You Didn’t Draw A Deer/Elk Tag? - Top OTC Tag Opportunities
Nobody likes to be told they can’t go hunting, so don’t take no for an answer.
Photo | Hazy Mountain Media
The western application system can be confusing, frustrating, and takes place during the time of year {winter} when we aren't thinking about next fall's hunting. Making it more difficult to remember to put in for preference points and tags, or not giving ourselves enough time to prepare and plan for our desired hunt. We either miss out on putting in for the western draw, or we don't draw a tag at all. Either way, it’s not the end of the world. There is still plenty of opportunity for OTC (Over-The-Counter) tags.
An Over-The-Counter tag is a tag that you don't have to draw for. In units with enough of an animal population to sustain that many tags to be given. Allowing you to hunt every year without a limited tag. If you are new to hunting in the west, over-the-counter hunting will be more beneficial to you. After countless years of saving preference points, spending all of that money on clothing, bows, rifles, optics, you name it, you'd hate to draw a premium tag and not be ready for it. It’s not always about the trophy, it’s about the experience. Hunting over the counter not only gives you more options but gives you the time and experience to hone your skills. Articles, podcasts, and books certainly help, but the only way you're going to be a good hunter is by going out and hunting.
Over-the-counter hunting is no easy task, it’s probably more difficult. What's even more difficult these days is drawing tags through the lottery system, and that doesn't look like it will be changing. Over-the-counter areas will have more hunting pressure and the animals tend to be warier. With this tag availability, you'll be able to hunt the same unit every year if you want, giving you the ability to learn the terrain well. The tools and knowledge you're about to learn will help you do exactly that.
Chapter 1: Big Game Hunts For This Fall
To maximize your western hunting experience, there are a few things you’re going to want to decide before making plans.
Game Of Choice
Whether you're wanting to chase big Colorado mule deer or Montana bull elk, each western game animal will come with its difficulties when it comes to the hunt. Doing your research on where to go, what states and areas have the best population or success odds, OTC opportunity, and what population of the land is public vs private, will help you in the decision to choose what game animal is worth going after. If you currently have or can gain access to certain areas of private land, there are additional OTC opportunities. It all comes down to the experience you're looking for. Are you looking to fill the freezer or chase a trophy?
Overall, building your experience with OTC tags is the smartest option. Depending on what game you're wanting to chase, each state will have its unique regulations and tag availability. Use this as an opportunity to check out some hunting films, tv shows, youtube videos, and even social media to get a general idea of what kind of experience you’d like to have.
Photo | Hazy Mountain Media
Choose A Terrain Type
Not every tag is created equal. One day you could be hunting Blacktail deer on the coast of Oregon and feel like you're in a rainforest, glassing sagebrush, and juniper in search of a mule deer. This country has quite a variety of fuel types, climates, and terrain you can hunt. There are a lot of diverse OTC opportunities you can take advantage of. This is a perfect opportunity to challenge yourself and take the next step as a hunter. If you’re used to hunting turkeys and whitetail in the midwest or the south, maybe now you want to take on elk in higher elevation, and enjoy the views of the aspens, or hunt the high country for mule deer. Hunting puts food on the table but also challenges our character and capabilities. Step out of your comfort zone.
Photo | Hazy Mountain Media
OTC or Leftover Tag Options
Over-the-counter tags have often been viewed as “the last resort” or more difficult tags to hunt on. Some states are moving towards draws or putting a quota on the number of tags given, making OTC more high demand, putting pressure on OTC states. There could be a huge shift and more pressure to make tags more strict, but for now, there are a lot of tags available. Plenty of people have found success on OTC tags, you may have to work harder and compete with other hunters to find the animals, but it’s doable. Put in the extra time scouting and hiking, and your chances of killing a mature buck or bull, increase.
