Raffle permit numbers.

[WAcoueshunter]

somebody really wanted goat bad.

No kidding, almost $36K for goat.  Conversely, moose looks like it was a good deal, only $28,752 raised, so about $14K per winning ticket. 

Also find it interesting that the CA sheep tag and north central almost had the same amount raised.  Both are for a good sheep tag, but the north central just happens to have a bonus 200 series mule deer tag that comes along with it!

[jackelope]

somebody really wanted goat bad.

No kidding, almost $36K for goat.  Conversely, moose looks like it was a good deal, only $28,752 raised, so about $14K per winning ticket. 

Also find it interesting that the CA sheep tag and north central almost had the same amount raised.  Both are for a good sheep tag, but the north central just happens to have a bonus 200 series mule deer tag that comes along with it!

There was more than 1 heavy hitter in the mountain goat raffle.

Somebody new decided on the last day they wanted it really bad though, that's a fact.

[Bango skank]

I have 25% odds on the whitetail tag.  or if youre a glass half empty kind of guy, i have 75% odds that i threw a bunch of money away.

[Rainier10]

That’s pretty good odds of drawing a great hunt. Not a sure thing like the auction tag but not the cost either. It’s a gamble whether you buy one ticket or 300. I hope it works out for you and look forward to the pics and story if it does.

[Bango skank]

I had 9.7% odds in 2017 and drew it

[trophyhunt]

not trying to be a dick here, but I’m always curious why guys who dump thousands trying to draw just don’t buy a really good guided hunt? Wouldn’t a Canadian rut hunt get you a monster whitetail?

[Rainier10]

I’ve been on a few guided hunts. They last 10 days, I’m limited to one type of weapon and have not filled the tag more times than I have filled the tag. A raffle tag gives you every season to hunt in an area you should know well and aren’t relying on a guide for. If weather is bad you can hunt another day week or month.

I think there are probably a ton a different reasons guys do it. Everyone probably has a different reason.

Rifle guys wonder why I mess around with a bow. Archery guys wonder why rifle guys don’t get closer and use a bow. Each has a different reason for why they hunt the way they do.

[Dan-o]

I have 25% odds on the whitetail tag.  or if youre a glass half empty kind of guy, i have 75% odds that i threw a bunch of money away.

LOL


Not that it will help, but I really hope you get it.

something tells me you'd do justice to it.
Love your trail cam stuff.

[idahohuntr]

A raffle tag gives you every season to hunt

This.

The freedom of such a tag is a big plus.  Personally, I dont think I would enjoy a guided hunt at all...but premium tags, access fees etc. that still allow a DIY hunt would be awesome.

[Bango skank]

not trying to be a dick here, but I’m always curious why guys who dump thousands trying to draw just don’t buy a really good guided hunt? Wouldn’t a Canadian rut hunt get you a monster whitetail?

I see a guided hunt like that as just being a trigger puller, i wouldnt feel i earned it.  i dont just want to kill a big buck, i want to locate, scout, learn the habits of a big buck, then kill him.  More of an accomplishment than paying to go sit a blind over a bait pile on some private property youve never even laid eyes on.  I have a number of good bucks on my radar, but the one i want the most isnt even the biggest.  I have a bit of history with him from last year, several very close calls, bow drawn on him twice, got his sheds etc.  This year i intend to hang him on the wall next to his 2018 sheds.

[trophyhunt]

not trying to be a dick here, but I’m always curious why guys who dump thousands trying to draw just don’t buy a really good guided hunt? Wouldn’t a Canadian rut hunt get you a monster whitetail?

I see a guided hunt like that as just being a trigger puller, i wouldnt feel i earned it.  i dont just want to kill a big buck, i want to locate, scout, learn the habits of a big buck, then kill him.  More of an accomplishment than paying to go sit a blind over a bait pile on some private property youve never even laid eyes on.  I have a number of good bucks on my radar, but the one i want the most isnt even the biggest.  I have a bit of history with him from last year, several very close calls, bow drawn on him twice, got his sheds etc.  This year i intend to hang him on the wall next to his 2018 sheds.

makes sense to me, best of luck to you!  I’d say your a blessed man, sounds like it would be a great story and well earned. 

