moose, bighorn, mtn goat

[GurrCentral]

Well, you gotta keep the hope alive.....the OIL hunts that I have been on have been incredible experiences and I do feel truly fortunate to have been drawn and share them with my friends and family, but the negative outlooks lately from people who have not been drawn just doesn't sit right with me. Sure, I can see the frustration of not getting drawn for a permit, but it seems like the people who get drawn are those who don't .............and moan about the odds, they play the game because they love to hunt and hopefully will get a special permit one of these years.. There are also other options, such as out of state applications, the more you apply for the greater your odds..but then again, the prices increase with NR fees. Good luck in the apps!

[huntnphool]

There have been a couple members that have drawn two OIL tags in the same year.

Then guys like ridgerunner that have drawn two of the three already.

[180-GRAIN]

So what would you do? Going into the 2014 season I'll have 15pts each for the OIL tags, I know the chances are slim for drawing a tag but I'm in that realm of average pts drawn for all the species. So does a guy apply for all of them hoping to draw one or does he pick one for the next several years in hopes of drawing that tag and keep applying for pts with the others. I've been pts only up to this point, and thinking now would be a good time to put my name in the hat. What are your thoughts?

One more thing, the odds of EVER drawing one of these tags in a lifetime is poor to begin with, waiting 15 years and only going for points is the same as throwing away 15 years worth of at least a slim chance in that lifetime, so get in the fight.

I agree don't sit a year out put in for all 3 species every year, if you don't apply you cant get drawn. I beat the odds in 09 and drew moose with 7 points so in my opinion there really are no accurate draw odds, its just the luck of the draw all the way.
But by all means keep going the point option, I don't need the extra competition.

[hardrichard]

I finally got this figured out how to post pictures, or my daughter did. So if they look bad, blame her I was fortunate enough in 1982 to draw a mountain goat tag in western Washington when I was 15 years old. With the help of my dad on the last weekend of the hunt, we connected on this billy, he was 7 and a half in horn length, not too bad for a kid.  Many hunts later, with 9 points I was fortunate enough once again to draw a 2006 hangman A moose tag (hangman A being my last choice) And off to Mica Peak with my hunting buddy of 30+ years, Darin M, and on the second day of the hunt we were on a quad going into the area we planned to hunt when all of a sudden a cow moose and a calf came running off the hillside. We stopped to admire just how massive a moose really is up close. When at the same time a second calf came poking out of the brush, I looked back at Darin with my Browning A-Bolt 300WSM and said "Do you hear that?". At this time the cow and the calves decided to move on as they heard the crashing of antlers banging through the brush coming down that very same hill. The bull busted out of the woods and I could tell that he was good enough for me! As I would have been proud of any bull moose. I raised up the rifle and as the bull was running at about fifty yards I heard Darrin say "Are you gonna take him?" he barely got the second word out of his mouth when I pulled the trigger. And the big bull dropped dead in the middle of the road. Lucky for us, for I thought id have to quarter him and pack him out of somewhere. It was a great hunt but it was over too fast. But it was a hunt of a lifetime. A few years go by, and with once again 9 points, I drew the 2013 Umtanum Sheep tag. Once again, Darrin and I were off to scout and learn a new area. I got in touch with Ric Shirrod from All That's Wild Taxidermy. Who without his wealth of big horn sheep  knowledge, I don't know if the hunt would have been successful. After Darin and I scouted the area that summer, we planned on returning in September to "Git 'R Done". But that didn't work out at first. After looking at several sheep around the Rosa Dam area we passed on a few and tried to get to others and hiked a hell of a lot of ground. After a long long day of not getting a chance to notch that tag, we had to cross the river on foot, which turned out to be quite exciting.  I wont got into grave details, but we all got real wet and so did our gear. We returned again and on October 8th at 2 in the afternoon, almost feeling like the 11th hour because there were only two more days in the season. At 205 yards I connected on this once in a lifetime big horn sheep with Darin and Ric by my side. I let the 300 roar and ate some scope in my eye because the shot was at such a steep angle. They picked me up and we all gave a hug and a high-five. We got the sheep down to the river and loaded it in Ric's drift boat, and made our way down the Yakima river. He scored right at 153 and I was proud to get him. I wanted to give Darin (DMac) a shout out as well as Ric who without their help I could not have done it. Thanks again guys! The moose was just at 40 inch spread. So I know in 1982 the mountain goat was not considered a OIL tag, but out of respect for the goats and my fellow hunters who are trying to draw these amazing OIL tags, I'm done at 47, I'm just trying to get that late deer tag now Good luck to all who put in for these tags, they truly are once in a lifetime experiences.

[GurrCentral]

Congrats on your permit hunts!!! Glad you enjoyed  and took advantage of the opportunities!! Nice work!

[huntnnw]

Is there a thread with peoples points on here?  I wonder who has the most and never drawn.

I know many people have 18 points for moose, sheep, and goats. I'm at 17 for moose, don't know how I did it, but somehow I missed one year. Sheep I'm around 15 points since I gave up on that one since the application and tag prices went up. Odds are too low and not worth wasting the money every year, in my opinion.

Even with the odds, you'll never get drawn if you don't put in....you never know....

I agree, and if I was made of money I sure would be applying for sheep. But I had to cut back somewhere and that's one I didn't mind giving up on. The tag is $330 if you get drawn. That's too much for me. I'd rather spend $330 on an out of state deer tag.

You have to figure that if you keep putting in until you have 50 pts and eventually draw it would still cost you under $1000. That is about the cheapest sheep tag you you can get.

Moose on the other hand is not real high on my priority list.  I would like the meat but it is something you can get for a fairly reasonable price whenever you want.

Just my   

Moose fairly resonable? not in the lower 48 and your left with Canada which is $6k minimum and AK will be right up there on a DIY self hunt with all the travel, gear, tags and not to include its not a gimmie in AK

[Claymore15]

Congrats hardrichard.

[bigmacc]

Great animals and pics there hardr ...I sure hope you invest in lottery tickets every once in-awhile

[hardrichard]

Thanks there guys am proof that you can get these tags with a little luck. I know there are other members here that have also drawn these great tags as well. on a side note thanks for the kind words there Bigmacc and a long over due congratulations on your ROH I cant think of anyone more deserving of this recognition then you my friend  hope I see you before hunting camp   

[HUNT]

Well I do have a positive attitude every year when I apply for moose. Every single time, in the last 17 years, I was sure that I was going to draw a moose tag.

It hasn't worked yet.   

So, how much boneless meat did you end up with off your sheep?

Boneless meat off a sheep is about 75-80 lbs

[Buckmark]

hardrichard can i rub your head for good luck.......the bald one above your shoulders btw   

[Elkstuffer]

Great story Ward! Glad I could be part of your sheep hunt. Hopefully I can give you and Darin another ride down the river when he draws his tag. I'll post a pic on here when I finish your mount.

[hardrichard]

Thanks again ric and Darin and I would love another Sheep hunting opportunity with ya! Darin always says he cant draw flies ( he's wrong) been around him for 35yrs he's been like a brother to me I pull for him every year. So we will have to see, I hope you do as well. And Buckmark if your a Browning man and I think you are  rub away  and good luck to ya

[Bullkllr]

No matter how many points you have, there is no more significant increase in odds than going from zero chance (points option) to one.

[hardrichard]

Anyone else got or are close to getting the Washington state oil draw hat trick?