Drawn West

Would you pay $6000 to apply for a Bison tag?

This episode we dive into the Wyoming Moose, Goat, Sheep & Bison applications for 2026.

Moose, bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goat, and free-range bison are all on the table, but the draw odds, the point system, and the upfront costs are a completely different game than anything else in the West. Before you write that check, you need to know what you're actually getting into.

This episode breaks down each species individually — who has a realistic shot, which units non-residents should actually target, and whether buying Wyoming preference points for 30 years makes more sense than putting that money toward a guided hunt somewhere else.

What we cover:

• The only bighorn sheep unit offering non-residents random draw odds — and what it means if you don't have 26+ points

• The three moose units with random odds and why success rates are still near 100% if you pull the tag

• Why Rocky Mountain goat is all-random for everyone — and what the odds look like after units 4 and 5 were eliminated

• The Yellowstone-corridor bison hunt: best odds of all four species and why success rates have been slipping

• The real upfront cost reality and how the May reimbursement timeline works

If this helps, subscribe and leave us a five-star review — and get on the Drawn West newsletter at getdrawnwest.com so you never miss a deadline again.

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[HowComedy Can Save Hunting]

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Someone bid $290,000 for a Utah Rocky Mountain bighorn tag at this year's Hunt Expo. You can enter the same draw for $21.

That's the whole argument for applying for Utah's once in a lifetime species — and it's a strong one. These aren't tags you build toward with a realistic finish line. The point creep is real, the permits are scarce, and you're probably never going to hit 100% draw odds. But if you're already buying a Utah hunting license to apply for elk, deer, or antelope, adding sheep, moose, or bison to your application is just a lottery ticket on top of a purchase you already made. And the payoff, if you draw, is genuinely life-changing.

This is the fourth and final episode in the 2026 Utah application series. I break down every once in a lifetime species Utah offers — Rocky Mountain bighorn, desert bighorn, mountain goat, moose, and bison — covering draw odds, permit numbers, success rates, trophy potential, and which ones are actually worth adding to your application. The April 23rd deadline applies here too, so the timing matters.

In this episode:

• Why Utah once in a lifetime tags are pure lottery tickets — and exactly what that means for your point strategy

• Conservation permit auction prices from the 2026 Western Hunt Expo that show just how valuable these tags really are

• Rocky Mountain bighorn breakdown: only 5 non-resident permits, 100% managed success rates, and units producing 175-inch bulls

• Desert bighorn vs. Rocky Mountain bighorn — the differences in permit availability, odds, and trophy potential

• Mountain goat reality check: declining populations, pulled non-resident permits in some units, and why easier access makes it interesting for certain hunters

• Moose in the lower 48: 10 non-resident permits, mostly 100% success rates, and why the point pool makes it a true lottery

• The over-the-counter bison warning — why buying the Nine Mile OTC permit forfeits your ability to ever apply for the Henry Mountains or Book Cliffs draw

• Which species Brian actually applies for — and the honest framework for deciding which $21 applications are worth it to you

If this series helped you get your Utah applications dialed in, take a second to leave a five-star rating and follow the show. It genuinely makes a difference

Follow along for more tag breakdowns, application strategy, and behind-the-scenes content: @getdrawnwest

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[2026Big Game Application Results]

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Is Utah Antelope worth it?

A lot of people skip Utah antelope entirely. That might be exactly why you should be building points right now.

If you're already applying for elk or mule deer in Utah, adding an antelope point only costs you $— and some of the best pronghorn tags in the state are starting to come within reach. Utah doesn't carry the same reputation as Wyoming or Nevada, but the herds are recovering, the trophy quality is climbing back, and the hunting pressure on antelope is almost nothing compared to what you see on deer and elk tags.

In this episode, we break down the full Utah antelope picture for 2026 — where the herds stand after the tough stretch following the 2023 winter kill, which units give you a real shot at an 80-inch buck, and how to think about Utah as part of a bigger multi-state antelope strategy. The April 23, 2026 application deadline is right around the corner.

In this episode:

• Utah pronghorn herd recovery after the 2023 winter kill — why trophy quality took a hit and where things stand now

• How the Parker Mountain herd has served as a statewide source population, including 317 animals transplanted to new units in 2025

• The four units with the strongest 80-inch-plus potential: San Rafael North, Book Cliffs South, Fillmore, and the Beaver

• Draw odds breakdown for residents vs. non-residents — and the weapon-type combos where tags get realistic faster than you'd expect

• Why Utah is a long-term state, not a cornerstone antelope state — and where it fits in a smart multi-state plan

• The $21 point investment that makes complete sense if you're already buying a Utah hunting license

________________________________________

Follow along for more antelope breakdowns, application tips, and behind-the-scenes content: @getdrawnwest

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[2026Big Game Application Results]
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Want a shot at hunting some of the biggest public land elk in the country?

In this episode, we break down what Utah elk tags cost, how the draw works for nonresidents, and where both limited entry and OTC tags fit into a long range elk strategy.

