LUCK OF THE DRAW
It was just after lunch, and I was sitting at my desk working on an estimate, when the phone rang. I thought little about it until my secretary buzzed me saying, "It's a lady from the Colorado Division of Wildlife."
I immediately took the call! Jovita, the very pleasant lady on the other end of the line, explained that there had been an administrative error in the selection of winners for the limited sheep tag draw, and that I should have won a tag. To correct their mistake, a decision had been made to issue me a tag for this season, and she wanted me to know that it was coming so I could make plans for my hunt. Almost two full months after the result notifications were published on the DOW website, I was behind the eight-ball planning wise for this hunt, but I finally had my tag!
Over the next couple hours a lot of phone calls were made. In case you haven't already guessed, no work got done for the balance of the day! In my "Colorado Sheep Tag" file there are a lot of notes and phone numbers collected over the years. This information was collected and filed for just such an occasion. The first three calls resulted in a short list of guides that currently provide quality sheep hunts in the area I had drawn. The next three calls started the process of getting information mailed from each of these three guides. Several more calls netted general information on both the hunt area drawn and each of the three perspective guides. With the preliminaries out of the way, the next half dozen calls were to friends that I knew would understand how excited I was with the news, so I could share it -- man, was I ever "pumped".
For those that are not familiar with the limited draw permit concept, some explanations are probably in order. There are a number of species of North American big game animals with hunting opportunities so limited that the tags are issued through a drawing system rather than through "over the counter" purchase. It used to be that these processes were limited to things like bighorn and desert sheep, mountain goat, and Shiras moose; however the concept has spread to include better hunts/areas for species like elk, deer, and antelope. This is all driven by the fact that there are a lot more hunters interested in "premium" quality hunt opportunities, than there are opportunities to go around. States have found that they can better manage the game with tightly controlled hunts, and raise a lot of extra money by running the lotteries. On the plus side for hunters, these programs offer some of the very best hunting opportunities you can imagine!
Getting back to my Colorado sheep tag: I had been applying every year since '86 for the first archery season, in a zone that was exclusively reserved for archery until a couple years back. Even though I had accumulated the maximum number of both preference and bonus points (note: Colorado has both a preference point and bonus point system in place for their limited sheep tag draw system.), I didn't expect to actually draw a tag for a number more years. The odds of drawing are several hundred to one, and I was never a real lucky person, until now! I kept putting in every year hoping to beat the odds, but knowing I might not live long enough to actually get a tag. To hedge my bet, so to speak, I also put in for bighorn tags in several other States each season. While trying to improve the odds of actually getting to hunt these magnificent animals by applying in as many states as possible, I really wanted the Colorado tag so I could hunt in an "archery only" season.
There are several ways that one might get to hunt bighorn sheep. As mentioned above, there are a number of states that have permit draw programs, and the more states you apply in the better chance you have of someday getting a tag. Colorado is the only State that sets aside special dates, and some areas, just for bow hunters, which made it my first priority as a draw area. Draw a tag in one of the other states and you'll be chasing sheep that are also being chased by rifle hunters. This can make the game a lot tougher!
Another option is to book a hunt in either BC or Alberta with a guide that has a bighorn tag allocation. The good thing about this option is being able to plan the hunt well in advance and know there will be a tag waiting for you.
The down side is that these hunts cost between $18,000.00 and $22,000.00, which was well beyond my budget. The other possibility is to purchase the annual governor's tag, which many states offer for sale through auction at the FNAWS convention (Foundation of North American Wild Sheep). FNAWS auctions a number of bighorn tags every winter, with 90% of the proceeds going back to the States issuing the tags. Problem is, these tags go for $60,000.00 to $200,000.00 each! No, that doesn't count the cost of the hunt, just the tag! By comparison, if you win a tag, you can book a quality hunt for $4,000.00 to $8,000.00.
This is one example, but there are many others. It is possible to draw a desert sheep tag (although the odds are not good!) and then plan a quality hunt for under $10,000.00, or you can buy a hunt in Mexico (where a few places have tag allocations) for $50,000.00 to $60,000.00. In these cases the primary advantage of drawing a tag is the money that can be saved hunting the species drawn. In other cases, the primary advantage is getting a higher quality hunt, by hunting areas with less pressure and better trophy quality game. In all cases, these limited draw tags offer great opportunities for those fortunate enough to draw.
For those willing to play the game, some of the best hunting opportunities in North America lay waiting. Unfortunately there are sometimes difficult odds to be faced, and a lot of research is required to maximize one's opportunities. The process gets more difficult when you consider that States continually change their rules, application dates, fees, and tag allocations by area. Keeping track of all this, even for a single species, and/or State is a near full time job, yet it is important if you want to be successful either in the draw or the hunt that follows. Thankfully there is help available!
A couple years back I found a publication titled "Huntin' Fool" that focuses on limited draw hunts for us trophy hunters interested in chasing these great opportunities. The $100.00 per year subscription price is one of the best bargains in the hunting world. You get a high quality monthly publication that walks you through the limited draw process for all the western states and all the special draw species.
The first five or six months of the year, each issue gives updates on those States that should be concentrated on. Because some draw applications have to be in by early January, while others aren't due until June, it's great to have a resource that walks you through the process on a month by month basis. There is a lot more to the process (if you want to be successful) than knowing when to send away for what application package however! In the monthly issues you get breakdowns of the best areas to apply for, on a State by State basis, as well as by species. Hints on how to get the most bang for your buck" as far as preference/bonus points are also given.
For instance, did you know what Wyoming, which awards more nonresident bighorn sheep and Shiras moose tags every year than any other State, allows you to build preference points on both species for only a $7.00 fee per species per year! If I would have known than nine years ago, I have enough points by now to pick any area in the State and be almost sure of drawing a tag next season!
Did you know that Nevada is the only State where you can apply for, and build preference points on, both bighorn and desert bighorn sheep in the same year? Do you know what zones in Arizona have excellent chances of finding elk that score 400 points or better? How about the best areas for 90" antelope or 30" wide mule deer?
My thinking is, "If you're going to go out west hunting some species, why not hunt where the biggest trophies are!" I could go on for pages about the special opportunities here and there, but I'd never be able to cover it all. Instead let me just say that in addition to all the information you'll need to draw some of the best tags in North America, Garth Carter (publisher of Huntin' Fool) also shares subscriber's stories each month, throws in lists on land owner tags for sale, and list hundreds of special deals from outfitters. If/when you draw a tag, Garth and his staff will recommend a guide and/or area, and if you don't draw they'll help you book a hunt with a reputable outfit. Like I said before, it's the best $100.00 a trophy hunter can spend each year. No, this is not a paid ad for the Huntin' Fool, it's a solid recommendation from a very satisfied customer to other serious hunters out there.
If the idea of drawing special tags and going on some of the best hunts in North America interests you, I have something else of interest to tell you. I contacted Garth and told him I was going to do this column to try to help him, as well as help the visitors to www.Bowhunting.net. I told him I would like to have people see his publication, because I knew most would like it enough to subscribe.
We worked out a deal where anyone reading this column, that is honestly interested in expanding their opportunities for top quality hunts, Can e-mail me their full name and snail mail address and I'll get Garth to send a complimentary copy of the publication. Your name will not be given or sold to anyone else, and your e-mail address will not be shared with "anyone". This is just a good faith offer passed through me and Bowhunting.net from Huntin' Fool to all serious trophy hunters out there. Interested? Send me a note at roygoodwin@comcast.net.
Good hunting,