Want to chase some of the biggest mule deer in the country?

In this episode, I break down what Utah really costs, how the draw works, and which units are actually worth your points so you can decide if it belongs in your long range strategy.

We walk through the nonresident math on the 365 day license, general and limited entry tag costs, and why Utah’s cheap points become a bargain once you’re already in the system. Then I break down Utah’s bonus point system for limited entry, the true preference points for general season, and real world unit examples from zero points up into the 20 plus range.

What we cover in this episode:

• How to time the 365 day license so you get two application cycles out of one purchase.

• The difference between premium limited entry, standard limited entry, management buck, cactus buck, and HAMS hunts—and what happens to your points when you draw.

• High end units like Paunsaugunt, Henry Mountains, Fillmore Creek, and San Juan, plus realistic general units like Pine Valley, Zion, North Slope, Chalk Creek, Bonanza, La Sal, and Monroe from 0–10 points.

• Why nonresidents often have more opportunity in Utah than residents when it comes to limited entry applications.

• How I think about folding Utah into a bigger Western application plan using GoHunt Filtering 2.0.

If this episode helps you sort out Utah, subscribe to the podcast and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram so you don’t miss the rest of the Utah bonus series.

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[2026 Utah Elk Application Guide]

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Chapters

00:00:00 – Why Utah MuleDeer Matters in 2026
00:00:24 – Utah Deadline and How It Fits with MT, WY, CO
00:02:36 – Nonresident Costs: License, Tags, and Points
00:04:06 – Utah Draw System: Bonus vs Preference Points
00:06:48 – Premium, Management, and Cactus Buck Hunts
00:10:35 – General Season Deer and Draw Order Rules
00:13:05 – Using GoHunt Filtering 2.0 for Utah Units
00:16:11 – High‑End Limited Entry Units Worth Waiting For
00:19:40 – Shortcut Tags with HAMS and Late Muzzleloader
00:20:19 – Zero‑ to Ten‑Point General Units and Long‑Range Strategy

Ever walk through the woods thinking “Elk don’t exist” ? I’ve had a few of those days myself – On this episode we have the host of the Elk Don’t Exist podcast himself, comedian and hunter Dillon Deitz.

We covered shed hunting and hunting stories stories, but it turned into a really solid conversation about getting into hunting and why it feels harder than it should.

Dillon’s working on a series called Rookie Season where he’s taking guys with zero hunting background and helping them go through their first hunt. No experience, no shortcuts, just figuring it out as they go. That led into a bigger conversation about how complicated hunting has gotten, especially for someone looking in from the outside.

We also got into public land pressure, non-residents, and the whole social media side of hunting — not trying to solve anything, just talking through what we’re seeing and what actually lines up with reality.

Overall it’s just a laid back conversation, but there’s a lot in here whether you’ve been hunting your whole life or you’re just getting started.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed it, leave a 5-star rating and share it with someone who’d get something out of it.

Check out the first episode of Dillon’s project The RookieSeason on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4j637LQffc

Follow more of Dillon’s content on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/dillondeitz/

Looking for more content from Drawn West? Check out our latestarticle!
[How To GoElk Hunting for $1500]

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00:00 – Shed Hunting Stories

08:30 – What “Rookie Season” Is

22:30 – Why Hunting Feels Hard to Start

35:30 – Public Land & Non-Residents

49:00 – Keeping Hunting Fun

1:03:00 – Hunting with Family

1:14:00 – Social Media & Criticism

1:20:00 – Gear & Getting Started

A Colorado moose, sheep, or goat tag is one of the hardest tags in the lower 48 to draw, but it may be worth applying for and we breakdown why!

In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, Brian breaks down how Colorado’s moose, sheep, and goat system actually works, what makes it different from the straight preference draws for deer, elk, and antelope, and why these tags are still one of the more realistic long-game plays if you want a shot at a once-in-a-lifetime hunt. He covers the $2,823 nonresident tag cost, the three-year preference point buy-in, how weighted points create a random-but-improving draw system, and what the current outlook looks like for bighorns, goats, and especially moose. He also gets into an option most hunters overlook: ewe, nanny, and antlerless moose tags that can cut the wait down in a big way.

• Colorado deadline: April 7 at 8 p.m. Mountain Time

• Nonresident tag fee: $2,823, plus qualifying license

• Three preference points required before you even have a chance to draw

• Desert bighorn is random and separate from Rocky Mountain bighorn

• Antlerless/female tags can dramatically improve draw odds

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram.

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ColoradoElk Application Strategy

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0:00 – Colorado Moose Sheep Goat Overview

0:34 – April 7 Deadline and Tag Cost

4:44 – How Colorado MSG Points Work

12:05 – Why Weather Matters Less for MSG Applications

13:22 – Rocky Mountain Bighorn Breakdown

18:44 – Rocky Mountain Goat Breakdown

22:51 – Why Colorado Moose Looks So Promising

27:55 – Faster Draw Odds with Ewe, Nanny, and Antlerless Tags

If you’re already applying in Colorado… you might be missing one of the easiest hunts you can add.

In this Colorado Antelope breakdown, Brian walks through exactly how to approach the 2026 application—what it costs, what kind of hunt you can expect, and how to actually pick a unit based on your point level.

