Applying Out of State which do you like?

[nitis]

Which states do you like to apply for and why?

Mostly deer

I ask this as I dont really know all the ins and outs of a lot of places I would like to possibly hunt in the future.

I will start with my favorite place to apply is Nevada. I like that they draw teh hunter and not the zone and you always have a chance at a tag no points or 15 points. It is worth it to fill in all 5 choices.

My home state of Kalifornia is ok. I dont like how you really only have a chance at your first choice. And depending on how lucky you are you can be put on a 2-10 year rotation. And some hunts are literally impopssible to draw especially if you dont have max points.

I really dont like Idahos system. You have to buy a license to apply for the controlled hunts. And you really only have a chance at your first choice so it costs you about 150 bucks for 50-1 odds or worse! I feel it is almost as if they force you to come buy a general tag.

Any other likes or dislikes? Agree or disagree with me? Other states I would like to hear about are

Utah
New Mexico
Arizona
Wyoming
Colorado
or any other good muley states

 

[Guy Miner]

I'm a Washington resident. Three times in the past ten years I've also hunted Wyoming. Once for elk, twice for deer. Successful all three times, though I had to settle for a doe last time. A fire had really messed up deer migration patterns where I hunted, and we had one heck of a time finding a decent buck on public land.

Deciphering each state's regulation & draw process can be frustrating. I've got Wyoming's process pretty well figured out anymore. Might need to "practice" it a few more times, just to get it right you understand!

For me to be interested in hunting out of state:

It has to be affordable. I'm not going broke to hunt out of state.

It's got to be within reasonable driving distance. I so much prefer my ol' beat up pickup to air travel - they don't even compare. Keep those danged airlines - I want nothing to do with them.

There are exceptions to the above, such as Alaska for fishing in six months. Doesn't make sense for me to do anything but fly, so I will. I think that's the only place I've flown in the past few years.

It's got to offer something I want. Opportunities to take game that either doesn't exist in my home state, or some awesome country to hunt, or maybe just a second chance at hunting something like mule deer, which I dearly love doing. When I hunted elk in Wyoming, it was to hunt with a friend, and also to have a chance at hunting mature bulls in or near the rut - which can be difficult to do in Washington, at least for rifle hunters.

I'll hunt Wyoming again, and likely Idaho & Montana since they're so close. Easy one-day drives. Wyoming is far, about 800 miles. Makes for one heck of a long day of driving. Not bad if I've got a buddy along to share the driving chores. Last year he got us stopped for doing 84 mph while I was snoozing in the passenger seat. I told the Trooper I was surprised the ol' truck would go so fast! He was more amused than my buddy... :grin:

I'll put up with the draw regulations and reasonable expenses if it gives me a chance to enjoy a hunt different from what I can enjoy here at home.

Regards, Guy

 

[Elkman]

I am retired and work part time so that I can hunt in many different areas as tags allow. I hunt "elk" and only elk. A deer will commit suicide in front of me occasionaly but only those close to the truck and in my back yard.

Nitis I am having to buy a license to apply in Nevada, why aren't you? My application is in front of me. You are going to draw few hunt choices in Nevada with out PP's

Yes you do have to buy a license in Idaho also to apply! They do not have not preference points for non residents so every non-resident has a chance. They offer over the counter tags but have a quota on them.

Yes you do have to buy a license in Oregon to apply.

New Mexico is a cheap application but they have very short seasons.

Guy, I like Oregon particulary the NE part. Very rugged and they do have OTC tags.

Idaho is OK for deer but the wolves have severly impactd the hunting in the North and Central part of the state and the fish and game continues to lower the available tags and hunts. The SW or SE corner of the state for deer. I was an Idaho resident for 30 years

I have a tag for Wyoming this year. They also offer OTC tags.

Washington sucks!

I won't hunt in Utah because of their politics, and I know nothing about Colorado.

Montana is impossible to get a tag for a non-resident.

The regs are really hard to figure out however they all kind of follow the same pattern and if you figure out one the others are easier. I haven't figured out colorado's yet!!

My biggest expense is gas!

