NM lottery draw - also posted in elk forum

muleymaddness · Apr 7, 2007

How exactly does the draw work? I know it's a lottery, but their has to be some methodoligy. Do they start with a unit and go from there or start by putting everyone's name in the hat and start at the top?

To me, it seems like if they start out at the top - lets say I put in for 3 top rated units and I'm the 250th person to be drawn. Probably my 1st and 2nd choice would be full, but, my third choice, which is a premium unit, would be drawn. Lets just say it was. In this type case, you'd think you'd see more people being drawn as 3rd choice on some of the premium units when you go to hunt.odds.com. My strategy is to put in on 3 premium units - shoot for the stars - and when one year I draw - it will be worth it.

I don't know - it's all a crap shot I guess.

overkill · Apr 8, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Apr-08-07 AT 12:56PM (MST)[p]Ok I will try and explain this as clearly as I can. For simplicity we will just say that there are 2 people on "your" application.

A computer will randomly pick a application. Once chosen it will look at the application's first choice. If there at least two tags left on this application, they you will have drawn your first choice unit. If there are less than 2, the computer will look at your second choice and repeat the process again until you have either drawn your second or third choice. If by chance by the time the computer has looked at your 3rd choice and there are not two tags available in your thrid unit,then you will be unsucessful.

That said, even if your application is picked by the computer it must be picked early enough to have a chance to drawn what you have chosen, assuming that you have put in for a limited quota unit. So in some cases having your application picked can have the same result as not having been choosen at all by the computer, an unsucessful draw.

As for your strategy, if I understand you correctly it is flawed. I beleive that the computer randomly picks applications and that GMU's are not an influence. PM if you would like to me to eexplain in detail how I pick my units. -S.

muleymaddness · Apr 8, 2007

Overkill - sent pm.

Califelkslayer · Apr 8, 2007

Overkill, seems like you got it. Realize that by picking the best units, during prime time, your odds are long and tags will be few and far between. I do the same as you generally cause I'm in every game I can afford and NM elk is only one of 30 or apps each year.

This year I think I'm gonna draw 1st elk in Co. and the first elk in NM is the same dates so I moved my choices to the second rifle in NM and hope I draw both tags since I'll be in the neighborhood anyways. Good luck in the draw.