Getting antsy

Soj51hopeful · Apr 10, 2017

for the 2017 big game digest, how bad of a point creep are you expecting for your area?

6x7 · Apr 11, 2017

None it stays the same the only thing that affects the point change is the amount of tags issued

Soj51hopeful · Apr 11, 2017

Not exactly. X12 for example the last few years there has been around 200 more people each year apply for the same amount of tags. So yes when supply goes down, but also when demand goes up on an unchanged supply. Watch x5b creep more because it's the next best hunt under max points.

Soj51hopeful · Apr 11, 2017

With all the information out there these days I think more people are playing the points game driving up demand. I'm 34 and have hunted my whole life but never started playing the points game until about 5 years ago. Just out of ignorance. Wish I started about 15 years ago!

Soj51hopeful · Apr 11, 2017

Uh 6x7 if you were referring to just your zone you concentrate on then I apologize. I assumed you were talking all the draw zones. I don't know where you apply and just realized you may have been talking about 1 zone. Didn't mean to rub anything in.

Wiszard · Apr 11, 2017

No point creep in A zone. There's plenty of tags for everyone....just no deer to fill them with. LOL.

Cancer doesn't discriminate...don't take your good health for granted because it can be gone in a heartbeat. Please go back and read the last line. This time really understand what it says.

6x7 · Apr 11, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Apr-11-17 AT 06:05PM (MST)[p]>Not exactly. X12 for example the
>last few years there has
>been around 200 more people
>each year apply for the
>same amount of tags. So
>yes when supply goes down,
>but also when demand goes
>up on an unchanged supply.
>Watch x5b creep more because
>it's the next best hunt
>under max points.

Yes I was talking about the unit I apply for,the point change is greatly affected more in the archery hunt where there's fewer tags or more depending on the year.

6x7 · Apr 11, 2017

>Uh 6x7 if you were referring
>to just your zone you
>concentrate on then I apologize.
>I assumed you were talking
>all the draw zones. I
>don't know where you apply
>and just realized you may
>have been talking about 1
>zone. Didn't mean to rub
>anything in.

You did rub then I saw this and had to edit my reply ?

Soj51hopeful · Apr 11, 2017

Yeah sorry again, I know from reading your past posts you know your stuff.

JGhunts · Apr 18, 2017

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Statistics/Big-Game-Drawing

No need to wait for the digest, the stats have been online for a couple months.

Soj51hopeful · Apr 18, 2017

Alright thanks, you have to crunch the numbers yourself to come up with the lowest point awarded tag but that's easy. No major jumps in my area but a slight increase as expected.

BradA · May 10, 2017

With tag quota dropped the creep will be a real issue I know it has now affected me !

bullskin · May 14, 2017

I have watched as the number of points needed to draw my favorite X zone increased by almost two over the past few years, and forget C rifle as a second choice anymore. Ten or twelve years ago, I could get a "C" tag on even my second deer tag application!

4KnHorns · May 15, 2017

It's crazy. Hunting has blown up on social media and now everyone wants to be a hunter. I'm all for bringing people into the experience of hunting but that means more competition for tags right?

I just wish I would have played the point game 15 years ago when I started hunting. Could have have some really good hunts by now. I just put in for the draw for the first time last year so I'm some of that new competition. My son begins his hunting journey this year as well. We'll see how it goes this year.

The harvest data that came from the reporting mandate is helping me narrow down where to apply.

Good luck guys!

buckhorn · May 15, 2017

>It's crazy. Hunting has blown up
>on social media and now
>everyone wants to be a
>hunter. I'm all for bringing
>people into the experience of
>hunting but that means more
>competition for tags right?
>
>I just wish I would have
>played the point game 15
>years ago when I started
>hunting. Could have have some
>really good hunts by now.
>I just put in for
>the draw for the first
>time last year so I'm
>some of that new competition.
>My son begins his hunting
>journey this year as well.
>We'll see how it goes
>this year.
>
>The harvest data that came from
>the reporting mandate is helping
>me narrow down where to
>apply.
>
>Good luck guys!
I think you need at least 20 points in most states to be in the running for a really good tag. 15 points leaves you in no mans land

buckhorn · May 15, 2017

>It's crazy. Hunting has blown up
>on social media and now
>everyone wants to be a
>hunter. I'm all for bringing
>people into the experience of
>hunting but that means more
>competition for tags right?
>
>I just wish I would have
>played the point game 15
>years ago when I started
>hunting. Could have have some
>really good hunts by now.
>I just put in for
>the draw for the first
>time last year so I'm
>some of that new competition.
>My son begins his hunting
>journey this year as well.
>We'll see how it goes
>this year.
>
>The harvest data that came from
>the reporting mandate is helping
>me narrow down where to
>apply.
>
>Good luck guys!

