Tag to Trail Hunt Planning

08/25/2026

Ever wonder how beavers keep their teeth so sharp? 🦫 Their teeth are naturally self-sharpening! The front of each tooth is covered in hard enamel, while the back is softer. When a beaver chews wood, the softer part wears down faster, leaving a sharp chisel-like edge.

08/18/2026

Dear Tag to Trails

Some of you may be aware that the USDA is trying to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. This rule gives certain designation of national forest (44 million acres, or about 17% of all public lands) that prohibit any motorize use. USDA is trying to build roads in these areas and claim its for better management.

Roadless areas are some of the best wildlife habitat left! They are pristine, clean, and special. Adding roads would mean more human traffic, more vehicle traffic, more disturbance, more fires! People start 85% of the fires, they create trash, vehicles disturbed animals. Once you put roads through it, you can’t un-road it! It will forever change the landscape.

Roadless country give hunters and people a place to get away form other people! Its one of the few places on PUBLIC land that you can actually get away from people. Its hard work to access it, but that’s why its so special. Its 44 million acres of unadulterated landscape that lets us get away from the business of life and enjoy nature how God intended!

It does not make financial sense! The Forest Service has over a 10.8 billion dollar back log for maintenance. They cannot build roads on 44 million acres and maintain them when they can’t maintain what they have now.

There are many more reasons why we at Tags to Trails believe rescission of the Roadless Rule will affect hunters and outdoor enthusiasts, and we would love to talk more about it with you! Please contact your state representative and give them your thoughts!

Send a message to learn more

08/15/2026

The biggest mistake we see hunters make?

They start applying before they have a plan.

A hunter hears about a great elk unit, applies there for years, and then later realizes:

the odds are extremely low
the points needed are unrealistic
the hunt doesn’t fit their goals

There is nothing wrong with chasing dream hunts.

But every application should have a purpose.

At Tag to Trails, we help hunters answer:
“What am I building toward?”

Because the best hunting strategy isn’t just about drawing a tag.

It’s about creating more opportunities to hunt.

08/13/2026

Conservation is about more than hunting. It's about funding wildlife.

Recently, a proposal in Oregon that would have effectively banned hunting, fishing, trapping, and several other wildlife-related activities failed to qualify for the ballot after falling short of the required number of valid signatures.

Regardless of where you stand on hunting, this is a good reminder of something many people don't realize:

Hunters and anglers are some of the biggest contributors to wildlife conservation.

License fees, tag purchases, and excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment help fund:
🦌 Wildlife habitat restoration
🦆 Wetland conservation
🐟 Fish stocking and fisheries management
🦅 Research on wildlife populations
🌲 Public land access and habitat improvement

Those dollars don't just benefit game animals—they support songbirds, pollinators, threatened species, and countless other wildlife that share the same habitats.

Healthy wildlife populations don't happen by accident. They require science-based management, habitat conservation, and reliable funding.

Whether you hunt or not, it's worth understanding how conservation is funded and why informed wildlife management matters for future generations.

What surprised you most about how conservation is funded?

A shocking attempt to outlaw all forms of hunting, fishing, and trapping, as well as animal husbandry, breeding practices, rodeos, and more, in Oregon has failed. IP28, or the People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act, was a proposed ballot measure put forward by animal...

08/11/2026

Did you know...

Rabbit populations naturally rise and fall in cycles depending on habitat and predators.

https://www.themeateater.com/cook/recipes/country-fried-rabbit-recipe

08/08/2026

Why does Tag to Trails exist?

Western hunting is incredible, but it can also be overwhelming.

Every year hunters are faced with dozens of states, confusing draw systems, changing regulations, point systems, and endless opinions about where to apply.

The truth is, many hunters don’t miss opportunities because they aren’t passionate enough.

They miss them because they don’t have a plan.

That’s why Tag to Trails was created.

We believe every hunter deserves the opportunity to experience the West, whether that means chasing a first elk, building toward a once-in-a-lifetime tag, or simply making smarter decisions with the points they’ve earned.

Our goal isn’t to sell dreams or promise impossible tags.

Our goal is to help hunters create a realistic strategy based on their goals, budget, and timeline.

Good hunting starts long before the season opens.

It starts with a plan.

That’s what we do.

Tag to Trails — helping hunters build a path to the West.

08/06/2026

Is Western Hunting Getting Too Expensive?

Western hunting has always been an adventure, but lately it feels like the cost of chasing elk, mule deer, sheep, and other western species has gone to another level.

It’s not just the price of a tag anymore.

A western hunt today can mean:

⛽ Fuel: A long drive west can easily cost hundreds of dollars before you ever step foot in the mountains.

🏨 Lodging: Even a simple motel, campsite, or extra night near a trailhead adds up quickly.

🥩 Food: Eating on the road for a week or two isn’t cheap, especially when grocery prices keep climbing.

🥾 Gear: Boots, packs, optics, clothing, tents, GPS units, and other equipment can cost thousands if you’re starting from scratch.

📝 Applications & licenses: The cost to apply in multiple states, buy points, and keep your options open can add up fast — sometimes before you even have a tag in hand.

The interesting part is that western hunting is still one of the most affordable ways to experience some of the greatest wilderness in North America compared to many other outdoor adventures. But for the average hunter, especially a family man or someone on a normal income, the barrier to entry keeps getting higher.

So where do we draw the line?

Are rising costs just part of the reality of a limited resource and increased demand?

Or are we slowly pricing out the next generation of hunters?

What do you think — is western hunting becoming too expensive, or is it still worth every dollar?

08/03/2026

Did you know...

Bighorn sheep can survive head-on collisions because of specialized skull structures.

07/24/2026

WANT TO HUNT THE WEST, BUT NOT SURE WHERE TO START?

Western hunting can get complicated fast.

Different draw systems. Preference points. Application deadlines. Rising costs. And dozens of decisions about where to apply and when to use your points.

That’s where Tag to Trails can help.

I build personalized Western hunting strategies based on your goals, budget, experience, and the species you want to pursue.

The goal is simple: help you find realistic opportunities to hunt now while building toward better hunts in the future.

No guaranteed tags. No unrealistic promises. Just research, strategy, and a clear plan forward.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start building a Western hunting plan, send me a message.

Build points. Hunt more. Have a plan.

07/22/2026

In the last post, we talked about why hunters are becoming increasingly frustrated with Western application systems.

More applicants. Higher costs. Growing point backlogs.

And premium hunts that continue moving farther out of reach.

But I think the biggest problem is something else.

Hunters are postponing hunting. For years, hunters were encouraged to collect points.

Buy points. Apply every year. Wait your turn. Eventually, you’ll draw.

But points aren’t hunting experiences. A hunter could spend 15 years applying for premium elk tags and end up with:

Thousands of dollars invested. 15 preference points. Very little Western hunting experience. Little experience actually hunting elk. And no guarantee of ever drawing the hunt they originally wanted.

Meanwhile, another hunter could spend those same 15 years pursuing realistic tags.

Hunting general seasons. Trying different states. Learning to backpack. Learning how to find elk. Making mistakes. Becoming more comfortable hunting unfamiliar country. And strategically building points along the way.

That hunter may eventually draw fewer premium tags.

But they will have spent far more time actually hunting.

And that raises an important question.

If the goal is to hunt the West, should we build our strategy around the best tags—or around creating the most opportunities to actually hunt?

That’s what we’ll talk about next.