Appreciate you doing this! These threads got me hooked on elk & western hunting and I hope to continue doing that moving forward.

Thank you to everyone that has contributed and continues to contribute to these threads!

If someone has any advice on youth tags/draws, I'd love to hear about it. I'll start getting her PPs in CO and another state or two but really interested if there are any strategic locations or hunts for her to apply?

My oldest daughter just shot her first pig and is already asking me when she can go elk hunting. She helped pack out an elk with me so has had exposure but we're still probably 2-3 years from this being a reality at a minimum.

I am not up on all the various tags/licenses/strategies but if you are wanting a youth cow hunt, look in the units around Craig and Meeker, CO. The larger herds come down from the higher elevations in the late seasons and those units around Craig and Meeker are the winter grounds. Ideally units 11, 3, 4, 5 301 and 441. If you want an outfitter, I can pass along a few to you. If you are wanting DIY, I can certainly tell you where some hang out over email. I am a local and a guide and happy to help an Ag.

You can call the meeker CPW office 970-878-6090 and they can give info on licenses or call the CPW mainline and use the Plan a hunt line. 303-291-PLAN

I have 4 points in Wyoming for Antelope and 4 for Mule Deer. Do I put in for any hunts this year or just keep buying points?

I could go activate my GoHunt account but cheaper to just ask here. I have yet to do any Western states hunting. I have no problem just buying points since I've got 2 small children and time away is at a premium.

I didn't draw for Utah this past year, so I have 99% odds of drawing this year. Can't wait to get back into the desert to chase some big ole muleys! October can't get here fast enough!

There is always a random portion in Wyoming that is worth putting in for imo.

I should be able to get a badass bull elk muzzleloader tag this year as a CO resident. 7 points and about 2 hours from my house.

Debating getting a good buck pronghorn rifle tag, but will probably put that off another year.

I have max points for Shiras moose in a western WY unit. Keeping my fingers crossed to hunt and take my second Shiras moose after 25 years of applying in WY.

I'll apply for a northwest Montana moose tag at least this year. I think I have 4 or 5 points now

How old is she?
I would pick 2-3 states to build points on for her and yourself.
Most time you might want to party draw with her and other times as individuals and if one draws and other doesn't just go together anyway. Quite rare in my experience to come away with two elk in the same free range hunt anyway.
Get her to help you in selecting states, areas, and even in the draw application process.
My daughter 1st killed at 14 and 15.
First year on elk hunt she was 12 and experienced 40" of snow, minus 20, and 60 mile an hour winds. I thought I was going to get her killed.
Have fun, these moments in life we have with our sons and daughters is quite finite.

She's 11. I have points in CO, UT, NV, and MT but CO is the only one over 4-5 pts.

I'm going to just start building her points in those states but if there is a youth hunt or opportunity for better odds because she is a kid, I'd love to apply for those.

Regarding your hunt at -20 - I'm not sure she is that redass yet…

I used to use the free version of toprut to give me a basic idea of what to apply for and give me a basic timeline for when I might be able to draw tags. It appears that there is no longer a free version of toprut.

I dont anticipate drawing for a couple of years, so I dont really want to pay the premium price for toprut or gohunt at this point. What are the best options for looking at draw odds for free or on the cheap?

All of the states release their draw and harvest data. If you're good at Excel, you can do some filtering and analysis to determine your approximate odds. The paid services do quite a bit more complex simulations, but you can make decent decisions based on historical data.

Here's New Mexico, as an example.

https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/hunting/applications-and-draw-information/how-new-mexico-draw-works/

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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She's 11. I have points in CO, UT, NV, and MT but CO is the only one over 4-5 pts.

I'm going to just start building her points in those states but if there is a youth hunt or opportunity for better odds because she is a kid, I'd love to apply for those.

Regarding your hunt at -20 - I'm not sure she is that redass yet…

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Youth get a preference on all female animal hunts in CO. It will take her fewer points than you. She can draw unit 61, 4th season cow elk rifle with zero points. Pretty high success rate unit if you hunt the whole season. I have a buddy that knows the unit well, and I've hunted it enough to come help a kid out. Being able to shoot, at least 300 yards is a must.
Edit to add cow elk.

Advice needed please. I've always rifle hunted but I'm taking my brother in law up on an invite to start archery elk hunting with him.

