How to Research & Apply For Elk Tags

·1 hr 1 min·5 clips

Dylan Dawson reveals the hidden OnX Elite tools that guarantee he gets multiple elk tags in his pocket every competitive season.

The episode opens with host Dan welcoming Dylan Dawson to discuss elk tag application season, which Dan compares to Christmas. Dylan shares a story about his recent Montana archery elk hunt, where he shot a bull that had an old arrow stuck in its backstrap, using the dried blood spot as an aiming reference. The conversation shifts to the main topic: how to research and apply for elk tags using OnX Hunt's tools. Dylan explains that application season can be daunting due to varying state systems, but OnX Elite members get access to integrated resources. These include a digital Huntin' Fool membership for unit insights and past tag-holder contacts, Hunt Reminder for deadline alerts, and Hunt Research tools for analyzing draw odds based on last year's data. Dylan screen-shares the Hunt Research tool, showing how to input points, filter by species, state, weapon, and view metrics like harvest rates and public land percentage. Dan interjects with critical context, noting that harvest data reliability varies by state, like Montana's voluntary reporting versus Idaho's mandatory system. They discuss nuances like point creep, second-choice applications in Colorado, and leftover tag opportunities. Dylan then demonstrates using the core OnX map to pre-filter units, such as applying wilderness boundaries in Wyoming to exclude non-huntable areas or using slope angle layers to assess terrain difficulty. He also briefly mentions the Terrain X tool for e-scouting after drawing a tag. Dan praises OnX's long-term refinement and lack of bugs. The episode concludes with Dylan sharing his upcoming Mexico Coues deer hunt and plans to attend the Western Hunt Expo with Huntin' Fool, plus a plug for Dan's public land hunting video series sponsored by OnX.

As heard by us

A practical pass through preference points, account setup, and the small details behind a more deliberate elk application season.

Elk tag applications are treated as an annual ritual, from the optimism of hitting submit to the draw-day mood swing and the home-front negotiations that follow.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want elk tags in view, your points dialed in, and fewer application-season guesses.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from ElkShape