Post by: mmgrode on January 07, 2007, 02:16:00 PM
how feasible is it for a nonresident to obtain a bighorn sheep or mountain goat tag in Colorado? How many years are you looking at applying before getting one? How about New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana...? From looking at the Colorado Division of wildlife site, not too many nonresidents get a tag. I'm not sure how many apply, but I am just wondering if it's even worth it. It would also be interesting to hear experiences from anyone who has done it before. Thanks for the info fellas, Matt
Post by: Steve H. on January 07, 2007, 03:16:00 PM
In '98 I drew a Mtn Goat tag as a NR and had a great hunt. You will need three preference points to draw so it's not possible for you to draw until 4 years from now. I think I went one or two years after hitting three points when I drew.
Idaho probably has the best odds of getting a goat tag BUT you have to buy a non-refundable plicense for around $100 just to apply. At least it was this way around 6 years ago when I last applied.
A better way to get a tag MAY be to buy a raffle ticket from the various organizations such as Rocky Mtn Bighorn Society.
Or, you can do like I did and just move to Alaska and hunt goats every year!
Post by: mmgrode on January 07, 2007, 05:22:00 PM
Anyone else have any info. Take care, Matt
Post by: Steve H. on January 07, 2007, 05:59:00 PM
I just noticed you are a student. HS or college and if college what is your chosen field?
Post by: Steve O on January 07, 2007, 07:27:00 PM
It is feasible; but it is also rare and expensive. Like Steve H. said, you have to apply for 3 years in CO before you have a chance. All the other states let you have a chance, albeit a microscpically slim chance the first year. Some states have preference points, some bonus points, NM and ID are pure random draws.
You could always do like Steve H--move to Alaska and you can hunt sheep and goats every year ;)
Post by: mmgrode on January 07, 2007, 09:08:00 PM
Steve H.- I am a college junior and am majoring in Biology with an Organismal concentration and a religious studies minor. How can I get a hold of those articles? Any other good material on sheep and goat bowhunting?
Thanks for the info fellas. Take care, Matt
Post by: Steve O on January 07, 2007, 09:32:00 PM
!["[dntthnk]"]("graemlins/dntthnk.gif" "\"\"")
. Everything else is lottery odds. BUT, you CANNOT draw a tag if you do not apply.
Post by: Chad Lewis on January 07, 2007, 11:50:00 PM
Post by: AkDan on January 08, 2007, 12:33:00 AM
Post by: Steve H. on January 08, 2007, 01:45:00 AM
My article was in the Oct/Nov 2006 Trad Bowhunter Mag but there routinely is sheep and goat articles in TBM.
Get a job in Alaska when you get out and you'll be hunting sheep and goats in 3 seasons. That's the only SURE way to get tags!
Post by: HornHunter on January 08, 2007, 08:22:00 AM
goat in CO 2006-------1,659.00
and you must send in the full amount even for a preference point
the thing to do is set up a seperate bank account with just app money, you will get all but 3 bucks of it back, that way you have the money on hand every year, after 3 years you can draw anytime ,one of my buddies in IL. has applied 17 years and not drawn, other people draw there 4th year
steve is correct buy raffle tickets at 25 a pop you have as good a chance as anyone and you can hunt any sheep or goat area
I won the goat tag in 1990 and took a fine billy the second day of hunting
Post by: Dan Chamberlain on January 08, 2007, 09:09:00 AM
Hope this whets your appetite! Just outside of Georgetown back in 83
Dan
Post by: juneaulongbow on January 08, 2007, 09:14:00 AM
Post by: mmgrode on January 08, 2007, 10:58:00 AM
Steve O-Is Wyoming on a preference point system?
Looks like Colorado preference points are out of the question this year. It's just too big a chunk of change to be without right now. Any other areas where you don't need to send in the full amount to apply for preference?
Thanks fellas, Matt
Post by: juneaulongbow on January 08, 2007, 11:22:00 AM
You'd need a guide for sheep and goats in Alaska as a NR. Good luck.
Post by: Chad Lewis on January 08, 2007, 11:27:00 AM
There are residents of Colorado that have 2, 3, and even 4 bighorn sheep under their belts. Those days are long gone. Today you'll be lucky as a resident to hunt them twice in a lifetime.
Good Luck.
Post by: Steve H. on January 09, 2007, 11:43:00 AM
The "kid" in my goat story that was my Sherpa is from Stureon Bay and only a few years out of Madison. He plans on moving up here in another year when he finishes Dental School. Heck, I even set him up with his very own Alaskan woman too!
As far as jobs, I know some people that know some people.....
Post by: Steve O on January 09, 2007, 01:05:00 PM
Yes, Wyoming is a preference point; that is the good news...The bad news is there are about 14,000 people ahead of you and they cost $100 per year for now.
BUT--25% of the tags ARE random draw for everybody.
Alaska tags are easy to get for sheep and goat--in most places; there ARE some slimited draw areas that are as tough as everywhere else AND it is ~$80 for the license to apply--BUT a NR has to have a guide.
A young guy with no wife and family should not let anything stop him from being a resident of Alaska. I have a wife and family, so all I get to do is visit every now and then...
Post by: mmgrode on January 09, 2007, 04:25:00 PM
Steve H- Sturgeon Bay is about an hour from me- what is the fella's name?