I've never even looked into archery set ups. I'm looking for any tips the OB has on where to start when finding a bow/setup that's going to work for me.

I'm in kingwood and am also looking for recs on a good archery shop to go visit.

Thanks in advance!

Ag_09 said:

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Advice needed please. I've always rifle hunted but I'm taking my brother in law up on an invite to start archery elk hunting with him.

I've never even looked into archery set ups. I'm looking for any tips the OB has on where to start when finding a bow/setup that's going to work for me.

I'm in kingwood and am also looking for recs on a good archery shop to go visit.

Thanks in advance!

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My favorite archery shop in the Houston area is Outlaw Archery on 45 North. A bunch of the techs there are from Texas Archery when it was the best in the area.

Thanks! I've seen that one. Will have to check them out.

anyone have intel on Wyoming antelope units? i have 5 points.

chocolatelabs said:

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anyone have intel on Wyoming antelope units? i have 5 points.

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Watching....as me and a buddy have 6 probably going to be 7 or 8 before we use them. Just due to timing

chocolatelabs said:

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anyone have intel on Wyoming antelope units? i have 5 points.

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Every time I make the drive from Cheyenne to Sheridan I see hundreds if not thousands of them right off the HWY.

chocolatelabs said:

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anyone have intel on Wyoming antelope units? i have 5 points.

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you can probably get a really good unit if you are willing to pay for the special permit - costs an extra ~$800 dollars so it isn't cheap but it does provide a much expanded list of units available

Ag_09 said:

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Advice needed please. I've always rifle hunted but I'm taking my brother in law up on an invite to start archery elk hunting with him.

I've never even looked into archery set ups. I'm looking for any tips the OB has on where to start when finding a bow/setup that's going to work for me.

I'm in kingwood and am also looking for recs on a good archery shop to go visit.

Thanks in advance!

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I was in your shoes a few years back. If you've got the money and find a shop you trust (best bet is word of mouth on here) then getting them to set you up from the start is ideal.
Get on the archery talk forums and be prepared for information overload. Take everything with a grain of salt but old timers on there are a wealth of knowledge. Watching John Dudley videos and tips was helpful for me. The guy is a world class archer and hunter. But even then, you'll find what works best for you with tons of practice.
Before you know it your shopping for home archery shop equipment, restringing and tuning your own bow. And going insane like the rest of us

Gonna be a blast buddy. Grab you a bow and head for the mountains!

Will put in for sheep In all the states I typically do, but skipping out on the elk draws this year. Have a hunt in northern BC for mountain goat and that's all the hall pass I am getting from the wife unless I draw a bighorn.

Good luck this year everyone! Can wait to see who draws what tags, along with the hunt reports!

I think we are going to go vanilla this year and get buck and bull tags for 2nd and 3rd season for Units 22 and 11. Seeing a lot of great recovery from the winter kill a few years ago, so I think it is time to find a big buck somewhere in the high desert.

If anyone draws a Unit 11/22 tag, happy to guide/help you get one a good one.

Thank you. Appreciate the feedback.

Glad to hear you are seeing the recovery. I hunt in 441 & 4 and was up there when the first storm came through. We left at midnight to get through the passes (heading back to Texas). Ill never do that again. We all took the last two years off to let the herd recover but now getting the itch to get back up there.

Have you heard anything on our units as far as recovery or just over in your neck of the woods?

chocolatelabs said:

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anyone have intel on Wyoming antelope units? i have 5 points.

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plugged into go hunt with following parameters : 50-100% odds of drawing ; 50% or more public land and limited rifle and there were only two units available for regular draw; special permit 31 units were available

Not sure why images were user flagged ? just maps showing units available for the different filters

BigLeftMiss08 said:

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Glad to hear you are seeing the recovery. I hunt in 441 & 4 and was up there when the first storm came through. We left at midnight to get through the passes (heading back to Texas). Ill never do that again. We all took the last two years off to let the herd recover but now getting the itch to get back up there.

Have you heard anything on our units as far as recovery or just over in your neck of the woods?

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The whole area in the NW corner is doing well. I think deer are little behind in 3 and 4, but still seeing really good deer.

Any thoughts on the early rifle mule deer options?

I am looking at 44 and 36. any others to consider with 8 points?

Want an early rifle alpine hunt.

Not too familiar with those units, sorry. The Flat Tops is an excellent choice though if you are physically capable of hiking in a ways.