Points are the Devil!

[actionshooter]

I have a buddy who just moved to NM and has lived in CO for the last 30 years. We sat around in hunting camp (in CO) this year talking about the whole points situation, specifically in UT... The state realizes that on some of their hunts that newer hunters aren't putting in for b/c they basically know they couldn't ever draw the tag. They also see that there are more and more hunts where this is happening.  Its his opinion that at some point UT will revise their system b/c the revenue is declining from this...….
 

[Karl Blanchard]

One of my favorites are when people think points are the way to go, or preach that we should go to a preference point system.     

But will you also agree that when a state is into the point system this far it's not right to just abandoned the program?

I think you would be surprised at how many hunters would be ok with abandoning the program and losing their points, especially ones with children who hunt. I don't have kids but still would be totally ok with getting rid of points and losing mine.

Agreed.  I would gladly give mine up

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

absolutely in a heart beat!!!!!! You paid a small fee for a chance to draw a tag and didn't win. That's the only investment anyone is into their points. It's a losing lotto ticket. Nothing more. If people could wrap their brains around that, it would be a no brainer to dump WA system.

As for starting from scratch for guys who burned or new hunters just starting, I couldn't imagine not jumping into the game. There's endless low point/no point opportunities out there for some really solid hunts. My daughter and nephew are coming of age and we are absolutely jumping in with both feet. Can't go on cool hunts in amazing places if you don't play the game. We will play the game 

[boneaddict]

I have a buddy who just moved to NM and has lived in CO for the last 30 years. We sat around in hunting camp (in CO) this year talking about the whole points situation, specifically in UT... The state realizes that on some of their hunts that newer hunters aren't putting in for b/c they basically know they couldn't ever draw the tag. They also see that there are more and more hunts where this is happening.  Its his opinion that at some point UT will revise their system b/c the revenue is declining from this...….
 

I'm sitting at max in every category there.  Well as max as I can be.  Without diving into it, folks that have applied there in the past will know what I am talking about

[actionshooter]

I have a buddy who just moved to NM and has lived in CO for the last 30 years. We sat around in hunting camp (in CO) this year talking about the whole points situation, specifically in UT... The state realizes that on some of their hunts that newer hunters aren't putting in for b/c they basically know they couldn't ever draw the tag. They also see that there are more and more hunts where this is happening.  Its his opinion that at some point UT will revise their system b/c the revenue is declining from this...….
 

I'm sitting at max in every category there. 

Jesus! When are you going??
  My buddy drew Books Cliffs Elk this year and he had something come up so he turned the tag back in and is hoping he can draw it again this year....

[ctwiggs1]

If I had to give up all my points tomorrow, I totally would.  It's a worthless game.

That being said, I'm not totally convinced it would give me that good of an opportunity to hunt more game.  We have a population 5x higher than ID, 10x+ Wyoming and about 6-7x Montana.  At the end of the day, we have way more people here.  It is what it is. 

[actionshooter]

If I had to give up all my points tomorrow, I totally would.  It's a worthless game.

That being said, I'm not totally convinced it would give me that good of an opportunity to hunt more game.  We have a population 5x higher than ID, 10x+ Wyoming and about 6-7x Montana.  At the end of the day, we have way more people here.  It is what it is. 

Yah... Washington is a different animal for sure... I'm not sold that a different system would change anything here..... But there is no way I'm going to say WDFW did something right either   

[boneaddict]

I have a buddy who just moved to NM and has lived in CO for the last 30 years. We sat around in hunting camp (in CO) this year talking about the whole points situation, specifically in UT... The state realizes that on some of their hunts that newer hunters aren't putting in for b/c they basically know they couldn't ever draw the tag. They also see that there are more and more hunts where this is happening.  Its his opinion that at some point UT will revise their system b/c the revenue is declining from this...….
 

I'm sitting at max in every category there. 

Jesus! When are you going??
  My buddy drew Books Cliffs Elk this year and he had something come up so he turned the tag back in and is hoping he can draw it again this year....

Now that soccer is over, I'll be a lot more aggressive.   The rest is up to UTAH. LOL

[The Big Game Hunter]

Its great if you have 20 points in the bank but its a real pisser when you reset or you want to get your kid going.

You're certainly right about the frustrating aspects of the point system for a kid or other new hunter starting from zero.
When it comes to having 20 points though, it's not a sure thing even at that point level in Washington. I recently checked draw odds for deer and elk (never mind the OIL species) in Washington when goHunt started offering data for the state. I almost had to literally pick my jaw off the floor when I saw single digit draw odds for some deer and elk hunts even when the applicant has over 20 points...

[huntnphool]

One of my favorites are when people think points are the way to go, or preach that we should go to a preference point system.     

But will you also agree that when a state is into the point system this far it's not right to just abandoned the program?

 You have to remember that “the system” is doing exactly what it was intended to do, raise revenue.

 There are ways to get rid of the system that would be fair to hunters/investors, the problem is the state doesn’t want to get rid of “the system”!

[Skyvalhunter]

Think how much some hunters have invested in points in states where non residents are required to purchase a hunting lisc and then a special permit app just to apply then to pay more for the points. Is it right to start everyone back at zero when they have that much invested?

[idahohuntr]

I have a buddy who just moved to NM and has lived in CO for the last 30 years. We sat around in hunting camp (in CO) this year talking about the whole points situation, specifically in UT... The state realizes that on some of their hunts that newer hunters aren't putting in for b/c they basically know they couldn't ever draw the tag. They also see that there are more and more hunts where this is happening.  Its his opinion that at some point UT will revise their system b/c the revenue is declining from this...….
 

Long-term I do see states revising their systems to include more random opportunity...whether they are a preference state like CO or bonus or hybrid state system.  Revenue, recruitment, equity, etc will drive the changes as the downsides of points become more and more apparent and the pressure will grow to change.  However - as much as many of us would like a "burn the house down" approach, it will never fly

[vandeman17]

Think how much some hunters have invested in points in states where non residents are required to purchase a hunting lisc and then a special permit app just to apply then to pay more for the points. Is it right to start everyone back at zero when they have that much invested?

My comments were purely based on WA getting rid of the system.

[boneaddict]

Its great if you have 20 points in the bank but its a real pisser when you reset or you want to get your kid going.

You're certainly right about the frustrating aspects of the point system for a kid or other new hunter starting from zero.
When it comes to having 20 points though, it's not a sure thing even at that point level in Washington. I recently checked draw odds for deer and elk (never mind the OIL species) in Washington when goHunt started offering data for the state. I almost had to literally pick my jaw off the floor when I saw single digit draw odds for some deer and elk hunts even when the applicant has over 20 points...

I know!   Thats why the pill of throwing out the system isn't hard to swallow for a lot of hunters. If people knew the real truth behind points.   As Huntinphool pointed out, very hard for them (WDFW) to swallow!  They are getting what they want. 

[BULLBLASTER]

Think how much some hunters have invested in points in states where non residents are required to purchase a hunting lisc and then a special permit app just to apply then to pay more for the points. Is it right to start everyone back at zero when they have that much invested?

I’d give all my points back in any state that I have them and not think twice about the money I’ve paid.  8 years in Utah and Wyoming isn’t necessarily cheap. 4 years in Colorado also.

[ctwiggs1]

Sometimes I wonder if it would be beneficial to do something like ID.  You have to pick 1 or 2 species to put in for, and that's it for the year.  Like maybe you can put in for deer or elk, but not both.  It would really suck in some ways, but if it boosted draw odds and we still had our typical OTC hunts to supplement, I don't feel like it would be that big of a deal.