jumping ship with max elk points

Hunteraj44 · Nov 2, 2016

LAST EDITED ON Nov-04-16 AT 09:37AM (MST)[p]my buddy and I are finally fed up with spending money on points/not drawing and really want to go elk hunting. So instead of putting in for the super high profile areas we've narrowed it down to a few and am looking for anyones input on units 16 or 24. Pretty sure we can draw both of these. What we're looking for is a fun hunt with lots of action; especially during bow season; good access and a good chance at a decent 6 point. Hate crowds and four wheelers everywhere so these units have me a little concerned. I've done quite a bit of research so I guess my question is, which unit would you recommend? I've done a lot of hunting in Wyoming(mostly antelope/deer) and live in western Nebraska so scouting during summer/early fall is fairly easy. can you get away from crowds in either of these units? Any input would be great. thanks

DESKPOP · Nov 2, 2016

16 will be a max point draw....not a sure thing.

Togwotee · Nov 2, 2016

I'd stick with the Cody late hunts until I drew it unless you're a year away from the nursing home.

If I had max points.

Stay Thirsty My Friends

30Hart · Nov 3, 2016

16 bow is an absolute blast and the bulls are a little bigger than 24, but 24 has better access.

elks96 · Nov 3, 2016

Please dump the points. At one under max I need all the help I can get.

Seriously both are good units. As mentioned 16 has bigger bulls, but access can get tricky, 24 has easier access but not typically a trophy end unit.

Either way I feel many guys are in the same boat. Started building only to realize that the point system in WY ended up being exactly the same as every place else.

Zeke · Nov 3, 2016

>
>Either way I feel many guys
>are in the same boat.
>Started building only to realize
>that the point system in
>WY ended up being exactly
>the same as every place
>else.

So true!

THEY CAN ACTUALLY COUNT ON DRAWING as opposed to some random-start-over-every-year system! Even you with max-1 you can COUNT ON drawing in the near future unless you're stuck on one of the premo units. Don't be fooled, they're always going to be difficult regardless of the system.

I could list what I've draw with and what I've drawn without points in the past 45 years of BG hunting but I suppose no one cares but me so I'll spare myself the exercise.

Zeke

elks96 · Nov 3, 2016

HAHA! Sorry but there is nothing more fair or even than a random draw. I will leave it at that. But many guys are finding out that max points still only gives a person slightly better odds than a random in many cases. At one under max my odds in many cases are lower.

Zeke · Nov 3, 2016

"nothing more fair"?
You mean nothing more "random" don't you?

I'll leave the random for you lucky guys and take my points all day long!

Thanks for you views....and civility on a touchy subject for us all.

Zeke

jm77 · Nov 3, 2016

>HAHA! Sorry but there is nothing
>more fair or even than
>a random draw.

Chess anyone?

nontypical · Nov 3, 2016

I wish Wyoming had a point system for res deer, elk, antelope. Random draws favor the lucky few. Random draws are NOT fair to the 90% that never draw. I don't care what anyone says; there is definitely a "luck" factor involved.

Those that favor random draws seem to be the guys that actually draw tags consistently.

Shall we open that can again?

Hunteraj44 · Nov 3, 2016

Thanks for the input guys.I've looked into a couple of Cody area hunt areas and realize the trophy potential is definitely better but they are considerably farther away so summer scouting would be tougher and terrain leans more toward horse country which might be a problem. 58 kinda sparks my interest but it looks like the Carter mountain HMA only allows cow hunting.is there enough public besides the HMA where a guy could get a bull? By the way I suck at random draws so the point system at least allowed me one once in a lifetime hunt for wyoming elk.

HiMtnHntr · Nov 3, 2016

We could open the can, but it would just be worms again. ...

From what I've seen the input about 16 and 24 above is pretty accurate.

Hunteraj44 · Nov 3, 2016

Another 16 question. I'm a map junky. I love pouring over paper maps and absolutely love Onxmaps. I've camped once in the Shirleys plus with some summer scouting I think I can find my way around pretty well. Does Q creek have a lot of locked gates that hurt getting around the unit? Does Bennett mountain WSA hold many elk? It looks like a guy could definitely get away from the crowds there.

grosventrehunter · Nov 4, 2016

16 is a great unit if you don't mind staring at a GPS. Always a few big boys killed each year. Q creek owns a lot of property, but you can work around them with maps and a gps.

Hunteraj44 · Nov 7, 2016

Anybody ever hunt Bennett mountain wilderness study area?

WapitiBob · Nov 7, 2016

Did you brush up on the access there? Gonna be a long walk....

Hunteraj44 · Nov 7, 2016

Don't mind hiking/backpacking as I have the equipment and legs to do it ; if it's worth it. Wouldn't enjoy packing one out of there though! Just curious if there's many elk up there

missalot · Nov 11, 2016

Regarding points vs random draw....I talked with a NR hunter who was on his fifth moose hunt in WY, two with his tags, the others with two buddies tags. And his son will draw in the next couple years. They told me that they met a resident hunter who has applied his entire life for the tag with the random draw and was PIZZED to hear of their success in drawing. Which system do you think that resident hunter would prefer?