New guy here, with a couple ?'s

[BowHuntMissouri]

Hello to all fellow hunters!

My names Brandon, I'm a young person from Missouri with a passion for hunting and fishing.

Growing up here in the Midwest I have dedicated a large amount of time to whitetail/turkey/rabbit hunting but have always dreamed of going out west. Finally, me and some buddies have worked up the courage (and hopefully the cash) and we are planning on going on an elk hunt next Fall. I am like a little kid at Christmas just thinking about it

I wanted to join this site to gather information, tips, tricks and experience stories from guys who have the experience. So, as I scroll through the archives for previous advice bare with me if I have some newbie questions over the next few weeks. I have done a lot of research already, but not near enough IMO. My group of guys (all mid-20's and athletic) are really looking to challenge ourselves and are in it for the experience.

So, a couple quick questions for you all to start off:

1) When applying for tags, do you recommend applying at different states for future preference points? I still haven't fully figured out the point system yet, but most likely our first hunt will be Colorado. We may also apply to Wyoming and Arizona just to start building points. Is this appropriate? We aren't Yuppies and not the type to pay for guides and luxurious accommodations, so its public land and roughing it in the great outdoors for us.

2) We are not 100% decided on bowhunting or using a gun. We are all avid archers and would prefer that. But, first time experience of 1 of the 4 of us putting some meat in the freezer (bull or cow....we aren't exactly trying to kill a 400" bull first time out). A $600 tag is steep for us considering we just got out of college (or are still in). Thoughts? I hear the rut in Sept is hard to beat...

Thanks guys! I look forward to chatting it up with all of you and becoming a fellow Elk hunter

[Peskadot]

I'm new here also, so anyone feel free to correct me.

Brandon,

Not all States require you to draw for a tag. If you want to hunt areas that hold trophy caliber bulls, then you may want to start appling for points. Keep in mind that not all states use a point system for draws.

My advice would be to look into states that have OTC tags. You could still find quality bulls on these lands, you just may have to work a little harder..

Hope that helps

[BowHuntMissouri]

I'm new here also, so anyone feel free to correct me.

Brandon,

Not all States require you to draw for a tag. If you want to hunt areas that hold trophy caliber bulls, then you may want to start appling for points. Keep in mind that not all states use a point system for draws.

My advice would be to look into states that have OTC tags. You could still find quality bulls on these lands, you just may have to work a little harder..

Hope that helps

That is my understanding as well. The reason we were thinking of applying for some of the premiere locations this year in some of those states (knowing we wont get drawn) is to start accumulating points. Chances are, we will have to get OTC tags from Colorado year one and work for it just as im sure many on this site have done.

[POk3s]

So you guys are SET on going on a hunt next fall but also going to build points for hunts in the future??? Am i reading that correctly???

I haven't heard of many guys coming to hunt elk that don't try to come back again and again but you may want to just put your research efforts towards colorado. If you're going next year then boom get that plan all set out on the table. Figure out which OTC tag you're going to get or which limited quota tag you can pick up with 0 preference points. Because if you're going to start building points your hunt is a few years out. After you get this hunt out of the way then decide if you're coming back, which states you want to hunt, so on and so forth. That's how I would do it.

[Triplebhunters]

I believe you can still get a point for Wyoming. I think that's where I would spend my research time if I started all over. What I do is buy points and hunt an area that doesn't require points. OTC if you will.

[Wyo67]

Welcome to the forum Brandon! I also am originally from the Jefferson City area and now call Wyoming home. Once you have made enough posts (3, I believe...) feel free to drop me a PM and I'll answer any questions I can about Wyoming elk, antelope and deer. Have to hurry though... I leave for the mountains in 16 days and I'm already starting to mentally check out!

[Brendan]

You can still get preference points for Wyoming and Montana - $50 ea. Wyoming is online, Montana postmarked by 9/30.

[BowHuntMissouri]

Welcome to the forum Brandon! I also am originally from the Jefferson City area and now call Wyoming home. Once you have made enough posts (3, I believe...) feel free to drop me a PM and I'll answer any questions I can about Wyoming elk, antelope and deer. Have to hurry though... I leave for the mountains in 16 days and I'm already starting to mentally check out!

Thank you sir! As soon as I can I will send you a message, I really appreciate it!

[ctdad]

Don't buy Montana pp. They help get a general tag and those haven't sold out in a few years. I would however recommend the Wyoming pp

[Mikeha33]

Lol, you're already addicted and you don't even know it yet.

