Zim
Active Member
Anybody do any good in these draws? All posted Thurs/Fri. I cashed 27 points on a Utah Paunsagunt archery mule deer hunt. Dang, sure glad I got some preference points around, because the odds on the random side continue to plummet. Even in Nevada where my 25+ points are SQUARED, my odds decrease every year. I have 477 total and still can only draw where I have the most on the preference side. Western hunting opportunities looking dismal long term. I did not see this getting so bad. Just glad I made a long term plan years ago to ration my best preference based points, which insulated me to a degree. I have enough saved where I know I'll get one OIL hunt each of the next 5 years, until I'm age 70. The other 30 applications are all longshot 1-2% of which I've not drawn any since 2012. May have to lower their use towards mid-low tier units just to burn them! Sounds crazy for what will be 30 point hunts, but sadly, that's where things are headed.
I've also got 6 NR Iowa deer points saved for when my Illinois spots get found by the throngs from Louisiana, or I go dry in the state land lotteries. But not this year! Hit the jackpot on the two best. One thing I love is the fact the Iowa appl deadline comes after all the IL & most the Western lotteries post. So I can afford to save Iowa for when I need them.
I've also got 6 NR Iowa deer points saved for when my Illinois spots get found by the throngs from Louisiana, or I go dry in the state land lotteries. But not this year! Hit the jackpot on the two best. One thing I love is the fact the Iowa appl deadline comes after all the IL & most the Western lotteries post. So I can afford to save Iowa for when I need them.
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