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The Draw You Don’t Want To Miss

Erik Schell

| February 16, 2021

Erik Schell
February 16, 2021

Are you an elk or deer hunter? If your answer is yes, then you need to have the March 17th, New Mexico application deadline on your radar – here’s why.

Equal Odds Are Your Best Odds

The New Mexico big-game draw is a 100% lottery-style draw. No point system is in place, which evens the playing field for all applicants. New Mexico does require applicants to submit the entire tag fee at the time of application, which can quickly add-up and deter applicants all together or limit the number of applications you are comfortable submitting. WTA TAGS will submit these fees at the time of application on your behalf.

Non-Resident Quotas

Currently, nonresidents are allotted 16% of the total tags for each species. Of which, 6% go into the “unguided pool” and 10% go into the “guided pool.” If you enter the “guided pool” you must hire an outfitter once successfully drawn. By applying through WTA TAGS into the “guided pool” your odds of successfully drawing a tag will increase substantially. It is not uncommon to double your odds of winning. Once successfully drawn, WTA TAGS will be able to assist pairing you with the finest outfitter for the tag you have drawn. This is a pivotal component in maximizing any great draw tag. Rates for a fully-guided hunt will vary, but $5,000-$7,000 is to be expected. This is a huge savings when compared to hunts of similar quality with guaranteed tags.

How The Draw Works

You are allotted three choices on your application for elk and deer. When your application is randomly selected, each choice will be looked at in the order they were submitted before moving to the next applicant. This is crucial when it comes to maximizing your odds of drawing a premium tag as you must understand the draw odds, draw trends and the specific attributes of each season in each respective unit. You must also consider the style of hunting you prefer prior to applying. Do you like to hunt on horseback? Do you prefer to stay in a lodge? Are wall-tent camps more appealing? If you apply through WTA TAGS you can be assured all of this information is taken into account prior to your Consultant selecting the hunts you will be applied for.

Weapon Choice

When applying into the New Mexico draw, one might consider applying with a more primitive weapon; archery and muzzleloader tags are typically much easier to draw than rifle tags and often fall over better season dates. Muzzleloaders have very few restrictions in New Mexico. Scopes of all magnifications can be used and the newer “long range” muzzleloaders are similar to most rifles in terms of accuracy. Again, draw odds, when using primitive weapons, will open additional hunt options and units.

Rocky Mountain Elk

New Mexico has long been touted as one of the West’s premier elk destinations and rightfully so. The overall trophy quality in New Mexico’s premier units is phenomenal; taking a bull over 340 is certainly realistic. If you are simply after a great hunting experience that comes with high odds of success on a quality bull, a plethora of options are available. New Mexico offers primitive-weapon elk units that only allow archery or muzzleloader hunting. The latter portion of the rut takes place during select muzzleloader seasons within the primitive-weapons units. If you wish to hunt peak rut, it is imperative to apply for the archery seasons. The elevation, topography, and style of hunt will vary vastly from unit to unit, but it is safe to say there is a trophy-type bull hunt that fits into everyone’s wheelhouse.

Youth: The youth elk hunts offer some of the best opportunities to harvest in the entire state. Rifle and muzzleloader tags are available and, in most circumstances, the youth-only season is the first gun hunt in each respective unit. This equates to a great elk hunting experience with high success on quality bulls.

Mule Deer

If you were to look through the B&C record book, I believe you’d be surprised at what you’d find regarding mule deer. Rio Arriba County, found in north central New Mexico, is one of the strongest producers of typical B&C bucks in the country, sure to impress even the most discerning trophy hunter. Outside of this select area, the remainder of the state can be largely classified as having “trophy opportunity.” This means that great hunts can be had and big deer can be taken, but it should simply be looked at as a great chance to put a tag in your pocket and go have some fun. Many of these “trophy opportunity”-type hunts can be drawn at nearly 100% in the “guided pool”.

Youth: Tags are available in many areas for youth deer hunters, including the previously mentioned Rio Arriba County units. Youth rifle hunts will typically catch the pre-rut or rut, making for great action and plenty of deer being spotted. Youth muzzleloader and archery hunts are also offered in quality units that will afford high success and great experiences for those not in search of the biggest horns.

