npaden
Active Member
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- 878
Sorry in advance for the novel. About 1/2 of the purpose of me posting this is to help me sort my thoughts out on the subject. If anyone has any insight that could help I would appreciate it though.
Okay, I've been doing some thinking (which is pretty dangerous to my pocketbook sometimes).
I'm 41 and grew up in Montana, but we pretty much just hunted deer and antelope and really didn't hunt trophy versions of either of those. Moved to Texas for college, got a good job and didn't hunt for 20 years other than an occasional skirmish back to Montana to go out with my Dad after a mule deer or cow elk. My Dad is gone now, but I keep his memory close, especially when I'm out hunting.
After my son was born I thought about the memories of hunting with my dad, and I got back into hunting and enjoy it more than ever. I'm hoping that my son will grow up to enjoy it as much as I did.
I Got my first bull elk (245" 5x5) hunting with a friend in Wyoming a couple years ago and have been going back with a general tag since, and have been lucky to draw the last 2 years. I bought some land here in Texas that I hunt whitetails, pigs, turkey, predators, etc. on, and do a lot of habitat work on that land. Was very lucky to trade a hunt with some friends in New Mexico in 2009 and shot a 180 class mule deer there, which was my best ever.
It seems that the natural next step is starting to apply for the hard to draw elk units in Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, etc. and start to build up preference points, but I'm debating that course of action.
First, it is going to cost some money. Some of the better units in Utah take 15 or more points to draw and that would cost me $500 or so in buying hunting licenses and application fees to build up those points. New Mexico is a $27 fee each year, not sure on Arizona. I can afford it, but it is still a lot of money when you start adding it up over the years.
Also, by the time I draw a good unit in Utah I will be over 55 years old and who knows if they will even be good units anymore or if I will be in good enough shape to hunt them effectively.
Another thought is that I don't have friends in Utah or New Mexico that I would go hunting with. My son is 3 years old now, so in 10 or 15 years he will be able to go with me and hopefully he will want to, but I enjoy hunting in Wyoming as much for spending time with friends as for the actual hunting.
On the other hand, I've seen some folks post that their dad started putting them into drawings in some of these areas before they even knew about it, and as a result were able to have quite a few points built up by the time they were in their 20's and got a great hunt as a result. Maybe I should start putting in for myself now and then for my son as soon as he is eligible.
Lastly, I would be 100% happy with a 360" bull. I would probably be 100% happy with a 340" bull. Do I even need to be applying for some of these LE hunts or just keep plugging away with a general tag in Wyoming and eventually I might fall into a great bull?
Oh well, I know that no one can help me make up my mind, but if anyone has some thoughts one way or the other I would appreciate hearing them.
Thanks, Nathan
Okay, I've been doing some thinking (which is pretty dangerous to my pocketbook sometimes).
I'm 41 and grew up in Montana, but we pretty much just hunted deer and antelope and really didn't hunt trophy versions of either of those. Moved to Texas for college, got a good job and didn't hunt for 20 years other than an occasional skirmish back to Montana to go out with my Dad after a mule deer or cow elk. My Dad is gone now, but I keep his memory close, especially when I'm out hunting.
After my son was born I thought about the memories of hunting with my dad, and I got back into hunting and enjoy it more than ever. I'm hoping that my son will grow up to enjoy it as much as I did.
I Got my first bull elk (245" 5x5) hunting with a friend in Wyoming a couple years ago and have been going back with a general tag since, and have been lucky to draw the last 2 years. I bought some land here in Texas that I hunt whitetails, pigs, turkey, predators, etc. on, and do a lot of habitat work on that land. Was very lucky to trade a hunt with some friends in New Mexico in 2009 and shot a 180 class mule deer there, which was my best ever.
It seems that the natural next step is starting to apply for the hard to draw elk units in Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, etc. and start to build up preference points, but I'm debating that course of action.
First, it is going to cost some money. Some of the better units in Utah take 15 or more points to draw and that would cost me $500 or so in buying hunting licenses and application fees to build up those points. New Mexico is a $27 fee each year, not sure on Arizona. I can afford it, but it is still a lot of money when you start adding it up over the years.
Also, by the time I draw a good unit in Utah I will be over 55 years old and who knows if they will even be good units anymore or if I will be in good enough shape to hunt them effectively.
Another thought is that I don't have friends in Utah or New Mexico that I would go hunting with. My son is 3 years old now, so in 10 or 15 years he will be able to go with me and hopefully he will want to, but I enjoy hunting in Wyoming as much for spending time with friends as for the actual hunting.
On the other hand, I've seen some folks post that their dad started putting them into drawings in some of these areas before they even knew about it, and as a result were able to have quite a few points built up by the time they were in their 20's and got a great hunt as a result. Maybe I should start putting in for myself now and then for my son as soon as he is eligible.
Lastly, I would be 100% happy with a 360" bull. I would probably be 100% happy with a 340" bull. Do I even need to be applying for some of these LE hunts or just keep plugging away with a general tag in Wyoming and eventually I might fall into a great bull?
Oh well, I know that no one can help me make up my mind, but if anyone has some thoughts one way or the other I would appreciate hearing them.
Thanks, Nathan