out of the points game

[vandeman17]

Anybody else drop out of the crapshoot otherwise known as quality/bull elk special permits in Washington? I made the decision after drawing a quality tag last year that I am out of the elk game. I do have a handful of bull points but there aren't really any permits that I desire so I don't mind giving those up. I am actually not even buying an elk tag this year because I will be going to Montana for early archery and going forward, plan to hunt there any year that I don't draw a permit in oregon, wyoming or go otc in Idaho.

[jstone]

I will be right behind you, once my points are gone

[vandeman17]

I will be right behind you, once my points are gone

I have a good chunk of quality deer points so once those are gone, I am out of that game as well and will just be buying OIL applications. I just can't justify $13 per app, which will most definitely continue to go up, to have horrible odds at drawing a hunt with similar quality to out of state hunts that I can do every year. 

[Crunchy]

I hear what you are saying.  i have 14 pts for bull elk and look at the permits scratching my head what is worth putting in for on the west side.  Isnt a lot for an archery elk guy to get excited about.

[vandeman17]

I hear what you are saying.  i have 14 pts for bull elk and look at the permits scratching my head what is worth putting in for on the west side.  Isnt a lot for an archery elk guy to get excited about.

Ever since they took away the teanaway late muzzy bull elk permits I stopped applying

[BULLBLASTER]

It doesn’t cost a lot to apply for quality elk in wa, and you could draw any year. Why would you not use it as an opportunity for another chance at a good tag?

[vandeman17]

It doesn’t cost a lot to apply for quality elk in wa, and you could draw any year. Why would you not use it as an opportunity for another chance at a good tag?

cost of buying tag along with the permit app is not worth the terrible odds. If had had plans to hunt elk in general season it would be different but since I don't, I plan to spend that money elsewhere. I am an eastside resident and hunter so chasing spikes and cows just doesn't light my fire.

[BULLBLASTER]

I’ll gladly take the chance to draw a tag any year for the $50 it costs for the tag and app... even if i won’t hunt otc. That’s the same cost as a point in wyo or Colorado knowing you won’t get to hunt there that year. 

[Duckslayer89]

I will be right behind you, once my points are gone

  same

[vandeman17]

I’ll gladly take the chance to draw a tag any year for the $50 it costs for the tag and app... even if i won’t hunt otc. That’s the same cost as a point in wyo or Colorado knowing you won’t get to hunt there that year. 

Well you have one less person to compete against. Your odds just skyrocketed 

[Ridgerunner]

vander - clean out your inbox

[BULLBLASTER]

I’ll gladly take the chance to draw a tag any year for the $50 it costs for the tag and app... even if i won’t hunt otc. That’s the same cost as a point in wyo or Colorado knowing you won’t get to hunt there that year. 

Well you have one less person to compete against. Your odds just skyrocketed 

it’s my turn this year anyways! 

[bobcat]

The cheapest bull elk hunt I'll ever get is the one in Washington that I draw. Less travel time, less money spent on gas, and I can scout pre-season. And, the tag doesn't cost over $700 like an out of state elk tag does. I've thought about dropping the elk tag as I don't really care about hunting any of the general elk seasons but if you add up the cost of a deer, elk, and bear tag it's only about $2.50 less than buying the big game combination that includes all four tags. I have 10 quality points and apply for a couple of the least popular permits so I feel like I do have a chance. Now the bull category I applied for just the point option since with a westside tag there just aren't any hunts in that category that I'm interested in.

[vandeman17]

vander - clean out your inbox

done

[cbond3318]

I dropped out of Washington as a state. Left 13 years of "points"   and that doesnt bother me one bit. Never drawn anything except MS deer. 

[Karl Blanchard]

You can't win if you don't play.  I'm always looking to win.

[D-Rock425]

I'm kinda a gambling man so I keep putting it.  My wife even says I might have a gambling problem but I tell her I have a winning problem I can't win.

[Mr Mykiss]

Beats the heck out of powerball...but much like da ball, it’s best to not count on winning.

[KNOPHISH]

Still in for Q until I draw then back to only Cows with zero, Bull points is at zero too cuz I drew both those at the same time. OIL till I draw or die or can't hunt anymore.

[blackveltbowhunter]

I understand your thought process Vande. I am likely the minority as I tend to think Washington  has one of the better overall points systems.  Given what we have to work with. Sure their are certainly flaws and changes could drastically improve odds for those of us looking for a better bull hunt. But having munched on the greener grass,  its not much better. In essence, you can potentially hunt world class bulls in the blues for 50 dollars. It would take 20 years to have invested a grand in the system. So why not. Guys frequently go into a state BELIEVING that in 15 to 20 years they will draw that tag at an aplication fee of double that minimum. Suckers, the game departments are laffing all the way to the bank, and the first time theres a tough winter, wolves, added hunter pressure, etc..... where do u think cuts come from first? Not resident tags. Now if your looking to go OTC only, then i get it. But when it comes to top tier units odds of hunting them are slim, in some cases none no matter what. So why not apply for the cheapest ones possible.  Even if those odds only increase slightly.

[Jonathan_S]

Somebody has to win.  I'm not going to self eliminate particularly when I live right here.

I would change the draw system in a heartbeat if I could.

[huntnphool]

I will be right behind you, once my points are gone

 At 55 years old I'm done once, if I finally get mine as well.....odds are I'd never draw again anyway.

