Wyoming Non Resident Preference Point Increase

[CorbLand]

100 percent. No elk, sheep, or deer is worth it to me though to live there lol. My grandparnets live there.

I will gladly take my lifetime free hunting licence in SC and the heat, humidity, tiny deer and pigs over one winter of living out there.

Love visiting and hunting, but the cost is crazy these days. Africa is cheaper and I get plenty of shot with the stickbows at critters.

I have more then enough money and time to support my hobbies, but it’s loosing its charm for me for sure with the current cost and the way the system is. More bang for the buck to hunt other countries, that’s crazy lol

I live in the West and I am questioning whether it’s worth living here.

 

[MallardSX2]

You’ll find very few WY residents that want non residents completely excluded.

Seems to be no shortage of them on here and other sites. That's a "small sampling" fact.

You're all welcome for your cheap licenses. lol

 

[bowhuntercoop]

I live in the West and I am questioning whether it’s worth living here.

Wasn’t for me and the wife. When she finished med school we looked into moving out there.

Winters are brutal even compared to growing up in PA. I love hunting and fishing, but couldn’t justify the quality of life living anywhere out west for tags compared to the cost of living, weather, and tags I get on the east coast.

Much much cheaper in the long run to pay non resident tags for the west. With the current cost of some of those states, it’s actually cheaper for me to hunt South Africa and New Zealand, compared to chasing elk or mule deer in the US. Crazy.

These days I’m content filing my local tags and taking my kids compared to spending weeks out west chasing critters. Everyone’s priorities and situations are different. I feel a lot of western states are pricing non residents out though. Gunna hurt them long term imo.

 

[CorbLand]

Wasn’t for me and the wife. When she finished med school we looked into moving out there.

Winters are brutal even compared to growing up in PA. I love hunting and fishing, but couldn’t justify the quality of life living anywhere out west for tags compared to the cost of living, weather, and tags I get on the east coast.

Much much cheaper in the long run to pay non resident tags for the west. With the current cost of some of those states, it’s actually cheaper for me to hunt South Africa and New Zealand, compared to chasing elk or mule deer in the US. Crazy.

These days I’m content filing my local tags and taking my kids compared to spending weeks out west chasing critters. Everyone’s priorities and situations are different. I feel a lot of western states are pricing non residents out though. Gunna hurt them long term imo.

Born and raised here and it’s crazy what has happened as far as cost of living and opportunities in my short life.

Every time I see what some of the east coast and mid west states offer, I honestly wonder why people make such a big deal about coming out West.

I question living here but deep down, I know I will be buried beneath the western skies.

 

[Jethro]

Seems to be no shortage of them on here and other sites. That's a "small sampling" fact.

You're all welcome for your cheap licenses. lol

Thank you. I haven’t bought any cheap licenses yet. But I am now eligible. Will think of you when I apply for moose.

Seriously, haven’t heard any res say exclude NR. Lots of res have family/friends come here to hunt. Real life always different than internet life.

 

[826]

Thank you. I haven’t bought any cheap licenses yet. But I am now eligible. Will think of you when I apply for moose.

Seriously, haven’t heard any res say exclude NR. Lots of res have family/friends come here to hunt. Real life always different than internet life.

To be fair, Wyoming has the biggest "F you" non-resident law on the books. So there's that.

 

[Pulleye16]

just make it $250 a point so all the people who like spendy money are happier!

 

[Mike D Texas]

Africa is anything but cheap. We are planning to go in 28 and it’s going to be about $40k for 8 animals, airfare, import fees, dip n pack and taxidermy in the US.

So $75 preference points seem pretty cheap.

 

[Jethro]

To be fair, Wyoming has the biggest "F you" non-resident law on the books. So there's that.

Nobody hunts the wilderness anymore. It’s too crowded

 

[realunlucky]

just make it $250 a point so all the people who like spendy money are happier!

I'm sure the legislature will replace the 75$ point cap cost very soon and then the price will increase again.

Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[Ucsdryder]

I got 7 elk and 7 deer points. Burning a tag for each in the coming years, then I will be done. Juice ain’t worth the squeeze imo anymore.

As mentioned above I can hunt South Africa cheaper then a Wyoming elk hunt. That’s silly.

