Wyoming Elk 2023

[furbearer365]

Me and a buddy drew 34 with an average of 6.

[dvolmer]

Three years and three strikes!!!!   I guess I am out. Or maybe God just doesn't want me to go yet!!!   Two years ago I put in with 10 points and missed it by half a point in the special and could have drawn 100% in the cheaper normal.  Last year I was in with my buddy with 11 points each in the special and missed by half a point and could have drawn 100% in the cheaper normal. This year I was in the cheaper normal with my buddy at 12 points each and barely missed it and would have been 100% in the special!!!!  Crazy for sure!  Well there is always next year.  It Will be interesting to see what happens next year with the new special law.  Normal will stay the same around $750 but the special will increase from approximately $1200 now to approximately $2000.  That might be enough to throw another screw-ball into your odd estimates.

pretty safe bet that starting next year the special category odds are gonna get far better for those willing to pony up and its gonna put a lot more guys in the regular draw.

I agree. I wonder if I pony-up on the new special next year, I might be able to sneak in and get a unit that has been just out of reach in the past.  it will mess up odds and jump the point creep in the normal for sure.  All I can tell myself this year is maybe it was better not to draw with the terrible winter they had but I think this is just my way of being a big baby!!  I would really like to burn my points, hunt, and move on because its not like you can wait and get a better unit with the more points you buy. Every year it is the same as last with one more point added to your total and the total needed to draw and in some instances you are literally going backwards when point creep exceeds one point.

[Stein]

I think it's going to mess up the odds.  There have to be draws that just aren't worth $2k and some that are worth more than that.  I'm guessing it's not going to be like a normal X% price hike that changes nothing other than the state revenue.

[link]

Three years and three strikes!!!!   I guess I am out. Or maybe God just doesn't want me to go yet!!!   Two years ago I put in with 10 points and missed it by half a point in the special and could have drawn 100% in the cheaper normal.  Last year I was in with my buddy with 11 points each in the special and missed by half a point and could have drawn 100% in the cheaper normal. This year I was in the cheaper normal with my buddy at 12 points each and barely missed it and would have been 100% in the special!!!!  Crazy for sure!  Well there is always next year.  It Will be interesting to see what happens next year with the new special law.  Normal will stay the same around $750 but the special will increase from approximately $1200 now to approximately $2000.  That might be enough to throw another screw-ball into your odd estimates.

pretty safe bet that starting next year the special category odds are gonna get far better for those willing to pony up and its gonna put a lot more guys in the regular draw.

I agree. I wonder if I pony-up on the new special next year, I might be able to sneak in and get a unit that has been just out of reach in the past.  it will mess up odds and jump the point creep in the normal for sure.  All I can tell myself this year is maybe it was better not to draw with the terrible winter they had but I think this is just my way of being a big baby!!  I would really like to burn my points, hunt, and move on because its not like you can wait and get a better unit with the more points you buy. Every year it is the same as last with one more point added to your total and the total needed to draw and in some instances you are literally going backwards when point creep exceeds one point.

You're right. If you can't draw a unit now, more points most likely aren't going to help. Even if a hunt doesn't creep every year, If you're behind, they'll creep just enough to stay out of reach, and the gap widens. I had been hoping to do one of the park co. late season hunts. But being two points behind ( I don't know how I ever let that happen ) I just realized that was out of reach, so this year, i put in and drew a different unit.
Off the topic, but I hunted CO unit 55 back in 07. I think it was about a 5 or 6 point hunt then. I thought I'd be able to go back in 7/8 years maybe. But, 16 years later, I still haven't caught back up.

[dvolmer]

I think it's going to mess up the odds.  There have to be draws that just aren't worth $2k and some that are worth more than that.  I'm guessing it's not going to be like a normal X% price hike that changes nothing other than the state revenue.

they will have no problem selling all of their special general tags at $2000 each. Might not be as many applicants but more than enough to sell all of the tags. That’s all they care about.

[mburrows]

I think it's going to mess up the odds.  There have to be draws that just aren't worth $2k and some that are worth more than that.  I'm guessing it's not going to be like a normal X% price hike that changes nothing other than the state revenue.

they will have no problem selling all of their special general tags at $2000 each. Might not be as many applicants but more than enough to sell all of the tags. That’s all they care about.

Couldnt agree more. If that does happen watch out for other states to follow suit in an effort to try hit the highest price point they can. Aiming for that perfect price point between where supply and demand intersect. I dont like it but I cant blame anybody for trying to make as much $$ as possible so long as they maintain quality.

[Stein]

For sure they will sell them all, I just think that the impact to odds is going to be variable.  Normally, with a price hike the odds don't really change.  With this one I think they might, at least in some of the areas where the tag isn't that valuable.  At some point, it's less costly and just as "good" to go to another state when the price is double or more.

Unfortunately there will now be a $2k stake in the ground other states measure their costs against.

[bobcat]

I don't think all tags allocated to the special draw will necessarily sell. That's a lot of money if it's for a tag with little public land, and/or low success rates. But those tags that aren't all issued in the special draw will be moved to the regular draw and will almost for sure be issued then, to someone who's only paying around $700 instead of $2,000.

[Beastmonger1987]

I missed on Cow Elk but my stepfather drew rifle bull Oct 1-5. Happy to burn his 12 points!

[Stein]

Did all the specials sell out before?

[Beastmonger1987]

I missed on Cow Elk but my stepfather drew rifle bull Oct 1-5. Happy to burn his 12 points!

Unit 23-1 guided with Backcountry Hunting Logistics

[go4steelhd]

I think it's going to mess up the odds.  There have to be draws that just aren't worth $2k and some that are worth more than that.  I'm guessing it's not going to be like a normal X% price hike that changes nothing other than the state revenue.

they will have no problem selling all of their special general tags at $2000 each. Might not be as many applicants but more than enough to sell all of the tags. That’s all they care about.

Couldnt agree more. If that does happen watch out for other states to follow suit in an effort to try hit the highest price point they can. Aiming for that perfect price point between where supply and demand intersect. I dont like it but I cant blame anybody for trying to make as much $$ as possible so long as they maintain quality.

I was worried about this also, I did not want to pay $2K for an Elk tag next year. I feel $2K will truly testing what people are willing pay. I had 15 points, and I was lucky enough to draw a tag this year.

I have to think tags costing $2K will improve your odds, especially if one is willing to pay that for a general tag. On the harder to draw tags, I feel most will pay it, and some will drop out.

I am glad I do not have to make that decision next year . I was really worried I would get point sniped again this year

[mburrows]

No kidding. Glad you were able to cash in. Im sitting at 9 points and not sure what to do in the next couple years. I agree $2000 is really going to put pressure on most but with the changes going on around the west I think elk make people crazy enough that they could charge $3000 and they would still easily sell all their tags and people will still buy points. Hell, people pay $200~ a day to go skiing and thats no where near as fun as hunting.

[dvolmer]

Here are a couple of charts to gander at. Those preference points and it’s entire system are a gold mine for Wyoming.

[Buckjunkie]

Here are a couple of charts to gander at. Those preference points and it’s entire system are a gold mine for Wyoming.

And this is before the price hike!