Wyoming south draw predictions

[RBGH1961]

I bet it holds and more people apply in the special this year so they can actually hunt!

Just put in for the special hunt with best of the west Outfitters but I only have 2 points...probably doubtful

 

[Skerhunter]

Just put in for the special hunt with best of the west Outfitters but I only have 2 points...probably doubtful

Good luck - Decent odds in the random drawing, might get lucky!

 

[wytx]

From that I gather your region is in the east. If so, yes they did increase nonresident licenses by 500. I’m sure that was a change pushed by the outfitters. And if that’s the case, they should have made those additional tags valid on private land only so they didn’t screw public hunters both resident and nonresident.

I experience the same thing as you in the western region with respect to resident hunters hunting mainly on the weekends. I have a strategy for that as well. During the week I hunt the lower elevations that are closer to the road. On Friday morning I hunt low as well but on Friday afternoon I make a move. I put another mile and another thousand feet of elevation between me and the trailhead. I go up to my spike camp and drop off some supplies. Then I hunt up there from Friday evening until at least Monday morning. Not only are there way less hunters if any, but the ones that do show up don’t make it there at first light and don’t stay until dark.

As far as ATVs in the west region, they are only buzzing the main roads. Lots of them that’s for sure, but not an issue as soon as you leave the road. I don’t see or even hear any. I did hunt an area in Montana where there was a forest service road open to motorized travel during archery but gated during rifle. I have been into bugling bulls that went silent as the ATV‘s passed and occasionally stopped and threw out a few bugles. They weren’t falling for that. Once the sound of the four wheeler faded away things got back to normal pretty quickly.

I hunt both South and East and yes there are more NRs hunters based on the quota for each region.
When they put the region quotas on NR hunters increased in the South, for the East not so much. All private for the most part. Pays to know LOs in the East.

 

[theycallmemud]

I put in for the general last year with 6 points. Everything they say is true about the south, wish I would have just saved my points and kept putting in for a limited tag. When they say people are everywhere, they mean EVERYWHERE.. Really tough hunting, I was successful but if I could do it all over again I would have saved my points. All the bulls I seen were dinks and people everywhere you look, I cant believe people put in for the special for that tag. Not worth $2000 dollars or 6 years of points. I had better hunts over the counter in Colorado.

 

[WildWyo]

Pressure we encountered in 2024 was lowest since 2015. Never had any issues with hikers or atv.

Elk moving earlier off higher/public for lower/private not isolated to just south general areas.

I hunted one of the 4 wilderness areas of SE Wyoming hard that year, backpacked in and spiked out every night. Full of people, no matter how far in the backcountry I hiked. Pressure is at an all time high.

 

[Jethro]

I hunted one of the 4 wilderness areas of SE Wyoming hard that year, backpacked in and spiked out every night. Full of people, no matter how far in the backcountry I hiked. Pressure is at an all time high.

Often those wilderness areas have more pressure than plain old NF.

 

[Gingerbeard13]

Does anyone have insight on whether the number of people applying in the special draw will continue to creep up just like the general or will it start to level/fall off at some point?

 

[Laramie]

Does anyone have insight on whether the number of people applying in the special draw will continue to creep up just like the general or will it start to level/fall off at some point?

As long as it is discussed and promoted on the internet, more and more people will come.

Don't count on any point creep ever stopping.

 

[Eradicator]

I put in for the general last year with 6 points. Everything they say is true about the south, wish I would have just saved my points and kept putting in for a limited tag. When they say people are everywhere, they mean EVERYWHERE.. Really tough hunting, I was successful but if I could do it all over again I would have saved my points. All the bulls I seen were dinks and people everywhere you look, I cant believe people put in for the special for that tag. Not worth $2000 dollars or 6 years of points. I had better hunts over the counter in Colorado.

This is about where we are . Thinking we will do cow/calf this year for our first elk trip to get our feet wet and try to learn a lot before we spend our points on a tough hunt with essentially no elk experience.

 

[theycallmemud]

This is about where we are . Thinking we will do cow/calf this year for our first elk trip to get our feet wet and try to learn a lot before we spend our points on a tough hunt with essentially no elk experience.

I would save your points for the limited hunts if you want a bull, unless you want to shoot a raghorn or spike. Not a bad place to feel a cow tag for your first hunt, just be prepared for all the people. I got up there 4 days early and I spent 5 hours driving around just to find a spot for my trailer. It was worse than colorado.

 

[wapitibob]

This is about where we are . Thinking we will do cow/calf this year for our first elk trip to get our feet wet and try to learn a lot before we spend our points on a tough hunt with essentially no elk experience.

That'll work if you can draw.

 

[Eradicator]

That'll work if you can draw.

Yea, that's the rub lol. If we don't, we will shoot for CO or MT to try and get our feet wet.

The main hangup is trying to decide between W or S in Wyoming. These will probably be late rifle due to work constraints.....always a risk I know

 

[Eradicator]

I would save your points for the limited hunts if you want a bull, unless you want to shoot a raghorn or spike. Not a bad place to feel a cow tag for your first hunt, just be prepared for all the people. I got up there 4 days early and I spent 5 hours driving around just to find a spot for my trailer. It was worse than colorado.

I would love to save them for a LQ hunt but I'm certainly not getting any younger and not sure the feasibility. Obviously would love to shoot a solid bull but my expectations are tempered. Hunted my whole life(mostly Texas and some midwestern states), and the last 12-15yrs in the 'mountains' of Texas for desert mule deer. It's just time for a new adventure and to enjoy some new country and landscape before I get too old to make a solid attempt at it. Is there that big of a difference between the W and S regions as far as hunting pressure, etc?

 

[Laramie]

I would love to save them for a LQ hunt but I'm certainly not getting any younger and not sure the feasibility. Obviously would love to shoot a solid bull but my expectations are tempered. Hunted my whole life(mostly Texas and some midwestern states), and the last 12-15yrs in the 'mountains' of Texas for desert mule deer. It's just time for a new adventure and to enjoy some new country and landscape before I get too old to make a solid attempt at it. Is there that big of a difference between the W and S regions as far as hunting pressure, etc?

It really depends on the area you compare to in the West region. It get's busy there too but in general it is a lot easier to get away from people. If you do draw a cow tag, I recommend hunting the cow during the regular rifle so you can experience what it will be like if you draw.

Your best bet if you really want a big bull is to wait to draw a LQ tag or hunt with a guide on private land in one of the general areas.

 

[Eradicator]

It really depends on the area you compare to in the West region. It get's busy there too but in general it is a lot easier to get away from people. If you do draw a cow tag, I recommend hunting the cow during the regular rifle so you can experience what it will be like if you draw.

Your best bet if you really want a big bull is to wait to draw a LQ tag or hunt with a guide on private land in one of the general areas.

Thanks. I didn't word that real well. It would be towards the end of regular rifle to get a feel for when we draw as you suggest.