What would you do next year

[Dmanmastertracker]

 I have 9 deer points going into next year, I'm happy with the blacktail and whitetail I've gotten and would still like to hang a good muley and have been bouncing around between putting in for; Mission, Naneum, YTC and Teanaway. Where would you put in for and why ? I have a hard enough time deciding where to take my bow in Montana and am stumped on Washington this upcoming year, I guess I'm getting too used to not getting drawn .

[bobcat]

Yeah well the more points you accumulate the more you don't want to waste them on a hunt that doesn't meet your expectations. From your choices it looks like you're not wanting a long drive? Because otherwise I'd apply for a couple of the more northerly Chelan County GMU's. I only have 1 deer point so I'm buying a muzzleloader tag and applying for a couple of muzzleloader hunts. But if I had as many points as you I'd be going for a Chelan or Okanogan late rifle permit.

[Dmanmastertracker]

Yeah well the more points you accumulate the more you don't want to waste them on a hunt that doesn't meet your expectations. From your choices it looks like you're not wanting a long drive? Because otherwise I'd apply for a couple of the more northerly Chelan County GMU's. I only have 1 deer point so I'm buying a muzzleloader tag and applying for a couple of muzzleloader hunts. But if I had as many points as you I'd be going for a Chelan or Okanogan late rifle permit.

 I'll be doing day hunts, so a short drive is good and I can get to all those within a couple hours, I've hunted all but one a good deal as well. I thought about Pearrygin, but I just don't know that area well enough for my liking. I wouldn't be opposed to hunting out of Winthrop if I learned the area a little better, but I'm definitely not looking for a backcountry hunt.

[jackelope]

rifle? or bow?

i'm with bobcat...my choices wouldn't be any of your 4 with a rifle.
i don't think any of those late rifle hunts in the chelan or okanogan units are considered back country hunts. if you're not interested or not able to do a long weekend or week long hunt next year, you might consider not burning your points if you think 2011 might be more open for you and put in for points.

 

[bobcat]

Well I think all your choices are ok, except for Teanaway. I'm just not sure I'd want to use 9 points on that one. The Alkali is your best odds, about 1 in 50. I'd definitely put in for that one but be sure it's your last choice. Also I'm not sure I'd bother with LT Murray. It has the worst odds of drawing so in order to draw it you'd have to have it as your #1 choice, and I wouldn't want to put it ahead of Naneum or Mission. So it's out. There's no point in putting it down as a 3rd or 4th choice, as you'd be wasting one of your choices. Matter of fact we'll just have to wait and see what they do to the  draw system for 2010. It could be that we'll only be able to apply for 1, or 2 hunts.

[Elk hunter4ever]

I could use some more points!!! Throw a few my way. I'll take really good care of them for you!!

[Dmanmastertracker]

 Rifle and I agree with all. Next year could be a different story all around, they closed the YTC last year . I have hunted Mission and Naneum the most and am pretty confident I could find a buck in there, I've also scouted Quilomene a few times and it was decent, roads are a little bit crap for my taste, but good looking country. Teanaway was just a throw in due to proximity, but overall I would say the YTC would be close to the top on my list, just due to the success rates and quality of animals, the average buck in there would be just fine with me. I've seen some absolute hogs from Mission.but it's a tougher hunt, thick and steep. I always throw in Green River A at the bottom, some of the blacktails they get out of there look like muleys .

[bobcat]

If you apply for Alkali there's no point in putting in for Green River as a last choice. Alkali is an easier draw, so putting the Green River under Alkali would be a waste of one of your choices. Actually I think I would take the Green River permit over the Alkali so I'd go ahead and put it ahead of Alkali on your choices. I try to explain this to people every year, but many just don't understand. You should put your choices in order of hardest to draw to easiest to draw. Of the 6 hunts you've mentioned, this is the order they should go in:

Mission
Quilomene
Lt Murray
Teanaway
Green River
Alkali

The most difficult to draw is Mission at 1 in 157. The easiest to draw is Alkali at 1 in 52. If you'd take Alkali over Green River then just don't put in for Green River. Use that choice for another permit that is a more difficult draw than the Alkali. Did I confuse you yet?  

Of course like I said, if they limit us to only 1 or 2 choices it will make this a lot easier.  

[NWBREW]

Well, I'm right behind you in points. Some might not agree with my picks but this is what my choices are.
1)  Mission A
2)  Swakane A
3)  Pearrygin A
4)  Alta A

 One of these years I think I'll get drawn..............I hope. This is what I put in for every year.......No luck yet though.

[Ridgerunner]

you guys will get drawn, just have patience, you are starting to get up there with the points, I predict you;ll draw within the next 5 years.  Chose your entries wisely......

[bobcat]

Good choices but here's how I would arrange them:

1)  Pearrygin A
2)  Mission A
3)  Swakane A
4)  Alta A

[coachcw]

dont overlook lt murry close and shows some good bucks late easy to hunt too.

[Dmanmastertracker]

If you apply for Alkali there's no point in putting in for Green River as a last choice. Alkali is an easier draw, so putting the Green River under Alkali would be a waste of one of your choices. Actually I think I would take the Green River permit over the Alkali so I'd go ahead and put it ahead of Alkali on your choices. I try to explain this to people every year, but many just don't understand. You should put your choices in order of hardest to draw to easiest to draw. Of the 6 hunts you've mentioned, this is the order they should go in:

Mission
Quilomene
Lt Murray
Teanaway
Green River
Alkali

The most difficult to draw is Mission at 1 in 157. The easiest to draw is Alkali at 1 in 52. If you'd take Alkali over Green River then just don't put in for Green River. Use that choice for another permit that is a more difficult draw than the Alkali. Did I confuse you yet?  

Of course like I said, if they limit us to only 1 or 2 choices it will make this a lot easier.  

  I don't confuse as easy as I look .
 I generally order in this way:

 Alkali
 Mission
 Green River A
 Teanaway, or Naneum

 I'm not all that hung up on odds. To me, any of these hunts would be worth it for my goals, a good blacktail, or a 23-24" mature muley. Part of the fun of the draw to me is not analyzing the odds to build my expectation of when I should be drawn, I've done that in the past in gotten really grumpy about the draw, it's less frustrating not knowing the odds to me.

[bobcat]

OK, but see if you put them in that order you may as well only put down your first choice, Alkali. Because there is no chance in hell you would draw any of the three choices you have under Alkali.

[Dmanmastertracker]

 I've known several folks who have drawn GR A as a 3rd/4th choice, it is possible. I do see your point about the odds, I really was hoping for more info on the specific quality of one hunt compared to another, I'm OK with whatever odds are out there from top to bottom.