[vandeman17]

I understand your thought process Vande. I am likely the minority as I tend to think Washington  has one of the better overall points systems.  Given what we have to work with. Sure their are certainly flaws and changes could drastically improve odds for those of us looking for a better bull hunt. But having munched on the greener grass,  its not much better. In essence, you can potentially hunt world class bulls in the blues for 50 dollars. It would take 20 years to have invested a grand in the system. So why not. Guys frequently go into a state BELIEVING that in 15 to 20 years they will draw that tag at an aplication fee of double that minimum. Suckers, the game departments are laffing all the way to the bank, and the first time theres a tough winter, wolves, added hunter pressure, etc..... where do u think cuts come from first? Not resident tags. Now if your looking to go OTC only, then i get it. But when it comes to top tier units odds of hunting them are slim, in some cases none no matter what. So why not apply for the cheapest ones possible.  Even if those odds only increase slightly.

Totally understand and can fully agree with people who still apply and play the game. Hell, I apply in multiple other states as well. In my case, I know that as long as I draw a montana combo tag, I will at least be hunting deer there so for a few hundred extra bucks I can have an elk tag and hunt there too for branched bulls every year. The unit in Oregon we apply for takes about 3 points to draw an any elk tag so mix that in every 3-4 years plus Wyoming/Idaho and its just not worth buying and hoping to draw in Washington, for me personally.

If I had the intention to hunt general elk season here every year it would be different but since I don't, I just don't see the need to spend my money.

[jackelope]

It's probably easy peasy to talk yourself into getting out of the points game when you have zero points.
 

[vandeman17]

It's probably easy peasy to talk yourself into getting out of the points game when you have zero points.
 

100% agree and thus why i am still in the quality deer game. Once those points are gone I am done there as well but I will still buy a deer tag most likely because you can still hunt mature animals on the eastside and not just spikes and cows like elk.

[bobcat]

I can understand wanting to save the money especially when you have plenty of other opportunities to hunt elk in other states. But, it's only about $16 extra to apply for a Quality elk permit. That is if you're like me and are going to purchase a deer, bear, and cougar tag anyway. For me, $16 is all it costs to apply for a quality elk hunt, so I would do it even if I didn't have any points.

[vandeman17]

I can understand wanting to save the money especially when you have plenty of other opportunities to hunt elk in other states. But, it's only about $16 extra to apply for a Quality elk permit. That is if you're like me and are going to purchase a deer, bear, and cougar tag anyway. For me, $16 is all it costs to apply for a quality elk hunt, so I would do it even if I didn't have any points.

I am only buying deer tag so its a bit different but agree that if i was already buying the tag, the permit fee would be ok. (Still way too high but that's for a different thread)

[ridgefire]

I'm done once I draw as well. I enjoy hunting out of state much more than I do Washington.

[Mr Mykiss]

It's all you thousands of guys staying in the game that are killing my odds!!!

[Ridgerunner]

vander, got your message but it still doesn't allow me to respond to you, says your box is still full. 

[vandeman17]

vander, got your message but it still doesn't allow me to respond to you, says your box is still full.

weird, I cleared a few pages out

[Bwana Bob]

I talked myself into buying the combo license because I know the minute I don't, Ill see a nice bear or cougar but I'll be hunting deer and cow elk in WY this year. I didn't even apply for deer,  elk or moose points as I have enough. I did put in for goats with max points and ewe sheep but I won't be able to hunt deer or elk here with the timing of my WY hunt. Going to buy a left over cow elk tag in WY and not wait 5 or so yrs to draw one here. 
I rather spend the money and hunt WY for deer and antelope than fight the crowds here for deer and getting a late buck quality tag is a real joke. AT 67 yrs old I won't say I'm out of the game in WA but I'm close.   

[Vandal44]

I am sitting on 16 points for quality bull,  I just to let everyone know how much I appreciate them not putting in and trying to draw.  Maybe this will be my year to draw something other than a second deer tag 

[BULLBLASTER]

I am sitting on 16 points for quality bull,  I just to let everyone know how much I appreciate them not putting in and trying to draw.  Maybe this will be my year to draw something other than a second deer tag

Only 16? You probably shouldn’t waste your time applying...

Want to buddy up? 

[funkster]

Can't do it yet, I've been stashing my quality points for a rainy day. I'm hoping the herds get healthier and the state can figure out how to run the draw system. It's cheap enough to continue to stack points, maybe by then I'll be able to draw a coveted tag.

[Vandal44]

Want to buddy up? 


I should buddy up, I might draw 

[crabcreekhunter]

I doubt I'll ever be out to be honest, myself and family have drawn some great tags in this state for muleys and elk.  No you won't kill 200-210 muley on a tag most likely, but an any bull tag with some work, 330 is doable, a quality tag 360 doable.  Figure another 50-75 bucks a year for a chance of a fantastic hunt.  I blow more money than that taking my wife out for dinner and drinks a couple nights a month.  Its fun and cheap to dream for a "realistic" chance to pull a tag in 15 years or in 1 year, its a lottery and all luck.

[mossback636]

I hope everyone drops out of the points game, that'll give everyone with a little hope that much more of a chance! But in all honesty keep putting in! It's that little bit of excitement that keeps me going. Honestly don't have the coin to do all these other states. Save up and apply for most everything here and hope for the best!! I get the odds but it is a true lottery.

[Jimmy33]

I drew my quality bull last year and as soon as I draw my bull tag, I’ll be done here in Washington for elk. Idaho is a close drive and I’ve shot my bull 3 out of 4 years over there. I mainly deer hunt, but if I don’t have enough deer tags to fill my august and September’s, I’ll go to Idaho and get an elk tag. On the deer side, I still need to draw quality and buck. Once I’m done, I doubt I’ll put in any more. The OTC hunt I’ve been going on is about as good as any Washington draw tag anyways. In other states I don’t even wait around for hard to draw units. OTC hunts or units I can draw with very few points are what I key in on.


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