Mastering the 2025 License Application Rush
It’s impossible to describe the atmosphere of our office as we approach each state’s application deadline. Our team is determined to provide the highest level of service to every one of our members and License Application clients on a timeline that always seems too short. It’s a whirlwind of chaos, excitement, and nervous energy because we understand the immense responsibility of getting everything right. I take great comfort in knowing that this team agonizes over every detail to ensure each application is successfully submitted. Collectively, our application team boasts over 40 years of combined experience in navigating state draws. They’ve forgotten more about applying out of state than I’ve ever been able to learn.
Our License Application team embraces a unique set of challenges because every application involves three key stakeholders. The most important, of course, is you! Our goal is to ensure you never miss a deadline and that the choices we make on your behalf align with your hunting aspirations. As tags become harder to secure, decisions grow more complex. We’re here to help you navigate these challenges, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. To prioritize your goals, it’s not uncommon for multiple teammates to review a single application, ensuring accuracy and alignment with your hunt expectations.
The second stakeholder that our License Application team collaborates with is the Hunt Advisors. This part of our team has well over 100 years of combined application and hunting experience, and their mission is to share it with you! These two teams work hand in hand from start to finish on every application. While each application begins on paper, it often ends up under the scrutiny of multiple teammates. Numerous checks and balances are in place to ensure accuracy and alignment with your goals. Our seasoned application experts consistently translate your instructions into an optimal application strategy. However, if there’s any uncertainty, they review with the Hunt Advisors to confirm the plan. If questions remain, you can count on receiving a call from one of our Advisors or specialists to clarify. We leave no stone unturned when it comes to making sure that when your application is submitted, it’s optimized for you.
The third, and most challenging stakeholder, is the state agencies where we apply on your behalf. I often joke that without the states’ poorly designed websites and customer interfaces, we might not have a job. While I’m pseudo-grateful for their inefficiencies; they create a level of complexity that our application experts are uniquely qualified to navigate on your behalf. As deadlines loom, it’s not unusual to hear a few choice words directed at the states. One of the biggest hurdles is that we often don’t know what the application interface will look like until the period opens. It’s like unwrapping a gag gift every single draw! However, we embrace the challenge, knowing it’s our privilege to handle your hunting plans. No matter what the states throw at us, we won’t let you down.
Our application specialists and Hunt Advisors go above and beyond to ensure our clients are in the draw. The phrase “burning the midnight oil” perfectly describes the application season. Whether it’s late at night or on a weekend, it’s a good bet that there will be dedicated team members working on your behalf this time of year. Although we encourage our clients to plan ahead, the reality is that we work tirelessly in the final days to ensure nothing slips through the cracks. We cross-reference lists of previous applicants who haven’t renewed, then call, text, and email multiple times to ensure no one is left behind. It’s impossible to overstate how much this team cares about YOU.
If you’re interested in joining the Huntin’ Fool License Application Service, onboarding is simple and designed to get you set up for success. It’s a three-part process. First, we’ll need your personal data – everything from your driver’s license to state logins, usernames, and passwords if you’ve applied in a state before. Second, we’ll ask about your hunter preferences. Do you prefer bow, gun, or muzzleloader hunts? Are you open to guided or unguided hunts, or does it depend on the quality of the tag? Would you be comfortable on a horseback hunt or camping in grizzly country? What are your expectations? Are you looking to fill the freezer, or is your goal trophy potential? Finally, you’ll have an in-depth conversation with one of our application specialists or a Hunt Advisor – the choice is yours. During that call, we’ll refine your strategy to ensure we’re all aligned. Most clients update their strategy annually, while some choose to revisit it for every state. The choice is entirely up to you, and we’re here to help every step of the way!
Transparency is another cornerstone of our service. As a License Application client, all costs are clearly outlined int three categories. The first is non-refundable fees paid to the state. This is money you won’t get back, but I like to think of it as a donation to conservation to soften the blow when I don’t draw. The second is up-front fees for tag costs in states like Wyoming and New Mexico where you pay as if you’ve already drawn a tag. These fees are refunded if you don’t draw or retained if you’re lucky enough to draw the tag of a lifetime. Finally, Huntin’ Fool’s fees are displayed separately from state charges, so you have a clear understanding of what you’re paying us. To maintain full transparency, we save all transactions we complete on your behalf in your dashboard on the Huntin’ Fool website. By logging in, you can see every application we’ve submitted for you along with all related documentation.
What I love most is how deeply invested this team becomes in your life, goals, and the outcome of your draws. We’ve shed tears of empathy when life throws hardships at our clients and tears of joy when tags of a lifetime are drawn. If you’re looking for a team you can trust, this is it. If you’re reading this, you’re applying out of state. If the process ever becomes overwhelming, we’re here to take it off your plate. You can count on us to handle it with pride, confidence, and passion.
Thank you from all of us at Huntin’ Fool. Best of luck in the draws this year!