 

[SJB358]

I am a fairly avid Idaho hunter, and for me, it offers the most bang for the buck, so to speak. I can buy decently priced elk/muley and bear tags over the counter. I have access with a truck to many areas to actually hunt, and I don't have to worry about seeing other hunters in most places I hunt. Elkman is right about the wolves, they have taken a toll on the elk, but if you can get into a good area, your chances are still pretty decent. The areas are rugged, and backpacks are your friend, but it still offers alot of options and fairly long seasons. Scotty

 

[nitis]

in nevada you can get your money back from your license if you don't draw but you don't get a point.

idaho is great for general hunts I just wish there was a way to better thodds for the controlled hunts or not make it so painful to try.

having to spend 150 bucks and not getting anything sucks. at least a point makes me think I got something

 

[Elkman]

Ok

I understand, :grin: :grin: why don't you buy a preference point that's what I am doing this year because of my Wyoming tag. You can also buy preference points in Nevada sometime in the summer I thinks its july.

 

[nitis]

I leave my money in for the point every year what I like about Nevada is you dont have to be scared to try and draw a hard to draw hunt because they draw the hunter not my the zone. when they get to your name on the list they go through your choices until they come to a zone with a tag available. Not like other states where you are up against everyone who applied for 2 tags as their first choice in a hard to get zone.

Also a little known fact about Nevada is if you draw a hunt you can relinquish your tag up until the day prior to opening day and retain all your points for the next year. You still have to pay for the tag but if you drew a once in a lifetime tag somewhere else and there are conflicts in time or LIFE happens you dont lose it all.

I just wish Idaho was a little better thats all but maybe I can find something else

 

[Elkman]

nitis

Don't like the Oregon idea? What kind of elk are you after? Oregon is closer for you anyway. There are a couple of good OTC spike tag units in Oregon. Right now I am thinking Muzzleloader in WA early Oct and early Nov. Wyoming in Oct. then a cow draw in Id, late Nov. and Dec. thats the one that scares me. If I don't draw that tag I am done the second week of Nov. Wa muzzloader season runs the same time as Oregons second rifle season and I am committed to another guy as a partner in WA. He is going to take me in his boat fishing and I am teaching him elk.

 

[nitis]

right now I am not really after elk mostly muleys and this year especially I am going to be hard pressed to have a week to go on a hunt.

also I really only know california and nevada and idaho.

I would be interested in the oregon elk hunt in the future could you break it down a little? deadlins fees season dates etc? thos regulations are not the easiest to interpret.

reason I started this thread was to see more options and share experience or frustrations like I have with idaho.

my biggest gripe is I would love to hunt one particular area in the late hunt. but is it worth it? I would be darn near as happy hunting the same zone in the early hunt however if you don't draw the late you are not even in the running for the early. and being out the cash too.

good luck in your hunts this year.

 

[Elkman]

nitis
Oregon has some good deer areas also. Most of my hunting has been in the NE corner where you have several excellent deer and elk area's in steep rugged country If you look at Remingtons Post on 09 hunt you will see a good representative picture. Oregons application period for deer and elk are both right now. Easest way is apply is online. For a good deer unit I would guess that it will take at least 5 or more points. I can give you hunt unit numbers but if you may not have time thsi year I would start by buying a preference point and start building points. The same goes for elk if you will kill a cow, a tag can be had for 3 or so points maybe in a couple of units. Oregon also allows for a second season OTC rifle tag in the NE where you can only shoot a spike but at least its huntingl. I have already bought my preference point for Nevada and will buy one for Oregon both elk. You don't have to worry about unit numbers to buy a PP. I have an advantage with Oregon because I have their regs on my lap and don't have to search the website which typically takes forever.
Idaho is easier to draw now for elk, but elk populations in the core elk country are probably less than 50% of 5 years ago. I hunted Idaho twice last year because I drew a cow tag. Idaho allows the purchase of two tags. The first hunt in northern Idaho was a disaster, I only saw one elk!!
Idaho for deer would be the Southeast and Southwest parts of the state. The biggest deer typically come from the area around Soda Springs all of the way to the Utah border. South of Boise is also a good area and they used to have an OTC forked horn hunt there, I have not looked for deer there in a year or so. there regs will be online next week or so. Another good (very nasty) area is the 7 devils country west of McCall I can give you unit numbers if necessary.
Let me know if this helps. I know that the regs online are a bitch buts there is lots of info available, including draw chances, success rates, antler type killed etc if you can get in there web sites and cruise around.
Another very excellent source for info is the Eastman's Hunting Magazine, they have a monthly supplement for their suscribers that covers most of the hunting opportunities in all of the western states and is a condensed versun of the states info in a neat little package. Well worth the $100 suscription.

good luck and let me know if I can be more help.