Glory Tags

[poormanslam]

The “Glory Tag” term was floated out here on HT some time ago by Big Fin. Now that I have been able to experience both sides of the situation what do you all think? I have waited over 20-25 years for some tags while being able to hunt yearly in states like Mt and Idaho. It’s been great to be able see each side, and in my mind, certainly advantages to both. I personally would not have traded my strategy. This year a Wyoming sheep tag and a Kaibab late deer hunt. Dramatically different hunts but cherished them both nonetheless. My PP account is still pretty full and I hope to cash those in over the next several years. Anyone else want to weigh in?

 

[BradA]

The “Glory Tag” term was floated out here on HT some time ago by Big Fin. Now that I have been able to experience both sides of the situation what do you all think? I have waited over 20-25 years for some tags while being able to hunt yearly in states like Mt and Idaho. It’s been great to be able see each side, and in my mind, certainly advantages to both. I personally would not have traded my strategy. This year a Wyoming sheep tag and a Kaibab late deer hunt. Dramatically different hunts but cherished them both nonetheless. My PP account is still pretty full and I hope to cash those in over the next several years. Anyone else want to weigh in?

After cashing in on your points on say the Arizona late kaibab hunt will you get back into the point game or just phase out your other points in other states ?

 

[bigsky2]

The “Glory Tag” term was floated out here on HT some time ago by Big Fin. Now that I have been able to experience both sides of the situation what do you all think? I have waited over 20-25 years for some tags while being able to hunt yearly in states like Mt and Idaho. It’s been great to be able see each side, and in my mind, certainly advantages to both. I personally would not have traded my strategy. This year a Wyoming sheep tag and a Kaibab late deer hunt. Dramatically different hunts but cherished them both nonetheless. My PP account is still pretty full and I hope to cash those in over the next several years. Anyone else want to weigh in?

How did your hunts go?

I'll take all the glory tags I can get.

 

[poormanslam]

After cashing in on your points on say the Arizona late kaibab hunt will you get back into the point game or just phase out your other points in other states ?

Because I am a resident of AZ now I will continue to apply. But for other states like Wyoming I have stopped the moose, and now after this, year sheep. Almost zero chance of drawing. In most cases not get back in. I am 61 too old to draw and too old to hunt.

 

[poormanslam]

How did your hunts go?

I'll take all the glory tags I can get.

Now that I have had time to digest it. My feelings are that the Wy sheep hunt may be my best adventure of my life. That includes several journeys up North. I did a long thread on it here on HT.

2023 Wyoming Unit 5 Sheep tag

I drew Unit 5 Wyoming sheep tag. I will scout quite a bit but could use any info anyone might be willing to give. I will not have access to the Wilderness or horses. I know, I know, I’m a fool. Get past that and if you can help I appreciate it.

www.hunttalk.com

My Kaibab hunt I’m mixed on. From 25 years ago to now the hunt has changed. The demand to get the top end bucks is ferocious. Also AZ residents may only draw it once or twice in their lives so they accompany friends and family. My guess is each tag has at least 4-5 helpers. The Kaibab itself is remarkable. As good an ecosystem for mule deer as I have been in. As long as the deer get water in the summer they will thrive there. A lot of the other threats that are happening in other places simply won’t happen to the Kaibab. If you have a love for mule deer you need to get there at least once during mid to late November time frame.

 

[Bullshot]

I’ve hunted two glory or near glory tags in my life and came away with very average animals. If you knew and paid attention to my take, it is that these are glory hunts to me, and I really could barely care less about glory kills. I had quality fun!

I have hunted a few mid-tier hunts and killed some average animals there too. Not much different than glory tags, fun factor was high.

The low-end/OTC hunts have been OK… killed some average animals and had some great moments punctuated by frustrations due to access, other hunters, development/disturbance, and lack of game. I am trying to avoid this tier as much as possible, though its a necessary evil if you want to hunt each year and not evil at all if you have time, are local/familiar with areas, or just lucky. I am none of those three. So I continue to accumulate points all over, in some cases sitting in 26+ for some species. I will never get to use all my points. But my future hunts are hopefully getting better/more predictable.

 

[TheTone]

Now that I have had time to digest it. My feelings are that the Wy sheep hunt may be my best adventure of my life. That includes several journeys up North. I did a long thread on it here on HT.

