I just saw a news blurb a couple of days old that indicated draw odds for a Vermont moose permit was almost 10% this year.  Now, that is the general draw odds and actual non-resident draw odds could be much worse…even as low as 2-4%.  But, even those aren’t horrendous considering some of the once-in-a-lifetime hunts in the Rocky Mountain states for Shiras moose.

Now, I know how beautiful Vermont is having vacationed there 6 or 7 years ago with family near Smuggler’s Notch, and I can only imagine having a moose permit to explore that same territory with a firearm in hand.

If you’ve explored opportunities to hunt moose in the Lower 48, your eyes should perk up at the sight of 10% draw odds.  Add in the fact that fees are only $25 for non residents and not a huge temporary deposit of $1000+ are huge factors that will probably lead me to start applying for a Vermont moose permit of my own.

Just a couple of days ago, 1,230 people were drawn to receive moose permits from the 14,000 that applied.  Biologists expect that half of those successful applicants will successfully tag a moose.

Word to the wise, don’t start applying for a Vermont moose permit until you are serious about going moose hunting.  Why?  A bonus point is awarded every year to unsuccessful applicants.  However, you must apply every year to sustain your bonus point accumulation total.  If you forget one year or decide this year isn’t good for a moose hunt, you lose all your hard earned work.

Visit the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department for more information.

I’m getting a lot of redirected traffic from Google and other search engines from people looking for Kentucky elk lottery results.  To make it easier for everyone to find, here is the link to the results.

But don’t get too excited…as of 8:30 CT, results have not been posted.  Trust me, I checked already!

Derek, one of The Outdoor Smorgasbord readers, gave me heads up a couple days ago that Kentucky is bumping their elk permits from 400 to 1000.  There will be 250 bull tags and 750 cow tags pending approval.  To counter the increased hunting pressure, they also plan to add a second week to the firearms season and assign hunters to either the first or second week.  Remember the big deal I made about these permits last year, they are the ultimate deal for hunters wishing to pursue true big game east of the Mississippi.  Permits are only $10 and in my own opinion, he is a fool who does not throw his name in the hat.

Follow the link below to go straight to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife permit purchasing webpage.  $10 for the chance at a hunt of a lifetime.  Draw odds will probably never be any better than the 2009 season.

You have between 2 and 3 weeks to get in your elk application for the state of Wyoming.  Wyoming has some fantastic hunting, though low percentage draw odds, in many regions.   One of the most unique elk hunts in the state is in the rolling ravines in the Powder River drainage.  Though difficult to draw, some tremendous bulls are harvested every year out of these limited quota hunts.  The Wyoming elk deadline is January 31.

Also, New Mexico offers a free range hunt that is unique to North America in the form of their oryx draw hunt on the White Sands Missile Range.  February 4 is the deadline to chase these beautiful antelope that are native to places far from our American Southwest.  Bear and turkey draws must also be applied for by February 4.

The last pressing deadline is February 10 when Arizona closes their application period for elk and antelope.  For any dedicated western big game hunter, no one needs to explain the tremendous bull elk that reside in the arid conifer forests of Arizona.  However, the state’s antelope herd is in fine shape as well and offers one of the West’s best chances for tagging an 80″+ trophy antelope.

Found out yesterday that dad and I drew our Kansas muzzleloader tags. Took the preference point that we built up last year, so I’m glad we made that investment when we did. September 22, season comes and we’ll be there 2 days beforehand to scout and get settled in before a week long hunt for big early season Kansas bucks!

Wouldn’t mind catching up to one that looks like this!

Photo courtesy of www.kansasangler.com

Bummer, no dice for this year.  VIsit the website to check on your draw application…even if you didn’t get drawn this year and even though might not get drawn until 10 years down the road, as the permit application process stands right now, it’s still one of the best bargains in North American big game hunting!

Well, I sent almost $340 towards the Midwest yesterday to apply for my Kansas early season muzzleloader unit 11 deer permit.  I’ve got a preference point from last year, so I shouldn’t have any trouble drawing a tag and neither should anybody else from the group we are taking to our lease up in SE Kansas.  This weekend, Kara and I are heading home to spend some quality time with the mothers, but I may also get out the smokepole and start doing some shooting.  I want 200% confidence with that baby when a 150″ whitetail shows up at 80 yards in September.  If you are planning a Kansas non-res hunt for 2008, your application for permit needs to be in by June 2.

Time to get your tag applications in for the state of Oregon.  This terrain-diverse and weather-crazed state has many big game hunting opportunities to experience.  On May 15th, the deadline arrives for pronghorn, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and deer tags.  Oregon is not necessarily a trophy destination for deer hunters, but both blacktails and mulies are available to hunt.  Also, Oregon boasts a Roosevelt elk population…a true test of will for those willing to tackle the Northwest’s temperate rainforests.

The deadline for applying to Nevada for a big game tag is rapidly approaching.  Hunters have until April 21 to submit their applications to the Nevada Department of Wildlife

Nevada has 3 species of sheep, plus mountain goat, mule deer, pronghorn and elk.  Nevada traditionally has lower game densities than states such as Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, but trophy quality is not lacking.  Nevada produces some monster elk and mule deer in some of their more coveted hunting units.  A unique opportunity exists in Nevada where archery seasons for mule deer open on August 1st, providing one of the nation’s best chances to monster velvet mulies in the highcountry.

Personally, I’ve never been to Nevada hunting, but I definitely have my eyes on one of their highcountry early season archery hunts…just gotta draw that tag.

Two more big game license application deadlines are fast approaching. New Mexico applications must be postmarked by April 7 and Colorado lotteries must be in by April 3.

New Mexico is a truly unique state because there are no preference or bonus points. That means that if this is your first year applying, you stand the same chance as someone who has been putting in for 21 years. The drawback – NM is home to some pretty steep draw odds. The state holds some truly HUGE elk and mulies, but tags are difficult to come by.

Colorado is a different state in many respects. Bountiful herds mean that elk and deer lotteries can offer some of the best draw odds and opportunities to tag an animal as anywhere in the West.