Wyoming Elk 2026 - Will 6 points guarantee a west region general tag?

[jgleason0207]

Looking at applying for a Wyoming west region general elk tag in 2026. I have 6 points. In 2025, 6 points guaranteed this tag and 5 points gave you roughly 45% draw odds. Do we think 6 points will guarantee the tag again in 2026 or will point creep change this?

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I think it will BUT if you want to be hunting 100% go special, it should be guaranteed there.

 

[jgleason0207]

I think it will BUT if you want to be hunting 100% go special, it should be guaranteed there.

Thanks. Trying to decide if the risk is worth saving ~$1250. To me, I think it is.

 

[Indian Summer]

It didn’t take 6 last year. It just took more than 5. You would have been 100% with 5.1 points. 6 will get you a tag this year.

 

[LFC911]

More than likely in the general

 

[CB4]

The odds for last year were 100% at 6 points. 5 points was 50%.

 

[Pacific_Fork]

Almost 100% yes. No way I’d pay for special with 6 points in the general.

 

[bz_711]

Yes

 

[mad_angler]

Looking at the data...

In 2024, 4+ was about 50%
In 2025, 5 was about 50%

In 2026, it seems logical to hope that 5+ will be 50%

You cant guarantee that 6 will be 100%. But it should at least be pretty high odds. It doesn't seem worth another $1,250 to me.

 

[Ridgerunner]

6 should be pretty high odds for sure. Depends on how bad you want to be guaranteed a tag what draw to put in for.

 

[Indian Summer]

The odds for last year were 100% at 6 points. 5 points was 50%.

Actually as the stats read <6 was 100%. It didn’t take 6 for 100% odds. Anything over five guaranteed the license. 5.1 was enough.

 

[Hunt4jesus]

I have same dilemma, I have 5 points. Trying to decide if general w would have a good chance. Special is steep but looking like it’s probably the way to guarantee!

 

[wapitibob]

Pay somebody with 7 points $100 and party app with them.

 

[Idaboy]

Welcome to the point creep game

 

[Neckbone]

i would look at the trends in W general from the first year they divided the general tag up until 2025. I believe Wy general elk typically floats around 5 points to draw.

I drew W general 2025 with 5. I would feel confident with 6.

 

[Indian Summer]

If you drew in 2025 with 5 points you were lucky. You had 45% odds. This year I think 5 points will put you in the random. But it might not take quite 6 points for 100% odds. 5 plus a few decimal points will probably do it. 5.5 or better would be good. 5.6 even better.

I think I remember years ago Wapiti Bob showing us how to find the odds for the exact points including the decimal point breakdown. I’m old so I could be wrong. But he damn sure knows everything!

Think about it….. if four guys applied together as a party with five points each they would have a five point average. But if one of them had six points that extra point would be divided among the four of them, giving them a 5.25 average. If there were three in the party it would be 5.3333333 average. And if two hunters apply together and one of them has an extra point their party application average will end in .5. So I always sleep better if I’m just above those common decimal point averages. In 2025 5 points guaranteed nothing but 5.1 got you an elk license. If I had 5 points this year, or was in a party with a 5.5 average I would search high and low for someone with 7 points to apply with.

 

[Aswob5]

I would search high and low for someone with 7 points to apply with.

I know a guy

 

[Mike D Texas]

The outfitter we use is telling us it will take 6-7 points to draw in the general.


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