I hate to break it to you Buzz but without a pref pt/bonus system I'm almost certain I wouldn't have drawn near the number of tags I have over the years in Wyo, Colo, UT, and NV. Buzz you drew a desert sheep tag in NV a couple years ago so I know you apply in other states. I wonder what your odds for drawing a desert sheep tag in your lifetime without a bonus pt system?
As I stated in my other post....thank God Wyo has nonres pref pts for deer, elk, and antelope! I've draw so many fantastic tags over the years that I hardly drew before Wyo started a pref pt system for nonres. In fact, I've drawn a lot more Wyo tags now that I'm a nonres than I ever did as a Wyo resident! If Wyo decides to shaft nonres with a smaller % of tags it's obvious that draw odds will drop considerably for nonres w/or without a pt system.
I have no complaints about the Colo deer draw system as it is. There are currently fantastic deer units that Buzz, I, or anyone can draw every year or 2 if desired. Some of them may take a lot of research, scouting, and boot leather but there is 170 to 190 bucks available in units that hardly take a pref pt to draw! They aren't under every tree and it may take a lifetime to luck into bucks that size but it's currently possible to draw units like that every year in Colo. If the system is changed to point banking it will be the end of easy draw units in Colo. Buzz is correct that systems often change mid-stream...some of the changes are good and others bad. Point banking would be a change for the worse!
LopeHunter, I invite you to take a look at the NV draw stats site. It may open your eyes to what a really good bonus pt system offers. Other than high demand units that are advertised yearly by Eastman's and Carter in NV there are a bunch of units that actually have relatively good draw odds. If you look in detail at the NV draw stats it will open your eyes that the guys that have the most bonus pts aren't always the ones that draw tags. In many units there is an even proportion of applicants that draw with fewer pts vs those with max pts.
LopeHunter, if you want to apply in a state like Idaho that has no pref/bonus pt system and you have to purchase an expensive license to apply that may be a great choice as well. If I was spending that kind of $ to apply in a state year after year I would hope I would stand a little better chance of drawing than those that have only applied 1 year?
As I stated in my other post....thank God Wyo has nonres pref pts for deer, elk, and antelope! I've draw so many fantastic tags over the years that I hardly drew before Wyo started a pref pt system for nonres. In fact, I've drawn a lot more Wyo tags now that I'm a nonres than I ever did as a Wyo resident! If Wyo decides to shaft nonres with a smaller % of tags it's obvious that draw odds will drop considerably for nonres w/or without a pt system.
I have no complaints about the Colo deer draw system as it is. There are currently fantastic deer units that Buzz, I, or anyone can draw every year or 2 if desired. Some of them may take a lot of research, scouting, and boot leather but there is 170 to 190 bucks available in units that hardly take a pref pt to draw! They aren't under every tree and it may take a lifetime to luck into bucks that size but it's currently possible to draw units like that every year in Colo. If the system is changed to point banking it will be the end of easy draw units in Colo. Buzz is correct that systems often change mid-stream...some of the changes are good and others bad. Point banking would be a change for the worse!
LopeHunter, I invite you to take a look at the NV draw stats site. It may open your eyes to what a really good bonus pt system offers. Other than high demand units that are advertised yearly by Eastman's and Carter in NV there are a bunch of units that actually have relatively good draw odds. If you look in detail at the NV draw stats it will open your eyes that the guys that have the most bonus pts aren't always the ones that draw tags. In many units there is an even proportion of applicants that draw with fewer pts vs those with max pts.
LopeHunter, if you want to apply in a state like Idaho that has no pref/bonus pt system and you have to purchase an expensive license to apply that may be a great choice as well. If I was spending that kind of $ to apply in a state year after year I would hope I would stand a little better chance of drawing than those that have only applied 1 year?