2023 Wyoming Unit 5 Sheep tag

I drew Unit 5 Wyoming sheep tag. I will scout quite a bit but could use any info anyone might be willing to give. I will not have access to the Wilderness or horses. I know, I know, I’m a fool. Get past that and if you can help I appreciate it.

www.hunttalk.com

My Kaibab hunt I’m mixed on. From 25 years ago to now the hunt has changed. The demand to get the top end bucks is ferocious. Also AZ residents may only draw it once or twice in their lives so they accompany friends and family. My guess is each tag has at least 4-5 helpers. The Kaibab itself is remarkable. As good an ecosystem for mule deer as I have been in. As long as the deer get water in the summer they will thrive there. A lot of the other threats that are happening in other places simply won’t happen to the Kaibab. If you have a love for mule deer you need to get there at least once during mid to late November time frame.

Awesome buck! I’ve been looking at the kaibab a lot for my points. I’m way way too far behind to think about the strip and the kaibab is even probably even a pipe dream. The area though is just so appealing and cool. I’ve thought about archery or the early rifle even just so I can hunt it once

I’ve never had anything close to a glory tag and have seriously bad draw luck. I’m hoping the points I have in a couple states can at least get me to something significantly better than what I’m use to in general seasons

 

[bigsky2]

Now that I have had time to digest it. My feelings are that the Wy sheep hunt may be my best adventure of my life. That includes several journeys up North. I did a long thread on it here on HT.

2023 Wyoming Unit 5 Sheep tag

I drew Unit 5 Wyoming sheep tag. I will scout quite a bit but could use any info anyone might be willing to give. I will not have access to the Wilderness or horses. I know, I know, I’m a fool. Get past that and if you can help I appreciate it.

www.hunttalk.com

My Kaibab hunt I’m mixed on. From 25 years ago to now the hunt has changed. The demand to get the top end bucks is ferocious. Also AZ residents may only draw it once or twice in their lives so they accompany friends and family. My guess is each tag has at least 4-5 helpers. The Kaibab itself is remarkable. As good an ecosystem for mule deer as I have been in. As long as the deer get water in the summer they will thrive there. A lot of the other threats that are happening in other places simply won’t happen to the Kaibab. If you have a love for mule deer you need to get there at least once during mid to late November time frame.

The Kaibab is a special place for sure. I drew the archery tag with no points a few years back and didn't really know what I had. Wish I could do it all over again now.

 

[poormanslam]

I’ve hunted two glory or near glory tags in my life and came away with very average animals. If you knew and paid attention to my take, it is that these are glory hunts to me, and I really could barely care less about glory kills. I had quality fun!

I have hunted a few mid-tier hunts and killed some average animals there too. Not much different than glory tags, fun factor was high.

The low-end/OTC hunts have been OK… killed some average animals and had some great moments punctuated by frustrations due to access, other hunters, development/disturbance, and lack of game. I am trying to avoid this tier as much as possible, though its a necessary evil if you want to hunt each year and not evil at all if you have time, are local/familiar with areas, or just lucky. I am none of those three. So I continue to accumulate points all over, in some cases sitting in 26+ for some species. I will never get to use all my points. But my future hunts are hopefully getting better/more predictable.

My take on the glory tags is two fold. One, Yes a bigger animal is possible but the allure of fewer hunters in the field is a more desirable aspect. in most cases these two factors go hand in hand. 25 years ago I saw what was happening on Public land in Idaho and Mt for the general seasons. Too many tags for the older age class resource to be plentiful. I cherish those hunts but the appeal of a little older age class animal and less competition has its place as well. My best deer and elk have come from general OTC units. But probably because I have spent way more time on those than the premier high point low tag hunts.

 

[SC Living Outdoors]

I’ve had one tag that can be considered a glory tag and that was my Maine Bull Moose tag. It 100% lived up to the hype. Really fun special hunt.

 

[RayHarrison]

After cashing in on your points on say the Arizona late kaibab hunt will you get back into the point game or just phase out your other points in other states ?

I have a turkey tag in north Kaibab and am looking for water holes any ideas

 

[Big Slick]

Now that I have had time to digest it. My feelings are that the Wy sheep hunt may be my best adventure of my life. That includes several journeys up North. I did a long thread on it here on HT.

