Contributors to this thread:
Just checked on-line "Go Wild" for any bear results, it now says I have 6 points which means I didn't draw. Check your bear points on-line if you put in for a tag and now have zero it means you drew a tag. Paper mail notices will be sent out later, good luck
I have 8 points now and see they are showing preference points again for wolf tags.
Cheesehead Mike 21 ! Can I respectfully ask what you are eating for? I ask this because I have 19 points ;)
Mine went to 9 points months ago and still shows 9 for A just looked it up says they don't draw until mid Feb .
CH M I meant “waiting for” :/
CH M I meant “waiting for” :/
Wink501, I'm not really waiting for anything. I started elk hunting out west in '98 and elk season conflicts with bear hunting so it was really hard to do both. In 2000 I skipped elk hunting and went bear hunting. I missed being in the mountains chasing bugles and regretted not going. I decided I'd much rather chase bulls in the mountains than sit in a treestand in mosquito infested woods and shoot a bear with a mouthful of donuts. So I've just been buying points ever since. Now that I'm retired doing both might be more doable but it's hard for me to get fired up about bear. I've shot 4 bears with a compound and thinking I'll probably shoot the next one with my 1959 Bear Kodiak recurve. My girlfriend has started building points again and she wants to go as soon as she can draw so I might wait until she can draw so we can hunt together.
So what are you waiting for?
Cheesehead Mike, with the amount of points you have you and your girlfriend should apply together as a team. Even if she had one point I’m sure you both would draw a bear tag
CH Mike. When I started applying way back when, I just felt we didn’t have the money for me to go on a Bear Hunt. I told myself I’d go when my kids were out of college and I retired from my career as Deputy Sheriff I’d go. I’m now retired but I’m kind of waiting for bait sitters to go first. I’m exploring reputable outfitters. I’m hopeful that it will be a good experience.
MjF.. can hunters share preference points and apply as a team ? My son is a USAF Pilot. He only has a few points. I’d love to be able to share my points and do a father son hunt.
No. You can apply at a group but the drawing is based on the member with the least number of points. I don't think they have been drawn yet.
They have not drawn yet. Points are awarded when you apply and will stay that way unless you draw. In years past your points didn't go up until after the drawing if you were unsuccessful.
24 pts for me,,, 3 wolf, 24 Colorado elk and deer 8 Wyoming elk. There is some really great units out west for elk but you need pts. With 24 pts I'm still not guarantied a tag for the unit I want. Helpful Hit. if you guys have young kids or Grandkids have them apply now. My granddaughter 3 has 3 pts, grandson 2 has 2.and second grandson 1 has 1 pts. My son 37 has 24 Colorado Elk and deer pts. Plan ahead...
Thats crazy amount points!
Some now are into 30 plus points for some tags .
Be careful every year numerous individuals burn double digit points on cow and doe tags because they enter wrong code. Those tags could be had with no points in most cases.
If your chasing NR Nw Colorado elk units, in another year or so will be creeping above 30 points. Good luck chasing that.
Most likly they will tweak the system and not for the better, as they have done 5 times since i started applying nearly 3 decades ago, when it took 4-5 to draw.
You gotta believe in something even if it might be fairy tales.
Thats crazy amount points!
Some now are into 30 plus points for some tags .
Be careful every year numerous individuals burn double digit points on cow and doe tags because they enter wrong code. Those tags could be had with no points in most cases.
If your chasing NR Nw Colorado elk units, in another year or so will be creeping above 30 points. Good luck chasing that.
Most likly they will tweak the system and not for the better, as they have done 5 times since i started applying nearly 3 decades ago, when it took 4-5 to draw.
You gotta believe in something even if it might be fairy tales.
I understand you guys with double digit points in Colorado holding out for the unit you want since you have so much invested at this point. Personally though I can't ever see myself building elk points for that many years. Most guys set their goal at a 350" bull or bigger when building points for those top end units. I killed a 360" bull in a 2-3 point unit and then several years later I drew a unit that took a handful of points and had an amazing hunt some days seeing over 100 elk. I was into elk every day, saw several 330-350 class bulls and saw well over 1000 elk on that hunt. To each their own but personally I'd rather go on multiple quality hunts during that 25-30+ year period, possibly having multiple chances at 350" class bulls than wait all those years for one premier tag.
I wish you guys with a ton of points luck though and I hope you get everything you want out of your hunts.
