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2020 Western States Draw Deadlines

107,603 Views | 1154 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by lazuras_dc
Todd 02
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AgEng06 said:

IT. IS. LIVE.

2020 Colorado Big Game Brochure


AgEng06
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Yessir, got mine yesterday as well.
LEJ
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Got mine today.

Depression and Denial have passed. Strategery has commenced.
arrow
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No beginners luck for me in Alaska. Time to start planning elk and muleys.
aggie0959
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If I am wanting to start building points in Montana, What is the process? Put in for tag or just buy a point later ?
LEJ
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Harges57 is the Big Sky Country specialist
stdeb11
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I started accumulating points there last year and just bought a point later on
aggie0959
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Ya I was thinking I could buy the point. It will be a few years before I want to take on Montana anyways
LEJ
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shaynew1
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Maaaaaaybe
stdeb11
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Same...I think there is until at least Sept to buy the point. At least looking thru old emails I picked mine up then
harge57
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LEJ said:

Harges57 is the Big Sky Country specialist
I would not say that, as I have not navigated the bonus point system much. And Montana is the most confusing state I have dabbled in thus far.

However a few things to keep in mind for Montana.

There are two types of points in Montana

Preference Points - this allows you to draw one of the 17k general elk tags. You have to draw one of these general tags if you want to be in the bonus point drawing. These work like colorado points (i.e. all people with 3 points will draw before anyone with 2 points)

Bonus Points - These are needed to draw a limited entry tag. These points are squared and that increases your chances to draw a unit. (i.e. a person with 2 points is in a random drawing 4 times and a person with 8 points is in the drawing 64 times. Your odds exponentially increase)

You have to draw the general elk tag in order to be eligible for the bonus point/limited entry drawing. This has not been an issue in the past as you could draw the general with 0 points, but it will start to complicate things now that you will likely need preference points going forward.

You can buy a preference point along with your application for that year.

You can just buy bonus points if you don't apply in that year. (between 7/1 and 9/30)

If you wanted to start building points just buy the bonus points between 7/1 and 9/30, but make sure you build enough preference points you will need as well to get past the first round of drawing.

But just building points in MT does not guarantee anything as the bonus point.limited entry draw is random but weighted by the squared points.

Another thing I think you have to actually apply every three years or you lose your points.

P. S. This rambled on a lot longer than I anticipated.

LEJ
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For a guy that claims to not be an expert, you sure ramble on a lot.

Pan seared Javi backstrap for breakfast.





It's very mild and a little "sweet". 95% of people could be convinced it's pork. This Javi is excellent table fare. Lean but tender and juicy.

The biggest challenge in eating Javelina meat
was putting aside years of stories about the "worthless and nasty" Javelina.
BurrOak
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LEJ said:

The biggest challenge in eating Javelina meat was putting aside years of stories about the "worthless and nasty" Javelina.


I've come to find out the same with aoudad. Everything I've had so far has been great.
LEJ
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Not bad lookin for an ol dried up salt cedar lake. Time to put some lipstick on this pig.
stdeb11
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I think I've reached the point of having planned out my hunts this year and now it's time to go into second guessing them all mode

And I think I roughly have next year figured out too...first year having gohunt and it's addicting to say the least
mneisch
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GoHunt worth the money? I have a buddy trying to talk me into splitting the cost.
stdeb11
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Yes it is. With a promo code from Jay Scott I got $50 store credit so that eased the cost too.

I had held off till this year as I got really good at navigating the public info and stats published by the states and didn't think it'd be worth the money. I was wrong. It's such a nice interface and makes the data way easier/faster to get. It really makes putting together short and long term plans a breeze and a ton of fun (for a hunting nerd like me).
shaynew1
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I've logged many hours on gohunt and can justify the expense.
BullSprig07
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The GoHunt crack is maybe stronger even than the Texags crack
Alta
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anybody here use Epic Outdoors instead of Go Hunt?
aggie0959
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I can spend hours on gohunt any month of the year
meggy09
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mneisch said:

GoHunt worth the money? I have a buddy trying to talk me into splitting the cost.


