Usa leh

[j270wsm]

After many yrs of hunting in my comfort zone I’ve started the process of building priority points for Wyoming mule deer and antelope. Hopefully over the next 3-5yrs covid has been figured out and My son and I will have some points to start trying to draw tags.

I followed grasp’s New Mexico elk hunt the other yr and it got me interested in exploring the USA. Has anyone else hunted in the states?

[twoSevenO]

Nope. But how does it work? What's the total cost of, say, 5 years of "collecting points"?

As an outsider I still think you'll have a hell of a time trying to find a trophy class buck.

[Brez]

It's all on line. 2 days left to get your priority points. If you get enough points you can get a tag in an area that has the better bucks. Very similar to Alberta's system. Outsider or not has little to do with it.


Nope. But how does it work? What's the total cost of, say, 5 years of "collecting points"?

As an outsider I still think you'll have a hell of a time trying to find a trophy class buck.

[twoSevenO]

It's all on line. 2 days left to get your priority points. If you get enough points you can get a tag in an area that has the better bucks. Very similar to Alberta's system. Outsider or not has little to do with it.

Other than the outsider has no realistic chance to scout or even know where exactly they are going.

Yes, I'm sure it's online like most things these days but what is the overall cost? (I assume points over several years to build better chances)

[Redthies]

I have an antelope hunt in my future, but will probably be in Colorado as I have a guide friend living there who apparently always has tags. I will be bugging him about it again as soon as the border stupidity gets sorted out.

[BCHunterFSJ]

I have hunted pronghorns in South Dakota. Great trip!

[Brez]

The overall cost is what you make it. Guided/ not guided. Look it up. Google is your fiend. If you are worried about cost, hunting is no longer inexpensive. I don't have a realistic chance of scouting northern B.C. for any game so no difference there. If you want excuses to not do it there are many. There are also many good reasons for doing it - especially since hunting in B.C. is getting more and more challenging


Other than the outsider has no realistic chance to scout or even know where exactly they are going.

Yes, I'm sure it's online like most things these days but what is the overall cost? (I assume points over several years to build better chances)

[Brez]

I've been twice to Wyoming, guided,and had a blast both times.. Would like to do it again DIY. You aught to have seen the fabulous muley bucks we saw!


I have hunted pronghorns in South Dakota. Great trip!

[twoSevenO]

The overall cost is what you make it. Guided/ not guided. Look it up. Google is your fiend. If you are worried about cost, hunting is no longer inexpensive. I don't have a realistic chance of scouting northern B.C. for any game so no difference there. If you want excuses to not do it there are many. There are also many good reasons for doing it - especially since hunting in B.C. is getting more and more challenging

I meant coats associated with their entry system to build up points. I assume one has to apply and pay every year in order to do so

[firebird]

Go ahead and have some fun. I apply/ buy points in some states like Montana and Wyoming with intentions of hunting there every few years.

Idaho, colorado OTC. New Mexico land owner tags etc. You could go every year.

Then I apply to some states like Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico with the intention of maybe only going once on a big ticket tag, elk, mule deer, dessert sheep, ibex

[j270wsm]

I meant coats associated with their entry system to build up points. I assume one has to apply and pay every year in order to do so


It was $70 for mule deer and $60 for antelope. Realistically, if I apply for 10yrs then pull both tags for the same yr, I’ve spent $1300. I could then spend another $3000 and hire a guide and do a combo hunt. Combined it would still be less than paying an outfitter in Alberta or sask just to hunt antelope or a white tail. I’m hoping everything with covid will be figured out over the next 2-3yrs and ill start entering the draw with the plan to hunt Wyoming 3-5yrs from now.
Yes I have to enter every yr or I lose my points. But if I draw a tag and can’t go on the hunt I can call and turn down the tag and not lose my points.

