As much as it pains me to admit, hunting opportunities are becoming fewer and far between with every passing year. Prime habitat is continually lost to new development, public lands are becoming more crowded, tags are harder to come by and the almighty dollar reigns supreme, tying up valuable private hunting grounds. But not all is lost. With a little effort, strategy and a dash of luck, you can secure hunts through applying in random draws in various states throughout the U.S. on a regular basis. Here’s how.
Set goals
Hunters share many commonalities, but we all have slightly different reasonings for our drive and desire to hunt. For some, hunting is strictly a protein gathering activity. For others, it is the experience to push themselves and overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. For me, both of the above surely play a role in my “why”, as well as the ability to see and explore corners of our world I would never see otherwise. Whatever your reason, set some hunting goals, both short and long-term, and develop an application strategy around those goals.
If hunting elk out West is your goal, apply for as many states as you can afford. Search out units that can be drawn on somewhat of a regular basis (every two to four years) and dip your toes in the sand with these hunts (short term). They will be riddled with low success rates, lower animal numbers and hordes of hunters, but you will have a tag in your pocket and be in the game. Even on these “easier” to draw tags, there is opportunities to be had for those willing to go the extra mile and make their own luck.
At the same time, pick a state or two where you can start building preference points and set a long-term goal (10-plus years down the road) to eventually build up enough points to draw a “better” tag. By then, you will have hunted elk three or four times, honed your skills, and be able to put your best foot forward when a premium tag eventually comes your way. This same principle applies regardless of the species you wish to pursue. Keep in mind, some states offer some sort of bonus/preference point programs while other states are purely random draws every year. Both systems have unique advantages and disadvantages.
I do want to throw one caveat into this equation. Drawing a premium tag in no way, shape or form guarantees you a trophy class animal. In fact, more big deer and elk are taken on general season tags most years by hunters who have become intimately familiar with these areas despite the lack of animals or hunting pressure.
Do your homework
Applying for tags across multiple states can be a daunting task. I still remember the days of filling out paper applications, submitting them via snail mail and eagerly waiting for postcards with draw results to be mailed out. Nowadays, every state has their own web systems set up that both help and, at times, hinder, the application process. Once you have goals set, get organized and dig through the mountains of information that is available to you via the world wide web. When choosing where to apply, research draw odds, harvest success rates, public land access, topography and season dates. Tools like GoHunt streamline all of this information for you, but it is all out there to consume with a little time and effort.
Logistics
Keep in mind, each state has varying application deadlines and it is never too early to start planning for next season. Idaho usually kicks the application season off in early December when their non-resident, over-the-counter elk and deer tags go on sale and applications continue through late July/early August depending on what states you apply in.
Unfortunately, like most things, you got to pay to play the application game — and it’s not cheap. Going back to your goals and doing your homework, determine where your money is best spent and apply there. Some states are costly to apply in, requiring the full cost of the tag to be paid upfront and then refunded if unsuccessful in the drawing. Other states require the purchase of a small game license and a small application fee but the cost of the tag itself is not due until after the draw is complete.
Figure out what your budget is and spend it accordingly. Keep in mind that bonus/preference points unquestionably hold monetary value and are an investment into future hunting opportunities.
There are also several very knowledgeable and qualified application services that you can pay to handle the logistics for you. You tell them your goals and they help make your dreams come true with a detailed application strategy followed through with completing your applications for you. Some of these include Huntin’ Fool, Worldwide Trophy Adventures and Epic Outdoors just to name a few.
Reap the rewards
Playing the application game does require some detailed groundwork and can be an intimidating process to take on. However, if you want to hunt more, the payoff is worth the reward when doors of hunting opportunities are opened for you. Happy hunting and good luck in the upcoming draws!
