Application Strategy?

[Colberjs]

When deciding which unit (or in my case here in OK which WMA controlled hunt) you want to apply for, what do you look for? I'm looking at the results from last years drawing and hunts. Would you apply somewhere with a better draw percentage or a better harvest percentage?

Theatre are one or two spots that I want to apply for that have the potential to kill big deer but other than that I want a good chance of being drawn and a good chance of filling the freezer.

Which is more important. I assume you can't kill what you can't hunt so draw percentage trumps success rate but there are a few spots that had a 0% hunter success last year.

 

[MTpubliclander]

here in MT we are able to buy a general tag each year that is valid in most districts so my strategy for applications is to apply for hard to draw areas with big deer. But in this system I am able to hunt every year regardless so what I would suggest is to split your chances rather than applying for hard to draw areas with big deer or easy areas with no deer, find some with decent success rates and medium to easy to draw permits making you able to hunt more often without shooting yourself in the foot while applying. to me id rather hunt every year than shoot one big deer every 5 years.

 

[roadhunter]

Good question. On the Oklahoma apps I usually try to pick easier to draw tags for things like Antelope and Elk and then go for hard to draw areas on the Deer since I usually have other places to hunt deer if I dont' draw.

When you look at the odds you realize that the good tags are really hard to get and things like elk tags are basically like winning the lottery with odds for some less than 1 in 7,000. Then you look at the results and see that whoever drew the elk tag in Pushmataha did not harvest nor did quite a few of the Wichita mountain elk permit holders.

http://wildlifedepartment.com/chunt/2013results.htm

The good thing is that it's cheap to apply and in the end somebody has to draw the tags.

 

[SFC B]

This is my draw strategy for CO this year. I am putting in for a RFW Cow tag (the freezer is down to about 1/3 full and this is a high success at zero pt draw), A buck tag to use where our 2nd season camp is located, an OTC WT doe tag at Ft Carson (new this year due to them wanting to stop the spread of WTs west of I 25) and another RFW tag, a doe prongy at the same ranch as the Cow tag. My main concern this year is being in the field as much as possible and filiing the freezer. I got skunked last year and am hoping to try out the gutless method a few times this year Oh, BTW if the Hunting Gods shine down on me I may be able to sneek back to IN for Gun season..er um ...I mean Thanksgiving

 

[Colberjs]

Good question. On the Oklahoma apps I usually try to pick easier to draw tags for things like Antelope and Elk and then go for hard to draw areas on the Deer since I usually have other places to hunt deer if I dont' draw.

When you look at the odds you realize that the good tags are really hard to get and things like elk tags are basically like winning the lottery with odds for some less than 1 in 7,000. Then you look at the results and see that whoever drew the elk tag in Pushmataha did not harvest nor did quite a few of the Wichita mountain elk permit holders.

http://wildlifedepartment.com/chunt/2013results.htm

The good thing is that it's cheap to apply and in the end somebody has to draw the tags.

I have been studying that page for a few days now. I also try to keep in mind that so e areas are either sex or 2 tags this increasing my chances.

Before posting this thread my thoughts were as follows:

Canton
Cross Timbers (gun)
James Collins
McAlester (group hunt with friends so it's a definite)
Wichita Mtns


May I ask what hunt(s) you like to apply for?

 

[roadhunter]

I have been studying that page for a few days now. I also try to keep in mind that so e areas are either sex or 2 tags this increasing my chances.

Before posting this thread my thoughts were as follows:

Canton
Cross Timbers (gun)
James Collins
McAlester (group hunt with friends so it's a definite)
Wichita Mtns


May I ask what hunt(s) you like to apply for?

On antelope I pick both doe hunts first then the buck hunts
On Elk I pick the cow hunt first then the bull hunts.
On Deer I usually go with Wichita Mtns deer tags every year and beyond that I randomly pick hunts which vary from year to year.

Another place you might take a look at is the Packsaddle WMA which does not require drawing a tag. Good place to get away from other hunters.

 

[Colberjs]

On antelope I pick both doe hunts first then the buck hunts
On Elk I pick the cow hunt first then the bull hunts.
On Deer I usually go with Wichita Mtns deer tags every year and beyond that I randomly pick hunts which vary from year to year.

Another place you might take a look at is the Packsaddle WMA which does not require drawing a tag. Good place to get away from other hunters.

Last year was the first time I've ever applied. Don't think I applied for antelope due to the landowner thing but will from now on as it doesn't seem too hard to get permission. I only applied for Wichita bull elk because it's a once in a lifetime hunt and didn't want to spend it on a cow when I can cow hunt in other states on a regular basis. Same thought on antelope.

I'll check out Packsaddle. I've been hunting Hulah WMA in Osage county every year. I've killed a doe with a bow and this past year I killed a small 8-point with my rifle.

I have access to private land locally (for now) where I have killed most of my deer but I really enjoy the public land experience. Just don't have the time I would like to hunt it a lot.

 

[drthornton]

I married into an Oklahoma family and have been applying for the last 12 years. I have drawn a deer hunt and a turkey hunt. Turkey hunt was great and the deer hunt sucked. My father in-law and I used to apply all over so we could have an adventure aside from his land but since I now get my adventure out west we only put in for premium hunts.