Steve O- About how long of a wait is it for Wyoming's season(15-20 years)? Thanks, Matt
Post by: Steve H. on January 09, 2007, 04:48:00 PM
Ben Pinney is my buddy's name. He got a biology degree in about 2004 from Madison.
Alaska really is NOT heaven but there are some great opportunities. The Yukon, NWT, BC, now that IS heaven!
Post by: Steve O on January 09, 2007, 05:15:00 PM
You are going to have to open your ears...you are NOT hearing me :knothead: You cannot predict when you will draw a sheep tag anywhere!
All you can do is decide if it is something you want to do bad enough to "invest" a ton of money in the draws with NO guarantee you will draw a tag.
I would say the AVERAGE chance one has to draw a sheep tag is 500:1
Post by: HornHunter on January 09, 2007, 08:35:00 PM
unless your planning to move to a western state in the near future the price of a canada sheep is really not out of the question, figure what your going to be doing for the next 5-7 years, family, job, location,it certainly isnt going to get any cheaper, and the draw odds are only going to get worse,
sheep hunting (drawing tags) has changed so much in the last 10-15 years, used to be a CO resident could draw a tag every couple of years, you could rely on that, some areas, you could draw every year, unheard of now.
so dont get discouraged just figure out do you really want to do this, its exspensive and thats just the start,but do some homework, and check out those raffle tags the money goes directly to sheep management, not some deep dark gov. hole, and you have the same chance as everyone else to win the tag of a lifetime.
Post by: Steve O on January 09, 2007, 08:59:00 PM
I wasn't trying to discourage Matt; just trying to accurately portray the odds of a NR drawing a sheep tag.
I disagree that any NR can predict drawing a sheep tag anywhere but Wyoming. AND unless you have 8 or more points there, it is going to be at least 30 years to draw in the 75% pool. A CO resident may have a chance of predicting when they might draw a tag--but you guys have so many more available to you than we do. BUT, I thought the first 3 points in CO are weighted preference, then everything after 3 are bonus points. I think I am at 3+3 right now.
I put in every year to UT, AZ, NM, CO, WY, MT, NV, ID, and many of the raffles for sheep because I have to hunt them again and I am hoping to hit a tag before I've got the $20,000 put in that an Alberta Bighorn hunt would cost ;)
And I do keep saying that you can't get a tag if you are not in the draw.
Post by: Budog56 on January 09, 2007, 10:48:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Steve H.:So does this mean you have to live in Alaska for 3 years to get a resident huting license?? What Kind of jobs would be availible up there?
Get a job in Alaska when you get out and you'll be hunting sheep and goats in 3 seasons. That's the only SURE way to get tags!
Sorry not trying to steal the thread just curious as I am single 24 and dream about hunting everything in alaska with my bow.
Post by: mmgrode on January 09, 2007, 11:13:00 PM
Steve O- You say you want to hunt them AGAIN. Must have had a good time the last time, good enough to keep you applying. Thanks for the discussion fellas, Matt
Post by: mmgrode on January 09, 2007, 11:59:00 PM
Post by: Jeff Holchin on January 10, 2007, 07:47:00 AM
You are on the right track, mmgrode. Investigate your options, make a plan, and stick to it. One advantage you have over us married with kids guys, is that you don't have to explain the thousands of dollars sent out every year, just to apply for moose, sheep and goat tags in numerous states.
Post by: HornHunter on January 10, 2007, 08:10:00 AM
check out the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society i believe thats there web page you can buy raffle tics online, they draw at there banquet this winter
goats are probably worse odds then sheep in CO
Post by: HornHunter on January 10, 2007, 08:36:00 AM
what I meant is you at least have a chance after 3 years in CO, so there is a little predictabilty
It wont be long and CO will follow wy and several other states where it will cost to just get a pref. point, yes it will make a difference because the average joe cant afford it, and its to bad cause it prices kids out of the running
another option matt is a ewe tag, they are the same price, but you have goods odds, and you can experience sheep hunting, often times the ewes are tougher to harvest then rams, so its not a push over hunt at all, they make a fine trophy, somthing to think about
One of my close hunting buds went stone sheep hunting back in 1984 he had to borrow money from the bank sold everything he had and worked like a dog to go, shot a big stone, we all thought he was nuts, for going in debt, little did we know.
Post by: Steve H. on January 10, 2007, 11:41:00 AM
When I made the "three years" statement it was based on Matt being a Junior in college so year one is his senior year, year two is first year in Alaska which is what it takes to get full resident status, and a third year til the seasons actually get here for that year.
If someone moved to Alaska TODAY they would be able to hunt sheep AND goats as a resident for the first time during the 2008 season.
(Are you a Nebraska boy? or just "stuck" out on the prairie?)
P.S. For ~$25 I can buy a resident hunting license that is good for ~ one ram, one goat, 2-3 black bear, 1-10+ caribou, one moose, one elk, 3-6 deer, and all the smaller stuff!
Post by: mmgrode on January 10, 2007, 07:47:00 PM
Post by: Steve H. on January 11, 2007, 11:13:00 AM
If you have the time AND many hunts take money to get into the bush but many can be had by determination and a long walk.
Post by: wifishkiller on January 11, 2007, 02:48:00 PM