Where at in Missouri are you BHM? I live in Pittsburg, KS, but work everyday in Joplin.

[BowHuntMissouri]

Lol, you're already addicted and you don't even know it yet.

Where at in Missouri are you BHM? I live in Pittsburg, KS, but work everyday in Joplin.

Oh trust me, work has been hell lately...YouTube videos watching hunts isn't helping my productivity. I live in Columbia actually, so central part of the state...have a good buddy in Pittsburg and hear its a fun little town!

[Mikeha33]

Also, Joe (Indian Summer), if he's around right now, can shed a lot of light on hunting Montana and how to get your hands on tags, so dropping him a PM wouldn't be a bad idea. Lots of faces will be hard to find around here for the next 2 months, for the obvious reason.

[IdahoKel]

Welcome to the forum Brandon, and to the most addictive sport known to man. If you're looking at an OTC hunt the first year, I wouldn't overlook Idaho or Montana. Both have some excellent opportunities in various areas. Take time to look over the seasons, success rates, and maps in the different units, and that will start to give you a good idea of where you might want to go.

As for rifle vs. bow, well, I hunted rifle when first starting out, but now that I've experienced bow season, I will never go back. There's just nothing like the elk woods in September.

[NoWiser]

I'd for sure go online and buy a Wyoming PP this year yet. That would give you a decent chance to draw a general tag next year without paying for the high priced license. Most of the research I've done has people saying that a Wyoming general tag is the equivalent of a Colorado tag that takes a few points to draw. Obviously there are exceptions, I'm sure. My dad and I went on our first ever elk hunt last September with the general tag and had an absolute blast. We didn't come home with an elk but it didn't matter to us. We had fun spending 10 days in the mountains listening to bugling bulls and trying to get one, but it just didn't work out.

If you don't draw Wyoming you could then put in for a primo tag in a state like NM where there is no such thing as a preference point. If you come up empty handed you could then do OTC Colorado or leftover MT. This was my exact plan this year and we ended up drawing sweet Gila tags in New Mexico.

Arizona is so expensive to build points in a guy wonders if it's even worth it. But, I got in the game there last year and look forward to hunting the state in the future.

Good luck whatever route you decide to take! You've come to the right place here for advice. This site seems to have some of the most friendly and helpful people of any I've been on!

[BowHuntMissouri]

Welcome to the forum Brandon, and to the most addictive sport known to man. If you're looking at an OTC hunt the first year, I wouldn't overlook Idaho or Montana. Both have some excellent opportunities in various areas. Take time to look over the seasons, success rates, and maps in the different units, and that will start to give you a good idea of where you might want to go.

As for rifle vs. bow, well, I hunted rifle when first starting out, but now that I've experienced bow season, I will never go back. There's just nothing like the elk woods in September.

Thank you! And yes, we are open to all options at this point. However, first year we would like to do something within driving range (most likely CO or WY). I would def. like to venture those states at some point however

[Stick]

Sounds like you have a good base plan. If it was me it would be archery all the way. You said you were looking for the experience and in my opinion archery would be the way to get it.
I recommend putting in for every preference point you can afford. AZ. UT. CO. WY. etc. I have a friend that bought me a subscription this year to HUNTIN FOOL very indepth info on how to apply. the best places to apply. Might check that out. You start applying now by the time your 30 you will be able to have stretches of years where you can go on quality elk hunts in premier units.

By the way this is an ADDICTION!!!

[swmoelk]

I'm also a new elk hunter from Missouri. Here's what I did. I put in for a 0 point limited license in CO as a second choice and pp as a first so I could hunt and start gaining points. After I exhausted the Colorado data I had available I started looking into other states. I would pay specific attention as to how each state draws. Like new Mexico draws your name then fills your hunt choice by what's available so you have the same chance as everyone else drawing the Gila or Valle tag which is slim but you have a decent chance of picking up a third choice hunt that has say a 20-30% draw for nr. Most of all gain as much knowledge as you can about a few different states then start narrowing it down. It will get very expensive come spring if you try to build pp in every state out west. My thought was lets go out and learn in an otc or close to otc unit a d make mistakes there so when we hit the NM draw or use our pp in Colorado we have a good base knowledge and hopefully a couple elk under our belt. I am working between Joplin and Pittsburgh right now and am glad to see some other locals here. Good luck and pm if you need some help with the numbers game that is western hunting. But be careful all this planning is addictive.