2025 Tag Season!!

[GCTerpfan]

Can someone explain to someone (me ) who knows nothing about points HOW to even start?

There’s still several ways to elk hunt with no points. There’s several units in CO you can draw an archery tag with a few to no points. There’s also still some OTC rifle hunts in CO but, those will probably be ending soon. You can get cow tags in WY with no points. I believe there’s some cow and spike hunts in Utah and maybe Montana that are easy to draw. There’s also several States that you can mule deer hunt with no points.

The easiest way to figure it all out IMO is to get a subscription to something like Go Hunt. There’s a ton of articles that give the rundown on specific States points systems, there’s also draw odds and filtering that let you see which units you can hunt at different point levels. They even have a new feature that I just got an email about today that try’s to predict point creep. The subscription isn’t cheap but well worth it to avoid having to read into every states draw odds and tag information individually.

The most important part is don’t wait, GO NOW. It’s only going to get harder and more expensive and at some point very possibly in my life might cease to be an option.

 

[mschultz373]

at the risk of derailing this entire thread - what is the deal here? Why is there such point creep, sky-rocketing non-rez fees, fewer and harder-to-get opportunities for elk, mule deer, etc?

Is demand outstripping supply? are the DNRs trying to protect the hunting experience and keep pressure moderate? are they just on the take? do they just not want people hunting? is the elk herd declining?

 

[GCTerpfan]

at the risk of derailing this entire thread - what is the deal here? Why is there such point creep, sky-rocketing non-rez fees, fewer and harder-to-get opportunities for elk, mule deer, etc?

Is demand outstripping supply? are the DNRs trying to protect the hunting experience and keep pressure moderate? are they just on the take? do they just not want people hunting? is the elk herd declining?

Demand for exceeds supply. For example, there are almost 200,000 non residents that hold elk points in WY, they issue something like 7,200 NR tags per year.

 

[Ehunter]

Kansas just wants the money. They could care less about anything else. I have no idea why. They don't do hardly anything about poachers, trespassers, etc. Each warden here has to cover at least 2 counties. We have plenty of "game biologists", etc. but they don't go out for enforcement. Called in a poacher on my land in '23, and they have yet to even talk to the guy. I know that for a fact, as he is a neighbor. Finally called the Sheriff and had him trespassed. Plenty of "upper brass" in the DWP, but not nearly enough wardens in the field.

 

[krub6b]

Is demand outstripping supply?

Yes

are the DNRs trying to protect the hunting experience and keep pressure moderate?

If you wanted to put a real rosey outlook on it then yes, more realistically though herds are getting hammered and numbers are declining almost everywhere. As demand for "trophy" hunting has increased and tag prices have climbed to try and curb some enthusiasm (with absolutely zero effect) and maximize profit, they are looking at the long term money stream drying up if they don't start restricting access and letting the herds recover and hopefully expand

are they just on the take?

Probably not, but ballot box conservation efforts and overreaching law makers can ruin an agency's ability to manage a herd which then makes reducing hunting pressure one of the few things available

do they just not want people hunting?

I think the only person I've seen come out publicly against the hunter recruitment surge in the past ten years has been Steve Rinellas brother

is the elk herd declining?

Overall there are plenty of places with strong numbers and increasing herds, but those areas have heavily restricted hunting pressure, the more available units have not been so fortunate and pressure kept spilling over into those units. The overall numbers are fine, but balancing pressure when some units are unlimited hasn't worked well in this millenia

 

[BTaylor]

I think the only person I've seen come out publicly against the hunter recruitment surge in the past ten years has been Steve Rinellas brother

I am flat out against it. R3, imo, is a complete waste of time and money. We will never recruit enough hunters to matter on things that come to a popular vote. Those resources would be much better spent, again imo, on educating the non-hunting public on the value of hunting and promoting hunter engagement in conservation efforts and legislative involvement. I am not against bringing new hunters into the fold but I am against trying to manufacture interest.

 

[Camelcluch]

Colorado regulations just came out. Non Residents have to draw for archery now. Some units are clumped together in one tag. Others are single units. Colorado has no shortage of tags available even in the draws.

 

[Camelcluch]

Can someone explain to someone (me ) who knows nothing about points HOW to even start?

Send me a message and I’ll try to clear some stuff up.

 

[Camelcluch]

I am flat out against it. R3, imo, is a complete waste of time and money. We will never recruit enough hunters to matter on things that come to a popular vote. Those resources would be much better spent, again imo, on educating the non-hunting public on the value of hunting and promoting hunter engagement in conservation efforts and legislative involvement. I am not against bringing new hunters into the fold but I am against trying to manufacture interest.

I would argue against that since Colorado just defeated the anti hunting bill on a popular vote.

 

[Topdog]

This is quite an impressive list of trips you guys have planned, I haven’t been on a long distance hunt in many years, in all honesty I’m kind of over all of it, these days I’d much rather go deep local to where I live and pretend I’m out West again, or hunt a neighboring state where I can be back home fast if needed, the only thing I do miss is the camaraderie of being with other hunters on a trip, that was always fun, hunting solo all season can get to you after a while.

 

[eddiegomes83]

I am going to try and draw KS for the first time this year...i only have 1 pt. Who knows.

 

[cmj]

Ill hunt in Pa and Wv. My son isnt ready for a hunt out west just yet. But as soon as he is we will go. Hunted Colorado once, no elk but had alot of fun.

 

[BTaylor]

I would argue against that since Colorado just defeated the anti hunting bill on a popular vote.

How many people changed their vote this times from when the wolf reintorduction bill got passed? I venture a guess that at least some changed their minds after the large amount of effort that has gone into educating the public on the issue since the first vote. Statistically speaking we can win across the country on hunters votes alone, we need to educate the non-hunting public that are not raging anti's. On a dollars spent level I think there would be a much greater return there than R3.

 

[Camelcluch]

Less than 1% win for the wolves to over 11% win for lion. You can’t just sit and believe that hunters will win. Sitting back and being silent doesn’t work anymore. The education to the public was huge. The win was then backed in court immediately after as the anti’s petitioned weeks after the vote. Howl for Wildlife has a giant list of wins across the country. So, hunters can and will win if done properly.

 

[baz77]

Arizona is hitting credit cards today for elk and pronghorn…looking like I struck out again despite the 12 points lol..

 

[Camelcluch]

Well so far I’m out but they also didn’t add my loyalty point. I should have had that a few years ago.