Throwing in the towel in Oregon...

Jeffpg

Jeffpg

Active Member
Messages
238
Hey Guys,

I'm no quitter, but I think it's time to stop GIVING Oregon my hard earned money. It has truly become not worth it to apply there for me.

I normally submit around 60 applications a year for everything/everywhere and love the points building/tag drawing game as much as anyone. But I also like to go hunting in a quality area and the math doesn't look good for me as a non-resident with 9 points for all species.

I don't mind long odds for good hunts. I have played that game for years and had my share of success. I have been just stubborn enough to continue in Oregon in the hopes that with all the guys dropping out, my odds would increase to an acceptable level. It ain't workin'.

I'd like to cash in on a half way decent tag or two before turning my back and walkin' away, but I don't even think there's much of an opportunity for that at this point.

Can anyone correct me on this? Some positive insight would be most welcome by me.

Jeff
 
Well, why cash out now? The points won't go away. You can sit on them, and down the road if things ever look better you will have 9 points already in the game.
 
Jeff,

How many points do you have and for what. Also give us an idea of what you are looking for. Some guys like hunting wilderness, others sage country, etc. The Oregon guys always seem to help because we don't hunt much here either.

Rich
 
Wanted,
I was somehow thinking that after a couple of years of not applying, that I would lose my points. I don't remember where I got that from, but that's what I was thinking. Thanks for telling me different.

lostinOregon,
I have 9 points for deer, elk and antelope. I don't really have a specific preferance for where I hunt, and will adapt to the location & season that provides the best opportunity, although I have thoroughly enjoyed the wilderness hunting I have experienced. I do tend to be trophy oriented. Thank you for your help.

Jeff
 
Do not throw in the towel. Have you applied this year? Send me a pm and I will be more than happy to give you additional insight. If you have the money stay in the game. Sure the deer situation is not looking good. On the bright side there are still some good hunts. A good majority of the Oregon units hold great antelope if you are patient. Oregon sheep are another positive, particularly on the Cali side. I would say dont give up stay in the game. With 9 points you should not throw them away. JB Send me a pm
 
I hear you Jeff. I quit Oregon sitting on 10 points across the board. Right now, they don't go away no matter how long you don't apply. I think I only used to apply because it's one more shot at a sheep tag...and it was less that $100. There's only so much that's worth, and nonresidents only get 2.5% (half of the 5%, low to start) of the "primo" (primo in OR might be mediocre in other places) elk and deer tags after the outfitter draw cherry picks the nonresident tags before the regular draw. Antelope can be good, but again, has the low nonresident cap...Even if you have the money, I wolud rather send the message that such paltry nonresident tag allocations get us to not send money.
 
JB148
Thanks for the encouragement, I sent you an email.

ElmerFudd
You said it brother. Very discouraging, especially after years of applying & hoping. If I thought something would eventually change...
 
I think you loose your point after two year of not applying but not completly sure you better check. With 9 point you have a good chance at drawing a primo tag in a couple more year with everyone bailing on the points game it may be worth holding out.
 
there used to be a 2year rule. They changed it a few years ago.

If you want to go hunting, go ahead and pick a better(sarcasm) unit and apply. You have far and above the number of points required but you could still go. IF you don't mind holding onto them for a few years, maybe the deer will come back some.

If you were into archery elk huning, i'd say keep applying to build points and then buy the OTC archery tag.
 
from what i've seen the deer are gone, but the elk seem to be stable, that's just my observation from running thru the woods last 5 years...
 
I don't blame you if I were a NR I'd have dropped Oregon years ago. that said since you do have 9 points I'd cash them in on an " ok " hunt which for elk isn't that tough. for goats you're not in the running and as for the deer 9 points will get you a nice camping trip where you might get a decnt buck if you're lottery winner lucky.

Elk is your one place to give serious consideration, I'm not talking a booner hunt just a fun hunt with low hunter numbers and a chance at a 300 class bull.

After you draw your elk tag I'd tell ODFW to shove it.
 
As a Non-res. I have personally watched the Owyhee and E. Whitehorse, trout ck and steens units fall into ruin. I have put so much time scouting and learning that it almost makes a grown man cry. I am sitting on 7 points. I also have felt like throwin in the towel. But I feel that like most things, this downturn is just a bad cycle. Frankly, elk are doing great, wolves will no doubt end that run, but deer I think will slowly return to better numbers. It just takes guys like here on this forum to act. We have been crying wolf for so long that someone has to hear. With the mule deer initiative that has been put in place I think it is a step in the right direction. With that said. I say hang-in there and keep building points. You are in a better situation than I am with your points and can draw some pretty good tags in a couple of years, who knows by that time maybe you will have wished you had kept them!!!
 
