Tag draws?

[jduckhunter]

I've been hunting deer and antelope in Wyoming every year since 1984 and the next preference point I buy will be my first. I didn't believe in the point system when it started and I still have no love for it today. IMHO it's no more then another way for the Game & Fish dept. to make some extra bucks.

 

[CoElkHunter]

There's still some old guys in Australia that tell of the times when a non US citizen could hunt unguided in AK.
A guy I know did a hunt couple of years ago for moose and griz in AK. By the time he got home and had his moose on the wall (didn't get a griz) I dont think he had any change from $40k AUD. lot of money for a moose in my book!

My Colorado hunting buddy and his son hunted in Newfoundland last September. They bought new Marlin .45-70s for the hunt, but ended up shooting ALL their game with my "spare" Browning A Bolt .338WM that they had brought with them. Go figure? Anyway, they shot a small bull moose, a cow moose, a small black bear and a nice Woodland caribou. But, when everything was said and done, including having the meat shipped back frozen at the end of November, it cost them at least $25 grand (us). Absurd! AFRICA is looking better and better as an adventure destination to me! Just a thought!

 

[CoElkHunter]

The price of a dall hunt seems to have nearly doubled in the last 10 years too I've noticed.

A sheep is something I've wanted my whole life but I'm too old to start. I think a texas aoudad hunt is as close as I'll ever get.

When the pastime of hunting becomes only an available pursuit of the wealthy, that pastime will soon cease to exist. And with the waning interest of our available youth being mentored and encouraged and participating in hunting, I fear that time is not far off. For EVERYONE on this website, take a YOUTH hunting. A son, daughter, their friend(s), cousins, acquaintances, etc., somebody in their youth. As JPbowhunter said, "it's more about the adventure of the hunt, than the hunt (trophy) itself" (to paraphrase). I'm an older man, but I have taken a number of youth hunting over the past 25 years. I don't want to lose this "adventure" part of hunting until I'm physically unable to hunt. The "trophy" part is just an added bonus.

 

[JPbowhunter]

When the pastime of hunting becomes only an available pursuit of the wealthy, that pastime will soon cease to exist. And with the waning interest of our available youth being mentored and encouraged and participating in hunting, I fear that time is not far off. For EVERYONE on this website, take a YOUTH hunting. A son, daughter, their friend(s), cousins, acquaintances, etc., somebody in their youth. As JPbowhunter said, "it's more about the adventure of the hunt, than the hunt (trophy) itself" (to paraphrase). I'm an older man, but I have taken a number of youth hunting over the past 25 years. I don't want to lose this "adventure" part of hunting until I'm physically unable to hunt. The "trophy" part is just an added bonus.

That's more eloquently put than my wording but yes that's what I was getting at.

Regarding price that's the great irony isn't it. In a day and age where we need more hunters but at the same time either don't want more competition or want to keep raising the price to do it.

I fully agree regarding new and young people. I'm young but I've still helped quite a few people get into hunting, direct them to the right place etc. Currently helping a mate buy his first rifle and will get him his first deer soon with some luck. Took another mate out during the rut and he took his first deer which was rewarding to see.

If we want hunting to continue in the long term we need more people doing it. But above that we need more of the right people doing it, not the egoistic guys that want recognition but are unwilling to help others. I want my son to grow up hunting (if he so chooses) and i have an obligation as I see it to do whatever I must to ensure he has that opportunity.

 

[flatwater bill]

Something to consider for those who can't draw.....and that is quite a lot of us.......is a Texas aoudad hunt and a Kyrgyzstan Ibex hunt. I have done both of these a couple of times, and there is a lot of adventure factor for the dollar. An ibex hunt is still a good deal too..................FWB

 

[CoElkHunter]

That's more eloquently put than my wording but yes that's what I was getting at.

Regarding price that's the great irony isn't it. In a day and age where we need more hunters but at the same time either don't want more competition or want to keep raising the price to do it.

I fully agree regarding new and young people. I'm young but I've still helped quite a few people get into hunting, direct them to the right place etc. Currently helping a mate buy his first rifle and will get him his first deer soon with some luck. Took another mate out during the rut and he took his first deer which was rewarding to see.

If we want hunting to continue in the long term we need more people doing it. But above that we need more of the right people doing it, not the egoistic guys that want recognition but are unwilling to help others. I want my son to grow up hunting (if he so chooses) and i have an obligation as I see it to do whatever I must to ensure he has that opportunity.

“Price” of hunting IS the great irony in many cases. I’m not talking about an African hunt, where one might expect to pay a higher price for a hunting adventure. I’m referencing a local (Colorado) hunt for the average hunter. Three of our former nonresident friends in our Colorado camp, can no longer afford to pay the tag fees to hunt elk. My youngest brother has taken up GOLF instead of continuing to hunt. Is this a microcosm example of OUR hunting future? Can you shoot golf balls out of the air with a .458 WM on a golf course in Africa? Ha!Ha! I’m obviously being kinda of sarcastic and facetious, but by how much? Just food for thought.

