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A watched draw tag never draws...

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A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Jhg » 06 01, 2023 •  [Post 1]

Like a kid, I am watching hourly for news about my elk draw tag. They posted moose (my buddy drew a bull tag the bastard) they posted bear, they posted other.

Elk? NOOOOOO, lets post elk.

Even my wife is asking, "Got your tag yet, got your tag yet? So I know when I'll be free, er, I mean when you are going?" Such the little jokester.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Lefty » 06 01, 2023 •  [Post 2]

Im thinking of dumping the idea of an Idaho rifle antelope, 2-3% in most units.
Maybe Ill focus more on my Montana tags.
Or I could work an archery antelope for my daughter,,,
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Swede » 06 01, 2023 •  [Post 3]

I will have to wait until June 20th. Since I do not know if or where I will draw, I need a plan and a couple of backup plans. Who knows; maybe I will be a clam digger this year.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby saddlesore » 06 01, 2023 •  [Post 4]

Drew both my elk tag and deer tag. Faster to check your credit card statement. Guess I will go scout for a stump. :D ;)
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Jhg » 06 01, 2023 •  [Post 5]

Got my tag in my preferred gmu. Its all a matter of time now.

You rascals have no idea the gloating you will have to endure when I fill my tag.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Swede » 06 01, 2023 •  [Post 6]

Jhg wrote:You rascals have no idea the gloating you will have to endure when I fill my tag.


Don't worry. We can handle it. If I get another elk I probably won't gloat. Meat and potatoes are just the basics. I do not expect anything fancy.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 06 01, 2023 •  [Post 7]

Jhg wrote:Got my tag in my preferred gmu. Its all a matter of time now.

You rascals have no idea the gloating you will have to endure when I fill my tag.


Bring it, it will be well received ;)
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Lefty » 06 02, 2023 •  [Post 8]

saddlesore wrote:Drew both my elk tag and deer tag. Faster to check your credit card statement. Guess I will go scout for a stump. :D ;)

:lol: 8-) 8-)
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Swede » 06 02, 2023 •  [Post 9]

Here in Oregon, we are supposed to see the results of our drawing on June 12th. They are usually a day early so I will be checking on the 19th. Many of us are holding points for a special hunt, so we are hoping for a 2nd choice draw. That is pretty dicey. I wish they did not change last year the way they did. I suspect some bow hunters with no preference points convinced some rifle hunters that this would be the way to go, but it is a problem for people with 10-18 points. We either have to burn them or risk not drawing a tag. This could go on and on.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Lefty » 06 06, 2023 •  [Post 10]

Yesterday we put in for antelop,,,

The state sure cut a lot of hunts from winter kill
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 06 06, 2023 •  [Post 11]

I’m not watching, really…. no honestly :?
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Swede » 06 09, 2023 •  [Post 12]

Monday. That is the big day for Oregon hunters. I am starting to get concerned about my chances. I know I plan to hunt somewhere, but some places are better than others. I have hunted none of them in the past.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Swede » 06 12, 2023 •  [Post 13]

I drew a good deer and elk tag today for here in Oregon. I have never hunted the unit, so some serious scouting is in order. I guess a watched draw tag does finally get a response. I just had to wait until the drawing date. Yea!
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 06 12, 2023 •  [Post 14]

Swede wrote:I drew a good deer and elk tag today for here in Oregon. I have never hunted the unit, so some serious scouting is in order. I guess a watched draw tag does finally get a response. I just had to wait until the drawing date. Yea!


Sweet! Congrats John.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Jhg » 06 13, 2023 •  [Post 15]

Way to to go John! Keep us posted and give us pictures of where you set stands.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Swede » 06 13, 2023 •  [Post 16]

Thanks Guys. I probably got too excited yesterday saying I got a "good tag". The unit was OTC two seasons ago but went to the draw last year. Still, it had 16% success including some good bulls. I was elated when I checked the results partly because I got an e-mail from a friend who said he did not draw a tag for the same unit.
I would have liked to have gone back to the unit where I hunted for many years. Being there brings back a lot of good memories, but the success there has dropped to 9%. It used to be much better, but I believe it is too open and over called by mostly elk buglers. When I tell people that calling is not the universal ticket to success this is a unit that comes to mind. I would still take my calls there, but I would expect to call very little and wait a lot. Elk are curious by nature and social animals.
I am looking forward to a new adventure this year. Things are changing for me. I think I may be losing a little strength due to my age. At 76 I may need to lower the draw weight on my bow a little. We will see if my strength returns. It is early in the practice season.
Again Thanks for the thoughts.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Jhg » 06 13, 2023 •  [Post 17]

In my gmu's the elk call but so quiet as to be only heard if you are within 50-75 yards. They know they are putting themselves at risk if they go loud or respond to a bugle that is loud and over 100yds.
Of course, there is always the rare passion play but in general if you call where I hunt you better be subtle. The big far reaching location calls are pushing more elk away then getting responses from the local elk idiot.

