New member post and a question

[actionshooter]

I gave up on applying for tags in Utah because of the scenerio bone posted. As the years pass you need more points. Its like a spaniel chasing its tail, it aint got a chance of catching it. If Nevada is the same as it used to be, the liscense cost a $100 when you put in for the special tags and if you don't draw (and you won't until you have enough points), the only way to gain points is to "donate" the $100. Every year $100 = 1 point.

 Washington isn't perfect but It could be worse.

[jackelope]

pretty much exactly what i was getting at too.
it is so much more difficult in other states to draw tags than it is here, granted there is better hunting, but it ain't all that bad here IMO. now if they could get the draw done without having to do it 12 times, and maybe a little earlier in they year, then we'd be living

[WAcoueshunter]

I agree with Jackelope in that I think our system is actually fairly good.  You've always got a chance, which encourages people to buy tags and keep hunting.  But the guys with more points should be drawing the bulk of the tags with the exponential draw odds.  There's a pro and con to each state's system, but I think our state strikes a fairly good balance. 

The states with a straight seniority system will have a HUGE problem in the coming years because youngsters will never be able to catch up.  The last thing anybody should want is to discourage the next generation from hunting.  Case in point...Arizona has a hybrid system: 1 point = 1 number in the hat, 8 points = 8 numbers, etc.  But they also have a "max" points deal where the guys with the highest points automatically get drawn.  This year max points for deer and elk were in the 15 - 17 range I believe.  Soooo, each year the NR guys with max points for deer all take the Kaibab and Strip tags and leave basically no NR tags in these units for guys with less than max points.  Unless guys with 12-14 points apply for other units (which is unlikely), guys starting now will not catch up in their lifetime and will never have a chance at hunting the Kaibab or Strip.  That sucks.  If you've got 8 points, you'll never draw a primo tag, and you've only got 8x the draw odds of a newbie for any other unit.  At least our system gives you 64x.

Like Bone, I've had good luck with New Mexico and their no point system.  But a system like that would just make the polarbear problem that much more pronounced.  You could have guys that are unlucky forever.  At least here, eventually they'll have a ridiculous amount of numbers in the draw, significantly shifting the odds in their favor. 

[DHall]

I'm new to this site and enjoying it. I just moved to Washington from Arizona where they have the draw system. The way it works there would work here for everyone including the conservation effort.

Everyone (and it can be a group) puts in for a GMU. If not drawn than you or each person in the group gets a bonus point for next yr. Once drawn all points are gone and you start over again. The chances of getting drawn depend on which GMU you put in for. Some are easier to draw than others.

For example, my first year I put in I was drawn for a bull tag in unit 10 (Flagstaff area). My buddy, who had 8 bonus points, put in for a different area which had bigger bulls and didn't get drawn.

As far as out-of-staters, Az only drew 10% of those for hunting opportunities.

Point is, the draw system can work. It's just a matter of those in power going that direction.

[Opportunist]

I apply in all of the states WA, ID, OR, AZ, NM, CO, WY and UT. I like Oregon's system the best; they draw out 75% of the tags and are given to hunters with the most points, 25 % are *censored*house draw, so you at least have a shot each year and a guarantee to draw out down the road. You basicly have only one hunt choice since they draw out everyones first choice first then they look at second choice hunts which have to be undersubscribed (100 tags, 80 applicants) since that is all that is left (less desirable hunts) It would be a relative easy system to transfer to but this state would screw it up.

[NRA4LIFE]

I have been putting in for a GMU 346 cow permit for my first choice for 4 years running now and have yet to draw.  Some people, like me it seems, are just unlucky.  I am in a similar situation as other posters in CO.  I started putting in for an elk draw in 1992 when you needed 7-8 to draw.  Here I sit in 2007 with 16 points now and you need 20-21 to draw.  I may never get there.  It sucks that you need to have a drawing at all for resident elk or deer.  That just seems ridiculous to me (coming from the Midwest).  At least in MT, I can draw every other year or better and actually SEE a deer.

[boneaddict]

Year four going to Montana drawing and coming up empty handed.  Their point system is probably about to tank their draws.

[robodad]

Just want to chime in and piss you folks off a little, No I am kidding !!

I have hunted deer and elk with two friends for the last several years and this is how the draws went.

Me: Grayback late season deer 2003 "unfilled",
Nile bull tag 2003 "unfilled",
Bethel cow tag 2005 "filled",
East Okanogan antlerless 2007 "filled with a three point",
Winston ML cow tag "unfilled so far, still trying"

Buddy #1: Peaches Ridge any bull 2003 archery "unfilled",
Peaches Ridge any bull archery 2005 "unfilled",
Mica peak second doe tag 2005 "unfilled", (05 regular tag unfilled)
Peaches Ridge any bull Rifle 2007 "unfilled"

Buddy #2: Peaches ridge archery 2006 "unfilled
East Okanogan antlerless rifle 2006 "filled"
East Okanogan antlerless rifle 2007 "filled"

So I guess I must hunt with the luckiest, most unsuccessful group around.

I really don't know what to say about our draw system except that we seem to get drawn for something almost every year with very few points, so I really can't tell you what could be done to make it better. I kinda like it the way it is !!

Allen...