Toprut is a service available to onX Hunt Elite Members that provides information like hunt quotas, applicant totals, harvest information, draw odds, land ownership percentages, and terrain statistics to help you quickly evaluate your hunt options in a single, easy-to-use interface.
Click here for instructions on how to sign up for Toprut.
Table of Contents:
- How to use the Toprut website.
- Frequently asked questions about Toprut.
How to use the Toprut website
Watch the video below for an overview of Toprut:
Click here to watch our in-depth video tutorials of different Toprut features.
After logging into Toprut with your onX Hunt Elite Membership, select the state and game species you want to research.
By default, the chart sorts all hunting units for that species in the state by highest to lowest draw odds. Click the labels on the top row to change how the data is sorted.
To add more information to the chart, click the "Display" button.
Click the "Filter" button to filter hunt units by residency, your number of bonus points, draw odds, date of your hunt, weapon type, hunt type, and public land percentage.
Click the "Map View" for a map of the hunting units and draw odds.
Click here for a YouTube video about using Toprut to plan your hunt.
For more information about draw odds, check out the Huntin' Fool website.
Frequently asked questions about Toprut
Q: How do you calculate the draw odds?
A: In order to get the most accurate results possible, we simulate each state's draw using computer programs we created that mirror state procedures. Our simulations use the entire applicant database from the states, including hunt choice order and group application information where applicable. As fees increase and demand grows, understanding your true chances to draw should be an important part of your hunt plans and budget.
Check out the video below for a more in-depth explanation of how we calculate draw odds.
Q: Why do draw simulations produce more accurate odds than simple spreadsheet math?
A: Every state has its own unique drawing procedures. When calculating the true odds one must consider point systems, applicant pools, capped species quotas, hunt choice orders, and the manner in which each application is evaluated before moving on. This quickly becomes extremely difficult or impossible to do with simple math. For some examples, check out this article about New Mexico's draw odds, this article about Wyoming's draw odds, or this article about Colorado's draw odds.
Q: What states does Toprut cover?
A: Currently Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, and plan to cover more in the future.
Q: Is there a free trial of Toprut?
A: Instead of a trial period, we publish an older set of our data that is freely available to everyone. Click on "DRAW ODDS" in the main navigation to explore a state/species and get a feel for how information is presented and organized.
Q: When is the Toprut data updated?
Q: I'm researching for 2023 hunts, but your most recent draw odds are from 2022. Where are the 2023 draw odds?
Q: Why doesn't Toprut provide unit trophy ratings or "hit lists?"
A: We believe you can generally infer the quality of a big game unit from demand and draw odds. Underrated "sleeper" units and hunts do exist, but they wouldn't be sleepers long if they are actively promoted as such. Additionally, there are plenty of great services like our friends at Huntin' Fool that can provide personalized guidance on hunt selection if you require it. Click here for the Huntin' Fool website.
Q: How do I get access to Toprut?
A: Toprut is now part of the onX family. Toprut is free with your onX Elite membership level. Go to our login page and then click on the Login with onX button. You will get an onX Login screen - sign in with your onX user account information. If you are not an onX member you can signup for a membership here and receive 20% off your first year.
Q: Once I sign in to onX, I am being asked for permission to give Toprut access to information about my onX account. What information is Toprut getting?
Q: I am currently a Toprut member, but want to switch my annual subscription over to the free onX Elite Partner Program. How do I do that?
Q: What happened to the Toprut Google Earth downloads?
A: The Google Earth Downloadable maps have been removed from Toprut. If you are looking to do more in-depth unit mapping analysis, please log into onX Hunt.
Q: How do I get in touch with Toprut?
A: Yes, you can record and store your points in your Toprut profile at https://www.toprut.com/my-points/ for each state we cover. All draw odds will be run based on the points you save in your account making each draw data result personalized to your account.
Q: Can you export the data into something like Excel?
A: No, you cannot export Toprut draw odds into any CSV program currently.
Q: Can you cross-reference/combine searches for harvest percentage with draw odds? Looks like the two are separate.
A: No, not at this time currently.
Q: Can you get draw odds specifically for Ranching for Wildlife hunts?
A: Yes we do cover those in our odds when we have the state data to support them. Filter by the unit you’d like to research and you should see those tags included.
Q: Is there a way to separate out public, private, and youth harvest data for the same unit?
A: No, not at this time currently.
Q: Will Toprut ever cover non-western hunts or additional western species (PA Elk, KY Elk, Me Moose, AZ Javelina, CO Turkey, etc.)
A: We hope to continue expanding which states and species Toprut covers.
Q: What does the terrain column notate?
A: The terrain column notes the overall challenge of terrain in a unit based on slope angle and elevation. We use a skier's nomenclature with green noting easy, blue moderate, black advanced, and double black as expert.
Q: On the unit pages, what is the GIS Data unit size scale?
A: These are listed in square miles.
