Tag services vs GoHunt ?

[WVTXn]

Howdy Y’all,

Any thoughts on tag services vs doing it on my own using GoHunt? I currently use a tag service but have mixed reviews. My emails and phone calls are always answered but it seems like the cost just isn’t worth it. I’m using the tag service for a few western states and doing it myself on a few eastern states. I’ve also inquired about some landowner tags but it seems like I’m being sold on guided hunts. I realize that after typing this I’m answering my own questions. But before I call GoHunt, has anyone had any good bad or ugly experiences?

 

[PRO MO]

all they are good for is articles about gear they sell, promoting their podcasts and videos, and offering the same "insider" info they've been giving out to hundreds of thousands of people for years.

 

[WVTXn]

all they are good for is articles about gear they sell, promoting their podcasts and videos, and offering the same "insider" info they've been giving out to hundreds of thousands of people for years.

Sure the heck seems like it.
Might even be counter-intel.

 

[HONEYBADGER]

GoHunt has their own tag service now.....

 

[T Chris]

I think GoHunt has been worth the cost from my perspective. I get a lot of benefit from the filtering and draw odds data and became aware of many opportunities because of their articles. Lots of folks will throw rocks at them for bringing additional non-residents to their state, but I think they are certainly worth the price they charge for the service they provide.

I have considered tag services really only for the advice they can provide related to outfitters. I prefer a DIY approach, but have used outfitters with mixed results. The tag services should have better insight into customer feedback and overall experience quality.

 

[WVTXn]

I have considered tag services really only for the advice they can provide related to outfitters. I prefer a DIY approach, but have used outfitters with mixed results. The tag services should have better insight into customer feedback and overall experience quality.

I understand this. Had a not so good outfitted experience last fall.

Thanks for the insight.

 

[forrestleitch]

Gohunt is worth it to me, I use it pretty much strictly for keeping track of draw odds, license allocations, etc. Have to do plenty of research outside of the app as well but for those functions alone I think it’s worth it

 

[Khunter]

how much are you paying tag service?

 

[WVTXn]

how much are you paying tag service?

About $100 per state. And let’s say I play the game every year at 3-5 states.

 

[WVTXn]

all they are good for is articles about gear they sell, promoting their podcasts and videos, and offering the same "insider" info they've been giving out to hundreds of thousands of people for years.

The way I originally read this was that you were referring to all tag services. After rereading this I take it you were specifically referring to GoHunt?

 

[WapitiBob]

There is no instance where I would pay someone to do my apps, let alone at $100 ea; Western states are easy.
As for tag allocations, all I will say is your research is lacking if you get those from any service.

 

[PRO MO]

The way I originally read this was that you were referring to all tag services. After rereading this I take it you were specifically referring to GoHunt?

Specifically gohunt. And that’s just their normal insider, not tag services. I’d never pay for someone to do my tags…

 

[ImBillT]

Sure the heck seems like it.
Might even be counter-intel.

goHunt is not counter intel, and has been well worth the money in my opinion.

They do occasionally make mistakes, but they cut my time compiling draw odds from countless hours to only minutes. They put draw odds and harvest stats in one convenient location, and right next to that is other good information like M/F ratio and public land percentage. Just to the left is a map. Putting all of that information about a unit together without goHunt often involves multiple different documents from state agencies and that gets cumbersome very quickly.

Some unit descriptions and info about seasons is pretty generic and usually not worth much. Occasionally they have a valuable bit of information. On one of my elk hunts I drove past a large piece of private land, owned by a business, and wondered what they thought of hunters. The following season I read the goHunt page for that unit, and goHunt said that company allowed elk hunters to hunt. I wish I had read that before my hunt!!!

Their strategy articles can help you cut down some time familiarizing yourself with where the better tier hunting is in a state, but that stuff is no secret. In recent years I’ve seen a lot less in the “hidden gem” category, and I always stared clear of applying for hints they labeled a “hidden gem”. Why? Not because it was misinformation, but because suddenly 1000 people were considering applying for a unit that previously had only 5-10 applicants.

Also, OnX/huntin’ fool draw odds and filtering has improved 100 fold since goHunt started and it’s a good option as well. I prefer goHunt slightly, but if you already have OnX, that’s a great option.

 

[WVTXn]

goHunt is not counter intel, and has been well worth the money in my opinion.

In this post I was referring to any tag service. I should have been more clear.

They do occasionally make mistakes, but they cut my time compiling draw odds from countless hours to only minutes. They put draw odds and harvest stats in one convenient location, and right next to that is other good information like M/F ratio and public land percentage. Just to the left is a map. Putting all of that information about a unit together without goHunt often involves multiple different documents from state agencies and that gets cumbersome very quickly.

