Wyoming Non Resident Preference Point Increase

[BRTreedogs]

To me a scam implies trickery or lying.
They are doing neither. They are in fact selling you what you entered into the system you wanted to buy. A preference point.
All the info was out there.
If it’s not worth it fine, don’t participate.

But it’s not like they sold you 20 yrs of preference points, then said nahhh all along this was for grouse, here’s a grouse tag.

 

[Steve O]

To me a scam implies trickery or lying.
They are doing neither. They are in fact selling you what you entered into the system you wanted to buy. A preference point.
All the info was out there.
If it’s not worth it fine, don’t participate.

But it’s not like they sold you 20 yrs of preference points, then said nahhh all along this was for grouse, here’s a grouse tag.

But they did change it midstream and make all but the top 1% of points worthless for sheep and moose. So maybe bait and switch would be the most accurate…

Matters not, we all have a choice. I don’t like it but we definitely all have a choice and the choice is different for everyone, it’s not a one size fits all problem.

 

[schroej]

I must say, as someone who is just now starting to look into NR opportunities, this is disheartening. Its not that I couldn't afford the $50 difference, but moreso the fear of "what else could they change over the next several years it would take me to get enough points?"

Honestly its all pretty discouraging.

 

[CorbLand]

Sheep are one of those things that if you want to hunt one, you have to have your name in as many hats as possible. Just the way it is.

 

[Lawnboi]

To me a scam implies trickery or lying.
They are doing neither. They are in fact selling you what you entered into the system you wanted to buy. A preference point.
All the info was out there.
If it’s not worth it fine, don’t participate.

But it’s not like they sold you 20 yrs of preference points, then said nahhh all along this was for grouse, here’s a grouse tag.

Maybe not on the surface. But when you’re buying points and they keep changing the rules it’s a bit scummy.

 

[LostArra]

To me a scam implies trickery or lying.
They are doing neither. They are in fact selling you what you entered into the system you wanted to buy. A preference point.
All the info was out there.
If it’s not worth it fine, don’t participate.

But it’s not like they sold you 20 yrs of preference points, then said nahhh all along this was for grouse, here’s a grouse tag.

From WG&F regs

"Preference points are a way to improve your odds of eventually drawing a license in a hard-to-draw hunt area."

They recently added "eventually" which could mean "if you live to 160 yo"

Improving your odds from 0.25 to 0.50 is in fact improving your odds, for now.

 

[Tmac]

I must say, as someone who is just now starting to look into NR opportunities, this is disheartening. Its not that I couldn't afford the $50 difference, but moreso the fear of "what else could they change over the next several years it would take me to get enough points?"

Honestly its all pretty discouraging.

Spot on. But don’t be discouraged, adapt and overcome. States change the rules regularly, almost always to the disadvantage of the NR hunter. It’s their resource and they can do as they please, their/they being each state.

If I’m starting out now, I’d be learning states without points, where general draw and/or very low point tags exist, and making sure any preference point hunt I was chasing had a fairly short draw window. That’s how I’m coaching my younger hunters.

In 30-40+ years, when many of us are gone, it could change. Then you may have similar odds to what I had on the late 80’s - early 00’s. Was a golden era I had zero idea I was in. Decent odds and good game populations, especially mule deer.

 

[wapitibob]

Maybe not on the surface. But when you’re buying points and they keep changing the rules it’s a bit scummy.

Other than 90/10 for S/M, what rules has WY changed that affect your points and the ability to draw hunts with those points?

 

[Lawnboi]

Other than 90/10 for S/M, what rules has WY changed that affect your points and the ability to draw hunts with those points?

Just that, and grumbling of it happening to e/d/a

 

[sasquatch]

If I wanted to sheep hunt I’d learn Montana general vs play all the ridiculously low draw odd state games


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[onetohunt]

Do you actually believe that?

Do you have any idea of how much money non residents contribute in revenue in license and tag sales alone in 2024 roughly 43.6 million dollars. That is not counting other areas of revenue for the state such as gas food lodging. You cut the number back because you are cutting tags and raising prices then "YES" I BELIVE THAT!

