Comparisons are the root of all unhappiness.
That's my drunken schitt post of the evening.
That's my drunken schitt post of the evening.
Satisfaction
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Thanks for doing the math on this Airborne, it's super interesting.
I think you are right about the number of bulls potentially harvested in November, but I'll bet the trophy value would go down. I think this is the big value to this early hunt. Most of the big animals come out that first week. Many of the big bulls are taken during this hunt while they are in the (elk) rut and before most of the pressure pushes them into sanctuaries.
I disagree about the mid season numbers. There is SO much pressure during and before this hunt that many will not fill their tags. You either need to know the area or hunt really hard for a long time, and most only take a week off work. None of the animals will be where you saw them when scouting. I believe this is why they are allowing so many mid season hunts. Burn up points without spending many more animals. I'm really hoping hunters get excited about the new mid season hunts and it pulls down the applicant numbers on late season.
The statistics bear out that there is little difference in harvest rates between the late and early season. The numbers are almost identical. On the units where mid season hunts have already been occurring, the success rates range from about 60% up to nearly the same level as the early and late hunts. The current thinking is that the lower success rates are likely due to increased pressure due to the hunt coinciding with the spike hunts. Some of the biggest bulls I've seen have been during spike hunts; often with large groups of cows. Sometimes the big bulls hang with the cows, other times they seem to isolate themselves during that season. My guess, is during the week, most hunters will see similar numbers of hunters as they do during the early hunts.Thanks for doing the math on this Airborne, it's super interesting.
I think you are right about the number of bulls potentially harvested in November, but I'll bet the trophy value would go down. I think this is the big value to this early hunt. Most of the big animals come out that first week. Many of the big bulls are taken during this hunt while they are in the (elk) rut and before most of the pressure pushes them into sanctuaries.
I disagree about the mid season numbers. There is SO much pressure during and before this hunt that many will not fill their tags. You either need to know the area or hunt really hard for a long time, and most only take a week off work. None of the animals will be where you saw them when scouting. I believe this is why they are allowing so many mid season hunts. Burn up points without spending many more animals. I'm really hoping hunters get excited about the new mid season hunts and it pulls down the applicant numbers on late season.
I'd take mid season vs the early late based on the fact that I could draw it with several points fewer and have a longer season with more predictable elk behavior. At least in the areas I've hunted. Get an early snow in October and you can find elk active all day.
All this chatter about best hunt to apply for, unit success percentages with early, mid, late season hunt dates. It truly reminds me of the movie "Moneyball". Has hunting come to the point of hunters paying for a subscription to a "company" (hunting fool, OnX, etc,) for an algorithm of the best odds/chances of drawing a tag? If so, I'm blaming it on the flat brimmers and tech geeks. AND....shame on us for using it. But hey, in today's world of limited opportunities, one has to call in the ace closer. I love baseball by the way.
Hunting is great and fun as all get-out. But after "playing" in the woods, chasing wildlife with stick flippers, smoke poles, and rifles the past 45 years, it sure has changed. Evolution of the times past and current I guess. Guess this "Old Timer" needs to change as well, or, sit back and watch others experience the many hunting adventures available.
We will be hosting the annual family Easter Egg hunt and BBQ again at the ranch. I'll be opening up one of the safes for the two grandkids that will begin their first ever hunting adventures. I will make them draw straws to see who goes first to choose what rifle and shotgun they want. This is what I've been looking forward to for a loooooong time.
That alone, will give me more satisfaction and excitement than shooting a 400" bull.
I've been pouring over draw odds ever since I was 14 and my brother in law started teaching me to hunt. I do wish the software/services were not available for the ignorant or lazy, but that's life. 🤷♂️ I sure don't blame folks for using them.All this chatter about best hunt to apply for, unit success percentages with early, mid, late season hunt dates. It truly reminds me of the movie "Moneyball". Has hunting come to the point of hunters paying for a subscription to a "company" (hunting fool, OnX, etc,) for an algorithm of the best odds/chances of drawing a tag? If so, I'm blaming it on the flat brimmers and tech geeks. AND....shame on us for using it. But hey, in today's world of limited opportunities, one has to call in the ace closer. I love baseball by the way.
56% success on the Fishlake unit I hunted last year. It was an absolute mess. Several previous LE hunts, cow elk hunt, spike hunt, early deer hunt. I'm glad I took two weeks off and we had good success, but at least 17 hunters went home with a tag. And how many years of points is that down the drain? I'm not complaining, I just hope mid-season hunters are prepared. I talked to some folks and they could only afford a week off work. It just makes me sad to see that many hunters go home empty handed when there are SO many elk on that unit. I counted 300 elk one day in July from one sitting location. It looked like a elk cattle ranch in the summer. By mid-season it was starting to feel like an Any Bull unit.
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