Where? In my area?
I get a tag every year, so I have no points. I just can't get one for ML where I want to hunt.
We are dragging the thread off topic with this, but I'll make one last post on the license subject.
Here are facts as pertain to me and only assumptions as pertains to you;
1. We must draw to hunt ml elk and for any kind of deer tag.
2. We both dearly love hunting with ml in the ml season.
3. We are both in our sixties and have no guarantees of how many more seasons we might be able to hunt.
4. Hunting with ml in the regular rifle season is an option even in years when we draw ml tags.
Given that, I always put in for "statewide" ml elk and for ml deer in an area(s) that will overlap acceptable "statewide" elk areas.
That all changed this year when they went to designated unit draw for ml elk, but I still managed to get what I wanted by being selective about the area chosen. This coming year we will have all the stats we need to select "winning" draw units. In fact, those stats are already on-line.
Sometimes I have put in for archery deer but use the same strategy as far as overlapping areas.
When I don't have any points I put in for a cow and doe tag (unless it's archery deer which is either sex). Some years I put in for bull first choice and cow second choice. About half the time I draw the bull tag with no points. If I don't draw the bull tag, I have nearly always gotten my second choice cow tag. On the rare (two times in about 20 years) occasions when I don't draw either bull or cow I can buy over the counter archery elk. Plus, the next year I am guaranteed to draw a first choice ml bull with only one point.
That's how I do it. Over the years I have had to give up some of "my" areas but it beats not hunting ml season!
This year I drew my (carefully) selected ml elk tage and an ml deer tag good for the same unit as well as three other units adjoining.
Then, I bought a leftover cow tag for first rifle elk only and a left over deer tag for second combined rifle deer and elk.
With all of that, I did not kill anything this year. But, it was
not about the units hunted, but rather about unexpected family demands on my time as well as a foot injury that developed just before ml season and continues to the present. Actually, I could be up hunting deer right now but my foot is too dang painful to do any amount of walking.
So, all i'm trying to say is maybe we are both too old to sit at home and lament that we did not draw a certain area. Any year could be our last year to hunt. :shocked2:
Even though this year was not a great year for killing, it was a great year for hunting. Especially since I get to spend it with family and good friends!