Colorado is just one state. Haven't been sitting home waiting only to draw Colorado high point elk unit. Been on 15 elk hunts killed 12, 3 over 300. 2 Shiras moose, a mt goat and numerous mule deer, antelope, Iowa deer, mn black bear hunts.
At least Up until recently the bulk of Colorado point collecting had been cheap.
Your right my goal for Co is 350 or better. But the wolves moving into Co might beat me to the elk or old age & death.
I hear you Doug, building points in one state is easier when you have multiple options. Congrats on your succuss and good luck. I too fear the wolves will run rampant in Colorado.
CheeseHead ,, Obviously you don't totally understand the reason why one person my want to hunt one unit by gaining points vs another person wanting a different unit. Those reason may and can be any where from the trophy size to the landscape to herd size. Those are all individual preferences. And really no concern to anyone else. You can gain points and still hunt with otc tags . I have killed multiple 300 plus bulls by gaining points and with otc tags. My largest is 367. I have killed numerous p/y mule deer never putting any of my trophies in the vanity book. But the 200 inch buck has eluded me. But with 24 mule deer points I now have a chance at hunting an area with a good population of that 200 inch bucks. And once again that hunt is my personal choice. Edit,, I will also add I gained points to hunt antelope in a high quality trophy area resulting in a p/y buck. That was my choice. For the Bear points I've shot 9 with a bow never a p/y. I've been guiding bear hunters for 40 plus years and really don't think it would be right to have clients and I hunt a p/y bear. Maybe some day when I'm done guiding I'll hunt one last p/y bear. or transfer the tag. But till that happens I'll keep gaining points. Either way its my personal choice. As far as my Kids and grandkids that just pain being smart and proactive.
Arrow, apparently I struck a nerve?
I never said anything that would infringe on anybody's personal choice for what they choose to do and I didn't intend to make "your personal choice" my business. I was simply sharing my personal perspective on building points for the holy grail vs using those points to go on more good hunts. My statement was intended mainly to help any guys out there who might think they have to build max points to have a chance for a great hunt. My statement wasn't intended for guys like you with a lot of points who already have their eye on the prize.
I also said "to each their own" so obviously I was acknowledging that it's your personal choice. I'm not sure what your issue is with me stating my personal choice.
I started my statement by saying that I understand so I'm not sure what it is you think that I don't "totally understand". Of course I'm not going to know or care about every thought that goes on inside of everybody else's head.
I was just trying to share my perspective on building max points, that's all. Nothing more, nothing less. It sounds to me like the fact that my personal choice is different than your personal choice bothers you for some reason. Why, I don't know. I would think you'd be happy that I'm not competing with you in the max points pools.
Regardless, I wish you and anybody else who has invested so much in all those points the best of luck. I hope your investment pays off and your hunts are everything you hoped for.
Looks like I'm the one that struck a nerve.... LOL ,,,If you read the post again you will see I'm simply pointing out the benefits of applying for points for your self' kids or grandkids. If you are applying for a unit that takes only take 2 or 3 pts and you draw you have meet you goal. Same as a unit that takes 24 pts. just longer... Every hunter has his/her goals . There are reason why units take different amounts of points. If you understand the challenges, time and rewards high point units have to offer there is no down side. IMO...
No down side of high point units except you will probably never draw one!! Especially if you are waiting for the NW Colorado elk units!!! Ten years from now you probably wont be much closer than you are now. Fact.
yup,,,, point creep.. other better / excellent units.
I wonder how much the wait time increases by states allowing infants and toddlers to apply? If this is the rule and everyone starts doing this, pretty soon you will be counting how many lifetimes it takes to draw a tag...
Expect changes to the process sooner rather than latter. Weather it be tag numbers being reduced or tags removed from regular draw and allocated to special interest groups or instead of tags going to highest point holder dome now go to random draw pool, or Nr quota reduced or completely eliminated, all have happen in Co draw process past 20 years.
Or more common one is increased yearly point fees and or mandatory license purchase before applying in draw.
Moose points once were $7 now there $150. Draw permit went from around $900 to over $2,000. And if want hunt archery season thats another $70.
Don't expect it to get less or stay same . G& F are pulling in millions annually for just a little bit of computer time.
I marvel at the amount of new applicants and those with few points that continue to buy in when there is absolutely no chance to ever get a tag in the true preference systems.
They must not really look it to it very much or hoping and praying the system will change to their advantage i think its the former rather than the latter.