Q: Can you search across states by available times/weapons to see all the tags you could apply for?
A: No, not at this time currently.
Q: Can you please go over how to see the Montana General units in the map view?
A: Once logged into Toprut.com, choose Montana Elk from the home page or the “Draw Odds” drop-down in the menu. On the left-hand side, find the drop-down labeled “Show Odds For” and choose “General Archery Units. This will populate a list view of all general archery Montana Elk units, then just click on the “Map View” button at the top.
Q: Does Toprut show total hunt lengths or hunt end dates?
A: No, currently Toprut only shows hunt start dates.
Q: What does “none issued” mean?
A: These are hunts that do not meet your current profile criteria to draw. Most likely a resident-only tag and you have non-resident selected for a particular state. In Utah, for example, if the total non-resident quota is only 1 tag, it cannot be issued in the Bonus Point draw - it must go in the random drawing.
Q: I do not see the harvest % or the Notes section in my current list view display. Is that something that I have to turn on?
A: Potentially. First click the “Display” dropdown on the right hand side of the list view chart and make sure all available columns are selected. If these options are not present in the display drop down it’s because we do not currently have the data for that state or species. Many states do not provide harvest data or notes.
Q: Why can’t you show Harvest data and draw odds on the same page?
A: For some states, we can and do. Other states may not provide harvest data, and some states provide harvest data in a different format than draw odds data, combining units into regions so it needs to be displayed separately.
Q: Are Montana Elk and Deer combo points stand-alone points for that specific combo draw, or do points need to be purchased individually for Elk and Deer?
A: Preference points prioritize a nonresident combination license applicant. Preference points can only be used on nonresident combination licenses (Deer Combination, Elk Combination, or Big Game Combination). There is only one type of preference point for deer/elk, and those preference points can only be applied to one of the three types of combo licenses. NR applicants cannot purchase separate preference points for the different combo licenses. Three possible preference point applications are outlined below (note: nonresidents can only choose one of the three preference point strategies in a given year).
Suppose a nonresident applicant wants to hunt elk and wishes to participate in the preference point drawing. They would purchase preference points and apply for the General Elk Combo license.
Suppose a nonresident wants to hunt deer and wishes to participate in the preference point drawing. They would purchase preference points and apply for the General Deer Combo license.
Suppose a nonresident wants to hunt deer and elk in Montana in a single season. They would purchase preference points and apply for the Big Game Combo license.
Q: In WY non-resident elk the draw odds are for types 2 and 4. If you go to the website for WY to buy tags it's types 1 and 3. Do we know if they changed tag types this year or is it some weird private land draw?
A: No they haven’t changed types.
- Type 1 and 2 are typically bull/either sex.
- Type 3 is whitetail deer.
- Type 4 is full-price cow permits.
- Type 6 and 7 are reduced-price cow/calf permits.
- Type 9 is archery only.
- GEN is general elk tag.
Q: Does Toprut differentiate between different tags (either, bull, cow) when showing the draw odds?
A: Yes, Toprut will differentiate between different hunt codes and the odds for each of those hunts.
Q: As someone who's never put in for a draw out-of-state, what are the best steps to start the process?
A: Check out the onX Hunt blog at https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/blog there’s a ton of great content to help you navigate non-resident states you want to apply for.
Q: I just want to hunt. Can you help with draw odds for doe/fawn tags in WY?
A: Check out the onX Hunt blog at https://www.onxmaps.com/hunt/blog there’s a ton of great content to help you navigate how to get a tag in your state or in non-resident states. If you want hands-on help, check out our elite partner Huntin’ Fool, they are pros at helping you apply for tags.
Q: There are multiple members in my family that hunt, can we set up a profile in Toprut for each one of us?
A: Each profile is designed for an individual. But if each member of your family has onX Elite, you can set up your own profiles for free at https://www.toprut.com/my-profile/.
Q: Can you look at Toprut data from the perspective of draw odds trends? For example, it would be useful to know how many points it would take to draw for a particular unit in 2022 compared to 2021, and then compared to 2020. That would give you some idea to project how many points will be required for that unit in 2023.
A: Yes, you can view that information on the Unit pages. From the main list view, click on any unit name and it will take you to a page containing multi-year charts that include draw odds trends. For example: https://www.toprut.com/hunt/colorado-elk-unit-61/.
Q: Can you add a 5-year average draw odds column next to last year’s percentage? Some units with lower tag numbers have wide ranges from year to year for draw percentage for no/low points, so many times the past year doesn’t paint the best picture.
A: It is generally possible and is added to our list of enhanced features to consider for future releases.
Q: Is it fair to say we’ll continue to see a point increase needed every year to draw a tag (Point Creep)?
A: That’s a safe assumption until evidence suggests otherwise. Most recent trends hint that perhaps “peak” point creep has occurred, but that does not mean point creep is a thing of the past.