With the April 7 deadline looming, this episode focuses on strategy—especially for hunters already in the Colorado system. Antelope might not be the flashiest tag in the West, but it can be one of the most efficient ways to add a hunt to your fall if you’re already applying for deer or elk.

Brian also dives into herd recovery after the brutal 2023 winter, what realistic trophy expectations look like (and where they’re better than advertised), and how public land access—not trophy size—is often the biggest factor in draw odds.

From zero points to 20+ year strategies, this is a practical, no-BS walkthrough of how to actually use your points—and whether it’s worth waiting or just going hunting.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram.

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ColoradoElk Application Strategy

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Thinking of an elk hunt this year? Colorado needs to be on your radar!

In this GOHUNT Bonus Episode of the Drawn West Podcast, we dig into Colorado elk—what’s changing, what’s coming next, and where the real opportunity still lives depending on your point level.

Colorado is still the center of the elk hunting world, but it’s evolving. OTC archery has shifted, rifle tags could follow, and a major draw system change in 2028 is starting to reshape how people think about points. At the same time, there are still ways to hunt every single year—if you’re looking at it the right way.

We walk through how different point levels actually play out, where things quietly open up, and why some strategies look better on paper than they do in reality.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re playing Colorado the right way—or just want to understand it a little deeper—this one’s worth your time.

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Forging TheFuture: Benchmade’s Newest Blade Technology

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00:00 – Colorado Elk Overview
01:10 – Deadline & Point Rules
02:00 – OTC Archery Changes
03:30 – Future Rifle Tag Changes
04:30 – Colorado Elk Costs
05:30 – Draw System Explained
07:00 – 2028 System Changes
09:00 – Elk Population & Trophy Potential
11:30 – Using Unit Data & GoHunt
13:00 – Best Units (0 Points)
15:30 – Best Units (3 Points)
17:30 – The 7–20 Point Dead Zone
19:30 – High Point Strategy
21:30 – Final Application Advice

Colorado is the king of Mule Deer States – and this episode we breakdown why!

Big country, a pile of public land, and more opportunity than just about anywhere else in the West—it’s one of the few states where you can still put a plan together and actually go hunt.

This episode kicks off the Colorado series with mule deer, and we start with what makes it so good. From early high-country hunts to late-season rut hunts, Colorado gives you options—and that’s really the story here.

We get into how the draw works, what the April 7 deadline means, and how to think about points without overcomplicating it. There’s also a look ahead at the 2028 changes and how that might shape decisions over the next couple years.

And then we dive into the fun part—seasons, units, and where you might start looking depending on how many points you’ve got.

If you’ve ever thought about hunting mule deer out West, Colorado is hard to ignore.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and follow @getdrawnwest on Instagram. If you enjoyed this, leave a 5-star rating and share the show with a friend.

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ColoradoElk Application Strategy

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Save10%on Maverick Hunting Blinds & Accessories with code DRAWNWEST https://maverickhunting.com/?ref=getdrawnwest0:00 Why Colorado Mule Deer
2:00 Colorado Application Overview
4:30 April 7 Deadline
7:10 Preference Point System
12:00 2028 Draw Changes
18:30 Season Breakdown
24:00 Early Season vs Rut Hunts
30:00 Unit Options (0–5 Points)
36:00 Mid-Level Units
42:00 High Point Units
47:00 Final Thoughts on Colorado

Montana might be one of the most confusing application systems in the West—and if you don’t understand how it works, it’s really easy to waste money or burn points for no reason.

This episode is a full breakdown of the Montana draw system, but more importantly, how to actually make decisions inside of it. We walk through the difference between preference points and bonus points, how the combo licenses work, and why Montana’s system forces you to think multiple years ahead instead of just applying on a whim.

The biggest takeaway here isn’t just how the draw works—it’s how to decide when to apply, when to buy points, and when to sit out, depending on your situation. There are scenarios where having zero points is actually better than one, and others where a single decision can set you back years.

If Montana’s ever felt confusing, this will simplify it—and help you avoid some expensive mistakes.

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MontanaElk Application Strategy [2026]

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00:00 – Why Montana Confuses Everyone

02:15 – Key Deadlines (April 1 + Point Periods)

04:20 – Combo Licenses Explained

07:45 – Limited Entry Permits Breakdown

11:20 – Bonus Points vs Preference Points

14:45 – Why 0 Points Can Beat 1 Point

18:10 – Elk Strategy (What You Should Do)

21:50 – Deer Strategy (What You Should Do)

25:30 – Group Applications Explained

28:00 – Final Strategy + Multi-Year Planning

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Montana mule deer gets talked about like it’s an easy answer—but I don’t think it’s that simple. In this episode, I walk through Montana’s 2026 mule deer application strategy, what the tag really gets you, and what kind of hunt I think most non-residents should expect if they draw.

We cover deadline, cost, draw odds, population trends, limited entry vs. general, and the regions I’d be looking at depending on whether you want an easier hunt, less pressure, or a better crack at quality. I also share some honest thoughts on where Montana still makes sense in a mule deer strategy—and where I think people can talk themselves into it for the wrong reasons.

If you’re trying to figure out whether Montana deserves a spot in your application plan this year, this should help you make that call with a little more clarity.

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2026Montana Elk Application Strategy

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