I'm an organizational mess and usually operate off a wing-it mentality. That's why when I discovered GoHunt three years ago, I gladly paid the required dues and haven't looked back. My Insider membership instantly nipped my organizational shortcomings in the bud. This easy-to-use filtering tool helps organize and plan Western hunts based on state, species, points, and other preferences. It offers statistics on draw odds, harvest rates, and trophy potential.
Many states have already opened tag applications for the 2025 season and now is the time to start planning your first or next Western big game hunt. And the best tool to help you do so is GoHunt Insider. I have a yearly subscription and pay the full $150 because this tool is worth the price of admission. However, if you're unfamiliar with it, you might not know where to start or what tools to use. So I created this guide to share the most important features that make this innovative platform a must-have for the Western big game hunter.
Draw Odds & Point Tracker
Two of my favorite Insider features are the percentage draw odds and point tracker tabs. The point tracker tab allows you to build a state-by-state profile of the species you're applying for and update your preference points yearly. I love knowing that with a simple click, I can see how many Nevada elk or Colorado moose points I have. Plus, I can click on the draw odds tab with my point tracker setup and select the state, residency status, and species. If my point tracker info is current, the system automatically applies those points to the species and unit I select to calculate my draw odds percentage.
During the off-season, I spend many hours looking at various hunt units in different states. By knowing how many points I have and the odds of drawing a tag, I can effectively start to lay out my fall plans.
Filtering
My favorite hunt planner tool is the filtering tab. This tab lets you select a state and then a unit/hunt area in that state and instantly view draw odds, harvest success rate, trophy potential, etc. The filtering tab also gives me unit-specific quick tips and information about the amount of public land, elevation range, terrain, and more.
Two years ago, while using the filtering tab, I discovered a unit with a general whitetail size of 170 plus. The unit was only 19 percent public land, but I found a hidden honeyhole using the map tab and turning on the public access properties layer. My draw odds tab told me my one preference point gave me a 100 percent draw rating. That fall, I harvested a 140-inch whitetail on a 47-acre public tract.
Hunt Planner
The hunt planner tab is ultra-valuable, too. Though you don't need to use it, this is where you can name and build specific hunts for particular states and seasons. For instance, thanks to the draw odds tab, I know I won't draw Colorado Unit 66 archery elk for another two years, but I'm already building a Hunt Planner for the unit and learning all I can about it.
When you build specific plans inside the hunt planner tab, you can save them so you don't have to start over every time you want to continue your research. You can access your hunt planner with a few clicks and view draw odds, success rates, public land areas, etc.
Dates & Deadlines
This is an ultra-simple feature, but I use it constantly, and it saves my bacon. Before GoHunt, I missed numerous draw deadlines because, as I mentioned earlier, I'm an organizational nightmare. With GoHunt, I don't waste time going to each state's game and fish website to search for the draw date openings and deadlines; I just click the dates and deadlines tab in GoHunt. Here, I can instantly view state tag application guaranteed approved open/close deadlines. Also, if a state has a secondary tag application period, super tag, alternate tag, leftover draw, etc., I can find it and mark it on my calendar.
State Rules & Regulations
I immerse myself in the rules and regulations whenever I plan to hunt in a new state. I don't want a single hunting violation on my record, and by staying up-to-date on each state's rules and regulations, as well as their draw process, I can easily ensure my clean hunting record remains and I pull more tags each fall. From the state rules and regulations tab, I can quickly access any state's game and fish website, see license costs, learn about the tag draw system, and access other valuable information.
