Just give me 10 days on any of the premium elk units, and I'll be happy....
It is going to be interesting to see how the masses vote (apply) this year. Sometimes a new hunt will bring many applications as it sounds pretty interesting. Don't think the late hunt will do that though.. I don't think guys who have mega-bonus points are going to want the broke up bulls!
And there is nothing funner than harvesting a screaming bull that you have challenged and called in during the heat of the rut!!
And as far as the premium hunts, don't think that is going to be a big draw for apps, either. It would be tough to go through all three hunts and not kill something in the earlier hunts, granted the success rate gets better as you move from archery to rifle. It would be a great tag to have, but I'm afraid I'd waste the last two hunts..
IMO, this is just going to make the odds of drawing the "normal" permits that much tougher due to the 30% of the permits that will be taken out of the "normal" pool and moved, yet the odds will be better for the later hunts, as most hunters prefer the "normal" hunt dates. The lower odds also will apply to the "premium" hunt as there will be less tags to have a chance to draw from, even though probably less hunters will put in for them.
Either way, should be really interesting to see how it all develops. Good luck to all now matter which way you "vote"..
A bad day hunting is better than a Good Day at Work!!