Page 1 - 2020 Hunting For Success (Controlled Hunts)

Hunting

for Success

Stack the Odds in Your Favor

For Getting a Controlled Hunt

Success is often determined by putting the odds in your favor. The application process is easily completed online. Your application
That’s true of many of life’s scenarios. But it can also be true won’t be accepted if it has not been completed correctly; in this
for a hunter who dreams of taking a majestic bull elk in the way, you have the assurance that your application was successfully
Wichita Mountains. submitted and that your name will be included in the drawing.
Those dreams come true for several lucky hunters whose names So, besides the obvious of submitting an application, what else
are drawn in the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s can you do to increase your chances of being selected for what
controlled hunts program. possibly could be the hunt of a lifetime?
While getting your name drawn for any one of about 5,600 By reading this article and studying last year’s statistics, you’ll
hunts depends on being lucky to some extent, that’s not the only likely gain some insights into how the controlled hunts pro gram
factor in winning one of these unique hunts. Many times, you can works — insights that could give you a slight edge in getting drawn
up your odds if you know important details for a hunt that you won’t forget.
ahead of time and act on them to improve Applicants need to understand that the
our chances. 2019-20 winners of controlled hunts are randomly
This past year, about one application selected through a computerized process
out of every 22 was selected for the var- Overall Odds Of that selects winners from the pool of all
ious elk, deer, antelope and turkey hunts applications submitted.
available in the controlled hunts program. Being Drawn: With just one low application fee of $5,
Hunters submitted 124,373 applications 1 in 22 hunters may apply for several different hunts
for the 5,622 individual hunt permits avail- across various categories. The more hunts
able across the state this year. Many of applied for, the better your chances of being
those applicants who weren’t selected will selected for a hunt.
apply again when the 2020-21 controlled hunts applications are What about those applicants who aren’t selected? Within the
made available this spring. And by doing so, they will increase hunt category for which you applied, you will gain a preference
their chances of being selected. point toward future years’ drawings. Not only that, but some hunt
The most important thing an applicant can do to increase his or categories allow you to apply with a group of other hunters. Both of
her chances is to submit an online application each year (so that your these features can increase your odds of being selected.
preference point total builds), and choose to apply for the specific Oklahoma is rich in outdoor opportunities, and the Wildlife
hunts that historically have fewer applicants. This article will help Department’s controlled hunts program is just one more way hunt-
you determine what strategy might result in your name being drawn ers can add to a successful year afield. Don’t miss the chance to take
for a 2020-21 controlled hunt. part in a hunt you won’t forget. You can apply yourself, and you can
Controlled hunts applications usually become available around gather a few friends to apply as a group with you. Because when
April 1 through your profile at license.GoOutdoorsOklahoma.com. it comes to hunting, the only thing that makes being in the woods
The deadline for submitting all applications is normally in mid-May. better is being there with friends and family.
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