I have experienced, time and again, callers coming into a quiet drainage and bugling "just like we learned by listening to ..." and the elk I was seeing, getting ready to make a play on, leave. I have been paying attention and the successful callers are doing whatever it takes to find unpressured elk first, then using their calling to make it happen, which is a pretty substantial skillset so credit given where credit deserved. But they tip the odds in their favor right from the start and go to great lengths to ensure the elk they call are relaxed.

I am excited for you Swede. This may be a gift and with your experience hunting, a new exciting adventure you may not have had otherwise.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Swede » 06 13, 2023 •  [Post 18]

There are subtilties and nuances everywhere in elk hunting. I sure hope to figure out this new spot quickly. Tree stand hunting is a lot easier. The first thing I need to determine is if the elk will come there when I am out hunting. I do not need to know how call shy they are or their IQ. I don't care anything about that. :lol:
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Lefty » 07 02, 2023 •  [Post 19]

Who hoo whoo hoo whooo hooo
2022 : 3% chance to draw the Idaho any antelope. Julie Andrew and I drew as a group!!!!!


Going to be a busy season.. My wife isn't thrilled. August is designated Montana ATV scouting/camping/fishing.
September Idaho archery elk,
Sept 25- Oct 25 antelope
October waterfowl.
Oct 10 Idaho rifle deer
Oct 21 st Montana combo
And Geese geese and more geese till Jan 30th :D :D :D
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 07 02, 2023 •  [Post 20]

Lefty wrote:Who hoo whoo hoo whooo hooo
2022 : 3% chance to draw the Idaho any antelope. Julie Andrew and I drew as a group!!!!!


Going to be a busy season.. My wife isn't thrilled. August is designated Montana ATV scouting/camping/fishing.
September Idaho archery elk,
Sept 25- Oct 25 antelope
October waterfowl.
Oct 10 Idaho rifle deer
Oct 21 st Montana combo
And Geese geese and more geese till Jan 30th :D :D :D


Nice! Sounds like a GREAT hunting season mister. Congrats.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Swede » 07 03, 2023 •  [Post 21]

It looks like you should get a lot of use with your camping equipment. Congrats.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Lefty » 07 03, 2023 •  [Post 22]

WapitiTalk1 wrote:Nice! Sounds like a GREAT hunting season mister. Congrats.
About 20 years back, teaching full time: I had a somewhat similar season, incredible year Utah Deer , elk, antelope, well over 100 ducks, a pile of Idaho and utah upland, a stack of red fox. Montan hunt that year was a bust for me.

I wasnt able to get to Montana until the snow was deep, sub zero temps. I thought I made the shot, My scope lens was loose,. Very memorable screw-up,,, That bull , green was 357.
Hopefully this is what retirement will be from here on out :D
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby 2MANY » 07 06, 2023 •  [Post 23]

Lefty,
I know we frequent the same areas at times.
My daughter drew a speed goat tag as well.
Congrats.
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 07 07, 2023 •  [Post 24]

My 14 year old boy just drew an either-sex elk tag for 1st rifle. Looks like I'm going to be his guide this fall!!
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Thegreatwapiti » 07 07, 2023 •  [Post 25]

I got denied for archery deer and archery bear on the secondary draw. 
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby Lefty » 07 08, 2023 •  [Post 26]

2MANY wrote:Lefty,
I know we frequent the same areas at times.
My daughter drew a speed goat tag as well.
Congrats.

Antelope are my favorite family hunts My daughters and I would all skip school to hunt.

15-19 years back would also get those $40 Wyoming doe tags, camp a night or two. Just plain good family time!

I drew a Deseret CWMU doe tag,,, when living in Utah. My wife and I made a full-day date, started at 4 AM drive 11:00 picnic and nap,
Andrew know a fellow who runs on 12,000 acres of BLM with adjacent alfafa,,, so that could be easy if there are bucks hitting the private fields,,, we might go any weapon
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Re: A watched draw tag never draws...

Postby 2MANY » 07 12, 2023 •  [Post 27]

Best of luck this season.
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