So, pardon my ignorance here (longtime Texas hunter; never gone west)...

Do you just sign up for these tags online? Then, if you get one, you just drive to that area with camping stuff and hunting equipment and get after it? Stated differently, how do you know where to go and what the hell you are doing?

I'm having a little trouble wrapping my mind around this public land thing.

OK, whatever. You are still putting words in my mouth I never said while backing off of/changing may of your own erroneous ones made earlier. Again, no matter. It’s all out there for anyone to read at this point and reach their own conclusions. So it’s all good.

BTW, there is no such thing as a “premium” general tag. The word “general” describes them because they are available to all right away (most) or some within a short time (usually a year or two). There are good ones and, of course, some are better than others (most all are better than any OTC tag, which is common knowledge). But none are “premium” and none are “long term” as far as plans go. “Premium” is a word of art in the draw game that refers to OIL tags and or very hard to draw tags like Paunsagant in Utah or The Strip in Arizona, to name just two examples. Just FYI.

My biggest problem is I do not have anyone serious enough from my neck of the woods to go. I have a bunch of "heck yeah, let's do it! ................BS". Talked to a couple of guys from here via telephone. They are quite a bit harder hard core then I could stay up with.

Secondly, I don't know squat as I have never tackled these type of hunts. I don't know where to go area wise and scares me to think of trespassing on non public land.

Equipment? not much. Physical ability? discussed already. I wouldn't put any of you through a dilemma for a hunt.

Kinda talked myself out of it I guess??????

Now that we have our daily dose of recreational outrage...

People could and have written pages explaining each of the states and how their draws work, the pros and cons of each etc. and still omit important information. There is literally more information than most anyone can process. I have to refresh myself every spring and learn new things every year. Not to mention most of the states make slight changes every year that change costs and fees, how to apply and so on. For example: somehow I didn't know that you kept your points if you didn't draw first choice in Wyoming. I know that some states burn points even if you draw 4th choice and some that you only burn with first, but I had never even thought to look that up in Wyoming.


The point most of the guys here are trying to convey is that if you want to try it, TRY IT! You don't need to and shouldn't necessarily just jump head first into applying for 8+ states before you have gone on your first DIY western hunt. If I spent what I did a year on tags and apps my first year and then decided that I didn't like it, it would be a tough pill to swallow.

You can apply most species in AZ for a total of $230 (I skip Bison and Javelina apps in AZ, don't pay for point guard if just starting out), Utah for $195 (14-15 species), around $240 for everything in Nevada (9 species). Colorado only cost me $31 for 7 species this year, wouldn't surprise me if they raise the application fee slightly next year. New Mexico is straight lottery, no points, you don't have to apply for everything every year, I usually apply for 1-3 tags and use WTA TAGS to cover the fee because I don't like fronting the tag fees. Idaho has a similar setup, but they limit what you can apply for (i.e. if you apply for Sheep, you can't apply for deer, elk, or antelope, and vice versa).

I grew up hunting whitetails from blinds over feeders. I don't think there is anything wrong with it, and I still do it when I get the chance. I started hunting mule deer in high school when my dad got a deer lease that had mule deer and whitetails. I enjoyed chasing the mule deer outside of the blind and eventually decided that I wanted to start thinking out of the Texas box. In 2015 I paid a trespass fee for a Pronghorn tag in the Texas Panhandle, up by Stratford. I had a blast and went on a cancellation moose hunt in Alberta later that year.

I started applying in Western states in 2016. I began with AZ, AK, UT, CO (deer only), and New Mexico (using WTA TAGS). I drew 5 tags that first year, only ended up hunting 3 of them, and only harvested on one of those tags. It is very easy to get down on yourself on these hunts when you aren't seeing the game animals you expected. I also eventually bought points in Wyoming that fall as well.

In 2017, I started applying in Nevada and added points only in Montana and South Dakota. Last year I only drew two tags. I harvested a Coues deer in AZ and struck out on elk in NM, but I stuck out 6 days trying to dig one up, just couldn't find a bull. Found cows and lots of mule deer, and put over 30 miles on my boots.

Then this year I bought a point in Kansas and Iowa, as well. So after this year's apps, I have no more than 3 points for any one species in any state. For the most part I drew every tag that I expected to other than not getting first choice in Wyoming, with the only real surprise being my NM antelope tag (4% draw odds). I ended up with 3 antelope tags without using a single preference/bonus point (CO, NM, & WY), a CO mule deer with 2 points, and should end up with a cow elk tag in Utah that would cost me 2 points as well. Hoping to "bat" closer to 1000 this fall. I'm not picky on many of my hunts, but may be by the time I get to Wyoming if I already have a couple nice Pronghorn bucks in the freezer.

The Wyoming leftover draw is open until Friday June 29th, these applications don't gain or lose points to draw. The cheapest Western hunt you can do is a Wyoming doe antelope hunt. Even with the long drive, you are only $40 into a tag, and can pick up multiple tags. Around the same pricing in Utah for doe antelope, with world class fly fishing around most every corner as well.

There's a lot of opportunity in the east as well (Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, etc).

Making the decision to go is the hardest part. We had our share of rodeos and failures everyone told us we were crazy, maybe they are right. Just go do it don't over think it. You will either love it and plan to go every year or hate it and never go back.
you will get frustrated with everyone that is there with you after a few days so choose who you go with wisely. When you see elk, you will forget about all of that.

A lot of truth in this. I am still at this stage and the mistakes are part of the experience for me. Choosing who you go with is huge!!

would like to do an antelope hunt this year, if possible. looked up Wyoming and looks like their general over the counter tags end today... don't really have any clue what to do, look for, or locations. any input would be greatly appreciated. just starting with antelope to get a feel for the west, open to other states as well. pm me if you have any input or advice. thank you.

+1

Doesn’t west Texas count as western hunting?

I love traveling & exploring the western US, but I’m not applying for a permit/tag BS just to be denied.

My biggest problem is I do not have anyone serious enough from my neck of the woods to go.

Secondly, I don't know squat as I have never tackled these type of hunts. I don't know where to go area wise and scares me to think of trespassing on non public land.

Equipment?

Same here. Nobody to go with - experienced or not.

I'll get whatever equipment I need that I don't have so that's not an issue.