Then again there are numerous examples of mis applications use double digit points for cow and doe tags that could be had for zero points.
Drew my first Wy Shiras moose with 2 points could drew with zero as 1 of 6 NR tag had no applicant and went back to a resident. Now that unit takes 19-20 points and creeps a point every 2-3 years. No way i can catch any moose unit with 16 points, every year i am still 2-3 piints off. That five year waiting period after drawing 1st tag, did its job. Its sorta funny seeing oe op le use 20 points on that unit when 20 years ago they could drew with zero. It never teouohy unit abd fir so long was ignored. Now any Shiras tag is the trophy! the few units that have random tags the odds are dismal . Since I drew Montana Shira on my 19 year of applying and shot a dandy, so with two Shrias DIY bulls ,
I am done with Wy moose, unless i can talk my family into giving me plus two thousand to use points for cow tag which numerous guys are doing just to use the points and get out of the process with something. Wy Moose NR cow tags used to go unclaimed. Not no more some take double digit points to draw.
Those license consulting places have toned down there mantra of Apply Apply Apply because unless you just want to donate money to fish and game depts your chance of every in your 92 year lifetime is no better than a snowball hitting the devil in hell. Was so suorised to finally see that admission in print.
Apparently they didn't want to look like complete Fools when even a 3rd grader could do the math and see the folly.
Expect changes to the process sooner rather than latter. Weather it be tag numbers being reduced or tags removed from regular draw and allocated to special interest groups or instead of tags going to highest point holder dome now go to random draw pool, or Nr quota reduced or completely eliminated, all have happen in Co draw process past 20 years.
Or more common one is increased yearly point fees and or mandatory license purchase before applying in draw.
Moose points once were $7 now there $150. Draw permit went from around $900 to over $2,000. And if want hunt archery season thats another $70.
Don't expect it to get less or stay same . G& F are pulling in millions annually for just a little bit of computer time.
I marvel at the amount of new applicants and those with few points that continue to buy in when there is absolutely no chance to ever get a tag in the true preference systems.
They must not really look it to it very much or hoping and praying the system will change to their advantage i think its the former rather than the latter.
Then again there are numerous examples of mis applications use double digit points for cow and doe tags that could be had for zero points.
Drew my first Wy Shiras moose with 2 points could drew with zero as 1 of 6 NR tag had no applicant and went back to a resident. Now that unit takes 19-20 points and creeps a point every 2-3 years. No way i can catch any moose unit with 16 points, every year i am still 2-3 piints off. That five year waiting period after drawing 1st tag, did its job. Its sorta funny seeing oe op le use 20 points on that unit when 20 years ago they could drew with zero. It never teouohy unit abd fir so long was ignored. Now any Shiras tag is the trophy! the few units that have random tags the odds are dismal . Since I drew Montana Shira on my 19 year of applying and shot a dandy, so with two Shrias DIY bulls ,
I am done with Wy moose, unless i can talk my family into giving me plus two thousand to use points for cow tag which numerous guys are doing just to use the points and get out of the process with something. Wy Moose NR cow tags used to go unclaimed. Not no more some take double digit points to draw.
Those license consulting places have toned down there mantra of Apply Apply Apply because unless you just want to donate money to fish and game depts your chance of every in your 92 year lifetime is no better than a snowball hitting the devil in hell. Was so suorised to finally see that admission in print.
Apparently they didn't want to look like complete Fools when even a 3rd grader could do the math and see the folly.
Lots of good stuff . I quit accumulatey points many years ago . I buy OTC tags & go hunting . Been dumb lucky with archery Elk. 100 % success but no monsters .
I was 10 years into trying for a desert Bighorn tag when I lived in NV . One of our Casino customers offered me 25,000 to come along & pull the trigger if I drew a tag . That was the late 80's . I said No .
I have retired from bear hunting, shot enough of them between Minnesota and Wisconsin. I have about 4 barrels of bait left that is in the Hayward area that I would like to sell. If anyone knows someone that draws have them contact me here and we might be able to work something out.
I have 20 points for the same reason as Mike cheesehead.
I'm currently sitting on 27 points waiting for the right time / opportunity to go. I'm also waiting for my wife and kids to build up more points for the chance to hunt together with them on the same year.
Imagine what would happen to the points required for a zone curve if all of us sitting on 20+ points applied for the kill tag on the same year!