We walk through the nonresident math on the 365 day hunting license, general, spike only, any bull, and limited entry tag prices, and why Utah’s cheap bonus points become a bargain once you’re already buying the license. Then I break down Utah’s hybrid bonus point system for limited entry elk, how the resident/nonresident split works, and why Utah’s age class management creates some of the best public land bull potential in the country—up into the 340–380+ range in top units like Beaver, Boulder, and Pahvant.

What we cover in this episode:

• 365 day license hacks and point stacking

• How Utah’s hybrid elk draw works

• Best limited entry elk units for nonresidents

• When to chase top tier vs “second tier” tags

• Using OTC spike and any bull hunts while building points

If this episode helps you sort out where Utah elk belongs in your Western plan, subscribe to the podcast and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram so you don’t miss the rest of the Utah application series!

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[UtahMule Deer Application Guide]

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00:00 – Why Utah elk is so underrated fornonresidents

01:40 – 2026 Utah elk deadlines and basic rules

03:15 – Nonresident license, tag costs, and 365‑daylicense math

06:30 – Limited entry vs general elk, weapon types,and season breakdown

09:00 – How Utah’s hybrid bonus point draw works forelk

13:00 – Why Utah elk quality is so high (age classand herd management)

17:30 – Top‑end limited entry units: Beaver, Boulder,Pahvant, San Juan

23:30 – Draw odds, long‑term odds modeling, andauction tag values

30:30 – How to build a long‑term Utah elk strategy bypoint level

37:30 – OTC spike‑only and any‑bull elk tags andwhere they fit

43:00 – Key 2026 dates and how to stay on top of Utahelk applications

Want to chase some of the biggest mule deer in the country?

In this episode, I break down what Utah really costs, how the draw works, and which units are actually worth your points so you can decide if it belongs in your long range strategy.

We walk through the nonresident math on the 365 day license, general and limited entry tag costs, and why Utah’s cheap points become a bargain once you’re already in the system. Then I break down Utah’s bonus point system for limited entry, the true preference points for general season, and real world unit examples from zero points up into the 20 plus range.

What we cover in this episode:

• How to time the 365 day license so you get two application cycles out of one purchase.

• The difference between premium limited entry, standard limited entry, management buck, cactus buck, and HAMS hunts—and what happens to your points when you draw.

• High end units like Paunsaugunt, Henry Mountains, Fillmore Creek, and San Juan, plus realistic general units like Pine Valley, Zion, North Slope, Chalk Creek, Bonanza, La Sal, and Monroe from 0–10 points.

• Why nonresidents often have more opportunity in Utah than residents when it comes to limited entry applications.

• How I think about folding Utah into a bigger Western application plan using GoHunt Filtering 2.0.

If this episode helps you sort out Utah, subscribe to the podcast and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram so you don’t miss the rest of the Utah bonus series.

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[2026 Utah Elk Application Guide]

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Chapters

00:00:00 – Why Utah MuleDeer Matters in 2026
00:00:24 – Utah Deadline and How It Fits with MT, WY, CO
00:02:36 – Nonresident Costs: License, Tags, and Points
00:04:06 – Utah Draw System: Bonus vs Preference Points
00:06:48 – Premium, Management, and Cactus Buck Hunts
00:10:35 – General Season Deer and Draw Order Rules
00:13:05 – Using GoHunt Filtering 2.0 for Utah Units
00:16:11 – High‑End Limited Entry Units Worth Waiting For
00:19:40 – Shortcut Tags with HAMS and Late Muzzleloader
00:20:19 – Zero‑ to Ten‑Point General Units and Long‑Range Strategy

Ever walk through the woods thinking “Elk don’t exist” ? I’ve had a few of those days myself – On this episode we have the host of the Elk Don’t Exist podcast himself, comedian and hunter Dillon Deitz.

We covered shed hunting and hunting stories stories, but it turned into a really solid conversation about getting into hunting and why it feels harder than it should.

Dillon’s working on a series called Rookie Season where he’s taking guys with zero hunting background and helping them go through their first hunt. No experience, no shortcuts, just figuring it out as they go. That led into a bigger conversation about how complicated hunting has gotten, especially for someone looking in from the outside.

We also got into public land pressure, non-residents, and the whole social media side of hunting — not trying to solve anything, just talking through what we’re seeing and what actually lines up with reality.

Overall it’s just a laid back conversation, but there’s a lot in here whether you’ve been hunting your whole life or you’re just getting started.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed it, leave a 5-star rating and share it with someone who’d get something out of it.

Check out the first episode of Dillon’s project The RookieSeason on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4j637LQffc

Follow more of Dillon’s content on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/dillondeitz/

Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!
[How To GoElk Hunting for $1500]

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00:00 – Shed Hunting Stories

08:30 – What “Rookie Season” Is

22:30 – Why Hunting Feels Hard to Start

35:30 – Public Land & Non-Residents

49:00 – Keeping Hunting Fun

1:03:00 – Hunting with Family

1:14:00 – Social Media & Criticism

1:20:00 – Gear & Getting Started

A Colorado moose, sheep, or goat tag is one of the hardest tags in the lower 48 to draw, but it may be worth applying for and we breakdown why!

