if you want a big bear, your gonna have your best chance the first period as the bears will get smarter as they are hunted, also you will have your first chance at a bear before other hunters have shot them, if you look on the dnr website it will tell how many points you needed last year to get drawn for certain hunts in each district, i think 1st hunt in baraga was about 6-7 points and that for resident, usually need more points for non-res, for 3rd hunt i think you only needed about 2 points