wyoming pronghorn draw

[dagon]

Seems like every year I just miss getting a pronghorn tag. Points required just keep going up. I was told tons of people just put in for points until they get what they are looking for then apply. Does any one know if there are really that many people in the wings just waiting to keep me OUT. lol
I always look at last years numbers and try to pick one that matches my points. This year I might pick one that went up last year and maybe it will go back down? I don't know.

[ipkus]

Point creep, and it rarely stops hence the word "creep".  If you want to beat it doing what you are doing pick a hunt that last year you had one more point than needed instead of the same, and you'll likely draw this year.

You have to get in front of it, last year was last year...

Good luck!

[Stein]

We're coming in off the bench this year with 8 or 9 points if I remember right.  I was waiting for my easy to draw area to recover and it's now time to just go hunt. 

[Bob33]

Wyoming antelope numbers have declined over time. In 2006 there were approximately 550,000; the current population is estimated to be a little over 300,000. A big hit occurred during the 2022-2023 winter with some herds down 50%. While the herds have slowly recovered since 2023 this had a significant impact on the number of licenses available. Another factor was the price increase in special licenses. A special antelope license increased from about $600 to $1200 in 2023. That moved a good number of applicants out of the special draws into the regular draws.

The decrease in antelope numbers and the corresponding decrease in licenses is the biggest factor in reduced draw odds. There are still some ways to improve odds. One example is becoming friends with  landowners in units with little public land, and thus better non-resident draw odds.

[finnman]

Seems like every year I just miss getting a pronghorn tag. Points required just keep going up. I was told tons of people just put in for points until they get what they are looking for then apply. Does any one know if there are really that many people in the wings just waiting to keep me OUT. lol
I always look at last years numbers and try to pick one that matches my points. This year I might pick one that went up last year and maybe it will go back down? I don't know.

I have used this approach a few times with our group. It was both worked and not worked.
We applied for the same unit we last hunted 10 years ago. It’s now looking like it takes 9-10 points. Last year was 8-9, so let’s hope it does not jump a point to 10-11 or our group is out.

[dagon]

Thanks all. We did the reverse this year and picked the same one we had last year that jumped up by 2 points. Hoping the higher points will drop it back down. Probably won't work. Me and the son are sitting at 6 points for this year.

[Karl Blanchard]

So am i ready this right? Last year you had 5 and put in for a 5pt unit but it jumped to 7 and you missed. This year you put in for the unit that was 7 with 6pts?

[Mtnwalker]

Thanks all. We did the reverse this year and picked the same one we had last year that jumped up by 2 points. Hoping the higher points will drop it back down. Probably won't work. Me and the son are sitting at 6 points for this year.

You are probably right about that

[dagon]

So am i ready this right? Last year you had 5 and put in for a 5pt unit but it jumped to 7 and you missed. This year you put in for the unit that was 7 with 6pts?

The one I almost put in for last year went from 6 down to 5 so we may have got drawn. That said yes I know this probably is not going to work. lol

[Karl Blanchard]

So am i ready this right? Last year you had 5 and put in for a 5pt unit but it jumped to 7 and you missed. This year you put in for the unit that was 7 with 6pts?

The one I almost put in for last year went from 6 down to 5 so we may have got drawn. That said yes I know this probably is not going to work. lol

unit dropping in points is the exception not the rule.  On the bright side, you'll have some money to spend with your refund you'll get back

[muleyslayer]

I got 6 points, I will try to burn this year. I definitely can’t see myself ever paying 1200 for ADHD prairie 2 point in the near future. It will be regular draw for me…..

[87Ford]

Son and I both have 10 points.  Hoping to apply and hunt antelope for the first time in the next couple years