Thanks to ALL of you fellows. I can appreciate and relate to what each of you have shared.

I haven't applied yet, but with just a few days left, I will have to make up my mind soon. I don't really need to draw this year, but am a bit curious as to how the odds will be effected since I expect to see a LOT of guys drop out. I am actually leaning towards tossing my money into the pot again, in order to not lose a years worth of points, and to just have a chance at the sheep tag. Who knows, things may get better before I die and SOMEbody has to hit that sheep hunt.

I can always come up with a couple hundred dollars to apply but sometimes can't help but feel it could be better used elsewhere.

still considering...
 
LAST EDITED ON May-07-11 AT 06:33AM (MST)[p]It's almost $175 for the nonresident license and 4 applications. I wonder how the odds of buying $175 of raffle tickets compare to nonresident draw odds..

I bet you can get a better landowner elk or deer tag elsewhere for what it really costs to draw a nonresident OR tag.

I think most nonresidents with near a decade or more points feel hooked and stayed and will stay. At least thats the opinion of those I know, other than me. Make your decision on your own personal values, not speculating on your guess at the actions of others.
 
I know what you mean, I am a Oregon resident that has been playing the points game in most western states for 5 years now. It is more addictive than gambling. It is hard to quit, you feel like you have wasted your money at times so we keep playing hoping to eventually win.
 
9 Points would suck. I have 13 and stayed in just for a big 3 elk tag which I should get next year or 2014 if they don't further tighten the NR screws. I studied the point NR point holder stats very closely before deciding that. I think if I were you at 9 I would cash in the elk points now on a mediocre hunt and get out of everything. There are better values for your investment.
 
I quit Oregon last year with 5 points. I've never looked back. Much more value in other states.

I wrote the commission a long letter stating it was the 2.5% NR cap that caused me to quit, not the price increase. They did write me back to say goodbye and come back soon.

Hope I improved the odds of those who stayed.

The Christian
 
To quote Demi Moore in GI Jane: Oregon can suck my d_ck!

Venison and Zinfandel are GOOD!
 
9 points across the board. Don't throw in the towel! Your close on antelope. Depending on what species of deer, mule/blacktail your there! Elk is just like deer rocky/rosi! Good luck, but don't give in yet!
 
Oh well, not sure if I can actually justify it, but I stayed in to see another hand dealt.

We'll see how it goes, but I'm not expectin' any miracles.

Thanks for all the input and good luck to all.

Jeff
 
Gave up last year. Every other year I would get a call that the tags were going to the guides. With the price increase and only have a shot every other year annnnnnd the trophy quality not really their even in the top zones, (Elk} they can count me out.
 
Might as well finish what you started. Either keep building points or start applying of lower quality hunts. Any hunt is what you make of it. If you are applying for sheep you might as well apply for everything else. I am sitting on 15 points for antelope & elk and 7 for deer (at the end of this draw). Even though I thought I would get a chance at the antelope tag I wanted in the next year or two. Now it looks a little further out. I plan to deer hunt next year and I am pretty sure I will get the tag. Yes the trophy quality is not what it use to be, but I still feel you can get a good hunt. Keep at it.

Bill
 
Glad i read this. I thought I'd tossed 34 PPs away, 12 deer/antelope and 10 elk. Didn't apply the last 2 years and thought I was done. Son's on 7 for everything and wife on 3. That's $600.00 every year so I dropped out. Next year I may jump back in. Thinking the son and I can get a Snake rifle elk hunt soon and eventually I'll get a late muzzy deer hunt and a speedgoat hunt.
 
Geoffrey,
Juniper Antelope only issues 2 NR tags. With the amount of people ahead of me and the guide welfare program, that allows them like half the NR tags every other year, I hope they will get to my point pool in about 5 years. Elk I feel I have a good chance at one of the top units in the next few years. I just need to start scouting next year & pick one.

Bill
 
I see. I'm a local so I don't pay much attention to the NR stats. I can see why its really not worth getting back in the pool once you cash out. I would imagine that Mt. Emily Elk will be up to 30 points by the time my kids are in the pool... sad. I love living in OR, but our big game hunting sucks. Went to wyoming the last few years and its soooo much better hunting for every big game animal.

I'm glad that I enjoy hunting waterfowl, becuase that has been fantastic the last 10 years! It's Oregon's saving grace!
 
