Questions regarding Wyoming draw

[KylerL]

Hello everyone. I’ve started getting my spreadsheets made and a strategy started for next years hunting season. This is my first year focusing on western draw hunts, currently only sitting on 1 point in Montana bought before the 12/31 deadline. My questions are:
1. Is it worth applying in Wyoming with no points?
2. Would I be able to apply for only a cow tag? Spending only $303 rather than $707 will allow me to spend money on more draws in other states.
3. Is it worth getting a cow tag? I’ve never elk hunted, just done research online. I suppose getting a cow tag is good experience even though my goal is going after a mature bull.
4. Should I apply for other species even if I decide not to put in for an elk tag? Antelope and mule deer are also on my radar.
5. Even though I may have odds to draw a less than preferable unit, will it downgrade my first elk experience settling for a unit most people don’t want?
6. Is it smart to put in for an area I know I have no chance of getting just to build the points?
7. Do I have to wait until the point only period to buy a point if I don’t get drawn?

Just some general opinions and information would be helpful. Not looking for exact units to put in, I’m capable of putting in the research to pick a unit I feel confident in. I just wonder if it’s smarter to full send into a unit I have good odds of getting so I can get my first elk hunt underway, pick a hard to get unit but still apply for the point, or just leave Wyoming alone for now atleast for elk and put my money into a different state? Thanks for any information and thanks for taking the time to read my questions.

 

[LostArra]

Start here:

https://www.rokslide.com/wyoming-elk-with-biologist-lee-knox/

 

[KylerL]

Start here:

https://www.rokslide.com/wyoming-elk-with-biologist-lee-knox/

Thanks

 

[wapitibob]

Yes
You can apply for both a reduced price and full price license
Yes
Yes
No
No, apply to draw, you buy points later
Yes

 

[Indian Summer]

Bob you gave me my morning laugh. Now he hast to go back and forth between his post and yours to match up the questions and answers. You made him do some work!

Since you are our local Wyoming specialist that answers most of the questions around here I know you like to see people work a little before they show up with a list of questions. Amen.

 

[KylerL]

Bob you gave me my morning laugh. Now he hast to go back and forth between his post and yours to match up the questions and answers. You made him do some work!

Since you are our local Wyoming specialist that answers most of the questions around here I know you like to see people work a little before they show up with a list of questions. Amen.

You were right about me having to double check my questions LOL what’s the fun in learning about elk hunting without a little work though

 

[KylerL]

Yes
You can apply for both a reduced price and full price license
Yes
Yes
No
No, apply to draw, you buy points later
Yes

Thanks! I’m gonna have a go at this years draw. I’ll let everyone know how it works out for me

 

[willfrye027]

Thanks! I’m gonna have a go at this years draw. I’ll let everyone know how it works out for me

with zero points, you might as well put in and hope for the random draw luck.

Ideally put in for some cow tags in an area you would be interested in hunting bulls in the future.

Hunt cows, learn the county, and when you spend 6-10 pp or whatever it takes in the future you’ve got some prior experience to work with

 

[wapitibob]

Thanks! I’m gonna have a go at this years draw. I’ll let everyone know how it works out for me

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/31721/download?inline

Download this application guide; it comes out in December each year. Save it to your Wyoming 2026 folder, and read it. Then read it again.
It has the fees, dates, license types, all that stuff. Most every question can be answered by reading that app guide.
Tentative dates and quotas will be published the 3rd week of March.

 

[LostArra]

with zero points, you might as well put in and hope for the random draw luck.

Ideally put in for some cow tags in an area you would be interested in hunting bulls in the future.

Hunt cows, learn the county, and when you spend 6-10 pp or whatever it takes in the future you’ve got some prior experience to work with

This ^^^^ X100
Sitting at home in the fall, buying points and studying e-scout maps is not much of a plan for a single future hunt to kill a bull much less a "mature" bull.
Cow hunting is the very best scouting of an area you can do and you are almost guaranteed some nice bull encounters.

If you are just getting into buying points you will probably draw a random tag before you overcome point creep.

 

[CMF]

At least buy the wy points, if you have the money, go into the draw.
I haven't been applying cause I put that money toward other draws like NM.
I'd go hunt bulls somewhere easier to draw, like MT or CO vs cow hunting in WY if hunting bulls is your end goal. but you could get some unit-specific information by hunting cows in wy for a bull hunt at a later date, but at the rate things are going, it will be several years to draw a general bull tag.

 

[LongWayAround]

A cow hunt in Wyoming is a better experience than many bull hunts in Colorado.