Which western states have been disproportionately good to you in drawing tags?

[npaden]

Was reading the Nevada elk odds thread and thought about how several of the western states have been good to me in the draws. I'm not talking about just putting in for X years and eventually drawing X tag, but times where you drew some tags that you really had no business drawing.

Let's limit this to states that you are NOT a resident of. That might throw some people out who just hunt in their home state but I think it wouldn't be fair to have the disproportionate number of Montanans on the forum all voting for Montana.

I got into the western tag game 17 years ago and the first state I started applying in was Utah. I still haven't drawn a single tag in Utah. It seems like it just doesn't like me. A few other states I think have been very good to me. Alaska I drew a bison tag that I had no business ever drawing, Wyoming I drew a mountain goat tag plus a bunch of elk tags, Drawn a good elk tag and deer tag in Arizona, same thing in New Mexico. I've drawn an antelope tag in Nevada which I think is about even odds for all that I've been applying for there but my son has only been applying there for a few years and drew a pretty good antelope tag there. Recently drew the Colorado Bighorn tag which again I never should have drawn although I started applying there for mountain goat and still have never drawn that tag. Deer and Elk there are pretty much impossible to get lucky on though, you just have to build the points.

Mainly just a curiosity thing on my part. It seems like some states are just better to nonresidents than others. I'm allowing more than one vote since I feel like I would have a hard time just limiting it to one state and others might feel the same. Curious if we end up averaging out with some people being more lucky in one state than another or if some states just seem to be more generous when it comes to actually drawing tags.

Probably too much of a lead in for a poll question but oh well. That's how I roll.

Thanks, Nathan

 

[seeth07]

Alaska, Idaho, New Mexico and perhaps even Wyoming should be the most votes since there are is a large volume of random tags available to draw in those states for NR.

 

[mdhunter]

Arizona gave me the equivalent of an OIL antelope tag, Idaho gave me a moose tag, can’t complain as about NM giving me single digit draw elk tags.

Have a reasonable strategy and follow it. It can happen.

 

[Maverick1]

"disproportionately good"
Where is the "NONE" choice?

 

[jrabq]

I've been playing the game a long time so I've been lucky in several states with multiple tags drawn in AZ, NV, CO, and WY. But I've drawn moose and goat in Montana so I guess I'll vote for them.

 

[brownbear932008]

100% New Mexico that state loves my name and I love it!

 

[MThuntr]

Got pulled for an Alaska spring bear hunt the first 2 times applying...had to cancel the second hunt.

Montana I drew a moose tag after 11 points. Not necessarily disproportionate but certain ticked off a few old timers still waiting their turn.

 

[ashersdad]

I've drawn alot of what I would consider great tags (Wy sheep, moose, elk, deer & antelope. UT moose, elk & antelope. AK brown bear x2). But, other than my raffle bear tag in Alaska and one Gen elk tag in Wyoming in the Random draw, almost all of my tags were not surprises and were drawn with enough points to ensure drawing or had decent odds going in. I was lucky to get into the points game early enough to get some primo tags that my sons will have little to no chance of drawing in their lifetimes.

My wife did draw one of the Big 3 elk units here in OR with 2 points in 2018. That was a nice surprise.

 

[npaden]

"disproportionately good"
Where is the "NONE" choice?

I didn't think of that option and can't figure out how to add it to the poll.

I kind of wanted this to be a positive thread, there are lots of threads with people complaining about the draw odds and nonresident % and all that but in spite of all that I think there are a bunch of folks that have drawn some pretty amazing tags.

 

[JohnBud]

My shout-out goes to Wyoming. I have been fortunate enough to draw some tags in Wyoming that have provided some outstanding hunting adventures for elk and antelope. Thank you, Wyoming, for providing great opportunities for this NR hunter!

 

[TheTone]

None; I’ve never beaten the odds on drawing a tag. I think the lowest odds I’ve ever had on a tag I drew was in the 70% range

 

[marksjeep]

Utah has been exceptionally generous to me over the past few years. Statistical outlier. I'll take it.

 

[Mattff200]

I have to say Wyoming. I am a resident, so that makes drawing tags easier. They have blessed me with two bison tags in five years. On the 1st one I was unsuccessful and I got it done on the 2nd one. I was extreamly lucky that my 1st tag was before they made it where if you draw you can apply ever again.

 

[MTLabrador]

None. I’ve drawn exactly one good tag, for Wyoming antelope as a resident, and the odds weren’t bad when I drew it. Somewhere in the 30-40% range. I’ve drawn exactly one mediocre Montana elk permit as a resident, and I probably had 70% odds with the bonus points I had. That’s pretty much the extent of my tag drawing luck.

 

[LopeHunter]

100% New Mexico that state loves my name and I love it!

In the prior much larger non-resident pool years ago was very good to me. Seemed to pull a good tag every other year. Pronghorn, Coues and mule deer. I think was mucking around by USO that blew up things for unguided non-residents.

One tag since that change though was my first NM bull elk tag.

 

[LopeHunter]

My shout-out goes to Wyoming. I have been fortunate enough to draw some tags in Wyoming that have provided some outstanding hunting adventures for elk and antelope. Thank you, Wyoming, for providing great opportunities for this NR hunter!

WY has been good for me as a non-resident. Migration tags 3x for bull elk and 1x for buck mule deer. Another bull elk on leftover list.

2x first choice buck pronghorn and 3x as 2nd choice buck pronghorn.

Those days are fizzling away for non-residents plus preference points have a rocket tied to their backside as do permit prices.

Is a pipe dream for Joe Six-Pack with a couple of kids hoping to hunt WY as a non-resident. Is so scenic in WY that is a shame will not get that chance.

WY and CO are states that have amazed me at sunrise and sunset up in the mountains.

I hate to think what WY is in a decade but surely some non-residents will say 2025 were the good old days.

And so it goes.

 

[rmyoung1]

I was in the penalty box for both sheep and goat in Colorado (as a nonresident) at the same time. That felt good.

 

[TheGrayRider]

I apply annually for any and all nonresident Western big game hunts that possibly interest me along with multiple lottery chances.

I never look at or study any of the draw companies statistics, articles, or recommendations. Don’t follow the crowds!

Luckily, I have recently drawn:

Arizona desert bighorn sheep (Kofa)
Alaska Kodiak Island mountain goat
Utah muzzleloader pronghorn
Nevada late season elk (Jarbidge)
Nevada mule deer (Unit 241-245)
Utah spring black bear with hounds
Indian Reservation antlered deer +++
Montana antlered elk

Apply, apply, apply. You will hit sooner or later.

Good luck and happy hunting to all, TheGrayRider a.k.a Tom.

 

[hank4elk]

Drawn a lot of tags since 1975.
CA was good for deer.
NM has been very good for me.

Walked into a building that just said Package Goods outside in MT twice and walked out with bull tags......the olden days. NR.