Points are the Devil!

[actionshooter]

I have seen that term referenced a couple times on other threads and I got a chuckle...other people feel this way also!    This is something I think about every year during application season.....Point creep got me last year on an antelope hunt in Wyoming that was supposed to be 100% draw... that was a bummer, I'll go this year, but still.

 My personal opinion is that the number points required for some hunts could never realistically be achieved. Some of the better units in Wyoming have daylight at the end of the tunnel.... but a top unit in Utah?, ya right. I just burned my Colorado deer points in 2019 and starting over completely sucks...

There is a possibility that when the economy drops, a bunch of people will drop out of the game, but other than that... does it just keep getting worse?

What's everybody's elses take on this?

[Karl Blanchard]

Burning points is a good thing in my opinion.  There's so many absolutely killer tags out there that can be had with little to no points. You are now free to just start learning some areas and get them producing. Can't do that if you only go every 8 years. The whole dynamic of an area can change in that amount of time. The amount of people out there with point paralysis because they wanna make good on their "investment" is staggering. My inbox is proof So many people don't understand the draws and therefore keep getting "screwed" out of their tags but in reality they never had a chance because they didnt have the points to begin with.

Reading draw trends is another big thing. Units getting blown up and creeping is usually pretty easy to spot. Research is never ending and a guy needs to continually update his data. I'm researching stuff now with the intention of hunting 2 to 3 years from now. Endless resources out there to help a guy do this and also to understand how stuff works. 

Sucks you got burned on speed goats. We bailed last second on them last year because of my NV tag and it's a good thing because we wouldnt have drawn as the unit we were gonna apply for also crept

[huntnnw]

for some states they are. UT is pretty much all draw if you want a decent hunt rest of the state that is open gets pounded. WY and CO have lots of opportunity with research. NV is slowly creeping up with more applicants as of late and there are no general areas. Even with 3-5 points in the easiest to draw units is still luck. Love NM and ID draw! no points! I never apply in the hardest to get tags in any state I am always looking for units that take 0-4 points with remote and rugged terrain

[actionshooter]

Burning points is a good thing in my opinion.  There's so many absolutely killer tags out there that can be had with little to no points. You are now free to just start learning some areas and get them producing. Can't do that if you only go every 8 years. The whole dynamic of an area can change in that amount of time. The amount of people out there with point paralysis because they wanna make good on their "investment" is staggering. My inbox is proof So many people don't understand the draws and therefore keep getting "screwed" out of their tags but in reality they never had a chance because they didnt have the points to begin with.

 I'm researching stuff now with the intention of hunting 2 to 3 years from now. 

I like your take on the whole system... makes sense.

I have definitely have fallen into that "paralysis" category, where there are units that are a focus and just collect points until there are enough to draw, not looking at other units....
Thanks for kicking me in the sack..

[boneaddict]

I've been saying it since I joined in 2007.   Bless my heart, someone else realized it.

Points are the devil!


New Mexico and Idaho.  YUM!

THe rest is a money grab.  Kinda like walking into a casino with a wad of cash.   

[trophyhunt]

Can't find that emoji that has a crack head with the dry lips asking for more of something, I was going to insert, "got any more of them points?"  lol

[huntnnw]

.

[trophyhunt]

lol, thats it!!!

[hunter399]

They are the devil
I try to buy less each year ,in down to 3-4 permits I buy as dream hunts.And my wife calls me a sucker every year.

[Karl Blanchard]

No doubt that most of us would make points systems go away all together if we could just snap our fingers but that's not gonna happen so that leaves a guy with 2 options. First is to keep buying points, not drawing tags and hunting. Second is to learn how these systems work, start applying for tags that are attainable, and start flippin hunting! Points are like money. You think anyone laying on their death bed wished they had more points and less hunts under their belt? Bet not.

Obviously that's not everyone and as Shane pointed out, there's some bonus point systems that are getting worse, especially with the mass influx of people getting into the out of state game.

There's definitely some tricky spots to be in as far as points go in various states but I feel that a lot of times it's due to guys just misunderstanding their position and choices. If you have 16 points for CO elk and you are saving up for a unit 201 tag then you literally won't ever get there. Its physically impossible to ever "catch up". There will never be enough tags to flush the top end of applicants. 

[boneaddict]

3rd option.....   save all the money from alldem point applications, buy a camera and hunt to your hearts content wherever you please.    come home and  black angus.


 

[boneaddict]

You are right though, if you are going to play the game, you better be paying attention, and studying.   

[idahohuntr]

Yes, points suck - but for most states it is the system that exists barring implementation of huntnphools plan! 

While in many ways the various systems are no different than a ponzi scheme I think folks do have to look at them in some ways like you would carefully analyze your retirement or investment accounts.  In short - how are you going to allocate your available budget and what are your goals, and how much time/money do you have to hunt in a given year?  Knowing answers to these questions will help you develop a strategy that ideally doesn't have you sitting on the sidelines if your goal is to hunt every year.  Your risk/reward desires, just like investing, will also help with your strategy.  Are you fine sitting on the sidelines hoping for a miracle tag (e.g., high risk) - or would you rather key in on areas that take few points?  Now - the real benefit to hunting multiple states - you can tailor strategies to each states system and accomplish as many of your goals as possible...for example, you can have some "swing for the fences" states/units...and then apply in easier to draw units in other states.  A critical thing to do though - as mentioned earlier - is to fully understand each states system and where you are applying.  For example, make sure your swing for the fences units/draws actually give you a chance...especially as a NR.  Depending on the state, quotas, point systems - you may not be eligible for the tag at all and so it could be a waste to apply.

One nice thing about today's world - information is so easy to gather that anyone with any desire can develop a well informed strategy with relative ease.  With all my spreadsheets, notes, data files I've amassed over decades...I wish I would have had the skill and insight to put together a site like GoHunt so I could have made a fortune and then not worried about drawing tags for great hunts!

[Bigshooter]

Whoa slow down boys.  It's only January.  You guys got a whole year yet to complain about this again.

[Ironhead]

Unfortunately the OIL hunts are just that. You get one shot at it, and you have to be in for the long haul to get that chance.