Photo | Ryan Millhollin
There are several states that offer OTC elk and deer tags to non-residents, a great way to gain experience and hone your skills. Depending on what weapon you're using, some archery or muzzleloader hunters have more OTC opportunities than rifle hunters. These areas are usually less pressured, as more people tend to hunt with a rifle. If you're unable to get a buck or bull elk tag, depending on the state there are sometimes cow and doe tags available, or leftover. Don’t disregard female animal tags, sometimes those can be overlooked and oftentimes not applied for or considered, meaning your odds are higher, this is also a great time to fill the freezer and learn animal behavior.
Best Western States To Hunt
There are more over-the-counter options than you may think, even if some areas are more difficult than others. As far as what the best states to hunt will be, it depends on what you are after. Some of the most welcoming states for OTC options are going to be Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Common tags available are going to be for Mule Deer, Elk, or Antelope.
Colorado for example or one of the most popular for elk hunting, as it has the largest elk population in the nation, over 280,000. Although the tag itself can be pricey, the OTC tag options are plentiful due to this higher population. OTC tags are meant to be used for units that can sustain that many animals, so far Colorado has many. Colorado also has options for archery and OTC rifle seasons. Your tag however is only good for that season. There are no carryovers.
Colorado Elk Migration in Map Layers - HuntWise App
Next is going to be the Idaho mule deer, said to be one of the hardest animals to get a tag for, let alone a good tag. Unfortunately, the days of going to prime habitat in search of these Mulies in Utah, Colorado, or even Arizona are long over. However, there are a few OTC options left. With a population of 115, 000 Mule Deer and a low tag cost Idaho is one of those options. Idaho overall has very affordable non-resident tag options compared to most western states. These tags typically go on sale in December (this can vary) and do sell out, so you’ll want to get in on this early.
Nebraska is a state that surprisingly has a lot of hunting opportunities in general. For some animals such as turkeys and waterfowl, getting permission on private land isn't that difficult here versus states like Colorado or Utah. OTC options for mule deer, whitetail, and Merriam or Rio turkeys are quite high. Nebraska has some OTC options for whitetail deer, as well as inexpensive doe tags for those “fill the freezer “ hunts.
Arizona’s OTC archery mule deer tag is highly underrated and probably won't be available for much longer. Arizona also has a unique deer, a smaller deer called a Cous Deer. One of the most difficult animals to hunt with a bow. A great way to add a challenging experience to your season.
Lastly, some other states that offer decent OTC tags are Montana bear, Oregon archery elk for blacktail deer, California blacktail deer, North Dakota archery deer, Alaska deer, Nebraska archery antelope, and Alaska caribou and moose. Although Alaska requires a lot of research and planning, it has a lot of opportunities for affordable OTC tags, with your main cost being your flight.
Chapter 2: Planning Your Western Hunt
Western hunting is complex, there’s a lot to learn and the mountains can be unforgiving. The best thing you can do to have the most enjoyable and successful experience is to be prepared. With the right gear, a good tag, enough research, and a hunting toolset such as HuntWise, you're going to drastically increase your chances of filling a tag out West.
Research and Prepare
Most hunters understand that success comes from learning and experience. You can’t expect to be a pro straight out the gate. Nowadays there are plenty of resources and tools to give you all the information and advice you could need to prepare yourself. Eastern hunters are used to small chunks of private or public land to hunt, once you get out west, you're looking at millions of acres of land, mountains, and different terrain. With a much larger scale of public land at your fingertips. Important things to take the time to research; game animals you want to hunt, the terrain you want to experience, OTC or draw tags, archery or gun, seasons, animal size restrictions, public or private, and success odds to name a few.
Scouting from Home
Most of us have full-time jobs and families, with a lack of PTO or days off. So we need to maximize our time when it comes to hunting season. A summer vacation with the family or a weekend shed hunting/scouting trip out west in the summer is doable for a lot of people, but not all. Don’t worry, technology has grown a lot over the years and what we can do online is insane.
With tools such as Google Earth and HuntWise, scouting from home is the new tactic. Detailed and updated satellite imagery, mapping overlays, species-specific hunting predictions, and private and public land boundaries will prepare you for a successful hunt. These new tools will help you determine where to go and when based on weather, wind, and animal behavior.