I have 13 points across the board, N.r. can only be in the draw for a tag every other year.thats f-----d up. so 13 points , no chance this year in a (half way ),decent tag . unless you settle for low low point hunt. I just get tired of the letters saying no n.r. tags this year , hell I dont even put in the best of the best . next year I will have 14 points I may frind a friend and cut my points in half , and just get out of it on the high end.there is some good hunting with way less points and that is not in a hunting magazine, thats the big killer of all our hunting, sorry that just the way I see it. now on the other hand the general deer hunting oregon has is great ,I wish my state would fallow there structure and season dates . now the big thing is to find a friend that I would split my points with. that may be harder than killing a buck. good luck to all you guys in the draw.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-07-11 AT 11:59AM (MST)[p]Tawstaxidermy spells out exactly why I got out of Oregon. The most unfair NR state there is when compared to what you have a chance to draw for the price.

I gave them $500 before I saw the writing on the wall. I sure don't miss them.

If Oregon was a private business, they would be out of business.


The Christian
 
Happy to see all the guys quitting....wish they would in more states. Afterall, it was all the point hounds that screwed these systems up. See Ya!
 
You might be right, but Oregon is going to have to raise that money somehow, and from what I've seen, residents don't want to pay more...

The Christian
 
Do you know what amazes me? We've had a number of threads here about guys complaining of low draw odds, then some guy comes on and says he's giving up and all the goobers that just complained about their low odds, try to pump him back up and talk him into continueing to apply! Jeez, if these guys want to leave, LET THEM!
By the way, my points just went back to zero in three categories and I expect to have the hunt of my life for all three.
 
>Do you know what amazes me?
>We've had a number of
>threads here about guys complaining
>of low draw odds, then
>some guy comes on and
>says he's giving up and
>all the goobers that just
>complained about their low odds,
>try to pump him back
>up and talk him into
>continueing to apply! Jeez, if
>these guys want to leave,
>LET THEM!
>By the way, my points just
>went back to zero in
>three categories and I expect
>to have the hunt of
>my life for all three.
>


DO TELL.........
 
Residents, what's the best blacktail hunt in the state? Had a guide call me this spring, saying I could draw it. In fact, with my deer points, I could apply with a prospectivehunter of his and we could both draw. He would give me info and take $5,000.00 from the hunter.

Got me to thinking. I have 12 deer points, my son has 7 and wife has 3. That's a 7 PP average. Maybe a great, rut blacktail hunt is my way out of this mess.

And just think, for another $1,200.00 we could each have 2 more PPs for deer, elk and antelope. Wow.
 
Probably the Applegate Muzzy hunt. Takes about 5 or 6 points as a NR I believe. Its a rut hunt.

Bill

Look out Forkie, FTW is watching us!
 
Just wondering...if a NR applies in a party with a resident, do they both get the tag? So for example, I have 1 point and Joe Idaho has 11, we have 6 each. So we apply for a unit that takes like 5 to gaurantee a tag do we both get it even if the NR quota is met?
I curious because, though I don't have a tag this year, I've got 2 big bucks and one huge buck scouted out, (found them while looking for elk for bow season) but I can't do anything with them. I'll bow hunt them but not much chance to get close enough to those big boys to get a good shot with a bow, plus I'd rather rifle hunt deer. So I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to hunt more than once every 6 years. As a local resident I feel like I'd bring alot to the table, my knowledge of the country, my prescouted bucks, my resident status, even my driveway if a guy wanted to park his RV. The NR who wants to get out of the game would bring the points and would get a chance at some great bucks as he gets out of Oregon.
Sounds like a win/win to me...
 
You would be at the mercy of the non-resident quotas. If you can find someone willing to do this ...great. I'm sure there are a few guys who are sitting on points that would trade them for ANY chance at a decent buck.
 
Yeah, it's a little risky too, hunting with someone you don't know. It would have to be the right guy. I know it's pretty rare anymore to have a unit that has a healthy number of mature bucks and some big bucks at that. I'll probably just keep it under my hat until my time comes. Makes for some good shed hunting (In this particular unit, I found fresh sheds from 17 different mature bucks from this year, 7 went 160"-180", and a bunch of small guys too. Another couple of guys found sheds from 20 other mature bucks in this same unit) Maybe I can get lucky and get drawn before I'm due.
There may be hope for some of Oregon's units. I'm hearing alot of dispair but realisically we may be on the edge of recovery for some of the deer populations. I'd like to think that this one unit is not the only one that is doing ok. In Oregon, we've had several good springs in a row for forage, if we can get a few mild winters I think the populations can jump right back within 5 years.
We can hope anyway.
 

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