JEL
Well-known member
Same. And before that it was 2010.
Tag Soup How Many Have Had It
- Thread starter shrapnel
- Start date
Ouch, but glad you were able to pull it off in round 2!
Awww man those would be tough to swallow!
Nick87
Well-known member
That sucks, lot of your hard work goes into paying for something like that not to mention the anticipation.
TimberBuck
Member
When I was 13, I got very lucky and drew a MT moose tag. In a not so lucky turn of events, a week after the season opener I broke my right shoulder pretty bad playing fall football, my shooting shoulder, still the only bone I've ever broken.
After having to sit out a few weeks, I still couldn't shoot from my right shoulder with the break still healing, so I practiced shooting lefty. I was able to get comfortable enough to shoot accurately off a bipod lefty, and hunted the last couple weeks of the remaining season in November with my dad.
By then the rut was over, snow was getting deep, and bulls were tough to find, even when tracks were cut, they just seemed to go forever. We hunted hard, walked a lot of miles, but never did fill my tag.
That one still hurts 16 years later, and I'm sure will hurt for a long time.
After having to sit out a few weeks, I still couldn't shoot from my right shoulder with the break still healing, so I practiced shooting lefty. I was able to get comfortable enough to shoot accurately off a bipod lefty, and hunted the last couple weeks of the remaining season in November with my dad.
By then the rut was over, snow was getting deep, and bulls were tough to find, even when tracks were cut, they just seemed to go forever. We hunted hard, walked a lot of miles, but never did fill my tag.
That one still hurts 16 years later, and I'm sure will hurt for a long time.
Hem
Well-known member
I eat some sort of tag every year. I simply don't have the time to hunt hard for every tag...except turkey.
Every third year I kill an elk. Between years I focus on deer ...and antelope( if I get the tag). Is what it is...if I can find a week to focus on one animal I'm psyched.
Every third year I kill an elk. Between years I focus on deer ...and antelope( if I get the tag). Is what it is...if I can find a week to focus on one animal I'm psyched.
CPAjeff
Well-known member
Utah LE Muzzleloader bull elk. It took me 14 years to draw the tag. Opening day came and we were in a canyon with a bunch of love sick bulls. I hit a great bull and never found him. After two full days of searching, I notched my tag and called it a wrap.
Every time I drive past the unit, I remember the hunt and it still stings a little.
Every time I drive past the unit, I remember the hunt and it still stings a little.
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I second that-
Que the Sarah Mclachlan... "for just $0.05 a day, you can save the life of a mule deer doe... don't wait, act now."
TheGrayRider
Well-known member
Didn’t get a shot on 10 day Dahl Sheep backpack hunt in Brooks Range, Alaska, August 2020. We studied this ram for over 2 hours. He was close but just not full curl. Disappointed after that hunt but life always works out for the best. (Never one to quit - I am already rebooked for Alaska 2025 hunt with same outfitter and unit.)
Luckily, I drew and killed this Arizona desert bighorn sheep, pictured below, this past December 2022, Unit 45C, Kofa NWR. So blessed, grateful, and thankful, TheGrayRider.
Flatbrimmer
Well-known member
In 5 years I’ve only shot one elk, so that’s 4 tags. I buy a region wide doe tag and 1 of 5 shoulder season doe tags every year, and I hardly ever shoot does.. I’ve bought two wolf tags and never shot a wolf, although I do see them.. got lucky on my first and only bear tag, and antelope tag…
tag soup is always an expected side dish, never an entree.
If I drew any of the big 3, and ate soup…… man, I don’t even want to think about that…….
tag soup is always an expected side dish, never an entree.
If I drew any of the big 3, and ate soup…… man, I don’t even want to think about that…….
shrapnel
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2015
- Messages
- 2,642
That really sucks, but if it makes you feel any better, I have gotten 2 moose tags in Montana and gotten them both...
The Hedgehog
Well-known member
And this is how I figured out who you are! Ryan! I felt your pain back then.
406dn
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2019
- Messages
- 2,301
The only tag soup that I even consider is for something that can't be hunted again the following year. Such as I have not killed a deer in maybe 20 years, but always have a tag, just in case.
Many years ago I ate a sheep tag in NW British Columbia. That one was by far the most bitter. We just could never find a good ram. I passed on a moose on the same trip, without a second thought.
I've drawn three cow moose tags in Montana and one Mountain goat tag. The last moose tag went unfilled. That was disappointing, but not that bad.
Many years ago I ate a sheep tag in NW British Columbia. That one was by far the most bitter. We just could never find a good ram. I passed on a moose on the same trip, without a second thought.
I've drawn three cow moose tags in Montana and one Mountain goat tag. The last moose tag went unfilled. That was disappointing, but not that bad.
Have yet to mess with the big three, but about 5 years ago I started keeping/collecting every unfilled tag (already a pretty good pile) to show to young hunters in case they get the wrong impression from my few trophies/momentos I have around. Or all of the BS on instagram etc. They’re stuffed in a gallon ziploc at the moment but I figure a big basket hanging from the wall might be fun at some point.
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wtrfwlhunter
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2013
- Messages
- 382
My first big three tag, DIY Kodiak Mtn Goat is this fall and I’m already dreading the possibility of eating tag soup on it. Hard not to think about the possibility when you’re putting forward a relatively significant amount of cash… I feel for all you guys on here who’ve eaten tag soup on a big three or any limited draw tag, those have got to be tough pills to swallow no matter the situation.
I eat some flavor of tag soup every year, but haven’t had one yet that really bothers me. As long as I fill one or two tags a season I’m pretty happy to eat the rest and hunt for friends/family tags or for birds.
I eat some flavor of tag soup every year, but haven’t had one yet that really bothers me. As long as I fill one or two tags a season I’m pretty happy to eat the rest and hunt for friends/family tags or for birds.
TimberBuck
Member
Ha guess that was a dead give away!
TimberBuck
Member
Maybe someday I'll get a second chance at a moose, not likely but you never know...
Buy a bear tag every year, never killed one, not sure I care to, but might give it a real go this spring just cause.
Tag soup to me tastes good some years though when you let the nice young deer make it through on public land and he shows back up the following year, I’ve had that tag soup a few times, a few times it’s paid off..
Ate my antelope doe tag this year while seeing a few that were killable, but numbers in my area just didn’t seem good enough to take one out of the herd
Tag soup to me tastes good some years though when you let the nice young deer make it through on public land and he shows back up the following year, I’ve had that tag soup a few times, a few times it’s paid off..
Ate my antelope doe tag this year while seeing a few that were killable, but numbers in my area just didn’t seem good enough to take one out of the herd