Isolating Areas and Defining Hunting Spots With E-Scouting
E-Scouting has gotten a lot easier, with new and improved toolsets. That doesn't mean disregarding other types of research. Researching animal behavior, water sources, food sources, and areas of cover to help you make better calculators on where to find these animals will be detrimental. When you're e-scouting you can utilize map layers and place pins on where you think these animals will be based on behavior, the layout of the land, and migration patterns.
Figure out what area your tag is in and learn those property boundaries well. A digital mapping app like HuntWise will be a necessity when you are out there. Property Lines of public and private land can get tricky, so knowing exactly where you are at all times will be crucial. It’s important to know what roads will lead you to your hunting spot, but what about trails, access points, and paths? Getting away from other hunters is a tactic well used out west. Knowing these alternative routes can be very helpful in gaining an advantage. Don’t forget to save your maps! Offline your maps and save them with all your pins and features so you can still drop pins and utilize them when you go off-grid. For more strategies and tips for a successful hunt, click here.
Train For The Terrain
You don’t need to hire a personal trainer, or even join a CrossFit gym to prepare for a western hunt. Elevation for sea-level living people can be troublesome for the lungs. But you don’t have to live in the mountains to be in shape for the mountains. A hunting pack loaded with sand or corn bags on the stair stepper can certainly be helpful but there are other ways to help you prepare for a physically demanding hunt. The only way to get good at hiking is to hike. Grab that weighted pack and head for the largest, steepest hills you can find. Start doing HIT (High Interval training) in the gym to boost your cardio, and even start lifting some weights to build your core, legs, and back muscles. Give yourself several months to adjust to this new routine so you don't overload yourself and end up with an injury.
Joe Griffin Hunting Caribou In Alaska - Months of Physical Preparation
Chapter 3: Western Hunting Gear
The west and the mountains are not something to underestimate. Not being fully prepared in the mountains can potentially be life or death. Plan on hiking 8+ miles a day, which means pack smart but pack light. Create a gear list of your own based on your hunt as well as your needs. Don’t forget to prioritize.
Digital Mapping Tools
A GPS is handy but there is a much simpler, easier version. Think of it as a hunting guide in your pocket. The HuntWise app has a lot of beneficial tools that you're going to want in the backcountry. This hunting toolset provides a 15-day forecast of animal movement prediction. Helping you decide the best day/times to hunt. Hundred of mapping layers to help you find public/private land, animal migration lines, property lines, access roads, trails, etc. You can gain access to public land areas and even find contact information to gain access to private lands. This toolset gives you the ability to access offline maps that you can have access to location, save markers and use all of the lakers and tools even when you don't have service.
Scouting Using The Huntwise App
Hunting Pack
There are a lot of pack companies out there nowadays. There are also a lot more factors that go into a western hunting pack than an average pack. You're going to want to try on a few to find the most comfortable, as well as make sure it fits YOUR measurements. Advice - this is not an item you will want to cheap out on. Finding a comfortable, yet the lightweight pack is key. When you try them on, find some dog food or a bag of something heavy to put in the pack when you are trying it on. This will give you a better idea of what it will feel like when you pack out an animal.
Also, consider the design. Most of your heavy weighted items should be against your back and in the middle of the pack, so pockets, straps, and pouches will be something to consider when you need to pack up all of your things. Consider easy access points.
Photo | Hazy Mountain Media
Food
Food can be one of the most challenging things to pack when you're heading into the backcountry. Things to consider include weight, nutritional value, and minerals needed when you're putting in that work. Luckily, these days there are a lot of dehydrated food options. We will save you the trouble and recommend Peak Refuel, tons of protein, and is the best tasting. You can also make some of your own. Dehydrated fruits and jerky are great sources of protein and natural sugar. Now you can put all those ducks and geese to use, and make jerky for the backcountry. Sugar and other minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium will be severely lacking in this diet. So to sustain energy and electrolytes a powder called LMNT will be highly recommended. Hitting 3,000 calories a day deficit will be important for most, so bring plenty of sacks. A cooking kit such as a Jetboil, coffee mug, lighter, water, water filter/sanitization tool, and eating utensils are also important.
