Wyoming Points, keep building or cut losses?

[nphunter]

Curious on peoples thoughts, I currently have 4 WY, 5 if i buy this years for elk, deer and antelope. I started building point to take my boys on a goat hunt but they have since both shot nice goats. My oldest is 19 so I have to pay full price for points now and I'm not sure if it's worth it to keep building or just let them go. My youngest is 16 so I can still get him 3 more points so he would have a total of 7 before his go up to full price.

I will most likely end up buying them this year since it's so close and I can't make up my mind but if I skip 2 years they go away. Not that WY jacked the prices way up I'm not totally sure I want to keep playing the game. I've never hunted WY, seems like a lot of points when I can go to other states almost yearly without the big investment for points.

Maybe I should just apply for tags and go hunt, I haven't even looked to see if there are any decent tags available with 5 points for any species. My youngest can't even go for another couple years at least with fall sports.

Would love to hear what others think, do I keep playing and go hunt some day or just cut my losses.

 

[Justin Crossley]

I would buy points this year and burn them on a fun hunt next year. Maybe keep building for the younger son until he's ready to hunt.

 

[MountainTracker]

If you don’t want to keep playing the point game in WY I’d buy points again this year and plan to burn them all over the next two years.

You’re probably asking “why buy points this year if I’m suggesting to burn them all?” Point creep is a thing, especially for elk.

You should be able to draw with 5 elk and 5 lope points (in certain units) not sure on deer. I’d apply for all three species next year and the year after.

IMO you should be able to draw 2 of the 3 during that time frame after which you walk away.

Good luck


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[sniper61]

I am walking away with 14 pts. for sheep and goats in montana . I am 65 now ,wish I could give the to my grandson. 10 years ago I went to alaska and got a goat . I think I could still do it now but would take longer.

 

[isItFallYet]

Cut losses! Hopefully everyone follows suit!

 

[Jason Snyder]

Apply for general elk. You can likely find a pronghorn unit to burn those 5 points on.

 

[TheTone]

I’d buy them for yourself and the youngest until the price for him goes up then burn them. If the 19 year old wants to buy his own that’s on him. I’d love to be sitting in the 4-7 out range for pronghorn. Lots of options and Wyoming is a special place

 

[wapitibob]

I just bought points and have no intention of stopping till I can't hunt anymore. You need to have a conversation and determine for you and your kids, what will be acceptable hunts given the points you have or will have; ie cow elk vs bulls, as well as the size of Deer and Pronghorn that will be acceptable. Few Elk points mean Cows, but you can hunt top end units and still get lots of Bugling. Few Deer and Antelope points usually mean smaller Bucks, especially with the hard winters from a few years back.
I just got back from WY Deer and Elk hunts, used 2 points on each. We hunted 1-1/2 days for the Deer and 4 hours for the Elk. I hunt WY every year and will always choose it over hunting here in OR but, you're shooting pretty good animals here so the juice may not be worth the squeeze.

 

[Orions.Quest]

I clicked on this thinking it would be about deciding whether or not to cut your losses for Wy moose points.
For elk, deer and pronghorn the cheapest part of the experience is buying the points. I’d say don’t stop. You’ll have options to play with over the next several years and can even switch to points every other year and still not drop out of the game and still be years ahead of other hunters who aren’t sitting where you are.
Despite you having to pay full price for your kids it’s still worth time with them.
I doubt in a few years you’d regret buying points but might regret not buying points and miss the opportunity to have a great out of state trip with your kids.

 

[go_deep]

Apply for licenses and go hunt. Don't want to play the points game stop buying after you've hunted each species.

 

[mgray]

I wouldn’t leave money on the table. Seems like you’d be at, or close to drawing both species very soon. Burn ‘em and enjoy time with those kids!

 

[OXN939]

Burn ‘em and enjoy time with those kids!

100% burn your WY points. Anyone who understands the way western draw systems have been changing knows holding points is just like holding cash- they're worth less and less every year as more and more get printed.

 

[handwerk]

I'd say build and burn as soon as your schedules align.
I just got back from a great Wyoming antelope hunt with my 2 adult sons, burning 5 points.
As I age I want as many of these experiences as I can with my kids/friends, I worry much less about trophy size now days.

 

[Cowbell]

People forget that you still have a chance to draw every year in Wyoming with less points than needed (random pool). It's better odds than New Mexico.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

That’s like giving back sick leave you accrued.Use them