What now and where to go? Last min plans...

[Spike_Sniper]

Here is my problem. I have had 2 hunts fall thru. So now I have a few weeks off starting in the middle of October till the end of November. I have missed all of the draw hunts so now I am looking for general hunts with OTC tags. Any ideas would be great and thanks in advance for any info. I am new to hunting out west but I am willing to find a trail head and put boots on the ground. I dont care as much about filling a tag, more so just having a tag in my pocket and a chance with some great trail time. Also not trying to get any personal hunting locations or honey holes. Just state info or NF land and I can locate a trail system to try. More so worried about the where and what right now. I can scout out a trail system later. Thinking of something like fly where ever, rent a car to get to trailhead and then just have at it.

I guess worst case I will stay in Georgia and hunt along the Appalachian Trail or go hike into my usual spots but I really want to get out of the southeast.

Thanks again. I feel like I am in panic mode.

Arin

 

[Spike_Sniper]

Also, let me know if this is uncool to ask for this kind of info on here. It sounds like cheating after i read it again. Oh well, time to get back to reading state reg books.

 

[bowinhand]

You can check with the CPW and talk to a hunt planner that will probably point you twords unit 18 which seems to be a dumping ground for nonres hunters. Aug. 6 leftover tags go on sale and you can buy them over the phone.

 

[realunlucky]

Missiouri has a bunch of public land and big whitetails with over the counter deer tags. Out west that is rifle season so id try and call the states your willing to travel to and see which tags are still available and check back with your narrowed down choices and ask for opinions

 

[Mtnboy]

Idaho has OTC tags for Non Res, also has a VERY high percentage of public land.

 

[Spike_Sniper]

Thanks a bunch for all the help guys. Looks like its either mulies in CO or blacktail in WA. Maybe both since the dates are offset. After days of reading thru state regs my mind is swimming. At least it has made my shifts go by fast. Thanks again

Arin

 

[Spike_Sniper]

You can check with the CPW and talk to a hunt planner that will probably point you twords unit 18 which seems to be a dumping ground for nonres hunters. Aug. 6 leftover tags go on sale and you can buy them over the phone.

Sounds like the kind of place I should be then for my first CO hunt. I would not want to screw up a locals hunt esp if they have been scouting all summer and I am just hiking in and roaming around.

 

[blb078]

CO OTC bull elk, left over cow tags, MT left over elk/deer combo tags, WY left over cow and some deer tags. Those are going to be your best bet for hunting out west. If you're just wanting to go hunt then I'd try to get a left over cow tag in CO or WY, otherwise I'd take the MT elk/deer combo tag.

 

[BowElkStalker]

Montana OTC tags left.

 

[bigeasygator]

There are a number of states with available OTC or leftover elk and deer tags. CO and ID have OTC tags for many units. MT has leftover elk/deer combo tags. If you want a more premium unit, time's getting tight but I'm sure there are some landowner tags out there in NM, CO, and NV for elk and deer. Still plenty of choices to go hunt. For reference, the only tag I drew this year was a NM deer tag, but I'll also be hunting elk in NM and elk and mule deer in Idaho! Good luck!

 

[Spike_Sniper]

I was able to get a mule deer tag for CO. Rock on! Thanks guys.

 

[bowinhand]

What unit?

 

[Spike_Sniper]

Gmu 18. Already ordered topo and gps card.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Good luck. It's always fun to explore new areas. I absolutely love hunting new spots.

It's an expensive option, but I would expect that MT will be available as a de facto OTC state for quite a while. There is some good archery mule deer hunting in the eastern part of the state, and of course the archery elk hunting is good also.

Oregon has some OTC archery elk units also that can be very good. I would look at OR for blacktails instead of WA. WA does have some very good whitetail hunting, but I would guess you are looking for something you don't have there.

Don't forget ID either. Contrary to all of the internet mantra, it's not a biological wasteland there.