Lottery Hunts

[Redthies]

Who here puts in for lottery / limited entry hunts in their area? I do every year as general open season for moose and elk is not the easiest way to get meat in the freezer here. This year I put in for elk and antlerless mule deer. As usual, I didn’t get a draw. At least there’s always antlerless jackelope to hunt!

[Rifletom]

When I used to hunt in Ca., I'd put in for X-12[Bridgeport/Bodie area] and would get drawn about every sixth year. After 2012, my last year of bagging a deer in X-12, I stopped hunting in Ca., other than upland birds. Hunting in Ca is a hassle any longer and I got tired of waiting 5-6 years for a premium tag[lottery]. Lottery system works when you get a tag, but, not so much for the in between waits.

[JEBar]

thankfully, having to enter a lottery to hunt hasn't reached our part of the country .... hope it never does .... as to there’s always antlerless jackelope to hunt, it sure takes getting a bunch of them to put much meat in the freezer ....

[Henry88]

They have what you call "quota" hunts here in Fla. Basically you have to apply for a permit "first come/first granted" about this time of year for the hunt in the fall. There may be some highly desirable management areas where they have to do a lottery, but basically if you apply in a a timely manner, you'll get one.

[Redthies]

JEBar, do you have much for big game? I’m guessing hogs and white tail make up the majority of the hunting in your area?

[markiver54]

JEBar and I are not far apart. He might have a slightly different answer James, but you are right. White tail, Hogs and lots of Black Bear. I am in the western part of NC and he is central. Of course there are all types of small game as well.

[Redthies]

We are very lucky to have elk, moose, white tail, mule and fallow deer, 3 species of bighorn sheep, mountain goat, bison, black and grizzly bears as well as turkey, grouse pheasant etc. The sheep hunts are very arduous as they usually require a 20 hour drive followed by a 15 mile hike into the mountains. At least that’s what all the sheep hunters say;). Grizzly are now protected (although there is no shortage), so numbers will likely climb quickly and become a problem.

With all that diversity, I still enjoy hunting deer and turkey the most.

[Redthies]

I should update this. The draws have happened, and luckily I won’t have to plan for any specific hunts this year. No draws for me. At least I’m consistent with 5 years of nothing!