[Bushcraft]

not trying to be a dick here, but I’m always curious why guys who dump thousands trying to draw just don’t buy a really good guided hunt? Wouldn’t a Canadian rut hunt get you a monster whitetail?

With rare exception, guided hunts seem to always have that "hurry-up golf" feel to them. There's a short, finite window of time you're essentially renting from someone else and you're at the mercy of a lot of different variables, not the least of which could be the ability and/or motivation of the outfitter and/or his guides that could rob you of that time. Rain, wind, snow, drought, sleet, unusually hot temps, unusually cold temps, migration timing, moon phases, issues with pack stock, issues with aircraft, issues with boats, other hunters screwing up stalks, you screwing up stalks, the guide screwing up stalks, powerlessness of the nearest witch doctor, shaman or rain dancer (  ), etc.

There's just a lot of variables with a guided hunt that aren't under your control that usually are if you're a DIY guy...and sometimes you can't do a whole heck of a lot about 'em.  Don't believe me? Write a check for $45K for a stone sheep hunt and head out in the bush of Northern BC with some horse wranglers that don't actually know much of anything about hunting sheep or highcountry backpack hunting for 15 days and not even see a ram...and then get back with me.  Trust me. It SUCKS watching the sands of time slip through the hour glass and you can't do a damn thing about it but bite your tongue, try and help keep camp morale up and make do the best you can.

And, perhaps most importantly, unless you want to pony up some extra cash for a friend or family member to come along (assuming they can get the vacation time)...it's just you and the guide(s).

That's not to say that guides are a bad way to go at all. There are some awesome guides and outfitters out there that are totally squared away and run some tight ships that I wouldn't hesitate to go with again.

But for me, winning a raffle is a chance to find, and specifically target, an old, old sheep, goat, moose, buck or bull elk in this state. And, do it with my friends with the luxury of time over the entire course of summer scouting (or years leading up to when you can buy the G-Tag or win a raffle or special permit application) and maybe different hunting trips in the fall and maybe film some or all of it to enjoy with them in the future.  It's about buying the chance for some awesome memories to add to your and their life story(s).

And I don't want to sound flippant about it, but some extra money is not all that hard to scrape together if a guy is willing to work his butt off for it....AND it's kind of a sad one-dimensional unit of measure anyway.

Friendships on the other hand...well, solid bonds with truly exceptional people that make you want to be a better human being...and who are ready, able, and willing to put forth as much pain, sweat and tears as you to help accomplish a goal together...even when they don't even have the tag...and you'd leap at the opportunity to do the same for them....those relationships are FAR more precious than any currency.

 

[Bushcraft]

not trying to be a dick here, but I’m always curious why guys who dump thousands trying to draw just don’t buy a really good guided hunt? Wouldn’t a Canadian rut hunt get you a monster whitetail?

I see a guided hunt like that as just being a trigger puller, i wouldnt feel i earned it.  i dont just want to kill a big buck, i want to locate, scout, learn the habits of a big buck, then kill him.  More of an accomplishment than paying to go sit a blind over a bait pile on some private property youve never even laid eyes on.  I have a number of good bucks on my radar, but the one i want the most isnt even the biggest.  I have a bit of history with him from last year, several very close calls, bow drawn on him twice, got his sheds etc.  This year i intend to hang him on the wall next to his 2018 sheds.

Bingo Bango.  Good luck man.

[Gringo31]

Spot on Bushcraft...


I wish you the very best.   

[teanawayslayer]

Friendships on the other hand...well, solid bonds with truly exceptional people that make you want to be a better human being...and who are ready, able, and willing to put forth as much pain, sweat and tears as you to help accomplish a goal together...even when they don't even have the tag...those relationships are FAR more precious than any currency.

Well said bushcraft! You hit the nail on the head with this statement