2023 Wyoming Unit 5 Sheep tag

I drew Unit 5 Wyoming sheep tag. I will scout quite a bit but could use any info anyone might be willing to give. I will not have access to the Wilderness or horses. I know, I know, I’m a fool. Get past that and if you can help I appreciate it.

www.hunttalk.com

My Kaibab hunt I’m mixed on. From 25 years ago to now the hunt has changed. The demand to get the top end bucks is ferocious. Also AZ residents may only draw it once or twice in their lives so they accompany friends and family. My guess is each tag has at least 4-5 helpers. The Kaibab itself is remarkable. As good an ecosystem for mule deer as I have been in. As long as the deer get water in the summer they will thrive there. A lot of the other threats that are happening in other places simply won’t happen to the Kaibab. If you have a love for mule deer you need to get there at least once during mid to late November time frame.

I am starting to feel this exact thing. There was a hunter that used 25 points on a deer tag and there were 5 guys glassing for him. Mind you, 25 points on an archery tag. I have guys telling that I should go to a different unit where the trophy bucks roam. Maybe they are trying to get me out of the area because there’s a big buck in the area we were hunting. The cash flow is real for a big animal.

 

[Falcon75]

I have a turkey tag in north Kaibab and am looking for water holes any ideas

I had the tag few years back but never made it over because kids never filled their tags for elk and deer in other units. Game warden told me to find the oak trees and you will find the turkeys. I have always dreamed of hunting the kaibab. As for glory hunts I will only go on one and I keep changing it down to now archery elk in 76 Colorado. After waiting 23 years I almost want to hunt something else first in unit to learn it. Like bullshot was saying local knowledge is huge. I know with something like that you would get some help on here and maybe a former tag holder would come along to help because unfortunately it is a one and done tag and I look forward to more mid tier hunts where I can learn an area better and go again.

 

[2rocky]

I've drawn 3 elk tags i could call "Glory Tags" in my life. I think the best mind set to have is to:

1. Hunt enough in the years leading up to drawing that coveted tag that you have the utmost confidence in your ability to find and kill elk. You also don't feel as much pressure to kill any elk especially if you have meat in the freezer.
2. Have had enough success in the years leading up to it that you don't get rattled and shoot the first 6 point elk or 4 point mule deer that walks into range.
3. Have enough experience to realize that sometimes too many elk is a liability.
4. Have a reasonable size goal that may be slightly lower than that of the folks helping you.
5. The mental resilience to not let close calls and thoughts of "I should have" distract you from the focused pursuit of the animal you truly want to kill.

I have been more miserable on a hunt with a really good tag in my pocket than several OTC or easy draw tags. The reason is I put so much pressure on myself to kill the biggest critter on the mountain.

The first hunt I had a B&C Tule bull in my lap on first light of opening day but i didn't have a shot. I was in more elk and hearing more bugles than any other time of my life. I almost shot a dink because the pressure of the close calls got to me. I ended up killing a bull with broken eye guards who scored P&Y anyway on the third evening of the hunt.

My second Glory tag was in Northern New Mexico during my divorce. I missed a bull on the second evening. I was so mad at myself, I shot the next bull in range the next morning. A 5 point that would be a trophy in a Colorado OTC unit.

My third really good tag, I went after the biggest bull WE HAD SEEN on opening day and I think that made it easier because there was no doubt when he stepped into range I was committed to killing him. No wishy washy "well is he big enough?"...internal dialogue. There's the bull ...Bang.

I think that is why scouting prior to a coveted tag hunt is so important. Once you lay your eyes on the live critter you know what is not only possible but reasonable and achievable on your hunt. That last hunt was the only time I killed the biggest elk I had seen. so there was no disappointment.

 

[poormanslam]

Here’s another. 2024 AZ elk. The plot thickens. 28 points

Wyoming late deer unit 128 just weeks away. 18 points…Max

 

[JLDemo]

Here’s another. 2024 AZ elk. The plot thickens. 28 points

Wyoming late deer unit 128 just weeks away. 18 points…Max

I'd say you made good use of that AZ tag, holy smokes. Rootin' for ya on cashing in that 128. It's been warm here, hope and pray for snow up high for your hunt.

 

[poormanslam]

I'd say you made good use of that AZ tag, holy smokes. Rootin' for ya on cashing in that 128. It's been warm here, hope and pray for snow up high for your hunt.

Hottest early rifle hunt this year in AZ ever they say. Yes it’s not looking good for 128 right now. I’m going to need every bit of luck possible. But, with the luck I burned in AZ, I think I’m now toast.