 

[enysse]

I see a lot of Cape buffalo hunts for Mozambique due to the cyclones earlier this year for $10000. Thats a real value hunt compared to a lot of North America hunts.

 

[wiml76]

I've been hunting deer and antelope in Wyoming every year since 1984 and the next preference point I buy will be my first. I didn't believe in the point system when it started and I still have no love for it today. IMHO it's no more then another way for the Game & Fish dept. to make some extra bucks.

And there are some fantastic hunting opportunities to be had in Wyoming where it doesn't require any points to have a decent chance to draw a tag, especially if one looks at the antlerless tags that are available in place of or in addition to a buck/bull tag.

 

[JPbowhunter]

I've been hunting deer and antelope in Wyoming every year since 1984 and the next preference point I buy will be my first. I didn't believe in the point system when it started and I still have no love for it today. IMHO it's no more then another way for the Game & Fish dept. to make some extra bucks.

Are you a WY resident?

 

[jduckhunter]

Are you a WY resident?

No sir I am not.

 

[JPbowhunter]

I've been hunting deer and antelope in Wyoming every year since 1984 and the next preference point I buy will be my first. I didn't believe in the point system when it started and I still have no love for it today. IMHO it's no more then another way for the Game & Fish dept. to make some extra bucks.

Are you a WY resident?

 

[Firebird]

I guess I am the lottery winner as I did draw a resident Utah multi season tag on San Juan Elk Ridge. I typically hunt archery but it will be fun to hunt the other seasons if I can't make it happen on the archery hunt. Very wet year so a good year to have an antlered animal tag. Didn't draw a bear tag with max points so maybe the fish and game wanted to make it up to me. . .

 

[JPbowhunter]

I guess I am the lottery winner as I did draw a resident Utah multi season tag on San Juan Elk Ridge. I typically hunt archery but it will be fun to hunt the other seasons if I can't make it happen on the archery hunt. Very wet year so a good year to have an antlered animal tag. Didn't draw a bear tag with max points so maybe the fish and game wanted to make it up to me. . .

Make sure to chuck up a report!

 

[CoElkHunter]

And there are some fantastic hunting opportunities to be had in Wyoming where it doesn't require any points to have a decent chance to draw a tag, especially if one looks at the antlerless tags that are available in place of or in addition to a buck/bull tag.

Any non resident can hunt doe antelope in Wyoming for (what had been) about $55.00 us for a tag. The bucks I believe we’re $300.00? We did this for about four seasons several years ago. This was north of Laramie on a private ranch, but the ranch was part of Wyoming’s public hunting program. No fee to hunt the ranch just an application. We (6 of us) were all successful with doe antelope.

 

[LivingTheDream]

@CoElkHunter totally agree about doe antelope in WY. My dad and I picked up 2 tags each and had a blast. One of the best times I have had hunting period. Not over the top expensive, plenty of game and some good meat at the end of day. Not much more you could ask for.

 

[jduckhunter]

There are some good areas for antelope bucks that don't require any points to draw a tag for also. You might have to pay a small trespass fee to access private land but it is well worth it.

 

[CoElkHunter]

@CoElkHunter totally agree about doe antelope in WY. My dad and I picked up 2 tags each and had a blast. One of the best times I have had hunting period. Not over the top expensive, plenty of game and some good meat at the end of day. Not much more you could ask for.

Yes it was a blast! I think you could buy two doe tags at that time. When I hunted doe antelope there in the early ‘90s, you could buy up to 5 tags at $25.00 each. My buddy shot three and I one. For another humorous (at the time) post, he then went back to his truck and put a 7mm Mag round through the roof of his truck AND camper from a Ruger #1 while placing the rifle on the floorboard of his truck! True story! He just got too excited and forgot to unload his SINGLE shot rifle! Ha!Ha!

 

[CoElkHunter]

There are some good areas for antelope bucks that don't require any points to draw a tag for also. You might have to pay a small trespass fee to access private land but it is well worth it.

Yes, I agree!

 

[Firebird]

Me and my two teenage daughters still hoping for wyoming tags, deer and antelope. My girls do have general season rifle tags in Utah but with dances and sports etc etc they get pretty stretched thin by the time deer season rolls around.
And Yes, JPBowhunter, I do like to write stories and love pictures so God willing I will have a report for you all in months to come. Here are some old pics from long ago when I had my elk tag on that unit.

 

[rookhawk]

Sheep is slim odds. Mexico and BC are the best options if your dream is to do a sheep hunt.