Application Guide?

Markdjr

FNG
Joined
Jul 12, 2015
Messages
93
Sorry if this has been covered. I understand the gist of points systems. That being said, is there a guide that says apply for these tags by these dates if you want to maximize your chance of hunting sheep? I understand that some states points systems make for a long proposition, I am a 31 yr old Oregon resident and don't mind waiting. Thanks for any guidance.
 
I was looking for a prioritized recommendation list with dates. Something along the lines of, always apply for orgeon, nevada, etc. because they have no points so you have the best odds. Then start applying for Colorado because it will take 10 years but they have the best sheep, then apply for wyoming because x, y, z. I'm definitely going to apply in Oregon, but I'd like to know where to best spend my resources if I can't apply for all of them. Thanks for any input.
 
Sheep draws are kind of a personal issue.
Each persons situation is different.

Some states require that you pay the entire tag fee upfront. Wyoming, Colorado. Then you are reimbursed if you do not draw.
Some states like Arizona, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, require that you purchase a non refundable hunting license.

New mexico requires that you buy a license, and pay the entire tag fee up front, but they refund the tag, plus the license if you don't draw.

So, it kind of depends on what your budget allows.
Plus, where you are interested in hunting.

There can be a big difference in tag price as well. Nevada tags for non residents are really reasonably priced compared to the other states.
The New mexico tag is expensive. Over $3,000.00!

Some states have really high numbers of applicants in the draw.
Others have surprisingly low numbers in the draws.

Way too complicated to go off a list if you ask me.
I don't want to draw a 50% success rate unit that typically harvests below average rams, just because a list shows it is better draw odds, or some other factor.

I spent 5 hours yesterday researching units in one state.
Where to put my son in, what rams they harvest, comparing to other units.
It takes countless hours to do for multiple states.

Oh, and if it only takes you 10 years to draw Colorado, please send me the list you use.

My recommendation to you is apply in as many as you can reasonably manage.

One option for you is to maximize your spending.
If you decide to apply in Idaho, apply for multi species. Since you are going to get stuck with owning a hunting license, you might as well put in for controlled hunts for deer, elk, ect. Plus, buy an over the counter deer tag, get out there and use it.

Unless you are the type who has money to blow on purchasing licenses that never get used.

Non resident hunting can get spendy. You gotta maximize.
Thats the beauty of the pay up front states. You have to have the cash to do it, but you get it all back if you don't draw.
The states with the buy a license and keep it, even if you don't draw, have to be done more carefully.

Its all about your personal situation, what you can afford, how many options you have.
 
First off, I have to point out that some of the above info is incorrect, specifically about Idaho. In Idaho you do have to pay for the entire sheep fee upfront and it is refunded if you do not draw. Minus the application fee. Also, you cannot put in for elk or deer draw hunts if you've applied for sheep or goat. Just a couple little things that were inaccurate. My advice to you would be to take a real hard look at what it will actually take to draw in each state. They are all very different with intricacies that is hard to go into here without writing a book. Max points, this many tags to residents vs non residents, total random draw, bonus points, loyalty points. It goes on and on and on. As pointed out above, some states are very high dollar as in the case of NM. You absolutely WILL spend a lot of money on hunting licenses you may or may not use but that is the nature of the game. I have a spreadsheet dedicated solely to each state and it requires a lot of work. Remember though that there are always the stories of those that drew a great tag with two points, but it can't happen if you don't put in.
 
Good catch dead wolf.
Idaho is pay up front on the tag fee. Guess I screwed that one up pretty good.

"Notice: A person may apply for only one species . Any
person applying for any moose, bighorn sheep, or mountain goat hunt is prohibited from applying for any other big game controlled hunt in the same year . Except: They may apply for a controlled depredation hunt for deer, elk, or pronghorn, a controlled black bear hunt, or leftover deer, elk or pronghorn controlled hunt tag, an unlimited controlled hunt, or extra deer, elk, pronghorn, or turkey hunt ."

And again, correct on not being able to apply for controlled deer and elk in that state.

See, don't trust the crap you read on the internet. The guy writing it is full of garbage. Ha ha.
My bad.

Hopefully I remembered the other states correctly.
Yikes! I hate giving a guy bad info.

Thanks for the correction deadwolf.
 
No worries, and in no way did I mean any offense. It can really get complicated and that's what I was trying to get across. Best of luck to everyone, hope we all get our chances to go out and chase sheep : )
 
Some might argue that your money is better spent playing the raffles rather than dumping money into licenses, points etc. in some instances.
 
If your looking to make an investment I would look into an Insider membership with goHUNT (Rokslide sponsor). They have all the guides you could want as well as an incredible new mapping program that will break down every unit in a given state based on your criteria (score, harvest odds, etc..) and then you can research to see how many points it will take to draw said units.
 
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