Rolling Bones Outdoors Builds Full Strategies for Western Tag Draws
If you've ever stared down a state's draw-odds spreadsheet trying to decide between burning a preference point or throwing a hail-mary application at a unit you can't pronounce, you're not alone. That exact feeling — clammy palms, glazed eyes, second-guessing every choice — is how outdoor writer Steve Felgenhauer opens his recent piece for Athlon Outdoors, and for archery hunters chasing western elk and mule deer, it's a familiar kind of dread.
Felgenhauer's article introduces Rolling Bones Outdoors (RBO), a company built specifically to help hunters cut through the confusion of modern tag applications. According to Mike Smith of RBO's Price, Utah hub, the draw system has only grown more complicated over the last five to ten years, with shifting unit boundaries, point systems, and odds calculations that can overwhelm even experienced applicants.
More Than Just Points
One key takeaway for bowhunters: Smith argues that simply stockpiling preference points isn't a complete strategy. Many western states still offer random-draw tags, and RBO's approach is to pair long-term point-building with real opportunities to draw sooner, based on whether a hunter wants a trophy-caliber animal or just more time in the field.
Matching the Hunt to the Hunter
The article also details how RBO factors in practical realities — physical condition, horseback experience, available time, and gear — before recommending a hunt. For archery elk and mule deer hunters, that kind of honest assessment matters, since backcountry spike camps and steep terrain demand a different level of preparation than a weekend hunt closer to the truck.
Gear, Hubs, and Vetted Outfitters
Per Felgenhauer's reporting, RBO is headquartered in Spearfish, South Dakota, with satellite "hubs" around the country that combine retail gear access with hands-on education — elk calling clinics, rifle selection, shooting schools, and 3D archery matches among them. RBO also works with roughly 400 vetted outfitters worldwide and conducts exit interviews with past clients to keep tabs on quality.
A Resource Worth Knowing About
For readers who put in every year and come up empty, or who simply don't know where to start untangling state-by-state rules, the original article makes a clear case that services like RBO exist precisely to fill that gap — part strategist, part gear consultant, part reality check.
Read Steve Felgenhauer's full article at Athlon Outdoors for the complete breakdown of how Rolling Bones Outdoors builds a hunting strategy from the ground up.