Wyoming Preference Points 12

[WVELK]

I have 12 preference points for antelope in Wyoming. I have hunted antelope, but am not an antelope junkie. Where would you folks use 12 points in Wyoming? I would go with a rifle.

 

[TheDoublR]

I would start here and see what you can draw with your number of points. Then figure out your goal and pick based on that.

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/33869/download?inline

 

[wapitibob]

Waste of time and energy at this point, start looking next April.

 

[EdP]

Buy another point this year and see what 13 might get you next April. Take a look at the application cutoff dates too.

 

[WVELK]

Waste of time and energy at this point, start looking next April.

Yea no interest this year or maybe even next. Looking for ideas in the future. Thx

 

[SW hunter]

Based on question I assume youre non resident. Thats way too many NR points in WY. You could (should) burn those every 5-8 years. Theres no reason to save up 14 points. Populations and odds fluctuate significantly with winters many years. Pick a unit after the winter the year you want to hunt.

Go enjoy those points you buy. Dont sit on them a long time like bull or billy points. Its unnecessary. Theres no point. Dont hunt WY antelope twice in your life do it 4 or 5 times.

 

[menhaden_man]

You’ll have a crack at a great unit. I’d look at the draw odds online then call the regional bio for each of the top areas. More than likely the highest point areas will have lots of public ground and good numbers of antelopes. I could never get past 7 points, 13 will be sweet. You can look at dozens of bucks before shooting one. Good luck.

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/media/33869/download?inline

 

[WVELK]

Based on question I assume youre non resident. Thats way too many NR points in WY. You could (should) burn those every 5-8 years. Theres no reason to save up 14 points. Populations and odds fluctuate significantly with winters many years. Pick a unit after the winter the year you want to hunt.

Go enjoy those points you buy. Dont sit on them a long time like bull or billy points. Its unnecessary. Theres no point. Dont hunt WY antelope twice in your life do it 4 or 5 times.

That is certainly excellent advice. I go on a lot of hunts each year, by most anyone’s standards. As I told another person, I knocked the really tough hunts out early in life and like doing them often. I always figured I could hunt antelope a little longer than some other animals. Maybe I am wrong, but either way I am ready to do another antelope hunt.

 

[WVELK]

Yes, I am a non-resident.

 

[okie archer]

I'm in a similar situation. I applied this year with 10 points in a unit that last year took 10 points for 100% and 80% with 9 points (special). I did not draw this year, it took 12 special.
Point creep strikes again.
Now trying to adjust my plans with 11 points. Ready to burn them as I will probably never draw red desert units.

 

[SW hunter]

I'm in a similar situation. I applied this year with 10 points in a unit that last year took 10 points for 100% and 80% with 9 points (special). I did not draw this year, it took 12 special.
Point creep strikes again.
Now trying to adjust my plans with 11 points. Ready to burn them as I will probably never draw red desert units.

Not saying it isnt point creep. But keep in mind those tags are very dependent on winters. A tough winter this year might make it a 14 pointer next year. Two mild winters in a row could make it a 6

 

[okie archer]

Not saying it isnt point creep. But keep in mind those tags are very dependent on winters. A tough winter this year might make it a 14 pointer next year. Two mild winters in a row could make it a 6

Yes that definitely can be a factor. If I'm not mistaken the unit I applied in increased tags by 50 this year due to herds doing better from 22-23' winter kill.

 

[SW hunter]

My unsolicited non res antelope advice here. Doesnt apply to everybody. It applies to me and the guys Ive hunted with. My observations.

Most NR hunters cant judge antelope well. In reality they judge them pretty poorly. Myself included. If you grew up around them you can probably do it pretty dang well. But if a guy puts a spotting scope on them for 2 or 3 days every 5-10yrs, he cant judge them very well. He cant. Persons not going to learn it on youtube in few hours. A person is unlikely to become proficient at it the summer before the hunt. The differences between a pretty fair or good antelope and a great antelope can be pretty difficult to pick out. Especially if its a buck off by itself at long distance.

So it may well not be worth saving up points to hunt a trophy potential unit. Not for everybody. But if a guy gets a guide or can spend few weeks glassing then the trophy buck unit may be the best idea.

And friends and family probably have no clue if the antelope shoulder mount up on the wall is a trophy or just average. Not like an elk or deer where they just know its a beast.

Theres my advice nobody asked for.

 

[Rich M]

My unsolicited non res antelope advice here. Doesnt apply to everybody. It applies to me and the guys Ive hunted with. My observations.

Most NR hunters cant judge antelope well. In reality they judge them pretty poorly. Myself included. If you grew up around them you can probably do it pretty dang well. But if a guy puts a spotting scope on them for 2 or 3 days every 5-10yrs, he cant judge them very well. He cant. Persons not going to learn it on youtube in few hours. A person is unlikely to become proficient at it the summer before the hunt. The differences between a pretty fair or good antelope and a great antelope can be pretty difficult to pick out. Especially if its a buck off by itself at long distance.

So it may well not be worth saving up points to hunt a trophy potential unit. Not for everybody. But if a guy gets a guide or can spend few weeks glassing then the trophy buck unit may be the best idea.

And friends and family probably have no clue if the antelope shoulder mount up on the wall is a trophy or just average. Not like an elk or deer where they just know its a beast.

Theres my advice nobody asked for.

I never saw the thing about needing inches to describe an antelope. Just the hunt and the critter itself was the trophy. As a NR way far away from antelope country.

The desire of the trophy unit is the lack of company, less people screwing things up.