Coues Deer

Although N.M. is often overshadowed by neighboring Arizona, the Coues hunting in the Land of Enchantment should not be overlooked. The greatest densities are found in the extreme southwestern portion of the state. Trophies will average over 90 inches, with bucks over 110 being taken each season. WTA TAGS clients were 100% successful in 2020 when hunting with our preferred outfitter. Rifle and muzzleloader hunts are conducted from October-December. The mid-December rifle hunt is the most sought-after tag available. Archery hunts are available in September and January. The January hunts often take place when all other fall hunts have concluded, making it the perfect opportunity to extend your season. This area consists of gorgeous desert mountains with very moderate and enjoyable weather.

Youth: The youth-only tags offered in the units that hold Coues deer are not species specific. They are deer tags that will allow a child to take one buck, be it a Coues deer or mule deer. The versatility of this tag is appealing and the late-November hunt dates work well to sneak your son or daughter away during their Thanksgiving break.

The New Mexico big-game application deadline is March 17th, 2021. If you would like assistance applying, do not hesitate to reach out to WTA TAGS at 1-800-755-TAGS(8247) and ask to speak with a Consultant. WTA TAGS will ensure you are applied in a manner that maximizes your odds of drawing that dream tag.

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Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

Preference Point Deadline: October 31, 2025

The deadline to purchase Wyoming preference points is October 31. If WTA is already managing your TAGS applications, you’re all set. If not, don’t miss the chance to secure points this year. It’s the perfect time to talk with a TAGS consultant to start a new portfolio or grow your existing one.

Wyoming’s system is unique. Unlike other states, you don’t automatically receive a preference point if you’re unsuccessful in the draw. Instead, you must log in after July 1 and purchase your points separately. Building points is critical if you want a shot at drawing a Wyoming tag. Over-the-counter opportunities are a thing of the past. Today, only 25% of non-resident tags are issued randomly. The other 75% go to applicants with the highest point totals.

If you want to hunt big game in Wyoming, building preference points isn’t optional…it’s essential.

Watch Wyoming Video

While preference points are an investment in the future, don’t let that keep you from starting now. While Wyoming has units that require 18+ points, there are also good opportunities to hunt sooner. There are elk, deer, and antelope hunts that can be drawn with 0–3 points. Think about it this way—the more points you have, the more options you have.

View Wyoming TAGS Hunts

Serious hunters know that Montana is home to some of North America’s most coveted species: Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, Shiras moose, mountain goat, and antelope. The key to unlocking these dream hunts is building points, and the deadline to secure your bonus point for this year is September 30.

Montana squares bonus points in its draw system, and hunters with more points gain a significant advantage in the draw. If you’ve ever dreamed of chasing a record bull, a giant ram, or a heavy-horned buck in Montana, strategically building points will put you in the best position to find success in upcoming seasons.

Watch Montana Video Rocky Mountain Elk

Montana consistently produces exceptional trophy bulls, making elk the most sought-after species in the state. Archery permits are especially appealing, often requiring only 4–7 years to draw—a remarkably short time period compared to other western states. Rifle permits can often be drawn with a similar point investment, though trophy quality is slightly lower on average. Many of these hunts take place on expansive private ranches, providing hunters with excellent opportunities and high success rates.

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Dialed In: A 360-Inch Bull Elk and the Luck that Made It Happen

Winning one hunt sweepstakes through Worldwide Trophy Adventures feels like a long shot, but winning two? That’s the kind of luck I still can’t fully wrap my head around. I started entering WTA sweepstakes a few years ago, taking full advantage of their Bonus Bucks program and hoping to win someday. I’ve hunted whitetails in Minnesota’s flat woods, mule deer out West, and Sitka blacktails in Alaska’s rugged country, but this was different. When Worldwide Trophy Adventures called to tell me I’d won their 2024 Nevada bull elk hunt, just a year after winning a Utah mule deer hunt from them, I was stunned. Two sweepstakes wins in two years? Unreal. And the icing on the cake? I’d be hunting with a crew that truly knows their elk. As Erik Schell put it: “John, when it comes to elk, these guys are paid killers.” He wasn’t wrong.

I opted to drive from Minnesota to keep costs down and bring back as much meat as possible. I loaded my truck with Yeti coolers and hit the road for the long drive, stopping in Denver for a steak dinner with a hunting buddy before tackling the last 10 hours to Baker, Nevada. That stretch through Loveland Pass was sketchy with snow and ice, and on the way back I detoured through Gillette, Wyoming to avoid a 30″ Denver snow dump. Long haul, but worth it to have my truck for the meat.

