Wyoming draw

[BigC2245]

Yeah point creep this year was crazy with the price increase in the special tags.

 

[Jimss]

With fewer antelope there obviously are fewer tags issued. One other consideration is that there are fewer tags issued and more hunters applying each year for fewer tags.

It’s a double-whammy with both of these contributing to even higher pt creep

 

[Mojave]

Yes, I grew up in Wyoming until I joined the military over 30 years ago. We hunted all over the state, wherever we could draw tags. I don't remember a lot of years without my father, uncle and grandfather having tags.

Some great experiences, that are really hard to get into these days.

 

[Mojave]

Yeah point creep this year was crazy with the price increase in the special tags.

I am sure we will see it some day. I think that when Special buck tags get to be $1500, we will se a 100% change in demand.

Most folks can't swing a $1200 antelope or deer tag once a year, but you start applying as a family, husband and wife and adding it all up it's a lot of money.

Are the youth tags in the general draw? How does that work?

 

[HiMtnHntr]

There is no separate youth draw.

 

[Mojave]

There is no separate youth draw.

Yes, I understand they are in the general, but what about the special? Do youths have to pay special prices to get into the special draw

 

[Laramie]

Yes, I understand they are in the general, but what about the special? Do youths have to pay special prices to get into the special draw

Yes

 

[Mojave]

Yes

Positive news!

The only way the special will be a lower draw odds, is if the cost is exorbitant.

 

[Abirkle]

Was just looking at Gohunts predicted 2025 draw odds for Antelope. Sitting on 6 NR points. Do you really need to apply in the special draw now to get a decent Antelope unit with more than 50% public land? Wyoming Antelope draw has really changed since I last hunted it in 2017.

Yes

 

[Jimss]

I totally disagree that the only way to generate better draw odds is with exorbitant special tag prices.

With antelope numbers extremely low and demand so high there is no wonder draw odds in high demand units remain high even in the special draw. Take a look at how many special draw tags are currently issued in premium units.

There are only a handful of total tags issued to nonres. The outfitters were all in favor of raising tag fees in the special draw thinking their wealthy clients would have better draw odds. With few tags issued, and more applicants entering the draw each year than tags issued, draw odds continue to rise and outfitter clients still draw only a few tags that exist.

Ultimately, the only way that will increase draw odds for everyone is if antelope numbers dramatically rebound and more tags are issued.

Antelope numbers across large chunks of Wyoming are at historic lows. The big question is, is there a way to increase antelope numbers in Wyoming?

 

[Laramie]

The big question is, is there a way to increase antelope numbers in Wyoming?

Of course there is but the quick fix isn't in our capabilities. Stop shooting does. Regardless of what tags are issued, if we stopped for one or two seasons, numbers would exponentially increase. Since that won't happen, I recommend patience because numbers will rebound. It will just take some time and some easy winters.

 

[sniper20]

I plan on putting in for my first tag this year to try my hand at getting an Antelope in WY. I have a cousin who went last year, said there was tons all over where they went, and it wasn't even a "prime" spot (according to him). He did say he had to deal with, "not so nice" hunters who were in packs, trying to push them to blockers (which I disagree with). But they also noticed their encampment and said once they were noticed, they began to yell and shout at nearby Antelope to scare them away, ruining my cousins stalk.

I'm hoping to get a tag, and I'm sure hoping I don't run into people like that... Any tips/tricks/suggestions for a first timer?

 

[Mojave]

I plan on putting in for my first tag this year to try my hand at getting an Antelope in WY. I have a cousin who went last year, said there was tons all over where they went, and it wasn't even a "prime" spot (according to him). He did say he had to deal with, "not so nice" hunters who were in packs, trying to push them to blockers (which I disagree with). But they also noticed their encampment and said once they were noticed, they began to yell and shout at nearby Antelope to scare them away, ruining my cousins stalk.

I'm hoping to get a tag, and I'm sure hoping I don't run into people like that... Any tips/tricks/suggestions for a first timer?

There are about 100 tutorials on how to use the Wyoming system online.

Since you have zero preference points you are in the random draw. Apply for units (by using the Wyoming hunting information tool) that have at least some random tags.

Areas of the state near the center and south center are the hardest to draw, but have the most public land and tags.

Areas of the state near the North Center, and Eastern side have very little public land and are easier to draw.

Quick overview of any Wyoming preference point draw (all draws excepting female species (mostly), and resident draws for deer, elk and antelope).

1. There are two draws. A general draw and a special draw for elk deer and antelope non-resident bull and buck hunts. The general is for 60% of the tags and the special is for 40% of the tags. Special cost a lot more and may in most years give you much higher odds of drawing.

The computer randomly pulls the available tags (let's say there are 10 preference point tags) to the 10 highest point holders, any tags below that will be decided in lottery format to those with the next tier of points. As an example in 2022, I had 9 points for antelope. I was not among the people that had the most points, but there were enough applicants for there to be a lottery for 9 point holders and I got a tag.

11 points 2 people
10 points 7 people
9 points 14 people (a couple of us got tags)
8 points and below, no one got a tag in the preference draw.
Then the overall random happens.

I believe 80% of the tags are preference and 20% random.
So everyone else competed for the randoms.

Buffalo, grizzly bears (not currently hunted) and mountain goats do not have a preference point program.

The special is about $1200 the general is about $500-600 (I don't remember) for pronghorns in Wyoming.

