How long does it take to get a Wyoming nonresident elk tag?

[clopper54]

I would like to hunt some rough country in Wyoming that holds more elk than hunters. How do I apply for that?

 

[BruinPoint]

General tag will do that the quickest. Two options, special draw and regular draw, the one and only difference being price. Special tag you'll get first year as a first choice even without preference points, regular draw may take three years of applying (2 preference points) with the current demand. Most of the limited hunts require several years of points, have little public land, or are mostly wilderness (guide required for NR in designated wilderness) or have grizzly bears. If you'll hunt with grizzlies there my be some limited hunts you can draw and hunt National Forest outside the wilderness.

 

[Gobbler36]

As noted,General hunts, which most general units are close to 100% wilderness so you'll need a guide or start buying points and try to draw unit with non wilderness national forest, Way i have looked at it is the special draw really on shaves off a point or 2 depending on how many points you have, really the special draw is in place is if your close to the top in points and are afraid of point creep, pay the $1000 and likely draw the tag, thats the way I interpret anyway. Good luck

 

[Travis Bertrand]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=How+to+draw+Wyoming+elk

 

[BruinPoint]

most general units are close to 100% wilderness

There is a LOT of general hunting to be had on BLM and Forest Service. Many general units have no wilderness at all.

 

[Jason Snyder]

There is a LOT of general hunting to be had on BLM and Forest Service. Many general units have no wilderness at all.

Agreed, that statement isn't even remotely true. If you can't find a place to hunt outside of a wilderness area on a general tag, you aren't looking very hard.

 

[MAT]

The success rate for the GEN tag special draw with 0 points in 2015 was 45% as a first choice. You can no longer draw it as a 2nd choice. That didn't take long to happen once the word got out...

 

[NoWiser]

The success rate for the GEN tag special draw with 0 points in 2015 was 45% as a first choice. You can no longer draw it as a 2nd choice. That didn't take long to happen once the word got out...

That is not true. If you applied for the special general as your first choice last year, you got drawn. Not everyone drew it as a second choice, though some people did.

 

[BruinPoint]

That is not true. If you applied for the special general as your first choice last year, you got drawn. Not everyone drew it as a second choice, though some people did.

Way to let the cat out of the bag! That's correct though, odds as a second choice in the special draw were about 50/50 I think.

 

[MAT]

Nope, according to the 2015 demand report the NR special GEN tag was not drawn by anyone as a 2nd choice as there were more 1st choice applicants than tags (1221 for 551 tags, or 45%). The random part of the draw was the same way (669 for 397 tags) so not everyone drew it as a 1st choice either. It was a sure thing 2 years ago, not anymore and I'm guessing it will only get worse. That's why WY needs to have bow and gun specific tags.

 

[clopper54]

Is it too late for me to apply for the tag that ends on January 31? I have no preference points yet.

 

[BruinPoint]

Ok. Have it your way ;-)

 

[BruinPoint]

Is it too late for me to apply for the tag that ends on January 31? I have no preference points yet.

If you're talking about a leftover you can just buy it, but I'm not sure how that works after the season starts. If you're talking about the draw deadline and want a tag you need to get it done. If you don't want a tag but do want a point the point purchase opens in June.

 

[weaver]

Hadn't realized the special draw odds went down so much in 2015.

Here's a screenshot of the 2015 report

 

[clopper54]

I just called the DNR and they said that if I apply before the end of the month I have a chance to get in a drawing for a unit this year. As you said I can go ahead and wait until June to apply for my preference point. I think that I will go ahead and apply for a preference point in June so that I can find a more secluded unit without as many hunters. Does anyone have any suggestions on units that has rough country, thick brush, grizzly bears and no roads, hunters or atvs.

 

[clopper54]

I'm also interested in applying for points in Idaho. I did well in unit 66 last year but I would like to find a place with less hunters and sheepherders.

 

[elkguide]

Didn't know that Idaho had a points system.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Didn't know that Idaho had a points system.

They don't.

 

[307]

I just called the DNR and they said that if I apply before the end of the month I have a chance to get in a drawing for a unit this year. As you said I can go ahead and wait until June to apply for my preference point. I think that I will go ahead and apply for a preference point in June so that I can find a more secluded unit without as many hunters. Does anyone have any suggestions on units that has rough country, thick brush, grizzly bears and no roads, hunters or atvs.

The Northwest corner of Wyoming meets your requirements but much of the area is wilderness, which would require a "guide" if you're a non resident of WY.

 

[go4thegusto]

Are some percentage of the tags in WY for a given high demand unit random or is it pure points?