throwing good app money after bad and repeat

I don't lose sleep over it. I'm lucky enough to be in a financial and relational position to where I can apply for about everything I want, and still donate to conservation groups. I did however, drop out of CA two years ago. I anticipate I'll be doing a few trips to AK for caribou and moose.
 
I don't have many things on my "bucket list" but a sheep hunt is #1 so I'll kep throwing money at every opportunity I can. I also have a fund growing to just buy a hunt down the road too. Unfortunately none of my 3 kids have any interest in hunting and my hunting buddies are losing interest so it is tough to keep the dream alive. I'll keep playing the lottery in the hopes I someday win something and if I don't, hopefully the money goes to help the game.
 
I began applying out of state in earnest in 2001. That is when I had PTO for the first time in my life. I made a matrix of states and species and defined each one as a Long term, Mid Range or short term target/goal. By 2006 I was taking 2 weeks to hunt two different non res states. In 2009 I had three archery tags for draw hunts and whiffed on every hunt. It only spurred me on...

2010 I drew a great archery elk hunt and was successful in two states. It lit a fire in me through 2016. The effect of giving away 1/2 of my assets made me reconsider where my cash was going. I identified what states and species were really important to me to keep my skin in the game. I ended up abandoning most M/S/G hunts. Since I was not Max points in anything I focused on tags with random opportunity. I quit buying point only and applied for the long shots in states without PP's

In that time Wyoming general Elk and region deer tags became harder and harder to draw. All of a sudden I didn't have a reliable out of state hunt to count on. I started buying points in anticipation of my nephew graduating college. My father and uncle aged and I re evaluated who my hunting buddies of the future would be.

I think the best course of action is to create a "Sinking Fund" for applications and hunting expenses. The Ramsey Way would be with a dedicated free savings account and a Debit Card. Spend 12 months putting in a couple hundred dollars then apply for what you have cash to pay for. Over multiple years it SHOULD build up. The Risk-Reward ratio will determine your choices pretty easily.
 
I've been applying in other states for over 15 years now. Many things have changed since I started and so has my outlook on the process.

Back then I thought DIY hunting public land and learning all the different states was the only way to go. Even looked down on guided hunting at times.

My perspective has changed mainly driven by the opportunities currently available and the tends of our herds.

I have drawn some good tags over the years and really enjoyed the excitement of the draw. I enjoy the research and all aspects of big game hunting other states which is why it's sad to see where we are today.

I have dropped a state and recently thought of dropping another.

The idea of bonus points and the many random draws don't motivate me anymore. I take more of a statistic approach these days to my applications and factor in trends.

The idea of "there's a chance" and you must pay to play is a fools game IMO

I did somehow draw a non-res MZ Nevada bull Elk tag this year. My first tag in that state

Even after drawing this tag I still would not recommend most people get started in NV and many others as they just don't make sense any more. Even if you have the budget the time has come to find other options in many cases.
 
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I went from applying in 7 states for everything I could, to only doing elk, deer, and antelope in Wyoming since getting my residency. No regrets. Don’t see myself chasing anything else at this point. I just pray that wy never starts up a preference point scheme for residents.
 
One positive about burning my CO elk points is I can now put that state strictly in the category of opportunity hunts, along with WY. That’s a change for me as most my previous experience has been in trophy units. Drawing glory tags is fading into a thing of the past anyway. I ran into no less than three nice bulls 260”-310” in CO during a late deer hunt, in what is still a 2 point elk unit. That will be my new target unit. I consider this a good place to throw money in the 2020’s.
 
There is a tag I’ll always apply for. It’s .3% odds. My dad drew it the first year I put his app in and others apply for a lifetime and never get .It costs double what the other species cost to apply for (minimal real difference). The reason I apply is that the price difference is ear marked for habitat management of that species in that unit. When you go there you can see the barns, machines, and habitat all in operation. The work that extra few dollars does benefits multiple species and builds a population that the state uses to reintroduce animals in other locations. I’d be more willing to throw money away in other areas if I observed what my money was going to.

I have dropped out of many low odds point states and focused on areas that are attainable. If I had more fund access I’d probably burn more money but I’m focused on maximizing my trips in areas where I have a reasonable chance at a draw and getting an animal. When my work schedule gets better next year I’m joining the New Mexican rat race again.
 
I too have dropped out of most sgm draws, and don’t even bother with half of the states in the west for deer elk and antelope.
I have burned most of my points in the last two years and have had a great time doing so, not sure what the future will hold but I’m glad I got to enjoy the points I built up.
 
I am going to drop NV…kind of. I am buying a tag every other year so I keep my points. The low draw odds are bad and I might stop applying in most states and just buy a tag every 3-4 years. I hate how this has gone but…sitting on 25 years of elk points (CO) sucks. I am at the point where my age and health are going to impact the hunts I apply for. That is not something that was on my radar 25 years ago.
 
Respectfully,
Having that many points is your fault, there are a ton of units you could go have a great hunt in with 25 points.
I can’t wrap my head around how having 25 points sucks.
 
AZ deer is getting dropped from my app plan today. Getting to be too much from every angle and I need to simplify somewhere. The base license is excessive for a tag I have no intention of hunting this year, and even if I did, would be veeeerrry unlikely to draw this year or anytime soon. By the time I do, would likely be in for thousands in fees already and I no longer care about it enough to do that. I even took the paid hunter ed class last year to get permanent point, but sadly the cost/benefit has changed in my mind, as it probably has in many more places that my stubborn mind has been slow to fully comprehend.
 
Bought another Arizona deer point today. I’ve got a couple thoughts on how I’d like to use them in the future. Really looking forward to cashing them in so I can start on a different Arizona plan
 
TheTone said:
Me? 12 or 13. I’m a shoo in for a late strip tag in the next year or so
Click to expand...
Should I clear my Calendar to come give you a hand next fall?

I do know my way around out there, worked the strip for about 6-7 years, lots of country to cover.
 
BuzzH said:
Should I clear my Calendar to come give you a hand next fall?

I do know my way around out there, worked the strip for about 6-7 years, lots of country to cover.
Click to expand...
Can’t thank you enough for the generous offer of support and help. Just so you know we are holding out for 210 typical or 250 non. I really want one that’s wide and heavy
 
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