Are you spending your points this year?

[big10hunter]

I have been banking points in a lot of the states out west. My little nest egg feels really nice to sit on...until I start to look at what some of the best units cost in points. I always beat myself up "should I spend, or bank". I am close, but still miles away on some of the better units. I have 10+ points in a lot of states. Going to "spend" some of those points this year. So who else is "spending", and on what? Anyone spending a LOT of points for a unit you have been waiting for?

 

[robby denning]

big10,
that is the dilemma, and as you pointed out, even if you have 10+ points, we still may never draw a good tag. It's hard when your points start to get up there and you don't want to waste them, especially when some great animals come from not-hard-to-draw units or even general tags. It's kind of a no-man's land when you get above about 4 points but aren't near the top of the state point pools. Very depressing and not what a lot of us expected when we got in the point game a decade or more ago. Points have become a necessary evil to me.

As for me, I'm likely only spending a few Colorado points this year, unless Nevada is kind to me. Good luck to you and have fun spending them. Hope you get a great hunt.

 

[realunlucky]

Almost better when you have few points than when you have five less than it takes draw. That's when they own you and the creep never lets you draw

 

[big10hunter]

I kinda wish Colorado would exercise the program they had a few years ago where you could use "some" of your points and bank whatever was above and beyond what it takes to draw. I would do this and hope to get some quality hunts instead of chasing the point creeping units!

 

[aggieland]

I plan to burn 3 PP this year in Colorado for Deer. Not even a clue what unit i'm going to try and draw but maybe I can come up with something before the deadline. If anyone has any suggestions p.m me.

 

[Curtis C]

Only if I get lucky in the hybrid

 

[JasonWi]

I'm fairly sure I'm going to dump my 16 PP's for OR antelope.

I'm sitting in the 3-4 PP range in all states so I'm going to be hunting alot of the mid-tere units. Decided I'd rather get to hunt more often than wait for the premium tags thats I may never draw.

 

[littlebuf]

i try to spend them every year, but they dont seem to want them. theres a couple tags i shoudl draw this year but none of the big ones unless i get real lucky. one thing i still like about washingtons system is luck still factors in. its not perfect but at least you have a chance every year, unlike a lot of states where you know you wont draw. here you just probably wont...

 

[HellsCanyon]

I'm likely spending 2pp in Colorado this year for deer. Though I'm bein gracious and letting my hunting partner who has zero borrow one. putting in as a group for some not too hard to draw units as third season and prepared to start learning these units. First pp I drew because a friend put me in for it in 2007, and last year I figured it was a good idea to get another CO deer point as I knew thats where my hunting is leading me... so I don't feel bad "giving" a point to my hunting partner as i really didn't even start my CO research until this year

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sitting on seven in Colorado that are burning a holding my pocket, cashin in next year or 2015 though.

 

[robby denning]

I'm sitting in the 3-4 PP range in all states so I'm going to be hunting alot of the mid-tere units. Decided I'd rather get to hunt more often than wait for the premium tags thats I may never draw.

I think you're smart and you'll likely kill just as good of an animal in a unit you know than a premium unit you draw once. Good luck

 

[robby denning]

I kinda wish Colorado would exercise the program they had a few years ago where you could use "some" of your points and bank whatever was above and beyond what it takes to draw. I would do this and hope to get some quality hunts instead of chasing the point creeping units!

While there were some apparent downsides to this program, I sure wish they'd do it again and keep it in place for more than a year. Yes, us low guys would suffer for a while, but point creep would probably stop and in five years, there may be hope for the premium hunts. Complicated for sure.

 

[armyjoe]

This is a just a mess for me with points. Points all over and not sure what to do. Plus the Army is on/off again on if I'm deploying so thats a big issue.

Well, I put in for another point in my home state of AZ for elk instead of putting in for a top tier elk unit. I'm a resident and sitting on 10PP for AZ!! Next year!
AZ - 14PP for Antelope
AZ - 7PP Deer

CO
4PP - Elk - I'm really thinking about cashing these in this year tho on unit 49. If anyone has hunted this unit PLEASE let me know if its worth it.
2PP - Deer
4PP - Moose, Goat, Sheep - Got awhile on those

WY
5PP - Elk
4PP - Deer

UT
3 - Elk, Deer

 

[Foldem]

Cashing 5 CO elk points on a muzzleloader tag with the later dates this year. Banking a pt for deer (I have zero now).

 

[bowuntr]

I have points in most western states and only plan out a couple years at a time on the draws. I apply in five states for sheep and goat tags and have yet to draw. I have max points/weighted points in Co so I anticipate drawing some day. I have a chance to cash 9 deer points in Utah this year. Next year I will be cashing in 9 deer points in Co and 11 elk points in Az. That puts me in to 2015... I'd rather not deal with the points game... Ed F

 

[Whisky]

I think you're smart and you'll likely kill just as good of an animal in a unit you know than a premium unit you draw once. Good luck

I agree with you Robby, and Jason, and I'm going to be doing the same thing. I'm not at the 3-4 PP range yet, but once I get there for 3-4 states, for a few different species, I intend to hunt 1 or two states/species every year, and repeat the process all over again. I'm not known for my patience. I want to be hunting, and gaining experience/knowledge of new areas, instead of sitting around thinking about hunting.

 

[realunlucky]

Problem is even lower units are seeing point creep will be interesting to see how states try to address the problem in the next 5 to 8 years