Applying for a hunt without ever being in the area

Irish Pennant · 06-17-2006, 07:02 AM

I see a lot of post for information on a unit that somebody drew and they go kinda like "I just drew my tags for such and such unit, I've never been there can someone help me with where to hunt". Then I ask myself why would someone want to apply for a hunt in a unit that they have never seen and I come up with:
1) Its the unit their dad use to hunt and they remember the stories.
2) Its the unit their buddies hunt and they want to get in on it
3) Their just trying to find a new place to hunt so they apply everywhere in hope of getting a tag and then they will do thier scouting and preseason planning.
4) Their new to hunting and just don't have a clue.
5) Their new to the state
6) Its the way the system is set up
7) They drew one of the hard to get tags and now they will get serious.

What ever it is, good luck to all in this years hunt.

Slick Willie · 06-17-2006, 07:26 AM

My buddy and I did this last year. Are reasons were simple

1) Wanted a unit we could draw at least every third year
2) Didn't want to "squeeze in" on our other friends and
family's units.
3) wanted to learn the unit on our own and not chase the
bite,so to speak

Gook luck
Slick

Don Becker · 06-17-2006, 07:34 AM

Here's another: with everything "we" have going-on in our lives (family, work, etc) and getting hosed at the pump (

), serious scouting becomes very difficult for many of us . . . . it's not at all that we don't know how it should be done or that we don't really want to do some serious scouting . . . it's just really tough.

I suspect that most have a basic familiarity with areas they apply for and have done some talking with friends/ifishers, studied maps of the areas and maybe made a quick trip to the area.

Then, (probably much to their/our surprise) they/we actually draw the tag and, you're right, now it's time to get serious and they/we "throw it out there" to our ifish buddies to see what help might be forthcoming.

What I really appreciate and what I think I have noticed here is an acceptance and appreciation for this that results in us providing more tips to one another - - - it wasn't that long ago that when someone would ask for some tips for an area, they would just get torn-apart with flaming over perceived unwillingness to get out and do their own scouting. PM's are great for this when we really get down to specifics.

'My thanks to all who offer their help (without giving-away their secret hot spots). Don

steelhead22 · 06-17-2006, 11:59 AM

My father, my brother and I are really the first (and only) in my family that hunt. We've basically learned everything we know from just picking up a few things here and there, and being in the field. EVERY UNIT that I hunt, I learned by applying without knowing anything about it except, "I've hunted XXXXX unit, and we've done OK" from a buddy or aquantance now and then.

We've had many years where we've been unprepared, and BLANKED. It's been a gradual progression, learning more and more every year, and slowly filling more and more tags.

Last year, after about a 6 or 7 year lay off, we decided to apply (and drew) Ukiah unit again. I'd shot a deer years prior, but we hoping for some info from the guys on here in an effort to get my little brother into a FIRST KILL. Well, one of the members on here hooked me up with some very detailed and GREAT information that ended in the taking of my bro's first deer.

This year, I've got another first. It's my first year archery hunting. Now, I've got the whole state (just about) to hunt and have received more info. from a few guys on here that has been extremely beneficial.

I'm known on the site as being very "zipperlipped", but, when you get down to it, I probably send as many PM's or more than the next guy giving detailed reports, locations, techniques, etc. I'm better on the river or in a duck blind than I am huntin' deer or elk, so that's where I contribute the most, it's great to have it come back around!

The PM feature is the best feature on the site!!!

baltz526 · 06-17-2006, 01:26 PM

the first time i hunt a new unit, i never have been to most of it. that is why i want to hunt it. a surprise around every corner.

weekender · 06-17-2006, 06:42 PM

I knew that I would draw a northside buck tag with my buddies this year, so I didnt want my wife to draw out. We were going to put her in for points, but something about that just doesn't seem right. It's a lottery after all, might as well swing for the fences and see what happens. We ended up putting her in for Starkey Exp Forest figuring there was no way she would draw it with only 27 tags available.

Well, guess what happens next...

Now its time to call a couple biologists, take a couple road trips, and get serious. I posted on the board to get a little pre-scout feedback.

oregonoutdoors · 06-17-2006, 09:39 PM

I have never hunted SE Metolious buck bow, or Wenaha archery bull. I put in every year b/c they are the best archery draw hunts in the state, or so I am told. So in the mean time I bow hunt the rest of the state honing my skills on 3pt bucks and cows so I will be ready for my trophy hunts

. I now have 8 points so maybe sometime in the next 10 years...PLEASE

beardbuster · 06-18-2006, 06:51 AM

I think you should be proud when you see a question and many posts under it. It shows you that we have a vast knowledge of the areas we hunt and mostly that good hunters look after each other.

