Henry Rifle Forums

Who here puts in for lottery / limited entry hunts in their area? I do every year as general open season for moose and elk is not the easiest way to get meat in the freezer here. This year I put in for elk and antlerless mule deer. As usual, I didn’t get a draw. At least there’s always antlerless jackelope to hunt!

When I used to hunt in Ca., I'd put in for X-12[Bridgeport/Bodie area] and would get drawn about every sixth year. After 2012, my last year of bagging a deer in X-12, I stopped hunting in Ca., other than upland birds. Hunting in Ca is a hassle any longer and I got tired of waiting 5-6 years for a premium tag[lottery]. Lottery system works when you get a tag, but, not so much for the in between waits.

thankfully, having to enter a lottery to hunt hasn't reached our part of the country .... hope it never does .... as to there’s always antlerless jackelope to hunt, it sure takes getting a bunch of them to put much meat in the freezer ....

They have what you call "quota" hunts here in Fla. Basically you have to apply for a permit "first come/first granted" about this time of year for the hunt in the fall. There may be some highly desirable management areas where they have to do a lottery, but basically if you apply in a a timely manner, you'll get one.

JEBar, do you have much for big game? I’m guessing hogs and white tail make up the majority of the hunting in your area?

JEBar and I are not far apart. He might have a slightly different answer James, but you are right. White tail, Hogs and lots of Black Bear. I am in the western part of NC and he is central. Of course there are all types of small game as well.

We are very lucky to have elk, moose, white tail, mule and fallow deer, 3 species of bighorn sheep, mountain goat, bison, black and grizzly bears as well as turkey, grouse pheasant etc. The sheep hunts are very arduous as they usually require a 20 hour drive followed by a 15 mile hike into the mountains. At least that’s what all the sheep hunters say;). Grizzly are now protected (although there is no shortage), so numbers will likely climb quickly and become a problem.

With all that diversity, I still enjoy hunting deer and turkey the most.

I should update this. The draws have happened, and luckily I won’t have to plan for any specific hunts this year. No draws for me. At least I’m consistent with 5 years of nothing!