In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down how Colorado’s moose, sheep, and goat system actually works, what makes it different from the straight preference draws for deer, elk, and antelope, and why these tags are still one of the more realistic long-game plays if you want a shot at a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. He covers the $2,823 nonresident tag cost, the three-year preference point buy-in, how weighted points create a random-but-improving draw system, and what the current outlook looks like for bighorns, goats, and especially moose. He also gets into an option most hunters overlook: ewe, nanny, and antlerless moose tags that can cut the wait down in a big way.

• Colorado deadline: April 7 at 8 p.m. Mountain Time

• Nonresident tag fee: $2,823, plus qualifying license

• Three preference points required before you even have a chance to draw

• Desert bighorn is random and separate from Rocky Mountain bighorn

• Antlerless/female tags can dramatically improve draw odds

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram.

If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

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ColoradoElk Application Strategy

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0:00 – Colorado Moose Sheep Goat Overview

0:34 – April 7 Deadline and Tag Cost

4:44 – How Colorado MSG Points Work

12:05 – Why Weather Matters Less for MSG Applications

13:22 – Rocky Mountain Bighorn Breakdown

18:44 – Rocky Mountain Goat Breakdown

22:51 – Why Colorado Moose Looks So Promising

27:55 – Faster Draw Odds with Ewe, Nanny, and Antlerless Tags

If you’re already applying in Colorado… you might be missing one of the easiest hunts you can add.

In this Colorado Antelope breakdown, Brian walks through exactly how to approach the 2026 application—what it costs, what kind of hunt you can expect, and how to actually pick a unit based on your point level.

With the April 7 deadline looming, this episode focuses on strategy—especially for hunters already in the Colorado system. Antelope might not be the flashiest tag in the West, but it can be one of the most efficient ways to add a hunt to your fall if you’re already applying for deer or elk.

Brian also dives into herd recovery after the brutal 2023 winter, what realistic trophy expectations look like (and where they’re better than advertised), and how public land access—not trophy size—is often the biggest factor in draw odds.

From zero points to 20+ year strategies, this is a practical, no-BS walkthrough of how to actually use your points—and whether it’s worth waiting or just going hunting.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram.

If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!
ColoradoElk Application Strategy

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Thinking of an elk hunt this year? Colorado needs to be on your radar!

In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, we dig into Colorado elk—what’s changing, what’s coming next, and where the real opportunity still lives depending on your point level.

Colorado is still the center of the elk hunting world, but it’s evolving. OTC archery has shifted, rifle tags could follow, and a major draw system change in 2028 is starting to reshape how people think about points. At the same time, there are still ways to hunt every single year—if you’re looking at it the right way.

We walk through how different point levels actually play out, where things quietly open up, and why some strategies look better on paper than they do in reality.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re playing Colorado the right way—or just want to understand it a little deeper—this one’s worth your time.

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Forging TheFuture: Benchmade’s Newest Blade Technology

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00:00 – Colorado Elk Overview
01:10 – Deadline & Point Rules
02:00 – OTC Archery Changes
03:30 – Future Rifle Tag Changes
04:30 – Colorado Elk Costs
05:30 – Draw System Explained
07:00 – 2028 System Changes
09:00 – Elk Population & Trophy Potential
11:30 – Using Unit Data & GoHunt
13:00 – Best Units (0 Points)
15:30 – Best Units (3 Points)
17:30 – The 7–20 Point Dead Zone
19:30 – High Point Strategy
21:30 – Final Application Advice

Colorado is the king of Mule Deer States – and this episode we breakdown why!

Big country, a pile of public land, and more opportunity than just about anywhere else in the West—it’s one of the few states where you can still put a plan together and actually go hunt.

This episode kicks off the Colorado series with mule deer, and we start with what makes it so good. From early high-country hunts to late-season rut hunts, Colorado gives you options—and that’s really the story here.

We get into how the draw works, what the April 7 deadline means, and how to think about points without overcomplicating it. There’s also a look ahead at the 2028 changes and how that might shape decisions over the next couple years.

And then we dive into the fun part—seasons, units, and where you might start looking depending on how many points you’ve got.

If you’ve ever thought about hunting mule deer out West, Colorado is hard to ignore.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

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ColoradoElk Application Strategy

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Save10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest0:00 Why Colorado Mule Deer
2:00 Colorado Application Overview
4:30 April 7 Deadline
7:10 Preference Point System
12:00 2028 Draw Changes
18:30 Season Breakdown
24:00 Early Season vs Rut Hunts
30:00 Unit Options (0–5 Points)
36:00 Mid-Level Units
42:00 High Point Units
47:00 Final Thoughts on Colorado