Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Out Of State Hunting => Topic started by: CaNINE on April 09, 2017, 07:29:58 AM
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Alright folks I have a decision to make. I'm sitting on 5 points which should give me close to a guaranteed draw under the special category. Region G however has been hammered by winter snows this year. Up to 170% of normal. Older age class bucks are taking a hit and fawn survival is downright depressing. The deer herd is really struggling. So the decision is do I spend my points now, hunt hard and hope for the best or do I wait a few years in hopes that the deer herds will rebound? I'm leaning toward going for it this fall since the hunting may actually get worse over the next 4 to 5 years while the herd recovers. Thought?
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I'm in the same place as you and I'm banking points, hopefully waiting for a couple of mild winters. It rreally depends on you (age, style of hunting, fitness, expectations, etc) to determine what kind of hunt you want. :twocents:
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I'd hunt it now if G is where you want to hunt. If you wait around you possibly could hunt it twice in the amount of time you'd be waiting for it to get better.
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I heard they are going to cut tags in G.
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Yep. They've proposed cutting them from 600 to 400. That's going to really shake things up as far as draw odds. That should really help out that deer herd though, keeping a whole 200 nonresidents out of there. Especially since last year there were almost 6000 residents that at one point hunted the region.
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Now. That area constantly has winter kill and will probably take 10-20 years to match its total potential if it ever does. From what I have heard the winter wasn't as bad on the older bucks as the younger bucks so there are probably still a few big ones around. The last few years it has started to get closer to its potential but now with a younger age class missing if you don't go now you might as well wait 6+ more years. If you go now you probably could draw it in 6 years again when the quality returns instead of burning 6 additional points on that tag
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Ya sitting on five points isn't going to be a sure thing now. It will be a lot slimmer pickings this year on the older class bucks. They lost almost a hundred percent of collared fawns and sixty percent of six plus year old bucks, average age was like nine and a half.
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Thanks for the opinions. I also read that they plan to reduce the NR tags by 200. So point creep is real and my 5 points may not get it done even in the special. Someday I hope to be a resident but until then I get down there every chance I can.
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If it were me, I would put in and see if I could draw. As others have said already by the time it recovers you will be ready to draw again. It will get worse over the next few years before it gets better and that is if we don't have anymore brutal winters right away.
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I would sit out so it gives our 5 pts a better chance of drawing. :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
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Apply now and again in 6 years. It years 2 - 5 that are going to be tough hunting.
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I'd apply for H with 5 points and go hunt. You most likely won't draw G with 5.
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tagging along on this as I have 5 points also. Wish I never bought those 5 points as I could have hunted h twice or even F. 5 points doesn't get you into any good areas.
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I might have this wrong but are you guys saying I can put in for G as my first choice and H as my second choice? H should be better draw odds? If I draw H I still retain my points.
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With H as a second choice you'd only be in the random draw so your points would be irrelevant and your odds of drawing very low. But yes, if you draw a second choice you don't lose your points.
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With H as a second choice you'd only be in the random draw so your points would be irrelevant and your odds of drawing very low. But yes, if you draw a second choice you don't lose your points.
Thanks for the clarification bobcat
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As far as second choice for H. You probably won't draw and here's why. It took 2 points last year in the regular draw to draw region H. This was for first choice, regular draw. They then pool all of the remaining 1st choice apps, giving everyone with 1 and 0 points a chance to draw this tag in the "random draw". After everyone who had H as a first choice drew, then they pull from 2nd choice. If they ran out of tags before exhausting 1st choice selections, 2nd choice doesn't come into play. Last year, no one with this as second choice should have drawn. The only way they will draw is if all other choices have been exhausted (full priced, and special priced 1st choices chosen).
I'd suggest if you wanted to have a decent backup plan, with a decent shot of drawing, look into the 70/80's units in S. Central Wyoming, Region A or X if you want a true "backup" plan for buck deer hunting. The success rates, odds, and past history of success is all available on wgfd.wyo.gov website. You have to look a little bit. If you ever have questions, call the dept and they'll answer things pretty lickety split.
Good luck!!
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WAIT
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The 2016-17 winter won't have a big impact on the bucks you're after, I'd apply.
That said, between point creep and the reduced NR tags, unfortunately you still probably won't draw.
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The 2016-17 winter won't have a big impact on the bucks you're after, I'd apply.
That said, between point creep and the reduced NR tags, unfortunately you still probably won't draw.
I agree. My plan is to apply but the draw odds will be low. I hope to have my Montana tag as a back up hunt.