I think it's absolutely worth the money. I'd be careful about sharing though. I have logged in on a few different devices and was getting messages from them specifically saying they saw logins from different ip addresses and that sharing accounts was against their ToS. Probably just scare tactics, but FYI.
BullSprig07
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Quote:

anybody here use Epic Outdoors instead of Go Hunt?
I do both. I have a problem.
LEJ
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Yeah, seems like it.
aggie0959
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What does epic outdoors have that gohunt does not?
BullSprig07
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If you're a research junkie then it's just more content to consume.

Their main product is their magazine, which they mail to you and give you online access to as a member.

Instead of having something on every possible unit in the West like GoHunt they will generally go into a little more detail on say 5 units they consider "the best" and 10 units they consider "good" in that state for that species for that weapon.

Here's a little taste.



  • They have a member database for past hunts. You can ask for a list of contacts to other members who have hunted your tag before
  • You can also call and talk to the guys their directly and ask application advice or if they have any specific advice for a tag you've drawn. I know you can technically do that with GoHunt but that seems to me a bigger part of the service with Epic
  • For another fee they will just do all of your applications for you

If I could only choose one it would be GoHunt. If you can get away with it then it's another good source to help feed the Western Hunting addiction.

If anyone is actually considering getting a subscription let me know so I can put you down as a referral and get my name thrown in the hat for a sheep hunt (oh ya they raffle off some pretty awesome hunts too.)
meggy09
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Anyone got the CO second draw figured out yet?
stdeb11
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I need to read up more but after a quick read theu it's just a draw for the leftover licenses that were not drawn the first round. No points will be used and you cannot get a point in that draw... previously these tags just went on the leftover list and when that was opened it was a mad dash to get them. Now it's just another draw
Lt. Joe Bookman
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Anyone have any recommendations for getting into archery elk and archery blacktail deer?

Specifically, Oregon, if possible.

I've scouted quite a bit while grouse and quail hunting, and have found a few deer on same game cams I've put up. I've never shot anything with a bow, and have only hunted whitetail in Texas, so I'm a straight up beginner. I guess mainly tips on habitat to look for, etc.
LEJ
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I scanned it quickly the other day but that was my general take as well.
LEJ
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Although Cody Rich now lives in Montana, he grew up in Oregon Hunting Roosevelts and has several podcasts dedicated to Oregon elk and deer hunting.

This is a great episode. Very entertaining and good info in there.

https://www.therichoutdoors.net/ep-245-wapiti-wednesday-big-roosevelt-bulls-with-ray-kosydar/

If I were you, I'd also buy the book "Hunting Open Country Mule Deer: A Guide for Taking Western Bucks with Rifle & Bow" by Dwight Schuh. Dwight just passed away last spring. This book was published in 1985. I found it to be a great read. I learn something new each time I read it.
Lt. Joe Bookman
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Awesome. Thanks, I'll give the podcast a listen in the office tomorrow.
meggy09
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stdeb11 said:

I need to read up more but after a quick read theu it's just a draw for the leftover licenses that were not drawn the first round. No points will be used and you cannot get a point in that draw... previously these tags just went on the leftover list and when that was opened it was a mad dash to get them. Now it's just another draw


Yeah I saw the basics too. But curious how it actually works. No points or any preference, you get one ticket in bucket? How many tags can you apply for? They say youth has a better shot at those tags, so a percent set aside for them?
AgDad121619
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mneisch said:

GoHunt worth the money? I have a buddy trying to talk me into splitting the cost.
. About to ask that question - glad I read thread before repeating - looking at application strategy for Colorado to find a 1st season rifle hunt - total newbie at this but the clock is running (57 in March) so no more time to waste!
 
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