Is out of state worth all the hype?

[Machias]

Short answer is Yes!

[Twispriver]

I think It is worth the hype but it all depends on what your expectations are. Unless you're going with someone that knows the country your first trip might be spent finding a good area and learning it. That was my experience in Oregon and Montana. The way the point system works in Wyoming I knew it was a one time deal for me so I hired a guide and I simply got lucky in Colorado and stumbled into a honey hole in the first hour of the first day.

[aorams]

Thank you for the encouraging replies! My hope is simply food on the table and a nice “calm” experience. I’m sure someday age and antlers will become more exciting but for now it’s not the goal.

[huntnnw]

not even a question, why I dont spend a single vacation day in WA unless I draw a tag

[Skyvalhunter]

Shorter answer, depends on the state.

[Stein]

Thank you for the encouraging replies! My hope is simply food on the table and a nice “calm” experience. I’m sure someday age and antlers will become more exciting but for now it’s not the goal.

The challenge for meat hunting out of state is the cost.  With the MT combo over $1,000, not many guys want to hang that tag on a spike or doe.

Look into doe tags if that is what you are doing, the cost is way less and you have more opportunities to fill them.

[dreadi]

I am BIGLY into this thought as well. Over the past 8 years of hunting I’ve brought home three spike blacktail and one spike elk. I am not a weekends only hunter just out there for the joy of it. It’s akin to a fall season full time job for me and the cost vs reward keeps getting steeper every year.


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[Chesapeake]

Does the OP still have his Montana points?

Seems they have some convoluted system where if you don't apply on the second year you lose them, and you cant have more than 3 points. I don't think you can just buy points for 2 years.

From Gohunt:
As of 2022, preference points are now $100 each and applicants must apply every other year or the state will zero any accumulated preference points. No one may hold more than 3 preference points.

As to the question. Yes, I think living in Washington its better hunting in many of the surrounding states.

[aorams]

Shorter answer, depends on the state.

Whats the long version?

[aorams]

Does the OP still have his Montana points?

Seems they have some convoluted system where if you don't apply on the second year you lose them, and you cant have more than 3 points. I don't think you can just buy points for 2 years.

From Gohunt:
As of 2022, preference points are now $100 each and applicants must apply every other year or the state will zero any accumulated preference points. No one may hold more than 3 preference points.

As to the question. Yes, I think living in Washington its better hunting in many of the surrounding states.

Yes! I have one point now. Next year I’ll buy a second and apply with two.

[Gentrys]

I'm a rather inexperienced hunter, but didn't take me long to realize things have to be better than here in Washington.  So I went to Montana for the first time in 2018.  I've hunted there twice now and took my daughter there this year for her to hunt.  It's awesome.  Now looking into Idaho.  Many hunters like to find an area, learn it and hunt it year after year.  I prefer checking out new areas each year, though there are definitely areas I'd go back to a second time in Montana.  Lot's of public land to explore and many more animals.  Deer numbers in Montana have been down the past couple years, but compared to where I hunt in Washington, I'm always amazed out how much more game I see overe there.  You'll love it!

[huntnphool]

 Like a couple others have said, it depends on your expectation. My partner and I both ate our Montana tags this year…again, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have opportunity to fill them. Another respected member here also ate his tag, and not because he didn’t have opportunity on bucks that would make most piss their pants!

 YMMV

[Skyvalhunter]

Piss their pants? Not many guys I know would piss their pants purposely.

[opdinkslayer]

I echo the depends on your expectations crowd. I’ve hunted a few different states off & on for over 30 years with varying results. That said I always enjoyed the trip with friends & family no matter what the results. The difficulty today is the rapidly rising costs from tags to fuel, larger numbers of applicants/hunters & the inability to draw tags from year to year. Those things have changed my opinions of it the last few years. Good luck in your endeavors.

[nwhunter]

I echo the depends on your expectations crowd. I’ve hunted a few different states off & on for over 30 years with varying results. That said I always enjoyed the trip with friends & family no matter what the results. The difficulty today is the rapidly rising costs from tags to fuel, larger numbers of applicants/hunters & the inability to draw tags from year to year. Those things have changed my opinions of it the last few years. Good luck in your endeavors.

Opdink lets be honest ....have you really ALWAYS enjoyed the out of state hunts with friends and family...