How many big game tags is too many?

[Hnthrdr]

Washington

Dang man, 30 years and no draw is almost impossibly bad odds, sorry to hear that

 

[willfrye027]

A counterpoint to this would be, heck they are having an open season in south west Wyoming or northwest colorado… otc is only a few days shorter up there, should we as rational beings hammer those herds or maybe if we were conservationists say, hey let’s give those spots a rest? Just an example of just because we can, doesn’t mean that we should, from my perspective of course.

If it’s bull or buck hunting we aren’t hammering the “herds”. And the elk population needs to get knocked back a bit in a lot of the west anyways, shoot more cows is my opinion. And If you or I are not hunting the tag, someone else will be these days. Personally I won’t ever shoot more than we can eat (wouldn’t want to kill to the point of donating), but I haven’t gotten there yet.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Some of y'all sure sound like you're for more government regulation. And restricting public land at that. Perhaps you'd like to move to a socialist country?

Nope, hate big brother, but I am for maybe personal or self regulation

 

[MallardSX2]

I can’t imagine having more than 1 elk tag a year.

Honestly not many blue collar guys can afford to hunt more than 1 elk tag a year.. Tag fees, pto, etc etc.

 

[displacedtexan]

I can’t imagine having more than 1 elk tag a year.

Honestly not many blue collar guys can afford to hunt more than 1 elk tag a year.. Tag fees, pto, etc etc.

What's PTO?

And I'll take about 12 weeks off work this year. At 40. As a Carpenter.

 

[MallardSX2]

What's PTO?

And I'll take about 12 weeks off work this year. At 40. As a Carpenter.

Congratulations.

 

[displacedtexan]

Congratulations.

Probably didn't come out like I meant it.

But if you want to do cool stuff, you can make it happen.

I'll fly fish 4 states and 3 countries this year.

 

[.204smokechaser]

I base this off a single 29 year old dude with no kids and just some elderly family friends and mother who like me giving them some meat.

I only need a deer or two (or bear) and edible trapping species to keep my freezer stocked up every year with an elk every so many years. This year I shot a moose so I have raised my goals of not shooting an elk unless it’s bigger than I’ve ever shot and a white tail unless it’s bigger than last years or unique.

 

[MallardSX2]

Probably didn't come out like I meant it.

But if you want to do cool stuff, you can make it happen.

I'll fly fish 4 states and 3 countries this year.

Awesome.

 

[roadrunner]

I dont like the idea of restricting people. If a guy draws 2 single digit odds tags in 2 different states it's kind of shitty to tell him to turn one in and take a financial hit. I really dont see a way that it would ever be enforceable due to how different every state is so the discussion is all theoretical.

There's obviously the cam hanes and aron snyder's of the world going around killing everything but I dont think there are that many people out there really getting that many tags in a bunch of states. To be clear, killing magnitudes more animals than a guy and his family can eat in a year is a bad look IMO, i just think such people are a drop in the bucket.

I don't think that is what is being meant by restricting. Thinking it means in one state, at least it does for me.

In NM, a single person could get a tag for every species if they're that lucky. A little on the BS side really...

 

[svivian]

I usually try to have 2 elk tags and a deer tag each year. The goal is to shoot an elk every year and two elk every other year. Second elk gets turned into breakfast sausage, Italian sausage and snack sticks which usually lasts two years.

The deer tag is just for fun

 

[roadrunner]

What's PTO?

And I'll take about 12 weeks off work this year. At 40. As a Carpenter.

But then you have to go back to work in the spring because you're out of money?

 

[sndmn11]

I think I'll have 5-6.

Archery elk filled
Archery bear not hunted
Archery phorn not hunted
Rifle deer tbd
Rifle elk tbd
Rifle elk tbd

If the meat is eaten, I don't see a reason why someone can't hunt as much as they can.

 

[The Guide]

This will blow your mind. Taken from the Montana big game regulations.

You can have 3 antelope tags.



One general deer tag.




Up to 7 draw or OTC deer b tags. Special deer management hunts and game damage hunts do not count against this number and those hunts generally have a 5 tag limit for each management hunt or damage hunt.



Up to 3 elk tags of which only 1 may be a general tag and 2 b elk tags.



Plus you can get 7 turkey tags, 1 bear tag, and 1 mountain lion tag all OTC.

Keeps a fella busy feeding those who can't get out and killing animals that are over population objectives or causing damage to farmers/ranchers.

Jay

 

[Kyle C]

I usually run 2 elk tags myself, some years 1 if friends draw good tags. Wife always gets a late season meat hunt cow tag as well. I do take the month of September off so no issues on time if I hunt 2, and still hop in on a buddies tag.

 

[woods89]

What's PTO?

And I'll take about 12 weeks off work this year. At 40. As a Carpenter.

Good for you, man.

Most people have no idea how much a guy with both good trade and business skills can command right now, both in freedom and money.

I will say though, I try not to think about the gross income that's not coming in while I'm gone. It's always hands down my biggest expense.

 

[The Guide]

I can’t imagine having more than 1 elk tag a year.

Honestly not many blue collar guys can afford to hunt more than 1 elk tag a year.. Tag fees, pto, etc etc.

I live and hunt in Montana. I can buy 3 elk tags OTC (only kill 1 bull though) and huntnelk from 8-15 to 2-15. My job is a 2 week rotation on/off so I work 26 weeks a year. So even with travel days when I'm working out of state, 13 times a year I have a minimum of 12 days off in a row. I fish all over the country in both fresh and saltwater but only hunt at home in Montana. I load up a cooler of sausages, steaks, and burger and everyone on the trip eats good and I bring back tuna, halibut, rockfish, salmon, crab, and other saltwater goodies. We eat good at my house.

Jay

 

[Gsquared]

4 kids (2 still at home) and provide meat for my mom and several other family members and friends. We buy ZERO ground beef. We cut elk into prime steaks, large cuts are turned into jerky, and the rest (usually 100#) is turned into burger. Deer are cut into prime steaks, large cuts for jerky, and the rest is used for sausage. For the family at home, we use 1 antelope and donate the rest of the antelope we harvest to 2 different families that prefer antelope to any other red meat. Once we have filled our freezer with the amount of each species we know we will eat, we start canning meat for years we aren't as lucky. Once we are sick of canning meat, we give to more friends in an open offering on Facebook. Once our friends have full freezers, we donate to local food banks, hunters for the hungry, and the Veterans Meat Locker. Getting premium protein is an issue for many of the less fortunate and older generations. I fish year round in fresh and saltwater. I love to eat my own food I've caught or shot.

Jay

Solid guy right there. Good for you!

 

[Hnthrdr]

This will blow your mind. Taken from the Montana big game regulations.

You can have 3 antelope tags.

View attachment 613239

One general deer tag.

View attachment 613241
View attachment 613242

Up to 7 draw or OTC deer b tags. Special deer management hunts and game damage hunts do not count against this number and those hunts generally have a 5 tag limit for each management hunt or damage hunt.

View attachment 613243

Up to 3 elk tags of which only 1 may be a general tag and 2 b elk tags.

View attachment 613244

Plus you can get 7 turkey tags, 1 bear tag, and 1 mountain lion tag all OTC.

Keeps a fella busy feeding those who can't get out and killing animals that are over population objectives or causing damage to farmers/ranchers.

Jay

That is impressive and very generous, I hope your state gets to keep that kind of tag allocation for residents, as long as the meat is eaten and you are not trying to for commercial gain or clout I don’t see a huge issue.

 

[displacedtexan]

But then you have to go back to work in the spring because you're out of money?

Nope.