2019 planning

[vandeman17]

Its funny how the drive back from the last big game hunt of the season is filled with multiple conversations about where and what to hunt next season. Most of them end with, "ya but what about..." With all the different application dates and draw dates, how do you guys formulate strategies as far as where to apply when you have multiple points built up in multiple states?

[grundy53]

I look at my points figure out where I'm most likely or certain to draw then figure out what I really want to hunt. Right now I'm in that process. Of course getting lucky and hitting a low odds draw puts a huge monkey wrench in all the planning. Like when I drew my moose tag this year. Had to change plans. But that's a good problem to have.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[vandeman17]

I look at my points figure out where I'm most likely or certain to draw then figure out what I really want to hunt. Right now I'm in that process. Of course getting lucky and hitting a low odds draw puts a huge monkey wrench in all the planning. Like when I drew my moose tag this year. Had to change plans. But that's a good problem to have.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

That is another wrinkle in the decision process is do you throw out long shots in some states and better draw odds in others...? what if you draw multiple... or none...? These are all things we are tossing around

[idaho guy]

Read hunting fool magazin get excited, talk to other hunters, figure out draw odds in most western states, waste hours on gohunt website, realize I only have points in Montana for goat and elk, think about how long it would take to draw the other states and put in for only Idaho and Montana goat and elk like every other year  I think this is the year I will branch out to other states

[Karl Blanchard]

Put weeks on the vacation calendar then apply based on those time periods.  If you want to actually get tags and hunt and not just plan for someday down the road you gotta throw as many darts (I have all the darts ) at the wall as you can and a few are bound to stick.  Monkey wrenches happen but if you are smart about how you apply it's a minor issue.  Drawing tags is the hard part, figuring out how to sneak them in isn't so much.  I pulled an unexpected NV tag this year but because I only applied for hunts that fell within my allotted time frames I was able to make it work.  Did I have to hunt idaho AND Nevada in the same week? Yes.  But where there is a will there is a way.

[vandeman17]

Put weeks on the vacation calendar then apply based on those time periods.  If you want to actually get tags and hunt and not just plan for someday down the road you gotta throw as many darts (I have all the darts ) at the wall as you can and a few are bound to stick.  Monkey wrenches happen but if you are smart about how you apply it's a minor issue.  Drawing tags is the hard part, figuring out how to sneak them in isn't so much.  I pulled an unexpected NV tag this year but because I only applied for hunts that fell within my allotted time frames I was able to make it work.  Did I have to hunt idaho AND Nevada in the same week? Yes.  But where there is a will there is a way.

For me, I pretty much can take as much of september and first week or so of october off then I have to be home for work until the 20th of November then open again for a week or two. I agree that I need to just start throwing my points at different hunts and deal with the outcome when the drawings are run.

[Karl Blanchard]

Those are pretty solid time periods with a pile of good options.  Definitely not a bad place to be.

I get that some people want to save some points and get a more "quality" tag.  For me I just wanna hunt.  I feel my odds of a big deer are gonna come from a tag that has good top end potential that i know well because I've hunted it multiple times.  I've had some real lemons but I've also scored some solid producing hunts that i can do every single year.

Out of state hunting for me is a long term investment.  I'm not looking for the hunt of a lifetime, I'm looking for 30 more seasons worth of adventure

[vandeman17]

Those are pretty solid time periods with a pile of good options.  Definitely not a bad place to be.

I get that some people want to save some points and get a more "quality" tag.  For me I just wanna hunt.  I feel my odds of a big deer are gonna come from a tag that has good top end potential that i know well because I've hunted it multiple times.  I've had some real lemons but I've also scored some solid producing hunts that i can do every single year.

Out of state hunting for me is a long term investment.  I'm not looking for the hunt of a lifetime, I'm looking for 30 more seasons worth of adventure

I concur with those statements. Hunting every year, especially with my old man getting older, is most important. Do you guys that use the gohunt insider think its worth the cost?

[blackveltbowhunter]

   Take this with a giant grain of salt...... My expereince has been by the time it hits those pages its old news, or at the very best on borrowed time and very long shot draw odds. I agree with Karl..... I shoot for higher draw odds areas and or areas I can hunt OTC and go from there. I have heard good things about gohunt, But mainly from guys looking to profit from pushing it. However I would also like to hear firsthand reviews from real users. 

[vandeman17]

   Take this with a giant grain of salt...... My expereince has been by the time it hits those pages its old news, or at the very best on borrowed time and very long shot draw odds. I agree with Karl..... I shoot for higher draw odds areas and or areas I can hunt OTC and go from there. I have heard good things about gohunt, But mainly from guys looking to profit from pushing it. However I would also like to hear firsthand reviews from real users. 

I agree, its kind of like a hot stock tip. I was just looking at it more for statistical data and ease of keeping draw dates and all that in order.

[grundy53]

I absolutely think Gohunt insider is worth it. I don't use it for tips or trendy hunts. I specifically use it for draw odds and researching units (map,terrain, season dates,access,how many tags are given out, success rates,etc). It's great for figuring out each states little quirks in their drawings. I can say I probably wouldn't have drawn Nevada my first year applying if it wasn't for go hunt. It really takes a lot of the time and headache out of researching out of state hunts.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[grundy53]

Also, it really helps coordinate draws. They list all of the western states application deadlines and draw dates. For example I know I can put in for Utah and Nevada and wait to put in for Wyoming and Idaho until after Utah and Nevada post their results.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[grade-creek-rd]

To each their own, but I like the idea of being successful and having a good time over shooting a "book" animal but it's expensive and stressful...here are some tips about planning an out of state hunt:

http://www.theoutdoorline.com/blog/post/2018/11/17/planning-an-out-of-state-hunt.aspx

Grade

[vandeman17]

Also, it really helps coordinate draws. They list all of the western states application deadlines and draw dates. For example I know I can put in for Utah and Nevada and wait to put in for Wyoming and Idaho until after Utah and Nevada post their results.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

All what you said is exactly why I am looking into it. I want just some concise info to help me plan it all out and let the draws happen as they may

[Karl Blanchard]

There are two services that I hate with all my heart and soul but you couldn't pry from my cold dead hands and that is Onyx and go hunt. They have changed the game immensely. Used to have to do all this stuff the hard way and it kept the barrier-to-entry somewhat High because people either didn't know how to navigate land ownership and draw odds and whatnot or were too lazy to learn.  They have made it basically dummy proof to get tags and go hunt.  A lot of the easier to draw tags or over-the-counter stuff where that way because they took some MacGyver in. With that said they've saved me a lot of man-hours and a lot of headache