Wyoming Elk Preference Point

[CSperl]

I'm 19 and want to start putting in for Wyoming elk preference points. As far as I understand, I only have to pay for the point for a couple of years until I want to actually apply for a tag. Is this right? Also, as far as I understand, I need a guide for wilderness areas. Does this all sound correct?

 

[Indian Summer]

Yes, you only pay for the point until you apply for a license. Yes you need a licensed guide working for an outfitter in a wilderness area. But there is certainly plenty of good hunting outside of designated wilderness areas.

 

[BigLou]

think you will likely need 5 points minimum to draw a decent tag

 

[HingleMcCringleberry]

think you will likely need 5 points minimum to draw a decent tag

Unless you draw in the random draw, which is always possible.

 

[Smfigari]

To break it down, you can beginning applying for tags in the draw next year. You won’t have enough points to be automatically allocated a tag, but could get lucky and draw one in the random section of the draw. If you are unsuccessful you will receive a refund and can then buy a preference point.

You will repeat this process until you are lucky enough to draw randomly or have enough points for the state to guarantee you a tag based on your position in the points pool.

 

[Jaquomo]

Buy them if you can afford it and chalk it up to an in investment in the hunt. If you get lucky in the random draw, great. Otherwise you're working foward a goal. A general hunt is better than many mid point units in other states, mostly.

 

[Joshua Chiles]

yes, keep buying points.

 

[riley0819]

Wyoming is great for just buying points.

 

[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

Good that you are starting young. I started buying points for my 11 yo son this year, with the hope we might celebrate his HS graduation with an epic WY hunt.

 

[LostArra]

To break it down, you can beginning applying for tags in the draw next year. You won’t have enough points to be automatically allocated a tag, but could get lucky and draw one in the random section of the draw. If you are unsuccessful you will receive a refund and can then buy a preference point.

You will repeat this process until you are lucky enough to draw randomly or have enough points for the state to guarantee you a tag based on your position in the points pool

Without knowing your annual hunting budget and time available to hunt, I would follow up this advice with starting now, apply for a cow tag as a second choice (does not affect your points if you draw) or a reduced price cow/calf tag (also does not affect points) in the area you are interested in. Just get in the elk woods as soon as possible. You will learn so much about the area and actually hunting elk so when you do accumulate enough points or hit the random you will be much better prepared to kill that bull.

Sitting at home for 5-10 years waiting to draw a tag and finally hunt an elk has never been a good plan for me. Accumulating a bunch of points without actually hunting does not increase your chances of success but hunting an area for 5 years definitely does.

 

[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

For clarity, I am not sitting home while I wait for Wyoming points to accumulate. I'm hunting ID this fall. I agree OP should get in the woods if he can.

 

[cataylor4]

Good plan! You do need to keep buying them or they "expire." You can skip a year, but not two in a row so stay diligent and mark your calendar for the annual preference points purchase.

Also agreed on the cow/calf (type 6) tag - great way to learn the area. And great meat!

You need a guide or a resident guide, so if you know a Wyoming local who will take you out, that works, but they do have to fill out some paperwork with Wyoming.

 

[SloppyJ]

How old do your kids need to be to buy points as a non resident?

 

[Sagedog10]

Yes, you only pay for the point until you apply for a license. Yes you need a licensed guide working for an outfitter in a wilderness area. But there is certainly plenty of good hunting outside of designated wilderness areas.

Question for ya, are guides designated to certain areas? So if I were to plan on a hunt in 51 for example. Does it need to be a licensed guide for that area? Or can you be with any licensed guide from the state of Wyoming?

 

[TheCoyote]

Just a clarification; will the OP need to buy a non-resident hunting license before purchasing his annual point?
Idk what those cost but I’d assume $200 ish

 

[Jethro]

Just a clarification; will the OP need to buy a non-resident hunting license before purchasing his annual point?
Idk what those cost but I’d assume $200 ish

No license. Just the point.

 

[mntnguide]

Question for ya, are guides designated to certain areas? So if I were to plan on a hunt in 51 for example. Does it need to be a licensed guide for that area? Or can you be with any licensed guide from the state of Wyoming?

The outfitter has to be licensed for the area you are hunting. The guide needs to be employed by the outfitter. Just cause someone has a guide license, they can't just go guide people all over the state. They must be employed by an outfitter that is permitted to be in that area

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

 

[Indian Summer]

He is correct. Every outfitter has a user permit. It’s valid either on a specific piece of private land or from the forest service for a specific area of national forest. If you want to Hunt specific area and you were looking for outfitters in that area and it is national forest call the forest service and ask who is permitted in that area. The outfitter license which is issued by the state board of outfitters has nothing to do with the area. It’s the user permit and the operating plan that specifies that.

 

[BigC2245]

Start buying points now and do as much research as you can!

 

[TheCoyote]

Start buying points now and do as much research as you can!

Start buying points now in Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Arizona. (You can forget about Nevada, Utah, Washington). Sorry friend, the west isn’t what it used to be.