LEH Thoughts - "The grass is greener on the other side"

[MRP]

Well, I am in for the point system on Moose, Elk, Deer. I know of several who have only had two draws for a moose, since the draw system started. But their buddies and wives who put in for the same area have had dozens, a couple of them have even had three years in a row. That alone tells me the system sucks. Any species or area that starts to get over 25:1 odds should automatically become a once in a lifetime hun. Once you get one you're out, you could be allowed to hunt that species, but not in that area again.


It is true that lots of people do not understand how the system works. I've come across several people that ask how come I've never got a second choice, they haven't got a clue on the odds. You tried to explain to them. That something with 10:1 odds is all used up on the first choice applicants, and there is nothing left for those that put in for it as a second choice. Couple of people I just gave up on, they just don't understand.

[Walking Buffalo]

"Any species or area that starts to get over 25:1 odds should automatically become a once in a lifetime hunt."

With a point system, that would already be a once in a life time hunt, and once the ratio get wider, it becomes impossible within a normal human lifetime.. as it is now, with high priority draws in Alberta and many States, it is only the old hunter that has a chance to draw these tags.

Think of the children.... Let them draw a tag before they are 50.

JT has provided the best opinion in this thread,
Avoid LEH as much as possible.

[Survival Bill]

32 years paying for LEH nothing yet... but what am I supporting again?

[hunterdon]

I can live with the way it is now. Changing it will only bring different problems, and probably worse.

I don't put in for a bucket load of draws, usually only 1 a year. These guys who put in for a trainload of tags cannot and do not use some of them if several successful draws. That takes away opportunities from those who could have been drawn for a tag. I believe this happens quite a bit.

[Gateholio]

Here is a good discussion about the topic

Points systems offer false hope, poorer odds

[browningboy]

LEH sucks, luck shouldn’t be part of anything..

[tigrr]

I put in a LEH for moose for 13 years till I finally got drawn. 2 years of new entries to start off the next phase.

[warnniklz]

If you only apply for one or two animals, your chances go way down of getting an LEH...

When you put down down a draw with odds worse than 1:1 as your second choice, you won't get your second choice. Some of these you are unable to do this with such as caribou and sheep.

I like to get drawn and not be able to go over not getting the draw and able to go.

If something has low odds/good chance of getting drawn, there's a reason for that. Either access sucks, or it's a tough ass hunt.

If I don't really have time to say hunt sheep in a year, I'll put in for the hero draws like kamloops lake. Because if I get that draw, that trumps all other life plans. But chances are I won't get it and leaves me open to hunt whatever.

I don't buy species tags until I one hundred and ten percent know I'm going for sure. The amount of people i know that buy elk and moose tags april first and then never go and then complain about all the money they spend on tags.

Caribou are the only animal that doesn't have a general open season now of some sort. Use to be bison...

Bring back the grizzly bear hunt.

[HappyJack]

The reduced odds system isn't really too fair, if there are a couple tags available it makes it more difficult than the odds suggest. If there is one tag available, the person on reduced odds has to get drawn 3rd with two other reduced odds entrants above him at 1st and 2nd. That would make it like 99.99% reduced versus 66% reduced.

My idea is that everyone on reduced odds gets one entry and everyone else gets 3 entries. Then just draw it as usual.

The reduced odds they claim is in the works is a farce, I've seen a person get the same LEH draw multiple years in a row while the other eight of us applying for the same draw get nothing. 4/5 consecutive draws it would be statistically impossible to be that lucky you'd think.

[scalerman]

I can't answer that question.
It would help to know when you were in Alberta?

In Alberta, when draws were limited and general tags were generous, and the point system was new, the system seemed to work well.
Now, draws are predominant and general tags are getting limited, the point system is no longer looking good.
Many young hunters will never have a chance at many draws simply because humans don't live that long.

I agree that there are areas in Alberta where the wait for a tag is long indeed, mainly the southern 400s for moose. Alberta seems to be doing a better job managing the resources as populations of elk and moose seem to be increasing in many areas. Antelope tags are very hard to draw as the population fluctuates wildly and the number of tags given out varies quite widely from year to year. Where I lived I was able to draw a moose tag every 4 years. Mule deer was a little longer (lol) somewhere in the neighbourhood of 10 years. In Alberta, last year they began to issue 2 cow tags with your draw authorization in attempt to thin the herd.

As I mentioned, I have not drawn an LEH period in all the years I have applied. I drew moose twice and mule deer buck once. Not too unhappy with the success I enjoyed while living in Albeerta

I do like the idea of hunts with 25:1 and above ratio becoming a once in a lifetime hunt type thing.