Wyoming Antelope Preference Points - For Next Year?

[E.Shell]

I plan to do a non-resident antelope hunt with a resident buddy next fall (2025) if I'm drawn.

My friend out there suggests I purchase a 'Preference Point' now. I guess his reasoning is that I would be one point ahead if I buy one this year and buy another next year with my license.

When I go to the WY Game & Fish site, it looks like I need to buy a license now too, which I don't want/need for this year:

"We will immediately charge your card for the full amount of the license fee, preference point fee, application fee and any donations...".

Looks like I have until the end of October to accomplish this, if I can indeed do it.

How do I go about doing this and ONLY buying a preference point this year? Can it be done?

Thank you!!

 

[Tmac]

We were able to buy ours with the point fee only.

ELSWelcome

 

[KHNC]

no license is required for points

 

[Dos Perros]

To my knowledge, only the 1 point can be leveraged in 2025. And you will only be allowed to buy your second point if you don't draw your first choice in 2025.

 

[ORHunter]

You can buy a point right now without paying for the tag.

You also won't be able to buy a point next year when you apply, so if you buy a point this year you will only have 1 point going into next year's draw.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[Mojave]

It will take you 5-10 points to be assured a tag in an average unit. It will probably take 8-18 points to get a tag in the better units.

A non-preference point draw odds is in the 1-5% odds for most units.

If you are hunting private land, you might have better odds in unit that has no public with no or very few points.

 

[mthayr]

In all likelihood, if you want to hunt Wyoming antelope next year, you will need to buy a preference point this year, and even then... look for next year's opportunity on private (a ranch/outfitter) that will offer some sort of landowner opportunity. You may also need to apply for the "special" tag ($1000) vs. the regular tag ($350) for the increased odds, so i'd start looking around now, not next year.

 

[Matt5266]

I buy a point every year. Never bought a license. Just the point.

 

[wapitibob]

simply "apply" for the point.

2 point hunt area
Had the head of a Horse.

 

[E.Shell]

Thank you ALL for the assistance, it is very much appreciated!!

I'll go back into the site and try again.

I'm going to be a guest and am really not sure where we would hunt, I only know "near Cody". I took a medium size buck in the early 80s near Gillette and had it mounted, so I'm not hunting for horns so much as for meat.

 

[wytx]

Does your friend have any preference points, if so you can party app. and average them to have more than 1.
If hunting for the meat look into doe tags, not many around but a few and some areas are doing ok with numbers.

 

[YellCoAR]

My thought is if planning on next year. The only way you would draw a tag is in the random draw. This draw does not consider points. I would not buy a PP unless you plan on hunting several years in the future. Also any points will be lost if you are drawn in the random draw.

 

[BigC2245]

No license is required for points. Point fee only.