FHL BULL ELK TAG

[7Mag_PigHunter]

Hello everyone....

I've been applying for the Fort Hunter Liggett Period 3 Bull tag for over 12 years... With 12 or so points i figured i reached max points so my question to everybody is .... is there anybody else in here with about the same amount of points applying for the same tag? My father drew a cow elk tag at FHL back a few years back... But Me.. I want a bull not because its bigger but for the simple fact that I would love to mount it on the wall.... I've hunted FHL all my life pretty much and at 23 years old I've seen some massive bulls especially in AREA 24... Some people tell me "oh why dont you just go with a cow?" but why would i waist my 12 or so years of applying for a cow elk when im at the crossroads of my bull? I want a bull tag and hopefully this year will be my year and I will draw for the bull tag... Anybody else on the same page?


Happy Hunting

 

[nickman123]

I too use to hunt FHL and I also saw many fantastic bulls there. I'm no expert, but IMO they have the best looking Tule bulls of all the hunts. Problem is all the military red tape and BS. That's why I stopped hunting there- just wasn't worth the hassle. My big fear is that if I put in for FHL elk tag and got it, my hunt would end up being cancelled or ruined or screwed up by some military FUBAR and all my years of waiting and points would be for nothing. Might not even be their fault, could be something like another 9/11. So I play it safe and put in for La Panza.

 

[rvrrat]

I could be wrong but I believe it depends on what point "category" you fall into. It appears to me that if your active duty, category 1, one point counts as 18 towards the draw down to civilian where one point is one point. Since period 3 Bull is the prize draw, depending on how many applicants with higher category points, you may never draw that tag. Considering now that subnote #6 on the non-refundable elk app. fee describes how no more points will be offered next year, I wonder what's next. Are you able to accrue a pref. point if you purchase a hunting permit and put in for the elk draw, but not if you only pay the 50 bucks for the elk draw? If anyone can explain the FHL point system, has seen it work, or has any idea what's in store for the future, please expalin. Thanks!

 

[quicknick]

You may never draw, the preference quota for that hunt last year was six and there were 260 applicants with max points; not good odds there.

 

[subfan]

If the trend continues, folks like me will be bailing from CA and leaving our max points behind. Hang in there!

 

[Navy SWO]

I could be wrong but I believe it depends on what point "category" you fall into. It appears to me that if your active duty, category 1, one point counts as 18 towards the draw down to civilian where one point is one point. Since period 3 Bull is the prize draw, depending on how many applicants with higher category points, you may never draw that tag. Considering now that subnote #6 on the non-refundable elk app. fee describes how no more points will be offered next year, I wonder what's next. Are you able to accrue a pref. point if you purchase a hunting permit and put in for the elk draw, but not if you only pay the 50 bucks for the elk draw? If anyone can explain the FHL point system, has seen it work, or has any idea what's in store for the future, please expalin. Thanks!

There are two sets of tags for FHL. One set is administered by DFG and you apply through the normal process with your $8 (or what ever it is) processing fee. If you don't get drawn, you get a point. The other set is administered by FHL. Only people with some military affiliation can apply - either active duty, reserve, retired or various civilian employess and dependents. Based on your category you start with between 1 and 18 points. If you apply through the base and don't get drawn you get another point for the next year. In the past applications did not cost anything. A couple of years ago they started a policy of making you buy a yearly base hunting permit to apply. The year they more than doubled the fees. There were lots of complaints (see the thread in the hog forum) and the base made some changes and added the option of paying a $50 fee to apply for elk rather than the higher yearly permit fee. The only issue with this option is that if you aren't drawn, you don't get a point. If you pay for the full base permit and don't get drawn you do get a point. Long story short - if you are eligible to apply for a military tag you have a much better chance of getting drawn, but you will pay for the priviledge. If you aren't eligible you have a very small chance of being drawn, but it doesn't cost too much.

 

[RodeoFlyer]

There are two sets of tags for FHL. One set is administered by DFG and you apply through the normal process with your $8 (or what ever it is) processing fee. If you don't get drawn, you get a point. The other set is administered by FHL. Only people with some military affiliation can apply - either active duty, reserve, retired or various civilian employess and dependents. Based on your category you start with between 1 and 18 points. If you apply through the base and don't get drawn you get another point for the next year. In the past applications did not cost anything. A couple of years ago they started a policy of making you buy a yearly base hunting permit to apply. The year they more than doubled the fees. There were lots of complaints (see the thread in the hog forum) and the base made some changes and added the option of paying a $50 fee to apply for elk rather than the higher yearly permit fee. The only issue with this option is that if you aren't drawn, you don't get a point. If you pay for the full base permit and don't get drawn you do get a point. Long story short - if you are eligible to apply for a military tag you have a much better chance of getting drawn, but you will pay for the priviledge. If you aren't eligible you have a very small chance of being drawn, but it doesn't cost too much.

THANK YOU FOR THIS. This is my first year applying, and I just paid the $8 to DFG. The hog thread had me confused that I needed to first pay all the FHL fees. (i'm not military). I realize I may never get drawn, but for $8 I figure what the hell.

 

[rvrrat]

There are two sets of tags for FHL. One set is administered by DFG and you apply through the normal process with your $8 (or what ever it is) processing fee. If you don't get drawn, you get a point. The other set is administered by FHL. Only people with some military affiliation can apply - either active duty, reserve, retired or various civilian employess and dependents. Based on your category you start with between 1 and 18 points. If you apply through the base and don't get drawn you get another point for the next year. In the past applications did not cost anything. A couple of years ago they started a policy of making you buy a yearly base hunting permit to apply. The year they more than doubled the fees. There were lots of complaints (see the thread in the hog forum) and the base made some changes and added the option of paying a $50 fee to apply for elk rather than the higher yearly permit fee. The only issue with this option is that if you aren't drawn, you don't get a point. If you pay for the full base permit and don't get drawn you do get a point. Long story short - if you are eligible to apply for a military tag you have a much better chance of getting drawn, but you will pay for the priviledge. If you aren't eligible you have a very small chance of being drawn, but it doesn't cost too much.

Thanks! I'm CA Air Guard retired and have been putting in for elk for a while, just haven't seen any of the actual odds of drawing.