 

[Rich M]

I must say, as someone who is just now starting to look into NR opportunities, this is disheartening. Its not that I couldn't afford the $50 difference, but moreso the fear of "what else could they change over the next several years it would take me to get enough points?"

Honestly its all pretty discouraging.

You gotta stand up and say “ i want this” and then grab it by the horns or balls or whatever gets it’s or your attention. Then own it.

If $50 or the “maybe’s” of the future will keep you from buying points, then so be it.

I hope you don’t wake up in 25 years and have regrets.

 

[Jethro]

Do you have any idea of how much money non residents contribute in revenue in license and tag sales alone in 2024 roughly 43.6 million dollars. That is not counting other areas of revenue for the state such as gas food lodging. You cut the number back because you are cutting tags and raising prices then "YES" I BELIVE THAT!

Raising the price for pref points and/or tags will not decrease the number of people hunting in WY.

 

[Serrano]

I buy 2-5 powerballs a year so I can't point a finger. I do wonder how many of them realize they have basically 0 chance of drawing though.

Your odds are about the same as if you will find the winning ticket on the ground.

 

[dieselchessy]

I must say, as someone who is just now starting to look into NR opportunities, this is disheartening. Its not that I couldn't afford the $50 difference, but moreso the fear of "what else could they change over the next several years it would take me to get enough points?"

Honestly its all pretty discouraging.

You just need to forget about the top units and go for tags you can draw in a hand-full of years. Cow tags, Wyoming general tags, antelope in inits without lots of access. Idaho, Alaska, Montana general, ect…

Increase your odds by being in the draw every year, dont just buy points, be in the draw.

Forget about collecting points for the top units, that ship has sailed. Better to buy the raffle tags the states and conservation orgs offer.

 

[cal30_sniper]

You just need to forget about the top units and go for tags you can draw in a hand-full of years. Cow tags, Wyoming general tags, antelope in inits without lots of access. Idaho, Alaska, Montana general, ect…

Increase your odds by being in the draw every year, dont just buy points, be in the draw.

Forget about collecting points for the top units, that ship has sailed. Better to buy the raffle tags the states and conservation orgs offer.

The more people that stay tied up in the top units, the more of the units you can actually draw will exist. It's a delicate balance that could easily be upset. Who knows what will happen in CO in the coming years.

 

[Steve O]

I must say, as someone who is just now starting to look into NR opportunities, this is disheartening. Its not that I couldn't afford the $50 difference, but moreso the fear of "what else could they change over the next several years it would take me to get enough points?"

Honestly its all pretty discouraging.

When you look at it from 30 years of experience it is just as discouraging; .05% chance is the same as .0005% chance. You have to decide what is important yo you. If you are young enough you can move to a state that will increase your odds dramatically. You could move to Alaska and hunt sheep every year. You can hunt sheep in Montana every year resident or not. It’s the toughest hunt in North America but it is there for the taking.

You might concentrate on Idaho and New Mexico, no points in either.

 

[Rich M]

Someone draws the random sheep tag. If you put in the $150, it might be you.

That’s all a lot of these guys need. It isnt the $150, it is the “it might be me” part of it all.

Why anyone else cares is the question.

 

[Rich M]

Well, except random tags in WY don't use points.

Been a while since i’ve applied anywhere. Just collecting points.

So just apply and hold breath? That isnt too bad if shooting for the moon.

 

[wapitibob]

Been a while since i’ve applied anywhere. Just collecting points.

So just apply and hold breath? That isnt too bad if shooting for the moon.

They shot down legislation to change to a random, weighted bonus draw, so if a guy doesn't have near max points, buying points may not be a benefit. The applicant has to do the math and figure out when they'll be in the projected max pool for the intended hunt code, understanding that not all of the available applicants with points actually apply for the hunt.
Noted for 2025, 2 nr had 30 points, and 6 with 29; only one of those applicants applied and he had 29.
That exercise should be done for all species, not just Sheep. Some states make it harder by not providing total point applicant data.