It’s June, so now is the time to gear up and get ready for the fall. Here at Huntin’ Fool, we take pride in not only covering some of the best hunts in the West, but also researching and helping our community plan their hunting options every year. As you can see in this magazine, Nebraska, which was once a coveted option for availability of opportunity, has slowly dwindled its opportunities over the last few years and is now a full blown draw. Not to pick on Nebraska as we are seeing these changes everywhere, from what was once purely over-the-counter deer permits in Arizona going to a quota and selling out at record pace to the rat race of Idaho general permits now transitioning into a draw. Not all changes are created equal, though. Most come with increased frustration, although others, like Idaho, somewhat come with a sigh of relief. Their program has basically been a random draw for years with their randomly assigned numbers in line. At least this way everyone has a chance, and even parties will be able to apply together.
Over the counter is not your only “opportunity.” There is still an abundance of over-the-counter permits out there, but there are still other options, such as leftover permits, reissued permits, landowner tags, outfitter allocated permits, and international options. We work with the best outfitters across the West and beyond. In the states, especially with over-the-counter or preference draws, we see these booking up faster and faster each year, so it is not a bad idea to be looking and planning for years to come, even if that means accumulating more points than you need to guarantee yourself that permit when your opportunity arises.
Now is the time to plan, even if it is not for this fall. Whether it be locking in on a hunt for next year in one of these purely preference point states or getting on an outfitter’s books before they fill up, you don’t want to be caught with your pants down next August with an empty calendar. Point being, don’t let your fall completely hinge on the random draw. The options are ever changing, and we pride ourselves on staying on top of it from trophy hunts to meat hunts. We have the staff and capabilities whether you are looking for a guided hunt or to go self-guided. We look forward to chatting with you about your options.
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