Baker is a speck of a town, population 16, just shy of the Utah line. The outfitter set us up in an Airbnb called The Corner Place. It was homey, with enough beds for me, another hunter, and the guide crew. The kitchen had stacks of premade meals like casseroles and snacks, whipped up by the outfitter’s wife. We heated them up after long days, but if we got back late, we’d hit the Border Crossing, a bar and greasy spoon split between Nevada and Utah. One side had slot machines, the other a gas station. We’d grab burgers and a bucket of Budweiser, the guide Richie’s favorite, and swap stories. It was simple, but it hit the spot.

The outfitter’s team was world-class. They’d been scouting for a week, pinpointing a bachelor group of bulls in a canyon 20 miles north. That first night, we sat around the Airbnb’s kitchen table sipping beers and scrolling through their scouting videos. Three bulls stood out: a beat-up 6×6 they called Bondo, a heavy 5×5, and a narrower 7×7. We decided to hit the canyon at dawn.

Day one was no joke. Richie, my guide, led me up the mountain before light, climbing a couple thousand feet. The air was a bit thinner than in Minnesota, but Richie kept a steady pace. Two spotters, Cameron and Ryan, worked the opposite canyon rim. It felt like I had the dream team for this once-in-a-lifetime elk hunt. We eased onto a rock ledge about 400 yards above a bench where five bulls were feeding: Bondo, the 5×5, a thin 6×6, a young 5×5, and a spike. No 7×7. This was the first time I was faced with taking a bull elk, but Richie talked me through it. “The 5×5’s got 30 inches of mass per side, swords in the 20s, probably 9 or 10 years old. Scores at least 330. Solid first bull.”

I went prone on the ledge, dialing my Gunwerks Nexus in 7 PRC to 387 yards. Richie double-checked: “386 yards.” Right as I lined up, the bull bedded down. Great. I’d waited out a mule deer for five hours once, so I knew the drill. Lying on snow with a 20° northwest wind kicking up, I started shivering after an hour. Richie saw it. “You good? We can back off, build a fire, or shoot him bedded. There’s a branch over some of his vitals. Can you slip a round under it?”

I’d put in time at Gunwerks’ Long-Range University: a hands-on, no-BS school that focuses on real-world shooting conditions, not just benchrest skills. They train you to read wind, manage stress, and make clean, ethical shots in exactly the situations that hunters face in the field. I knew my rifle, my dope, and my limits. “I got it,” I said. I checked the yardage, my level, controlled my breathing, and squeezed. The bull collapsed. “You smoked him!” Richie said. When he tried to get up, a second round finished it.

Reaching the bull was an experience I won’t forget. I’ve taken plenty of deer over the years, but this 360″ elk was in a league of its own—sheer mass, thick beams, and antlers that looked heavy even from a distance. Standing over him, the scale of the hunt hit me. We built a small fire, took photos, and soaked in the moment. Then came the hard part. The canyon was steep and treacherous, slick with snow and loose shale. I took a spill on the descent, and every step down was a test of footing and balance with meat on our backs. It took over three hours to reach the canyon floor and get the bull out, but it was worth every bit of effort. Back at camp, we celebrated the way hunters do—cold beers and a good story to tell.

We caped the bull that night and packed the meat in coolers, though it was cold enough outside to keep everything fresh. I hung around a few days, spotting for the other hunter’s bull, glassing canyons, and enjoying the Nevada backcountry. No pressure, just good times behind the glass. When I left, I strapped the antlers to my truck, crammed the coolers in, and drove 24 hours straight home, still buzzing. Back in Minnesota, I vacuum-sealed the meat, enough for months of meals, and dropped the rack with a taxidermist for a shoulder mount.

This hunt was as good as it gets. The outfitter knew every inch of that country, had bulls dialed in, and gave me options. For a guy who’s now won two WTA sweepstakes, I’ll tell you straight: these hunts are real and the sweepstakes are worth it. Nevada’s elk country and that crew of “paid killers” gave me a bull and a story I’ll be telling for years.

Don’t miss your chance to enter to win this world-class elk hunt in Nevada. The entries are limited…only 1,750 total entries, giving you very good odds of winning this elk valued at $72,000!

Enter the Nevada Elk Sweepstakes