How do you decide where to put in?
sewing
2/2/11 3:32pm
I'm curious to see what your rational is for putting in. I'll give mine at the end. Here are a few reasons I have heard lately.
1. "We always put in there"
2. That's where the biggest (buck/bull/etc) was shot last year.
3. It's a new hunt and not many people will put in for it...... I hope.
4. It's close to where I live
5. That's where (friend/family/etc) are putting in
6. "Because we can put in as a group"
7. Higher chance of pulling a tag even if it has smaller game
8. Because not many people put in there according to last years numbers
9. There are monsters there and I'll put in there till I draw or die
I try to strike a balance between reported game age/size, better odds, and reputation of the land owner (if cwmu). I do struggle with the points though. Do I put in where I want to, even if there is only one tag, or do I find a hunt that my points will help my odds?
What's your rational?
1. "We always put in there"
2. That's where the biggest (buck/bull/etc) was shot last year.
3. It's a new hunt and not many people will put in for it...... I hope.
4. It's close to where I live
5. That's where (friend/family/etc) are putting in
6. "Because we can put in as a group"
7. Higher chance of pulling a tag even if it has smaller game
8. Because not many people put in there according to last years numbers
9. There are monsters there and I'll put in there till I draw or die
I try to strike a balance between reported game age/size, better odds, and reputation of the land owner (if cwmu). I do struggle with the points though. Do I put in where I want to, even if there is only one tag, or do I find a hunt that my points will help my odds?
What's your rational?
2,995
For my antelope I just kept putting for the same place that I had seen some nice goats when I was out hunting prarie dogs.
Now that I have just started on elk I will keep putting in for the same area because I have seen the quality of the animals and have spent some time hunting there so I have idea of where to start looking for them when I draw in twenty years from now.
I am building points in other places for my trophy hunting chance.
to answer the question- in my home state i put in for the best trophy units- the reason is simple, i usually fare pretty well on the general archery hunt, so there is no reason to burn my points unless it's a great hunt. i've killed branch antlered bulls the last 4 yrs, and was lucky enough to kill a 320 6x7 this last year-- all without using my points!
now for out of state hunts, if i dont have very many points, i go for a tag- i just want an opportunity. after i have a tag, its up to me to fill it.
if i have alot of points-nevada for me- i want one of the better hunts, and some yrs i'll just buy a point if i dont think it's a good year to draw.
in the end, my over all philosophy is- it's better to hunt somewhere, EVERY YEAR, then to hunt 1 good hunt every 10 yrs.
once a person gets to know an area, you should be able to kill "above average" animals, and in 10 + yrs time, you should have an opportunity at a big animal- usually this is the same type of animal people kill on the once every 10-20 yr hunts- and in the end, you got to hunt more than they did, and killed a heck of alot more animals while they were waiting.
do want to hunt 10 yrs strait, or wait 10 yrs to hunt?
I think the Henries is THE BEST muley hunt in the world.
Now I hope to get my first elk......... yes first....... yes it's embarrassing. :-$
But mostly...
1. know the area
2. Not to far from home
3. Chance to have family with me
4. Known as good area or for good chance at decent/great buck.
#2 that Sewing mentioned has NO relevance to me on where/why I would put in though. Example Spider Bull on Monroe had big Elk before World Record. Just because it was killed there means nothing on swaying me to put in there now.
Sorry I mentioned the Spider Bull again. Oops. :-$ lol