is it worth getting into the points game?

[idaho guy]

  I am 50 and have never really put in for permits except Idaho and off and on in  Montana. I live or did live  in both states a long time and so have a quite a bit of on the ground knowledge about both states. So I subscribed to huntn fool and recently go hunt and have had the urge to put in for the great hunts in all the western states. I have not been able to pull the trigger on any other states yet. First I hunt all seasons in Idaho which adding hound seasons with lion and bear to an already full fall I am kept pretty busy year round. I still love to go to Montana to at least deer hunt and usually add that each year. From time to time I go to AK on a diy hunt just because its so awesome up there. I look at the odds and the years and additional homework for places I have never been and cant decide if I should jump on. Especially with point creep and everything else I read about. I don't think I want to wait till I am 70 or older to draw a "great" tag. Maybe I do just not sure. I know a lot of you do it every year. What is your opinion? Is it worth it? Am I too late? If I do it I will probably go all in but would really only want a really good tag or I would rather stay here and hunt what I know. I have also noticed tags that were guaranteed becoming hard to draw and feel like huntn fool and others have made everything worse by getting everyone in the country putting in. Then people don't even buy or hunt the tags? Its like an addiction to the draw for some people?  Strangely enough this is the only hunting forum I am on although I don't hunt in Washington. I got on here for my son and got hooked on it somehow Anyways any opinions would be helpfull especially from hunters who have been in the game for a while.       

[Bob33]

If you are a non-resident, you would need to purchase a non-resident hunting license ($740 for deer and elk) to apply for deer and elk permits. The odds of drawing a "quality' deer or elk tag, especially with no points are extremely low. Washington is a "bonus point" rather than "preference point" state so you would never be guaranteed to draw, even after 100 years of applying.

You would not need a hunting license to apply for moose, sheep, and mountain goat permits but the odds of drawing one of them (especially sheep and goat) are very low as well: 1 in 1000 or worse in many cases.

You could say "why not?" and apply because someone draws these permits every year, but it's very unlikely that you would when you're just starting out.

[trophyhunt]

No it’s not worth it, Hunt otc tags the way you want to hunt.  Don’t get old waiting for a permit.  The odds of drawing are only getting worse, and the quality is going down. At most, buy ghost points and only put in when when you draw a multi season tag, keep in mind that I’m talking about deer and elk, by all means put in for sheep, goat and moose every year if those are species you want to hunt.  Just my 2 cents.   I didn’t realize you were a non resident, no is still my answer.  And you can’t just buy only points here.

[Bob33]

Applying for 20 years for deer and elk would cost a non-resident north of $15,000. I think the money could be more wisely spent elsewhere.

[idaho guy]

If you are a non-resident, you would need to purchase a non-resident hunting license ($740 for deer and elk) to apply for deer and elk permits. The odds of drawing a "quality' deer or elk tag, especially with no points are extremely low. Washington is a "bonus point" rather than "preference point" state so you would never be guaranteed to draw, even after 100 years of applying.

You would not need a hunting license to apply for moose, sheep, and mountain goat permits but the odds of drawing one of them (especially sheep and goat) are very low as well: 1 in 1000 or worse in many cases.

You could say "why not?" and apply because someone draws these permits every year, but it's very unlikely that you would when you're just starting out.

I need to clarify Washington is the only state I would NOT apply in. Thanks Bob but I already did the math on Washington and not interested I am interested in other western states-Nevada,Wyoming,utah,new mexico Colorado. 

[idaho guy]

 I have been putting my son in for tags in Washington as a youth because he gets the youth pricing this is his last year. I am painfully aware of the odds and knew about regular non resident pricing so would never consider Washington for myself. I am not sure I will even put my son in this year as a youth. Thanks for the replies though I should have been more clear! Main states would be Wyoming,Colorado and New mexico since one has no points but terrible odds and the others don't seem terrible with the amount of points needed to draw a really good tag. Arizona and Nevada are tempting but that looks like a really looong wait for a newbie. Utah maybe not sure. One thing is just researching the tags I might actually want because I feel I have great opportunities here that are otc hunts. I just cant get over the thought of passing up 300 plus bulls looking for that 400. I guess I just read too many articles on some of the other states controlled hunts        

[chester]

Wyoming, Colorado would be worthwhile, New Mexico is a no brainer, they run their draw the same as Idaho with no points. I’d probably keep the Nevada money for something else .

[KFhunter]

*If* special draws were improving *If* the herds improving and *If* opportunity was improving then my answer would be different for resident applications, but things are not looking good now and I have no hope of things improving any time soon.

edit:  Oh I see you're not talking about WA 

[NRA4LIFE]

The real premiere trophy elk units in Colorado will be impossible to draw before you're sodded in. 

[idaho guy]

The real premiere trophy elk units in Colorado will be impossible to draw before you're sodded in.

guess I will scratch that one! thinking mule deer in Colorado anyways 

[whacker1]

inbox is full Idaho guy

[meatwhack]

If you’re only looking at building points for premium hunts in those states then no it’s not worth it. You’d be way too far behind the curve to draw in the next hundred years. There are tags though that you could draw with less points and go have a fun hunt just depends on what you’re looking for.

[idaho guy]

inbox is full Idaho guy
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Deleted a bunch

[idaho guy]

If you’re only looking at building points for premium hunts in those states then no it’s not worth it. You’d be way too far behind the curve to draw in the next hundred years. There are tags though that you could draw with less points and go have a fun hunt just depends on what you’re looking for.

I don’t need a premium tag. I feel like for me I already have good otc hunts that I know well and do every year so for the time and travel I would want a lot better than I could do in Idaho or Montana with a general tag. I don’t know if that clarifys anything I just don’t know how good a drawable tag would be. Knowing the country means a lot too when it comes to turning up quality animals so I think about that too

[opdinkslayer]

You need to figure out areas in each state that you may be interested in hunting & see how many points it takes to draw. I can guarantee point creep is going to continue to get worse in Wyoming & Colorado. It comes down to how long you want to wait and how much money your willing to invest building points.