It wouldn't change. Doesn't matter if the kill tags come from someone who has 5 years or 40 years. They are still only going to give out the same number of tags. The minimum would stay the same.
Skookumjt I understand this. But they do estimate the average number of point necessary to receive a kill tag in a give zone. If all the people sitting on 20+ points applied to win all the tags across multiple years wouldn't raise the number of points needed in that zone to receive a kill tag?
It would have a minor effect for one year if ALL of the people sitting on points all took a kill tag in one year. It might kick the minimum years up one year in A and B. No effect on C and minimal impact on D. Based on 2020 numbers anyways. Things will likely get shaken up quite a bit this year with the shifting of boundaries and addition of new units.
Talked to 2 different guys yesterday. One had 10pts and the your had 9pts, according to them, Neither drew a tag.
arrow1 what zone did they apply for?
I thought point creep was not real, lol.
This is how modern technology, (including compounds) have impacted the resources and opportunity.
Zone A,,,,, Who said point creep wasn't real...??? ONE.... Of the reason for this change in points needed was a geographical change in the zones. Another (which I was told) is taking permits from the north and moving them South.
All over this forum in the past, posters have stated " show me one instance where modern technology ( including compounds and crossbows) have caused loss of opportunity" ?
Their question is answered by this very thread.
I thought we needed more recruitment, oh never mind. That question is answered here too.
FYI Wisconsin had a lesser weapon law which allowed anyone with a xgun to hunt in any gun season.. Very good law. There still is NO separate Archery season for bear hunting. ALL weapons are lumped in one season. Soooo to say that xguns and compounds in the bears is the reason for more points is a stretch.
They are not the reason, they are some of the reasons. And, this thread is not limited to Wisconsin. Anything that makes harvesting easier, has an impact.
I had a guy with 12 points feel he didn't draw because he still shows points. I thought that was odd so I call the wdnr at 888-936-7463 and spoke to dana. She said the drawing has NOT taken place. yet. She said it will in the next week or so.
Well IMO hunting with a firearm is the easiest. Soooo allowing lesser weapons to hunt with the firearms in the one and only season has no impact. The hunter is just picking which weapon he/her prefers in the same and only season. . I'm referring to Wisconsin. The Lesser weapon law was a good one.
I jumped the gun on the bear tag issue.... the DNR now submit a point before the drawing, in the past, they never did that, so when I saw my points went up and the week before I couldn't even see my points on the Go Wild website, so I assumed I didn't draw. Until the drawing, we all can assume what's it going to take (points) to get a tag in these new zones, until then no one knows. It will be interesting
Mizzerybroke is hilarous as he trolls thru bowsite pages with his constant crossbow diatribe. .
Lol, just providing discussion, on a discussion forum. I know it sometimes hurts.
Correct, they haven't drawn. The NRB will approve the quotas next week. The proposed quotas are up significantly.
Correct, they haven't drawn. The NRB will approve the quotas next week. The proposed quotas are up significantly.
It’s demand driven pure and simple. When they allowed the ability to transfer tags influenced the rise in points to draw.
WI. offers the best bear hunt in the lower 48. Long season and success rates 50% to 60%. Chose your weapon and method and get after it.
I wonder if technology, such as compound bows and crossbows impacted demand?
Non hunters like moms putting in for kids while dad puts in for himself impacted demands.
Quit looking for something that isn’t there. I’ll bet 70% or greater use a firearm and the others use another weapon combined.
Of course multiple items impacted demand, including the compound bow and crossbows. Very easy to sit 40 yards off the bait, a bit more challenging to get the bear inside 20 yards. My Wisconsin archery tag used to be good for a deer OR a bear, every year.
An average compound shooter can make a 40 yard shot quite easy. Your answer is the same to every thread here and a waste of gigs.
That is my point, thank you!
Challenging to get a bear inside 20 yards comment...no not really.
Far easier to get a big one into compound and crossbow range, than into longbow range. I have been in on over 70 stickbow kills, as a companion and hunter, none were easy with bait or spot and stalk. Little bears yes, bruins no. Far easier to bait bruins in at 40 yards, than at 20.
Also been directly, as a sitting companion, in on another 20 or so compound and rifle kills. Big bears are simple to get from 40 yards plus.
Ohhhh you didn’t say big one in that post but I assume you now mean big mature well educated bears. I will trump your 90 in on kills with my hundreds of in on kills I have been on over my years of guiding and non-guided hunts. And yes I bet it’s even easier from 60 yards
Nobody with any experience would say it is not easier to bait bears or deer at a distance, than at 20 yards or less. Any size animal. Stupid comments, and logic.
