May 09, 2025

UPDATED:  May 9, 2025

Big Game Draws 

Left coast opportunities are coming up

Oregon applications are due May 15th

Oregon is tough. They require a 172-dollar license, but only 8 dollars per application. The tough part is the nonresident allocation. Three percent for most plus a preference point system makes drawing unlikely unless you are willing to stay with it for years. The amount of trophy areas is limited for elk and deer. There are good antelope areas available.

The point system does not apply to sheep or mountain goats, so that keeps me applying.

Tags are possible for antelope, deer, Elk, Bighorn sheep, Antelope, California, and Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep.

Washington applications are due May 28th this year

There is a bonus point system, so anybody can draw. The points are squared, so the point pool is huge, even if you have maximum points, and that gives you as good a chance as anybody, your odds (on high demand hunts) may not be as good as last year due to the points added to the pool.

With the predator problem and a governor and commission being the way they are, don’t expect great hunts, however, there are still moose that have escaped the wolves, big rams and some world class elk. So, apply. 

Note that some hunts offer as good a chance with a raffle ticket as you have in the draw

Montana applications for antelope are due June 1st.     

Wyoming applications for deer and antelope are due June 2nd 

California applications are due June 2nd 

Jerry Barron