[j270wsm]

Every yr after the draw is done, Wyoming has over the counter antelope tags available. Some areas you can get 2 buck tags or up to 4 doe tags. Applying for priority points for a few yrs prior to entering the draw will give me a better chance to get drawn for a trophy area or ensure I can get a tag for when I am ready to head south. From what I’ve read online, being drawn for a tag helps reduce the cost of using an outfitter.

[Brez]

Endless opportunities. Cheap to apply and you WILL get drawn and the more you apply the better the area to get drawn, unlike this joke of a system we have here in BC. Both times we went it was about $1800 US guided. Shop around, do some homework and go. Nothing on this planet seems to change for the better so take your opportunities now.


Go ahead and have some fun. I apply/ buy points in some states like Montana and Wyoming with intentions of hunting there every few years.

Idaho, colorado OTC. New Mexico land owner tags etc. You could go every year.

Then I apply to some states like Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico with the intention of maybe only going once on a big ticket tag, elk, mule deer, dessert sheep, ibex

[Blockcaver]

I’ve drawn and filled some great LEH tags hunting with my bow as a NR….Nevada desert ram, Utah bison (wild, not high fence) and a couple great mule deer tags, Wyoming Shiras moose and a couple antelope tags. Also Kansas whitetails.

Also successfully hunted general open archery seasons successfully for Arizona Coues bucks numerous times and a mule deer, plus a few javelina. Nebraska whitetails and turkeys, Texas hogs and javelina and Alaskan moose, caribou and Sitka blacktail DIY plus a brown bear that was guided. Oregon Roosevelt elk and blacktail too.

As a Colorado resident years ago arrowed elk, whitetails, mulies, black bears, antelope, goats, antelope and cougars.

[twoSevenO]

It was $70 for mule deer and $60 for antelope. Realistically, if I apply for 10yrs then pull both tags for the same yr, I’ve spent $1300. I could then spend another $3000 and hire a guide and do a combo hunt. Combined it would still be less than paying an outfitter in Alberta or sask just to hunt antelope or a white tail. I’m hoping everything with covid will be figured out over the next 2-3yrs and ill start entering the draw with the plan to hunt Wyoming 3-5yrs from now.
Yes I have to enter every yr or I lose my points. But if I draw a tag and can’t go on the hunt I can call and turn down the tag and not lose my points.


Interesting. That's actually cheaper than I thought it would be.

Do they not give priority to residents?? Because if so then their system sucks. I'd hate to be a resident of Wyoming and not have priority hunting in my own state.

[twoSevenO]

The overall cost is what you make it. Guided/ not guided. Look it up. Google is your fiend. If you are worried about cost, hunting is no longer inexpensive. I don't have a realistic chance of scouting northern B.C. for any game so no difference there. If you want excuses to not do it there are many. There are also many good reasons for doing it - especially since hunting in B.C. is getting more and more challenging


Hunting for "trophy" animals never was inexpensive to begin with.

And true, you don't scout north BC but there's a reason no one goes up there to hunt big mule deer even though the Peace seems to have a good number of them (or did last time I heard).

I might be wrong, but driving to wyoming to hunt a B&C mule deer, without much info on where to go doesn't sound assuring. Shot in the dark.

If some locals are willing to start you off in the right direction then that's anorher story.

[Rackmastr]

Hunting for "trophy" animals never was inexpensive to begin with.

And true, you don't scout north BC but there's a reason no one goes up there to hunt big mule deer even though the Peace seems to have a good number of them (or did last time I heard).

I might be wrong, but driving to wyoming to hunt a B&C mule deer, without much info on where to go doesn't sound assuring. Shot in the dark.

If some locals are willing to start you off in the right direction then that's anorher story.

I drove to AB and hunted for 2 days and watched a 185-190 class buck in an area I've never hunted before, last week. I've also done it before by hunting for 3-4 days and shooting 185+ deer, and handfuls and handfuls of quality deer.

Not sure why a guy can't hunt hard for a week and get into good quality animals, and more importantly an enjoyable hunt.

