers of those years to no avail.
At Western Outdoor Expo sheep tags all went north of $100K on auction, but then, so did a number of Utah mule deer tags.........Now with 22 pref points it is difficult to let them go, but will be too old soon. Had not planned to apply this year again, but couldn't bring myself to discard the points.......quite the money maker for western states............FWB

 

[Wheels]

I just got my 39th unsuccessful notice for sheep. If my luck doesn't change soon I'll be to old to hunt sheep!

Bummer! That really is a long time. Makes hunting Africa seem easy.

He is half crazy and harder than Chinese arithmetic!

You do have a way with words.

 

[JimP]

Jimp..........been alternating H Mtns or Pansaug...............also put in for bison, both sheep, antelope, elk and goat varying numbers of those years to no avail.
At Western Outdoor Expo sheep tags all went north of $100K on auction, but then, so did a number of Utah mule deer tags.........Now with 22 pref points it is difficult to let them go, but will be too old soon. Had not planned to apply this year again, but couldn't bring myself to discard the points.......quite the money maker for western states............FWB

I don't know if you are a archery hunter but you should have more than enough to draw a Henry archery tag.

You might also look into a couple of other units such as the Book Cliffs or the Vernon. The Books have good bucks on them with a 170-180 quite possible with some over the 200" mark. I screwed up a stalk on two bucks that both would of gone over the 200" mark 4 years ago on the muzzle loader hunt. I had the smaller of the two at 20 yards but all I could see was his head, in hindsight I should of pulled the trigger.

On the bison you might also look into the Book Cliffs. This last year the wildlife board decided to get the Henry Mountain herd down to around 250 animals due to the drought. So they held a extra late season cow hunt this last January to remove a lot more off of the mountain. So this year the tags were even fewer than in years pass for both either sex or cow hunts. The Book Cliff herd just keeps getting better and bigger. They transplanted the bison out there around 10 years ago and they are doing real well out there. But if you put in for that area I suggest to stay away from the Wild Horse Bench hunt. This is a hunt for migratory animals out of the Ute Indian Reservation and can be real spotty of when they move out onto public lands. Two years ago they had a lot of problems with hunters being able to get into the bison and most of them complained and threatened a law suit when they saw helicopters herding the bison off of public land and back onto the reservation. They ended up allowing unsuccessful hunters who had a tag in 2017 to hunt the same area in 2018. It was a big mess.

Other than that you might look into a cow license. I have seen a lot of bison cows that make a very nice mount. By the way, I am in the same boat that you are as far as the bison are concerned.

 

[flatwater bill]

Jim...........you are very knowledgeable..........thanks for advice.................I now have only 15 points for bison, so will probably blow that off, but any advice on deer with 22 points will help..............FW Bill

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I've been buying pref points in Wyoming for 17 years for sheep and moose. Will apply for a moose tag in 2020, but need more points for sheep to have a chance to draw. Not sure I'll live long enough.

 

[JimP]

Bill, if you look at the link below you can see what your odds were back in the draw from 2018. I screwed up when I said that you should be able to draw a Henry Mountain archery tag, I didn't know that they only gave out 1 non resident archery tag. For rifle you are right up there with the others near the top of the point pool for both the Henry Mountain and Paunsgaugunt hunts but so are a few others.

You have enough points to draw either the Book Cliffs North or South. The north unit has more area where the south is limited as far as size, but it does hold good bucks in areas. A lot of times the migration has already began during the general hunt and the deer are quite easy to be found. My niece shot a 180" buck a few years ago on the south unit, and they were seeing different deer every day. But the north unit is also good. My brother in law shot a 170" one there during the general hunt.

You also might look at the San Juan Elk Ridge on deer. There are some great bucks down on that unit and you have enough points for that one also. I looked and you have plenty of points for the Vernon deer hunt.

For bison you have enough points for a cow hunt on just about any of the hunts.

https://wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/bg/2018/18_big_game_odds_report.pdf

 

[IdaRam]

Tough luck for sure...hopefully you connect on a tag soon.

I was able to draw a buck tag in UT for mule deer...hoping I can connect with one this year.

@cagkt3 congrats and good luck. I hope the muley gods help you hang your tag on a good one. Will you be hunting one of the General Units or LE?
I cashed in my Utah General Deer points this year on the Zion Unit to hunt with a couple of buddies.

 

[IdaRam]

I just got my 39th unsuccessful notice for sheep. If my luck doesn't change soon I'll be to old to hunt sheep!

Sorry to hear this news jeff. 39 must be getting close to a record. And not a good one! Hang in there and doing lose the faith. There are some really nice sheep being taken in more and more units in Idaho.

 

[Lee M]

I drew a New Mexico archery elk tag this year in a pretty good unit. Will see what happens in Colorado draw for elk and deer. I believe early June the CO results come out.

 

[Philip Glass]

I just got my 39th unsuccessful notice for sheep. If my luck doesn't change soon I'll be to old to hunt sheep!

That’s reality in this socialist system. If all sheep tags were for sale they wouldn't be so expensive first of all. Secondly f every American had an equal chance at a draw we would stand a chance after a few years. We could keep more sheep on the mountain if it was more fair.
I’m frustrated as well!
Philip