wyoming elk preference point deadline

[heavy hauler]

hey everyone , just a heads up, if you are getting points in wyoming for deer , elk or antelope the deadline is sept 30.

[bucklucky]

Holy Cow, that early!

[heavy hauler]

hey bucklucky, i have max points( 3 haha)  in wyoming for deer elk and antelope.i dont intend on applying for  a hunt there for at least 3 of 4 years.hopefully that makes my draw odds a ton better

[bucklucky]

How much is it to get the points?

[WDFW-SUX]

I think elk is 50$

[Red Dawg]

elk 50, deer 40, antelope 30, moose 100, sheep 75

[Bean Counter]

Wait, I have zero out of state hunting knowledge or experience but I think I want to start.

Can someone please explain this to me in a nutshell like I"m 6?  I have actually looked at their online regs, but it seems to assume a lot of background knowlege..

Thanks

[Opportunist]

The only way to make it simple enough for a 6 year old is to say preference points in Wyoming for non-residents will help you draw sooner and more often than the random draw.

Here's the breakdown as best as I can tell from the numbers on their website in the harvest stats and odds of draw. There is no clear description on the website.

This is for the limited quota tags. 15% of the tags for the unit and type you plan on putting in for go to non-residents, the rest go to residents and residents have no preference point system.

Of the 15% of the tags for that unit and type, 75% go to the preference point draw, 25% go to the random draw. 

Of each application draw group (preference point draw and random draw) the tags are broken down again into special and regular, this refers to the price of the tag. 60% of the tags for regular and 40% for special. There are basicly 4 different ways to draw but you can only use one. Preference point regular draw, preference point special draw, random draw, special draw. Regular elk tag is $591 and special elk tag is $1,071.

The thought is that you will have better odds by spending the extra money on the special. Not always you have to look at odds of draw for that unit and type,  then you have to weigh the increased odds verses the extra money, unless you have deep pockets then put in for the special. The unit and type I'm putting in for next year regular preference point draw with max points of 3 will give me approximately a 50% chance of drawing but if I paid the special it would be 100%. I'm paying the regular and saving the $400 for my Colorado deer tag. If you apply in the prefence point draws and draw you will be refunded that years $50 preference point money, only that years not previous years point money.

The only portion I have no idea how it affects the draw is the non-resident landowner random and preference point draw.

It's a little confusing, if you want to hunt wyoming for deer,elk or antelope in the future buy the points. I hope this helps.

 If you want to get serious about out of state hunting I would recommend you join Garth Carters hunting service it gives you a rundown of each western state and recommends picks for hunt units in each state in a monthly magazine. It's a $100 a year for the membership.

 

[X-Force]

I broke down today and got a deer and an elk preference point. I'm going in this totally blind but i have high hopes for the future. I'm totally new to this so i have a few questions. how many point does it normally take to get drawn for the better units? how do you guys pick the unit you want to hunt? previous experience... B&C and P&Y entrees? i also see on there web site that some quota hunts aren't filled yet so do those go to over the counter sells and can nonresidents get those tags?

[Opportunist]

The preference point system has only been in place for 3 years. Most of the unfilled hunts that are still available this late in the game are private land hunting. If I hear mention of a unit in an article, on the web or anywhere, you can research success rates, and odds of draw online. Be careful of high success hunts for non-residents in units with wilderness in Wyoming, you have to hire a guide to hunt the wilderness. I like success rates 20-30% for archery, 40-60 % rifle. Lot's of accessible public land, BLM or Forest service. Watch out for landlocked public.

Once you narrow down a unit talk to field bios, I'd be hesitant to say talk to Forest service personnel since I haven't got great info from any I have contacted. Also be leary of speaking with game department managers, they tend to balloon the truth about their areas. I like field bio's and game department receptionists. I'll always be very polite with the female receptionist almost to the point of flirting with them, it makes my wife sick when she's heard me talking to them but I've got great info from them. I've even got real good info from game department fish bio's about hunting areas. Game wardens tend to be a little synical about info towards out of state hunters. These are just opinions based on my experience. Of course ask questions on the web on websites specific to that state.

[X-Force]

So three years ago it was an open draw with no points? does Wyoming have a map of gmus like washingtons gohunt map?
The quota hunts i was looking at were any elk archery hunts but i still dont know if they were mainly private land areas or not.
Do you have to hire a guide or can you use a resident in wilderness areas?

[Bean Counter]

Thanks Opportunist. 

[Opportunist]

X-force, Yes three years ago there were no points. I don't think they have an online map like Washingtons Go hunt. You'll need to contact that areas local game departments field office to find out about access private/public. You only need to hire a guide in the wilderness areas. I think you can hunt wilderness with a family member who is a Wyoming resident, you would need to call and check on that one.

 It's a complete *censored* rule, this is public ground that you can hike, fish and horseback ride in, just not hunt! Wyoming needs to get their asses sued over the guide/wilderness/requirement!

[Ridgerunner]

Points are just another way for the states to get money, that being said I'm at maximum in Wyoming for deer, elk and antelope as I will be going there in the future and want the best chance at the best tag when I do.

[heavy hauler]

i am  also maxed out for antelope. i dont have any desire to hunt them yet.i know the points are cheap  and i will probably want to hunt them in the future.i really have done   zero research into wyoming  , but i read the HUNTIN FOOL  and also eastmans journal and took there advise.