Bottom line there are a ton of extra opportunities out there that are decently priced and also provide an amazing experience and can be in areas with some real.qualuty critters. Not sure why being local has anything to do with success. If that's the case 98% of my successful hunts would be seen as "shots in the dark"

[Brez]

Well said, Trevor

I drove to AB and hunted for 2 days and watched a 185-190 class buck in an area I've never hunted before, last week. I've also done it before by hunting for 3-4 days and shooting 185+ deer, and handfuls and handfuls of quality deer.

Not sure why a guy can't hunt hard for a week and get into good quality animals, and more importantly an enjoyable hunt.

Bottom line there are a ton of extra opportunities out there that are decently priced and also provide an amazing experience and can be in areas with some real.qualuty critters. Not sure why being local has anything to do with success. If that's the case 98% of my successful hunts would be seen as "shots in the dark"

[twoSevenO]

I drove to AB and hunted for 2 days and watched a 185-190 class buck in an area I've never hunted before, last week. I've also done it before by hunting for 3-4 days and shooting 185+ deer, and handfuls and handfuls of quality deer.

Not sure why a guy can't hunt hard for a week and get into good quality animals, and more importantly an enjoyable hunt.

Bottom line there are a ton of extra opportunities out there that are decently priced and also provide an amazing experience and can be in areas with some real.qualuty critters. Not sure why being local has anything to do with success. If that's the case 98% of my successful hunts would be seen as "shots in the dark"

If you know where to go, you know where to go. And that's good.

Shot in the dark is what I would call my own experience in any new area without adequate time to learn the land compared to the locals of that area who already have it figured out.

[bighornbob]

I meant coats associated with their entry system to build up points. I assume one has to apply and pay every year in order to do so

just got the credit card bill and a preference point in Montana is 34 Canadian Wyoming will be about 40. Started applying last year so have two points in each state now. I plan to apply both states in three years so I will have 5 points for each state. Plan on going down for two weeks and coming home with two lope.

5 points should get you a decent unit in Wyoming with tons of crown land to hunt. Montana only probably needs two to three years to draw region 7 which is the size of our region 8 and 4 combined. You could draw in Wyoming every year for areas with tons of private property but gaining acces could be hard. Probably like a 30% chance at drawing Montana any given year in region 7. that’s why I went with 5 years, real good chance at getting a good unit in Wyoming and a guarantee for Montana.

So say 175 for 5 years of Montana and say 225 for Wyoming for 5 years of preference points. Tags will be about 300 each area when drawn. (Don’t beat me to death if tags are $100more). So let’s say about $1000-1200 for for 5 years of applying and tags when drawn. Also price of tags is based on US dollar conversion. Could be higher could be lower in 5 years. Considering a flight up north costs around 2000 dollars I think it’s a deal. Plus I can bring back to lopes. I went to Montana in 2000 and tag was 300 and I drew first year.

bhb

[j270wsm]

There are tons of resources for finding quality animals in the USA. When you apply in the draw you can specify whether you want a general area or an area that is known to produce higher numbers of trophy animals. There are maps online that will show where the highest chance of trophy animals will be located( based on previous yrs info ). From what I’ve read, the American biologists seem to be willing to share info on population densities, best areas to focus on, etc.

I believe their leh tags are broken into res and non res.

[twoSevenO]

There are tons of resources for finding quality animals in the USA. When you apply in the draw you can specify whether you want a general area or an area that is known to produce higher numbers of trophy animals. There are maps online that will show where the highest chance of trophy animals will be located( based on previous yrs info ). From what I’ve read, the American biologists seem to be willing to share info on population densities, best areas to focus on, etc.

I believe their leh tags are broken into res and non res.


That makes sense. Sounds like their system is way better organized than ours here.

Wyoming has a pretty low population, but I can't even imagine the number of people from other states that come and hunt there.

Thanks for sharing the info! Appreciate it ... I will begin educating myself a bit more on this topic!