bullskin · May 15, 2017

The good news is that there are good deer in every zone. As long as you are satisfied with the runners up to the ones that make it to the cover of Muley Crazy magazine, then you can find good deer in zones that you might draw every few years if you put in the legwork. I wish now that I had never fallen into the point chase trap. I have too many to quit, but not enough to hunt. Once I burn 'em, I am going to hunt somewhere, anywhere, every year. I would rather take ten 160-180 class bucks than one 190+ buck. And it is important to remember that not everyone who get the best tags kills a great buck.

Califelkslayer · May 15, 2017

LAST EDITED ON May-15-17 AT 10:05PM (MST)[p]4K,

I suggest you apply yourself and your son in multiple states.

Nevada would cost you $400.00 for the 2 of you build points for deer, elk, antelope, and both species of sheep.

Utah for $200.00 total you can both build points for deer, elk, antelope, moose and sheep. General deer too.

In Wyoming an antelope point costs $30.00, deer point $40.00. You can draw a high success, non-trophy tag with 3 PPs. (Every 3 years)

$840.00 a year and in a couple of years one or the other of you will be hunting good/great tags.

Apply him separately in Nevada/Utah and you'll have
22 chances to draw not including Kali and Wy..

Best hunts I've had are hunts when only the wife or son had a tag.

I kill something it's, "I got it done." They kill something it's exciting.

CAelknuts · May 30, 2017

LAST EDITED ON May-30-17 AT 09:30AM (MST)[p]To build on what Califelkslayer advised...

I've been obtaining points in most western states for a long time, both for myself and my son, who is now 29. I've been putting hin in for points since he was 10 years old. So far, he has drawn in Arizona a late season Kaibab tag and shot a 188" buck; 2 early muzzleloader bull tags and killed a 334" bull (his first elk at 16 years old) and a 361" bull. He's also drawn a Nevada pronghorn tag (shot an average buck), California pronghorn tag (15 1/2" buck), CA Doyle muzzleloader tag (31 1/2" buck) and a Utah youth bull tag where he passed up a 310" class bull and came home empty.

Over the last 5 or 6 years I've drawn Nevada elk, Arizona strip buck, Arizona pronghorn, CA Doyle Muzzleloader buck, and this year drew Nevada pronghorn in what I consider the best trophy quality unit in the state, along with a cow elk tag in a unit group I want to explore for its deer hunting potential.

We always apply separately. That way, if either of us draws, we both get to go hunting.

In the next 5-7 years, my son will probably draw AZ pronghorn, WY moose (he has enough points now to draw any moose tag in state, just waiting for a year when he can maximize his opportunity, vacation-wise), he should also draw UT elk. We both will draw WY sheep, elk, deer, pronghorn. He will draw several Nevada tags for everything except pronghorn as he has 15 points for everything else. I should draw Nevada deer and eventually a sheep tag since I'm sitting on 20 points.

As an aspiring sheep hunter, going into next season my son will have 19 WY points, 22 AZ points, 16 Nevada points for both. He's only 29, so by the time he is in his forties he'll most likely have both rocky and desert bighorn rams.

We have more points in other states but I think you understand what I'm saying about a long term commitment to building points in the states in the states you want to hunt. If you stick with it for all the species you want to hunt in the states you're interested in, you'll eventually draw lots of great tags and have some wonderful hunts.

kalielkslayer · Jun 5, 2017

ELKNUTS,

You nailed it EXCEPT the feeling you get when you plan (for a long time) for someone you love, and they get to experience something we've experienced our whole lives. And they love it!!!

When my wife walked up to her 1st bull, she yelled at the top of her lungs, and jumped into my arms. Way better than pulling the trigger myself.

Same could be said about my son's first bull, 1st 300+ shot, ext.

Daughters first duck limit or double on snow geese ranks up there too.

CAelknuts · Jun 5, 2017

>ELKNUTS,
>
>You nailed it EXCEPT the feeling
>you get when you plan
>(for a long time) for
>someone you love, and they
> get to experience something
>we've experienced our whole lives.
> And they love it!!!
>
>
>When my wife walked up to
>her 1st bull, she yelled
>at the top of her
>lungs, and jumped into my
>arms. Way better than
>pulling the trigger myself.
>
>Same could be said about my
>son's first bull, 1st 300+
>shot, ext.
>
>Daughters first duck limit or double
>on snow geese ranks up
>there too.

I completely agree!