Wyoming antelope draw

[Upwolf]

I did some math on this recently. With how many points are required to draw decent hunts these days, it is often cheaper to go guided or pay a trespass fee in addition to saving years off your life waiting in lines that only get longer every season. I haven't done it yet but looking into it next year for sure

yeah, agreed. especially with the increase in point costs. Looking into this a little more seriously starting next year.

 

[eaglemountainman]

I did some math on this recently. With how many points are required to draw decent hunts these days, it is often cheaper to go guided or pay a trespass fee in addition to saving years off your life waiting in lines that only get longer every season. I haven't done it yet but looking into it next year for sure

That'll work for a year or two, till the outfitters realize that they can squeeze higher rates out of us all.

 

[OXN939]

That'll work for a year or two, till the outfitters realize that they can squeeze higher rates out of us all.

Yeah very possible. I was mostly researching trespass fees to hunt private. That idea looks better and better every year honestly

 

[TreeDux]

I’m sure there are still some trespass fee hunts to be had but my impression is that most of the properties that offered that 20 years ago have leased to outfitters. I have shot a couple of pronghorn on different ranches for less than $250 each. If I could find that again at this point would probably do it every year but that’s probably fantasy in modern Wyoming.

 

[Bobbyboe]

It seems like point creep was pretty bad this year. I drew 67 with 13 points. Looking at the odds, I had a 25% chance with that. They even added tags this year for that area.

 

[Maddog58]

When you figure a guided hunt you get lodging for 4 nts ($150 x4) , food for 3 days ($75x3), guide uses his rig ( $100 x3 ) =$1200 right there. Then great access without fighting people is worth the $2500-3000 fee. Then a ton of units take 0-1 point to draw which makes it a lot more enticing than paying $75/yr for preference point fees for 6-10 yrs for a chance to draw. And the best part is getting to go hunt

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

My first year applying as a res. I drew 2 tags.

You got lucky dude.

 

[Mdfowlman2]

We drew 2 tags for 72-1.

 

[Hide Hunter]

Sounds like everyone complaining about not getting a tag needs to write their legislator and ask for wildlife habitat funding.

 

[Steve O]

Never have and am convinced we will never draw antelope tags in wyoming. This state shits on residents. Thankful there are better opportunities in neighboring states.

“Alex, I’ll take ‘Residential Delirium’ for $1000 please…

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

Sounds like everyone complaining about not getting a tag needs to write their legislator and ask for wildlife habitat funding.

Lol or a new draw system. This random draw is absolute garbage.

 

[Steve O]

And it’s not going to get any better. I am back to 3 points now and plan to wait another 4 years or so my daughter and I, when she’s 12-14 can do one fun daddy/daughter camping and hunting trip with the tag. It’s sobering to see the trend.

I hope you are buying her points; youth NR points are the last reasonable fee left.

 

[Hide Hunter]

Lol or a new draw system. This random draw is absolute garbage.

Population is at decades low, but blame the draw for not getting your tag.

 

[eaglemountainman]

Population is at decades low, but blame the draw for not getting your tag.

Yep... and keep pulling and filling those doe/fawn tags.

 

[Hide Hunter]

Yep... and keep pulling and filling those doe/fawn tags.

Doe harvest is compensatory and does not have an impact on long term population. What does have an impact is human development removing habitat.

 

[TreeDux]

I hope you are buying her points; youth NR points are the last reasonable fee left.

That’s definitely my plan. It looks like Wyoming requires her to be 11 before she can begin acquiring points. That’s still a few years out but I am keeping my eye on it.

 

[eaglemountainman]

Doe harvest is compensatory and does not have an impact on long term population. What does have an impact is human development removing habitat.

You may be right, but after a brutal winter kill where 100% of fawns died and 60% of adults, adult does do have a huge short term impact on herd recovery.

 

[Hide Hunter]

You may be right, but after a brutal winter kill where 100% of fawns died and 60% of adults, adult does do have a huge short term impact on herd recovery.

But a certain percentage of does will die every year from winter, predators or vehicles. The goal is to harvest those does and reduce the amount dying without going to freezers.

 

[Fetty Wapiti]

Population is at decades low, but blame the draw for not getting your tag.

I absolutely blame the draw. Lower numbers have reduced available tags, but those should then be shared fairly with the residents of the state, which they are not.

 

[Jakeb]

I absolutely blame the draw. Lower numbers have reduced available tags, but those should then be shared fairly with the residents of the state, which they are not.

Residents have 67 units with 25% odds, 48 units with better than 50% odds, and 28 units with 100% odds of drawing. If you aren’t getting tags it’s not because you can’t. No you can’t draw the best units in the state but if you want to hunt the opportunity is there. As a nonresident I’d trade my points any day of the week for wy resident opportunity.

I’m not saying a resident shouldn’t have this opportunity, but sometimes we fail to realize how good we have it.