This is really what I’m looking for. At least for now. This data would be useful in starting a long term hunt plan.
State and species 2027
State and species 2028
Etc
I’ve asked this of my current tag service. Seems like they don’t hear my request.

Some unit descriptions and info about seasons is pretty generic and usually not worth much. Occasionally they have a valuable bit of information. On one of my elk hunts I drove past a large piece of private land, owned by a business, and wondered what they thought of hunters. The following season I read the goHunt page for that unit, and goHunt said that company allowed elk hunters to hunt. I wish I had read that before my hunt!!!

Their strategy articles can help you cut down some time familiarizing yourself with where the better tier hunting is in a state, but that stuff is no secret. In recent years I’ve seen a lot less in the “hidden gem” category, and I always stared clear of applying for hints they labeled a “hidden gem”. Why? Not because it was misinformation, but because suddenly 1000 people were considering applying for a unit that previously had only 5-10 applicants.

Also, OnX/huntin’ fool draw odds and filtering has improved 100 fold since goHunt started and it’s a good option as well. I prefer goHunt slightly, but if you already have OnX, that’s a great option.

Thanks for the detailed reply.

 

[ImBillT]

In this post I was referring to any tag service. I should have been more clear.

This is really what I’m looking for. At least for now. This data would be useful in starting a long term hunt plan.
State and species 2027
State and species 2028
Etc
I’ve asked this of my current tag service. Seems like they don’t hear my request.

Thanks for the detailed reply.

I like OnX’s maps better. If you already have OnX, their draw odds are better than they used to be, so upgrading to the elite package and sticking with them is an option.

I would choose goHunt and/or OnX Elite over a tag service.

 

[Addicting]

GOHUNT is great, it takes the masses away from actually reading the new books and tag allocations.

Pro tip, there are great hunts that are not listed in a service or on GOHUNT. They just take reading skills.

 

[WVTXn]

GOHUNT is great, it takes the masses away from actually reading the new books and tag allocations.

My apologies, I can’t tell if this is literal or sarcasm. Both?

 

[Addicting]

My apologies, I can’t tell if this is literal or sarcasm. Both?

Absolutely literal, I was a go hunt guy. People want easy and both methods you asked about are easy.

I’ve learned that the take my money crowd continually leave gems to those that read the yearly info from the game agency.

There isn’t much incentive for the tag service to actually get you to cash in points as you may walk away afterwards.

Gohunt only gives you info on what they want you to see from last year. Every year there are new hunts that will never show up there. Only those who read will know they are available to pick from.

 

[ImBillT]

Gohunt only gives you info on what they want you to see from last year. Every year there are new hunts that will never show up there. Only those who read will know they are available to pick from.

I wouldn’t say this is completely accurate. Yes goHunt generally only uses last year’s numbers, and for states that change tag allocations and seasons regularly you need to know what you’re looking at. IIRC they used to not list some Utah and AZ hunts because they weren’t there in the previous year, but this has been fixed. They have also started using “predictive odds” in some states, which is where they apply last year’s applicants to this year’s tag numbers. Also, they have definitely made mistakes. One year they listed a hunt for non-residents in a strategy article that was no longer available to non-residents. The first year that NM changed their rounding rules goHunt got the actual rounding process all wrong and probably steered people not to apply for hunts they could have applied for. Two years ago they mentioned in a strategy article that a hunt had no tags for non-residents when it actually did. So yes, they make mistakes, and it’s best to read the state regs. In NM, CO, UT, and AZ, I have not noticed any draw tags they they completely failed to list, but I didn’t as rigorous of research this year as I usually do because my fall will be busy and that has limited my application strategy.

I would NOT recommend using goHunt or OnX to find hunt codes, or dates, nor would I recommend not reading the state brochures closely. I would however recommend using goHunt or OnX for research on the hunt codes that you think you might be interested in. Calculating draw odds in UT by hand is quite time consuming, and their harvest data, and m/f ratios are in separate documents. In goHunt or OnX you can have all of that info in a matter of minutes.

 

[WVTXn]

Absolutely literal, I was a go hunt guy. People want easy and both methods you asked about are easy.

I’ve learned that the take my money crowd continually leave gems to those that read the yearly info from the game agency.

There isn’t much incentive for the tag service to actually get you to cash in points as you may walk away afterwards.

Gohunt only gives you info on what they want you to see from last year. Every year there are new hunts that will never show up there. Only those who read will know they are available to pick from.

I understand now. Thanks for the response and elaboration. Much appreciated