Late Point Start, Where to Begin?

[Seminole Wind]

Hello All,

Been doing some research and skimming forums to learn. Long story short started hunting around 30, going on 38 but never invested points out West. Would like to do an elk hunt or two before I am older and regret not buying points in the most sensible place.

Question is, which state would make the most sense for me to buy points for if I had to pick one or two? Or at this age is my best bet saving that time and money to book with an outfitter?

Thank you

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

CO. Just draw and go put in the work.

 

[Idhunter777]

Hello All,

Been doing some research and skimming forums to learn. Long story short started hunting around 30, going on 38 but never invested points out West. Would like to do an elk hunt or two before I am older and regret not buying points in the most sensible place.

Question is, which state would make the most sense for me to buy points for if I had to pick one or two? Or at this age is my best bet saving that time and money to book with an outfitter?

Thank you

Great question. Following: I am in the same boat

 

[rookieforever33]

Best bet is to check state websites and see which system works for you. They are all unique in their complications. Plus they may change by the time you hit the point level you think you need. Dont discount otc options if they are available. Especially if getting out there and learning is your goal.

 

[MuleyFever]

Read this and realize it doesn't just apply to WY.

Thread 'Wyoming Elk General Tag vs LQ Tag'

Friday at 10:11 AM

Food for thought for anyone planning a Wyoming elk strategy for 2026 and beyond.

In last year’s regular draw, it took roughly 5.5 preference points to draw a Wyoming general elk tag in the South or West regions. That is about two full points higher than in 2021.

As most of us already know, more and more hunters are buying preference points with the goal of hunting Wyoming someday. Last year alone, over 39,000 people purchased their first elk preference point, and there are now more than 200,000 people holding Wyoming elk points in the system.

With that many people in the pool, it is...

• Laramie
• Replies: 23
• Forum: Elk

• 

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I’d save your money and go elk hunting somewhere that doesn’t require points.

 

[WRO]

If you’re flexible put in for states with no points every year, if you just want to hunt elk, Oregon and co have tags you can get in 1-5 years that are decent. Mt general you can get every cooler years, I think Wyoming is up to 4/5 for a general tag right now. Az always has a random component and a mediocre tag by az standards can be had every decade.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

CO probably has the most Elk and you can hunt easy to draw units more frequently and learn them.

 

[il_cop]

Go hunt otc or second choice units, even cow tags and build points (if you want). But first and foremost, go hunt and learn a unit and the elk that live there upside down. If it's an OTC unit, later you can burn those points for one of the limited tags in that unit. I'm speaking of Colorado fwiw.

And, it's not a late start. You're starting right when you were supposed to!

 

[Traveler]

Hello All,

Been doing some research and skimming forums to learn. Long story short started hunting around 30, going on 38 but never invested points out West. Would like to do an elk hunt or two before I am older and regret not buying points in the most sensible place.

Question is, which state would make the most sense for me to buy points for if I had to pick one or two? Or at this age is my best bet saving that time and money to book with an outfitter?

Thank you

What’s with the weird circle masquerading as a slate call in your profile pic?

 

[Seminole Wind]

What’s with the weird circle masquerading as a slate call in your profile pic?

It's the Enticer Wet One slate.


Thank you everyone for the advice. Sounds like I still have a few decent options

 

[Nick22]

There's a huge learning curve to elk If you've never been in the mountains I would draw points somewhere while making a few easier to obtain hunts Ideally in the area you may want to hunt elk in. It could just be hunting grouse or deer over the counter bear tags. If you don't have time to do this and are well off financially I'd recommend a good guide you'll learn so much from a good one playing thermals animal habits elk live in big country.

 

[Indian Summer]

I know those giant white tipped antlers have your attention. But in all honesty if you were to draw an elk license right now for bulls only statistics say you will not kill one. It will be a learning experience. So my advice would be to get a cow tag somewhere, preferably where you intend to draw a tag for bulls, and start there.

Elk aren’t deer. Deer are fairly evenly distributed throughout their areas and have a small home range of about 1 square mile. Elk have big home ranges. And they can migrate. Most anyone can find and kill a buck. But there are lots of first time elk hunters who came home saying they never saw one or just a cow or two. Just getting around in the mountains efficiently and safely AND feeling comfortable there has a learning curve.

And as mentioned above…. Going there to hunt grouse…. or even just to camp and hike during the summer is a great way to get started. One step at a time. If you overwhelm yourself you might end up like lots of new elk hunters who went to the mountains full of dreams only to hunt elk once and say screw that!!!! It happens all the time.

 

[Seminole Wind]

I know those giant white tipped antlers have your attention. But in all honesty if you were to draw an elk license right now for bulls only statistics say you will not kill one. It will be a learning experience. So my advice would be to get a cow tag somewhere, preferably where you intend to draw a tag for bulls, and start there.

Elk aren’t deer. Deer are fairly evenly distributed throughout their areas and have a small home range of about 1 square mile. Elk have big home ranges. And they can migrate. Most anyone can find and kill a buck. But there are lots of first time elk hunters who came home saying they never saw one or just a cow or two. Just getting around in the mountains efficiently and safely AND feeling comfortable there has a learning curve.

And as mentioned above…. Going there to hunt grouse…. or even just to camp and hike during the summer is a great way to get started. One step at a time. If you overwhelm yourself you might end up like lots of new elk hunters who went to the mountains full of dreams only to hunt elk once and say screw that!!!! It happens all the time.

Great point on camping or hunting grouse. I've actually always wanted to hunt grouse.

 

[wyosteve]

If you only want to hunt elk a time or two before you get older, I recommend hiring an outfitter. Logistics are taken care of for you and you can enjoy the hunt. Just my .02.

 

[Indian Summer]

You’d be surprised at how good the grouse hunting is in elk country. Several species of them and not as hard to hunt as rufffed grouse back east. And if you enjoy fishing you can do a little of that a morning or two. I know that to lots of new elk hunters some of us old farts sound like we’re being negative. But the things you read here are just the cold hard truth. We all started somewhere. I guarantee that if went west this fall for a fun trip into the mountains you’d learn a lot, be glad you did it…. and end up with more questions than you have now. People who are truly new to something usually don’t even know all the right questions to ask yet. That definitely holds true with elk hunting.