 

[Coveyleader]

There shouldn’t t be one single doe tag offered in the state. You can add Mule deer to that as well.

 

[Bull_n_heat]

Of course there is but the quick fix isn't in our capabilities. Stop shooting does. Regardless of what tags are issued, if we stopped for one or two seasons, numbers would exponentially increase. Since that won't happen, I recommend patience because numbers will rebound. It will just take some time and some easy winters.

Agreed on patience. Never a quick solution when critters have one or two babies every year. Good summer conditions will be helpful too - pronghorn have exploded in numbers before, they can do it again, in time.

 

[Bull_n_heat]

There are about 100 tutorials on how to use the Wyoming system online.

Since you have zero preference points you are in the random draw. Apply for units (by using the Wyoming hunting information tool) that have at least some random tags.

Areas of the state near the center and south center are the hardest to draw, but have the most public land and tags.

Areas of the state near the North Center, and Eastern side have very little public land and are easier to draw.

Quick overview of any Wyoming preference point draw (all draws excepting female species (mostly), and resident draws for deer, elk and antelope).

1. There are two draws. A general draw and a special draw for elk deer and antelope non-resident bull and buck hunts. The general is for 60% of the tags and the special is for 40% of the tags. Special cost a lot more and may in most years give you much higher odds of drawing.

The computer randomly pulls the available tags (let's say there are 10 preference point tags) to the 10 highest point holders, any tags below that will be decided in lottery format to those with the next tier of points. As an example in 2022, I had 9 points for antelope. I was not among the people that had the most points, but there were enough applicants for there to be a lottery for 9 point holders and I got a tag.

11 points 2 people
10 points 7 people
9 points 14 people (a couple of us got tags)
8 points and below, no one got a tag in the preference draw.
Then the overall random happens.

I believe 80% of the tags are preference and 20% random.
So everyone else competed for the randoms.

Buffalo, grizzly bears (not currently hunted) and mountain goats do not have a preference point program.

The special is about $1200 the general is about $500-600 (I don't remember) for pronghorns in Wyoming.

This is one of the best breakdowns of the NR WY draw I've seen. Only correction is that 75% go to PP holders and 25% go to the random draw.

Another note is that each "bin" of Nonresident tags is discrete with a 60/40 split between regular and special applicants. So if a unit has 20 total NR tags in the quota, that puts 12 in the regular draw and 8 in the special draw. Each of those are broken down 75/25. So for each of the discrete bins has a specific number of tags available: Regular PP (9), Regular random (3), Special PP (6), Special Random (2).

For most tags this really doesn't mean much; you apply in either special or regular and then your application goes through the PP draw and then into the random draw if you don't get pulled. Where it comes into play for NR is when folks are applying for units as their second choice. An application can only compete for a tag in the PP bin when it is the first choice. So, for a few hunts where not a lot of applicants apply as a first choice (e.g., full price cow licenses), those NR-quota licenses from the PP bin don't convert over to the random bin and go straight to the leftovers.

Perhaps I muddied the waters too much here, but it an example of how a handful of potential NR tags aren't even competed for by non-residents.

 

[wapitibob]

this is how it works :

QUOTA PROCESSING—FOR ALL HUNT AREAS

Quota Available for Landowner Drawing:

1. Total Quota is obtained for each hunt area

2. Quota is split between Resident and Nonresident Share (84% NR; 16% RES)

3. Nonresident Total Quota available for each hunt area is split for Landowner Draw

75% (Round UP) Preference Point Draw—Landowner Draw

25% (Round DOWN) Random Point Draw—Landowner Draw

4. Landowner Preference Point Drawing is conducted

Quota balance is held

5. Landowner Random Drawing is conducted

6. Quota balance from Landowner Preference Point Draw and Landowner Random Drawing are
combined to a new total quota available for each hunt area


Quota Available for Special Drawing:

7. Total Quota available after Landowner Drawings are Split for Special Draw and Regular Draw

40% (Round UP) quota to Special Drawing

60% (Round DOWN) quota to Regular Drawing

8. Special Drawing Quota is Split for Preference point Drawing and Random Drawing

75% (Round UP) Special Preference Point Drawing

25% (Round DOWN) Special Random Drawing

9. Special Preference Point Drawing is conducted

Quota balance is held to be made available for the Regular Drawing

Quota is not rolled to the Special Random Drawing

10. Special Random Drawing is conducted

Quota balance is held to be made available for the Regular Drawing


Quota Available for Regular Drawing:

11. New Quota balance is calculated for each hunt area

Original 60% for Nonresident Regular Drawing

Plus quota balance from the Nonresident Special Preference Point Drawing

Plus quota balance from the Nonresident Special Random Drawing

12. Quota balance available for Nonresident Regular Drawing is split for Preference Point Drawing and Random Drawing

75% (Round UP) Regular Preference Point Drawing

25% (Round DOWN) Regular Random Drawing


13. Conduct Regular Preference Point Drawing

Quota balance is held to be converted to General Quota

14. Conduct Regular Random Drawing

Step 15 was where they back filled up to the 7250 nr full price quota but that no longer happens. The demand reports were also created after step 14, before they backfilled, which is why the Special Gen license odds were never correct as they added about 300 more tags to reach that 7250.

Pronghorn is similar except that the resident draw happens first, and their leftovers are added to the initial NR quota, prior to the NR Landowner draw.