The older I get, the more I love my dozen or so deer tags and unlimited pigs. Loosing the desire to pay these crazy prices year after year to go out west. The glory days are over imo.

Don’t you have a bunch of Rolexes?

 

[Hydra6]

Africa is anything but cheap. We are planning to go in 28 and it’s going to be about $40k for 8 animals, airfare, import fees, dip n pack and taxidermy in the US.

So $75 preference points seem pretty cheap.

Africa is anything but cheap. We are planning to go in 28 and it’s going to be about $40k for 8 animals, airfare, import fees, dip n pack and taxidermy in the US.

So $75 preference points seem pretty cheap.

I brought back pictures only - I will use taxidermy, shipping, etc. funds to fund another trip.

 

[BRTreedogs]

$75 is a half a tank of gas.

But I don’t see any of you offering to start walking to boycott that.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Don’t you have a bunch of Rolexes?

I’m down to a couple lol.

It’s a cost vs value for me. Wyoming isn’t worth the 2-4k to chase a mule deer or elk for a week.

I can fly to New Zealand and hunt with a local friend and it cost me the flight. So go hunt tahr for a week for 2k every year or chase an elk once every 5-7 years in a general unit for more money.

Easy pick for me these days.

I will drop 50k on a watch when I know I will make money on it. I’m gambling money at this point with Wyoming with how non resident draws work these days.

 

[wind gypsy]

Received this newsletter:




"Commissioners vote to increase non-resident preference point prices April 21, 2026

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioners voted on Tuesday to increase non-resident preference points effective January 1, 2027, a motion that was passed unanimously after some discussion.

The Commission voted to increase non-resident preference point prices for elk, deer, and antelope to the maximum amount permitted by the Wyoming State Legislature, which allowed limited increase in preference points and license increases per Wyoming Statute Section 23-2-101 in 2018.

“We need to be prepared to do more for our Game and Fish employees,” Commissioner Bill Mai said. “Costs have increased across the board - we have to be ready to cover that.”

The increases will include the following:

Antelope preference points: $31 to $75, a $44 increase. Deer preference points: $41 to $75, a $34 increase. Elk preference points: $52 to $75, a $23 increase. Moose and sheep preference points had previously been increased to the maximum allowed on January 1, 2018.

Game and Fish Chief Fiscal Officer Meredith Wood said that the revenue increase, based on current preference point sales, will provide the Department with an annual revenue increase of an estimated $14,654,829.

This is the first increase for non-resident preference points since 2018. During her presentation, Wood noted that since 2008, there has been a cumulative inflation of 68.3%, with a 35.7% inflation increase since 2020.

Commissioner John Masterson said that the increase in preference points is a necessary step in managing the increased cost of wildlife management for the Department, and will ultimately benefit residents and visitors alike.

“This increase is a way of preserving a way of life that we love,” Masterson said. “I’m very confident that the agency does a great job of administering the agency dollars, and I think everybody who looks at the department budget would say that they are responsible, transparent stewards of that money.”

Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce said after the meeting that the decision to increase non-resident preference points is an important step forward in matching revenue with more than a decade of cost increases to the agency.

“An overall hunting license increase has not occurred since 2008,” Bruce said. “It is good to see the support from the Commissioners in looking out for the future of wildlife management, however, the costs to our mission continue to grow exponentially. This is a move in the right direction, and we will continue to work to find creative opportunities to generate additional funds that will benefit wildlife in our state.”

I'm not too butthurt about it. Do find the talks on how important this funding is for their people and their resource yet "their people" are seldom the ones having any cost increases to align with inflation.

 

[PredatoronthePrairie]

Yikes. Time to figure out the exit strategy.

 

[BLJ]

To be fair, Wyoming has the biggest "F you" non-resident law on the books. So there's that.

Is it correct that you are required to have a guide if you hunt anything designated as wilderness?

 

[Mish-pop]

Is it correct that you are required to have a guide if you hunt anything designated as wilderness?

Guide or a resident

 

[YellCoAR]

Well it has been nice knowing you Wyoming, but I am serving notice I have one last antelope and deer hunt left. Used my elk points last season and just in time to exit the game.

 

[BLJ]

Guide or a resident

Thanks.

Should have been more clear.

A non resident is required to have a guide in an area designated as wilderness?