Peak Refuel Chicken Pesto Pasta
Weapon of Choice
Archery, Muzzleloader, or Rifle? Your weapon of choice mostly depends on tag draw, and tag availability. If you are given options, weight is something to highly consider. You're going to be carrying this around with you for many miles, so having a lightweight weapon is key but so are slings, pouches, and holders to put on your pack to assist in carrying.
Clothing
Camouflage and hunting clothing has come a long way over the years. This is an area that can become expensive really quickly. So some things to keep in mind, you will want lightweight, scent-free (moisture-wicking and odor deodorizing), warmth, durable, wind and water-resistant, and comfortable. Color doesn't matter as much out west. A lot of hunters wear solid earth tone colors. The key is to break up your human form from the animals you are hunting. Most animals can’t see color but they can see movement and shape. Base layers such as anything merino wool will be your best investment. Merino wool is moisture-wicking, so you will stay dry and odorless as sweat is what creates odor. Find items higher in merino wool % and low on synthetic material. Darn tough socks are a great example.
Sleeping Gear
The gear you will use for your camping setup will be based on what your camp looks like. Will you be camping in a wall tent with a stove heater? Will you be packing on horseback and using a tent? Or will you be packing it all in your pack and staying mobile during a backpacking-style hunt? You’ll want to consider weight in some situations. Sometimes to mitigate heavy 0-degree sleeping bags consider bringing a down hoodie or jacket to sleep in. Or even a canvas liner for the outside of your sleeping bag. When you're considering sleeping items, less is more. Carbon or aluminum is easy to set up the tent, a lightweight sleeping bag, and an inflatable sleeping pad. If you're truck or wall tent camping you can probably get away with more. Quality is key when it comes to sleeping bags so keep that in mind.
Optics
Optics are KEY when you are hunting out west. A good pair of binoculars is something you will use every 15 minutes while archery hunting. You will want a quality pair of 10 x 42 or 12 x 50 binoculars. Something that will allow you to see in the early morning and late sunset hours. Optics can make or break your hunt in some cases. A lot of people think a spotting scope is a must-have item in western hunting, but that's not always the case. They are large and heavy and quite pricey. Most western hunters only use them 2-4 times a year. Binoculars will be strapped to your chest and used often.
Chapter 4: Things To Consider Next Year
The western draw/tag application process can be incredibly daunting and confusing, because of that, it prevents people from applying. All the time it takes to navigate through many state websites, state pamphlets, and researching all the info, can be exhausting. We’re here to make the process easier for you. In the west, there are so many opportunities to enhance your hunting skills and take on new challenges in life, especially as a hunter. So what if you forgot to put in this year, missed the deadline, or just didn’t draw a tag. Use this as an opportunity to be better prepared for next year.
Take the time to do your research, learn how the draw process works, what states you want to hunt, how their units are laid out, what experience you want, what game you want to chase, and then start building your points based on those experiences. Take the time to learn about special tags such as bonus tags, lotteries, governors tags, etc. Over time you will start to treat this process like your retirement. Having a strategy will be essential, consider your short and long-term goals.
For more information on draw odds and regulations for states you want to hunt, here are some links that will help.
Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, South Dakota, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, California, Washington, Oregon
Letting opportunity pass you by isn’t an option. You can't reach your goals from the couch. Make the most of the opportunities you have while you have them. The best way to purchase and decide on an OTC tag is to do some scouting at home, in the field, and utilize the many toolsets online that help you see draw odds, what states have OTC units, and for what game animals, terrain, pressure, and statistics, etc. Part of western hunting, the most valuable part, is camaraderie. Sharing hunting stories over a campfire and growing as a hunter creates an unbreakable bond.