Does anyone here have experience using Cabela's T.A.G.S. program?

http://www.cabelas.com/big-game-tags.shtml

It seems like a very useful tool, and something I might be interested in trying for myself....but I wanted to see if any of you guys have additional information on it (good or bad). Any info and/or advice is much appreciated.

Thanks.

I do a few big game preference points each year and it does tie up a good chunk of cash. I could see it being useful in a year where I was in a bind on money and needed to keep my prefernce points building. Especially if it involved the draws that normally tie up a a grand or more each on the float.

But they are making money on that float. Look at the fees to Cabelas in the right column.
http://www.cabelas.com/assets/cms/img/tags/TAGS_2012.pdf

One would be a fool to let Cabelas apply for your Texas bighorn sheep lottery entry for a 65$ charge ($55 in Cabelas pocket) when you can mail a .44 cent letter with a $10 check to apply on your own. But if your applying for New Mexico Big Horn Sheep and don't have $3,160 to tie up, then $220 ($200 to Cabelas) might not seem so much) But then too how much interest x application time would you pay on $3,160 if you just borrowed it to do yourself.

I personally keep a spreadsheet with what hunts I apply for, what the float and fees are, deadlines, and how many years can be skipped without losing points. I have a fund set aside just for the license fee floats.

I will say this. The cabelas application is a good reference tool to give an idea of state fees and deadlines.
http://www.cabelas.com/assets/cms/img/tags/TAGS_2012.pdf

This is what I use the Cabelas application for as well. It gives you all the dates, so all you have to do is apply by when the dates are. I know I can do all of my Colorado apps in less than 15 mins online. And for the 3 I apply for: Elk, Pronghorn, and Deer, I save $255 (Over paying Cabelas to do them for me). Wyoming is quick and painless online as well, save another $90. These amounts are strictly for pref points. If you still think it's less hassle to use Cabela's, give me a call and I'll do all of your apps for $20 a piece...



While not as technical as this, I have a very organized file system with this info. I also maintain a second bank account for license fees and hunting trips.

If you're ADHD or prone to forget, having a service like Cabelas or Garth Carter or USO make your applications for you is a good idea. But they are not infallable. About 4-5 years ago, Cabelas failed to get their entire bundle of Arizona elk applications in to Phoenix before the deadline, and the result was that, not only did their hunters lose out on the elk lottery, they also failed to receive a bonus point for that year, which was almost as bad. Cabelas appealed, saying the late submission was due to failure by the US Postal Service, but Arizona didn't budge, and there were many hundreds of angry hunters as a result(and probably a few lawsuits too).

I always do my own research and make some 30 apps a year. And I never wait till the last second like Cabelas did. In fact, several years ago, a lady with the aforementioned Arizona Game Dept called me and told me I'd left a blank in my mule deer app. I told her I had time to submit another, but she just filled in the blank for me over the phone.

Like reloading, researching game data and making your choices a fine way to enjoy our hunting sport during the off season. And if I fail to apply in a timely manner, it's MY own fault, not someone else's.

Well said John and Dawaba.