I think the draw is a joke. I think there is better hunting on regular public than 80% of the deer hunts. If you just want meat surely you can find someone that will let you kill a doe on private. I do know that Canton is one of the higher success places and if you draw in there I'll get you all the intel you want.

My other problem with the OK draw and TX for that matter is the odds they provide are not real. Both are Bonus point systems and those 11,000 Bull Elk Applications equate to odds that makes drawing a 16D tag in NM seem like a slam dunk.

If you want an Elk go to CO...there's 100% chance you'll hunt. If you want antelope go to WY there's 100% chance you'll hunt.

I think spending more than a few minutes deciding where to put in is a waste of time.

More to your point. Success should be one of the last things you look at. There is no way to know what kind of hunters had those tags last year.

 

[LopeHunter]

When there are many options for a species but I am limited to a subset of choices (usually only 1 choice is considered for each applicant before select the next applicant though varies by each state) I try to find a way to sort through the "Noise."

I look for an acceptable harvest rate. Usually is 50% or better for me to apply for a hunt choice. I look at draw rates. I look at any info I have re public land access for the unit, terrain, type of weapon allowed, dates of the hunt (rut?, cold as Hades?, etc), etc. Many of the states where I apply have restrictions on non-residents and point systems so that is something I factor in as consider the choices.

 

[Colberjs]

Last year was my first year to apply and got drawn for McAlester as part of a group.

What's mjk?

 

[drthornton]

sorry...my wirless keyboard took a crap. Edited my previous post

 

[Colberjs]

sorry...my wirless keyboard took a crap. Edited my previous post

Thanks for the info. I hunt primarily for meat but I enjoy the experience of being out there hunting and I guess a draw hunt is another excuse to get out. It's also a bonus deer hunt that doesnt count toward my season limit. And in some areas it's a little better chance at a trophy animal.

I'll keep you in mind if I draw Canton.

Also intend on trying Rita Blanca for archery antelope this year. It's an OTC tag (free w/ my lifetime license)

 

[drthornton]

I'll keep you in mind if I draw Canton.

For sure...Good Luck!

 

[gknutson]

In Oklahoma all of your choices are considered before going to the next application. So I always go in order of hunt quality. On deer I would consider #1 Wichita Mts. Rifles hunt (had that tag once its great). Then maybe another quality rifle hunt. Followed by McAlester hunts to finish it out.

Also don't discredit the Antelope hunts. Private land access is easy to find for a relatively small fee. I also drew a Texas Co. Goat tag a few years ago. It was very fun and even with paying for access it was cheaper than any NR tag.

Good luck and send me a Private message if you want to chat more about OK.

 

[Carrion Carrier]

Often times, units with good draw odds have some kind of problem. Private land, lack of game or remoteness are common. If you are willing to hike in, pay for access or whatever the particular issue with a unit is might not be a problem for you. However, it is sad to hear someone draw a tag and figure out that it is not the dream they thought it was.

 

[Colberjs]

In Oklahoma all of your choices are considered before going to the next application. So I always go in order of hunt quality. On deer I would consider #1 Wichita Mts. Rifles hunt (had that tag once its great). Then maybe another quality rifle hunt. Followed by McAlester hunts to finish it out.

Also don't discredit the Antelope hunts. Private land access is easy to find for a relatively small fee. I also drew a Texas Co. Goat tag a few years ago. It was very fun and even with paying for access it was cheaper than any NR tag.

Good luck and send me a Private message if you want to chat more about OK.

May I ask how much the trespass fee was for antelope?

 

[gknutson]

I paid $300 for access to about 7 sq. Miles of land. I made a trip out and made sure it had plenty of antelope before paying for it.

 

[gknutson]

I ended up shooting a 73" buck. Not giant but nice for Oklahoma Standards.

 

[roadhunter]

Last year was the first time I've ever applied. Don't think I applied for antelope due to the landowner thing but will from now on as it doesn't seem too hard to get permission. I only applied for Wichita bull elk because it's a once in a lifetime hunt and didn't want to spend it on a cow when I can cow hunt in other states on a regular basis. Same thought on antelope.

I'll check out Packsaddle. I've been hunting Hulah WMA in Osage county every year. I've killed a doe with a bow and this past year I killed a small 8-point with my rifle.

I have access to private land locally (for now) where I have killed most of my deer but I really enjoy the public land experience. Just don't have the time I would like to hunt it a lot.

I agree somewhat ont eh once in a lifetime but when you take into account the odds suddenly the cow tag looks pretty good to me. If I really thought I would draw the bull tag I would hold out but 2 of the bull tags have worse than 1 in 7,000 odds.

Another place near where you hunt is on the West side of lake Copan. There is a small piece of land that backs up to the Mullendore ranch, believe it is the cross bell ranch now. Some nice deer travel through that area.

 

[Colberjs]

I agree somewhat ont eh once in a lifetime but when you take into account the odds suddenly the cow tag looks pretty good to me. If I really thought I would draw the bull tag I would hold out but 2 of the bull tags have worse than 1 in 7,000 odds.

Another place near where you hunt is on the West side of lake Copan. There is a small piece of land that backs up to the Mullendore ranch, believe it is the cross bell ranch now. Some nice deer travel through that area.

I drove up that side of Copan last year when I was up there. Looked like a pretty good area. Hunted for a couple hours right off the east side of the lake off of highway 69 on my way home. Caught a glimpse of a couple deer but couldn't tell what they were through the trees.