You must be talking about Drop Tine. I didn’t see any comment about deer either. Once again it’s not that challenging to get the bear within 20 yards.
Years ago when our group went " up North " for a week of bowhunting we alway bought an OTC Bear tag just in case 1 came down the trail . Lots of tags sold , lots of Bears killed & there always seemed to be plenty of Bears .
During Deer gun season lots of guys would go looking for Bear dens after they got their Buck . A few smoke bombs & the Bear came out. Again There was always plenty of Bears the next year .
Then the Bear guys got their stuff together with a solid Bear ORG & slowly elevated the Bear from Varmint to Trophy . And here we are today .
It was always over the counter tags then the population dropped to such low levels they closed the season for a year or two in the mid 80s after that the new point system was born. One of Wisconsin’s best big game success stories
It wasn't a separate tag back then
This is just a bit off topic,,,,, BuuuT remember if you are out scouting for bear baits or other activities for the next 100 days on the federal forests You are celebrating LIFE so you don't have to wear a mask. HAHAHA (:
The bear bait that I posted as for sale above is spoken for. My neighbor's kid is expecting to get a transfer tag for this year.
does MizzeryBricks knuckles get sore from chest thumping and does his hand have callouses from back slapping?
"This is just a bit off topic,,,,, BuuuT remember if you are out scouting for bear baits or other activities for the next 100 days on the federal forests You are celebrating LIFE so you don't have to wear a mask. HAHAHA (:"
Good point, but don't throw that mask away just yet...they make really nice little sterno can carriers! That reminds me...is burning honey even legal in Wisconsin?? Always burned honey when I lived in Minnesota; it worked great.
No meat either or animal by-products
Disclaimer..,I don’t mean to cause trouble. I’ve never bear hunted bear and might be naive...”But why can’t bait sitters go first every year ?” I mean it’s only a week right? Sitting on stand does not seem as disruptive to the bears patterns as opposed to those who hunt with dogs.
Thanks guys! Haven't gotten around to reading the bear regs too carefully yet...figure I'll have time to do that when and if I draw, which won't be this year as I put in for just a preference point. I'm gonna draw Minnesota this fall and didn't want to double up on bear hunts in two states.
Wink501 it keeps the playing field equal. In all the years I spent guiding bear hunters my 95% success never changed for me hunting on public whether hounds went first or bait sitters.
MjF ...Good to know. Thanks
Wink, besides that, the hounds have been training for months already anyways.
Skook I have been saying that for years but most bait sitter hunters are worried about hounds around there bait station while their hunting. I only had 3 instances in all those years guiding where hounds came around a bait station while a hunter was on stand, two of those hunters shot a bear a half hour after the hounds left.
I don't think that the dogs make much difference, especially since they typically run in the morning and most sitters are out in the afternoon. I do understand that a hunter might be frustrated in the unlikely event it happens but that's part of hunting public land.
Results are up. I didnt draw a tag
Are you sure? I wouldn't think they would have yet.
The bear tags must be out. This is what mine said....Class A Bear Drawing Winner Zone B (9/8/21- 10/12/21) Active 9/8/21-10/12/21.
Must be then. How many points did you have?
Anyone know how many points it took to draw for Zone A & D?
Saw on the Facebook machine that Zone A is taking 9 points. Did see 1 person got a tag with 8 points and some with 9 points that didn't draw in A. Zone D there were some with only 2 points getting tags
2 points for zone D edit... Made the call. Zone D 493 rec. a tag with 2pts,, 6400 did not,,, 3points and up all rec. tag that wanted. Zone A 8 points 107 rec. tag...9points all rec. tag that wanted....
Skookumjt I had 11 points.
My son drew in zone D. He had 9 points. The area we hunt was zone A last year and got moved to zone D. He tried to apply last year for zone A and didn’t get drawn with 8 pts then. Ugh sucks that he basically threw away 6 points...
No go for me in B, only have 8 pts.
I had a guy that stopped by our booth this past weekend. He's up for a bear tag next year for Zone B. I personally don't know any guides in Zone B. Any one know any reputable guides in that zone? He doesn't want to go with hounds and wants to bow hunt over a bait. Any help would be greatly appreciated. He needs a good guide that will work for him and one that's just not in it for the money. Thanks, Hoot