I am realtively new to they ifish community, but I have to tell you, if you are seeking some good infromation this is the source. I don't know of too many places where you have some of the best hunters in the NW basically at your finger tips.

I posted a thread asking for some information on the Walla Walla Unit. I drew the archery tag and will scout it out a couple times before the season. I have friends who have killed beautiful bulls in here the past couple years. I wanted to see if I had made the right choice and if Walla Walla was better than Wenaha.

I am not an amature hunter... I am not asking someone to take me hunting... I just drew a tag that takes years to draw and the best source for information is from other hunters. Not a biologist that will give me the same generalized information that he/she gives with every random phone call.

With all these hunters assembled at one time who have a vast knowledge of the state it only makes sense to maximize your resources and save $3+ a gallon doing so.

Next year when someone posts a similar question, I'll be posting my photos and giving them information.

Ryan Pultz · 06-18-2006, 01:07 PM

When I went out for my ochoco pronghorn tag I have never hunt pronghorn before and I have never hunted the ochoco's I have fished the area and have a genral idea of the area I do plan on at least three weekends before the hunt to scout it out and do a little fishing :-) but hey I have to fish also. And hey Irish if you wanna go over for the weekend before the seasion you should come with me. That way I can learn to navigate by compas and map right in the area I am going to be hunting. rp

Irish Pennant · 06-18-2006, 03:23 PM

RP, I haven't forgot. PM me so we can get a meeting time together. I showed Sandman a couple weeks ago how to use his GPS with a compass and TOPO and it seemed like he picked it up real quick. We met at McIvar Park and it took all of 2 hours. I wouldn't mind a trip to the Ochoco's but my next 3 or 4 weekends are tie up.
I.P. over and out

TheTexan · 06-19-2006, 07:42 AM

Quote:

the first time i hunt a new unit, i never have been to most of it. that is why i want to hunt it. a surprise around every corner.

I have to agree, I really enjoy seeing and learning new country. It's not really all about killing something, but it is nice to have a place to start.

bigd · 06-19-2006, 11:01 AM

This is my idea of hunting a new area,,,,hop in the truck drive over to some place you think you might want to hunt,,stop at ranger station buy maps,,,,drive up roads,glass,,, drive some more,,,,glass,,,,set-up camp,wake-up drive some more,,, get out walk some,,, glass,,, if you do not see any animals,, you are in wrong area,,,go to a new area,, repeat,,,,,,,,

And no you do not have to even be applying for that unit to scout it.........

ehunter · 06-19-2006, 12:04 PM

Well I used to get a little miffed when people would draw a tag and then ask for hunting info. Over time I have come to realize that with the current tag draw system people are trying to find a new area. At first I was a little miffed because they were drawing a tag I couldn't or they took what I felt was a tag with my name on it and I had spent the time to hunt and scout it. Then I realized that some people have not had the oppertunites to see different areas and we are all in this together.

The elk questions don't bother me as much as the deer only becasue some of the elk area's you can only draw every three years or more.
Deer it is a little harder for me to give up info because I don't want a good area to go bad with not only the guys that are asking but their friends and families so I am more likey to be tight lipped.

One of the best area's we ever elk hunted was wrecked by a magazine and that has stuck with me so I am less excited about giving out info.

Then again I will be asking for help if I draw the Whenha... :grin:

RAGHORN! · 06-19-2006, 09:00 PM

I don't know how some of you do it? Hunting area's you don't know or can't/won't scout!

I drew a big game combo tag for Montana this year, and even though I'm going with my good buddy, who's been there and done that, and has family there to help us, it is driving me crazy not knowing anything????????????

Never being there is killing me the closer fall gets! I don't think I would ever put in for deer/elk tags that I didn't know about before hand! But that is just me being me :grin:

BigSkyHunter · 06-19-2006, 09:06 PM

Quote:

This is my idea of hunting a new area,,,,hop in the truck drive over to some place you think you might want to hunt,,stop at ranger station buy maps,,,,drive up roads,glass,,, drive some more,,,,glass,,,,set-up camp,wake-up drive some more,,, get out walk some,,, glass,,, if you do not see any animals,, you are in wrong area,,,go to a new area,, repeat

I think this is a great way to find a new area, then apply for it when you found a good area to hunt, unless it is a unit like Juniper or Hart Mountain where it is obvious that the hunting is good.

Raghorn, where ya hunting in Montana? That is great you drew a combo, a very well desired tag to have.

