Page 2 - 2020 Hunting For Success (Controlled Hunts)

About Controlled Hunts points can and do get
Controlled hunts are offered for deer, elk, antelope and turkey. drawn over those with
These hunts are held in appropriate locations selected by wild- many points, because
life biologists. Hunters wishing to go on one of these controlled names are drawn ran-
hunts must submit an application, which goes into the running domly from the entire LinDeLL DiLLon/reaDers' Photo showcase 2019
with all other applications. Names are selected through a ran- pool of applicants.
dom computer drawing for a range of hunting opportunities In some categories,
across the state. hunters may apply in
Several of the controlled hunt choices are highly sought after groups of up to four
and often have many times more applicants than available per- people. For group appli-
mits. To date, many thousands of hunters have enjoyed unique cations, the preference
adventures through the con trolled hunts program, including points of each hunter in
youth hunters and people who are physically challenged. the group will be aver-
If you keep applying year after year, your chances of being aged. If not drawn in that
drawn increase depending on the total number of applications category, each applicant
you’ve made for a particular hunt. Applicants who submit faith- in the hunt group will be
fully each year are more like ly to get at least one chance to enjoy given a single preference
a controlled hunt offered through the Wildlife Department. But point to carry forward.
getting drawn is not guaranteed because of the true random Once you are selected
method used to select the winners. for a hunt category, all preference points that you have built up
Participation is easy. You start by going online to license. in that category are cleared. That is why it is important when you
GoOutdoorsOklahoma.com. You either sign on to your profile, or fill out an application to ensure you are available to participate
create your profile if you don’t already have one. Then just click in your chosen hunt on the specified dates. If you cannot attend,
on the “Controlled Hunts” link to begin the application process. you not only lose the chance to participate in a great hunting
Hunt choices include opportunities such as hunting for a bull experience, but you also lose the preference points you earned
elk at the Wichita Moun tains Wildlife Refuge, hunting for prong- by applying over the years.
horn antelope in the Oklahoma Panhandle, or hunting for deer at Here are some other points to keep in mind.
one of many wildlife management areas across the state, often You can submit an application in each category available to
with exclu sive privileges not offered at other times of the year. you, and within each category you can apply for more than one
You can increase your chances of getting drawn by doing a hunt in many cases. All of this for one $5 application fee.
little research first. And we’ve done a lot of the hard work for You could apply for the controlled hunts that are to be held
you in this article. All you have to do is study the data here and on key dates during the regular statewide seasons. This could
decide which hunts you want to apply for. increase your odds because others may already have plans to
Every time you apply and do not get drawn, you earn a pref- hunt elsewhere on those dates, resulting in fewer applicants and
erence point for future drawings. So, when you apply the next better odds for you.
year, it’s like getting your name put in the hat an extra time. Consider the draw ratios that are shown for each hunt.
Therefore, your odds of being drawn improve if you apply again These ratios can be used to up your chances of getting a
the next year. controlled hunt.
By submit ting an application year after year, you can build your Normally your odds increase if you apply for a hunt later in the
chances far more than those who don’t continue to apply and season, as the earlier hunts tend to be more popular.
who eventually lose their preference points. Additionally, some If you are just looking to stock the freezer with deer meat, you will
hunt categories allow you to apply with a group of other hunt ers, be in better shape by applying only for the antlerless deer hunts.
so that if one of the group is drawn, the entire group gets to hunt. And bear in mind that since the Wildlife Department tran-
sitioned to the Go Outdoors Oklahoma online license system,
Helpful Tips all of the controlled hunts application process and drawing
Increase your chances of being selected by applying each and notifications are done online and by email. Winners who get an
every year like clockwork. Again, your odds of being drawn for email notice telling them they were selected must then go back
a controlled hunt improve each year you apply because each online to claim their hunt and to download the hunt information
preference point you earn acts like an extra application the next they need to participate. If winners fail to claim their hunt by
time you apply. the deadline in the email notice, they could end up losing out
Those who say they have stopped apply ing because they never on their hunt.
get drawn are actually giving you an advan tage, as long as you By Wildlife Department Staff
just keep applying.
Although hunters with more preference points have greater EDITOR’S NOTE: The tables with this article break down
odds of being drawn, it is not guaranteed that those with the how applicants fared for the 2019-20 controlled hunt draw-
most points will be drawn for a hunt. What is guaranteed is that ings. To see results of the 2018 controlled hunts, go to
their chances improve. First-time applicants with no preference https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/controlledhunts/2018-success.
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