Over the counter big game tags

[the Ferret]

Well, having been unsuccessful in the last 3 big game tag drawings we have put in for (moose, elk and mule deer), I'd like for you fellas to help compile a list of states and tags one can buy over the counter. I'm getting fed up with sending money to some game department while they decide if they are going to let me come to their state to hunt. Of course they won't tell you until 3-5 months prior to the hunt, so once they do tell you you're rejected, you have to scramble to find another place to hunt or rearrange vacation. Meanwhile you're waiting for your refund. (sounds like a Mark Baker song doesn't it? LOL)

I'll start.

Anyone can come hunt whitetailed deer and turkey in Ohio. Tags are available over the counter. Plenty of public land, game numbers are plentiful. Don't need a guide.

[bondo]

Been buying either sex elk tags over the counter in Colorado for several years, lots of good hunting also.

[Tim Fishell]

You can buy White-tailed deer licences over the counter here in Michigan as well.  Lots of state land to hunt and very good numbers of game.

[Tom Mussatto]

Unless it's changed in the past couple of years you can still buy non-resident archery elk tags for Oregon. You have to purchase prior to the season opening and if you know someone from Oregon they can purchase your tag over the counter for you. About $350.

Don't know anything about the Roosevelts in western Oregon but the hunting in northeastern Oregon for Rocky Mountain elk is good in some really beautiful country.

Forget deer in Illinois. They have our deer hunting so screwed up it's pathetic and you'll pay more for it than an elk hunt in great country. Limited public ground that's overcrowded.

I agree with you Mickey. I'd rather hunt squirrels in the back 40 that jump through all the hoops now necessary to hunt big game in most states and Canadian Provinces. Glad I did it when young when you could still hunt what you want, where you want, and do it on your own, from Alaska thoughout Canada and the western states. Who said we are living in the golden age of bowhunting? Not me.

[OH at work]

I usually send in my money to Idaho for elk early in the year but you used to be able to buy over- the- counter elk tags in Idaho also.  Haven't checked this year though.

Joe

[Tree man]

Archery Elk and Pronghorn are available in Colorado. Over the counter for all sorts of things in Texas-the challenge is having accessto hunt somewhere.

[snag]

There is still OTC elk tags in Idaho. There is a lot of country to get away from people too. Some nice bulls there.

[Steertalker]

There are also "limited" OTC archery bear tags available in Colorado on a first come first serve basis that can be bought online.  You'd better be quick on the draw though.

[John/Alaska]

In Alaska for state hunts moose, caribou, bear, sheep, goat, wolf, are all pretty much over the counter. Draw tags are mainly either trophy areas or extra seasons or critters such as elk & bison. Guides are required for non residents for brown/grizzly, sheep & goats. Oh and most tags for residents don't cost anything either. Then there are the Federal hunts but they are resident only and they are all free.

[Ray Hammond]

Wyoming has tags left over every year for pronghorn and sometimes deer. You have to go to Casper to the fish and game office off Interstate 25 north...and I think they are around 275 dollars.

[Whip]

Tags are the easy part here in Wisconsin.  Anybody with the cash can buy a tag, and the cost is only $160 - quite a deal compared to some other States.  The northern part of the State has large blocks of public land, but like anywhere the better hunting is usually private unless you are really willing to work at it.  WI also has more recently used "Earn A Buck" regulations in an effort to reduce the herd.  The areas "EAB" applies to change every year.  It requires you must shoot an antlerless deer before qualifying for a buck tag, so if antlers are important to you, make sure you know the season structure for the area you might be interested in.

[Danny Roberts]

You can hunt in Ky. with a non-resident license and tag.

[AnointedArcher]

I know Indiana you can buy tags over the counter as well. In Wyoming in certain units you can buy doe deer and antelope tags over the counter if they have any leftovers. Also in Unit J of Wyoming you can buy a bear tag over the counter at least 2006 you could.  There is always Canada?

[Missouri Sherpa]

I buy a Missouri deer tag from time to time, OTC.  Iowa is not one of those OTC places.

[shootrmn]

Really Idaho  

[BenBow]

Nebraska has over the counter archery deer tags. Season ususally runs from Sept 15 through Dec 31 with 2nd week in nov for rifle only. Pretty good mule deer hunting out west.

[bowdude]

I will inject here on Wisconsin a little more for you poor peeps that come up from the flatlands.  The Earn a buck is not a bad deal really.  You get an extra doe tag and yes, you have to shoot a doe first.  But in the same morning or evening hunt you can literally shoot a doe and a buck and you are legal.  When that buck is on the ground you just have to be able to point and say there is the doe.  There is no time lost in a trip to town or waiting in the mail for your buck tag.  Actually this law has helped clean up the road kills off the sides of the roads.    

  If you are not a trophy hunter there are PLENTY of deer on the puplic land above Madison.  Head for the black river area.  Lots of deer with smallish racks.  

  If you want trophy bucks without driving tooo far north, they are in the ample puplic hunting grounds along the Wi river.   These grounds are like hunting the big woods up north.  No fields, all thick timber.    
Anyway thats the rundown from gods country.

[Traxx]

I hear ya Mickey!!!!!!
Its that way,in Nv,even for the locals.Shure,its not expensive,for the application fee,but its the principal of it.The only big game tag you can buy over the counter,is Mountain lion.That,and the cost of tags,as well as them tellin ya,you cant hunt in your own back yard,is why ive become a small game specialist.

[the Ferret]

Tom we used to hunt deer in Illinois, back when it was good. I agree with you, that is one state they have really messed up deer hunting on.

You can buy hog/javie tags OTC for next to nothing in Texas BUT you usually have to pay anywhetere from $125-$175 a day tresspass.Very little public land down there.

Whip we MAY be headed back to northern Wisconsin this year. In the scrambling process now of deciding where to go.

Danny I love hunting Kentucky but they have their seasons so messed up for bowhunters.

Have hunted some public areaas of Missouri as well. Rebels Cove and another area near there come to mind.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

We've got moose in N.E.Oregon now that came over from Idaho. But the dang wolves are swimming over too! You can keep the wolves Shootrmn. We have it bad enough with cougars and bears, because we can't hunt with hounds or bait.

If it were me Ferret, I'd look at the Rocky Mt. states. Eastman's Journal Bowhunting magazine has been putting sections in the past couple of issues that have some good info. on units. I don't remember if they talk about OTC tags or it is all draw info.