BSH

RAGHORN! · 06-19-2006, 09:52 PM

BSH: I'm sorry! I'm not at liberty to talk about where these Montana boys are taking me

infact they just told me that as soon as I cross the Montana border I have to put a blindfold on

Shoot! I will even where one coming back if the truck is full of meat and antlers! :grin:

Sorry! didn't mean to jack your post.

Hunt'nFish · 06-20-2006, 11:00 AM

This is a mixed subject for me. On one hand I'm a real nice guy and want to help out our next generation of hunters. on the other hand we've spent years patterning the area's we hunt and don't want the competition.
I hear what everyone is saying about the enjoyment of hunting new area's...not my style but hey who cares, you like to hunt that way. It's a free country.

Deer, bear, cougar...heck I'll tell ya anything I know about an area. Elk, I hold that info pretty tight to the chest. Nothing worse that taking some friend of a friend hunting and then finding them camped in your spot 3yrs down the road. It's happened to us. Or, having some neighbors show up at 3pm the night before the hunt and start running all over the woods stinking the place up "Scouting".
Yes it's a free country, but it's still rude.
If you don't know the area, go do a fall bear hunt there first.
I don't want this to be interpetted as a rant, just attempting to show the other side of the coin.
Good luck to all this season.
Hunt'nFish

InPursuit · 06-22-2006, 09:41 PM

Interesting question. I do exactly what this question asks and I do it on purpose. I look for a unit with a high percentage of public land in an area that I have never hunted before. I don't like the idea of going to the same unit year after year and hunting an area that I am all too familiar with. I like the challenge of exploring new areas without someone telling me where to go to find the highest concentration of animals. I will usually scout the area once in July and again on Labor Day weekend. I scout some more a couple of day�s right before the season. When the season starts, I hunt with the length of my trip in mind so that I get the most out of it. When I feel that I have made the most of that years experience then I'll take the fist legal buck that presents a good shot. Sometimes it works out and I fill my tag and sometimes it doesn't work out. It's OK either way as long as I know I gave it my best shot. I only get to do this once a year and I want to make the most of it. Maybe that's why they call it hunting and not shooting.

My

G-Dubb

baltz526 · 06-23-2006, 05:20 AM

i'll hunt the heck out of an area. maybe one or two years, then i'm normally done with it. then i'll share all the scouting/hunting info freely. but if i'm still hunting the area, you will need to be in my camp for the hunt, to get the in depth scoop. now i might loan my secret camp out, if a have a draw hunt for the season. this year i'll be back in the camp,with some good ifish people. and the loanee group that used the area info last year, got drawn for their tags. musical camps?

Opportunist · 06-23-2006, 09:24 AM

Irish Pennant, I play the application game in alot of states some years I'll put in for 30 plus hunts with the hopes of drawing 1-2 tags and have general season hunts for backup.

While scouting is critical to some hunts others it may hinder and the reason I say that is timing of other hunts that influence animal movement during your season. Where the animals are in july and august does not help a november migration hunt or a hunt with one or two rifle hunts before it.

Some of my most succcessful hunts have occured with no pre-season scouting at all. Scouting is expensive, at least to me itis,so I only scout hunts that I have drawn. I can't afford to scout all the hunts I apply for especially ones that I know I won't draw for years; Arizona, Utah. I'll use hunt stats and info from other hunters and biologists that are hunters themselves. I haven't used websites like this for unit info but I would if I needed it because the knowledge base on this site is great.

I don't give out info on General season areas unless it's a buddy of mine or aquaintence. I do share info on hard to draw tags that you might draw every 4-7 years pretty freely.

I've seen areas I hunt general archery season in Idaho named by basin and canyon on another hunt site I frequently lurk. That's just stupid, especially when it can be hunted general season and there are 15,000 members.

I don't beat a dead horse when it comes to hunting areas, I'll hunt it until it starts to drop off on hunt quality then switch areas. I too enjoy hunting new areas every couple years.

No Wishin Just Fishin · 06-23-2006, 05:00 PM

After Hunting the same area for 35 years, I am certainly not going to give out the coordinates for every nice buck I ever shot and there have been quite a few. The Sumpter unit is large and I can always give idea as there are basins, sage brush, forest land, BLM and grass lands so alot of good hunting. We are taking 4 guys from Ifish with us this year who a couple agreed to share points and I am really looking forward to it, as I get almost as much of a rush seeing someone else shoot a nice buck, as shooting it myself. It is not totally uncrowded anywhere in Oregon on public land, so it behooves you to try and cultivate private landowners, as we have over the years by taking salon with us. It reaaly helps get on those hard to find places.