Which elk hunt to apply for?
- Thread starter mickeyelk
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HunterHarry
Long Time Member
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- 5,003
Just in my circle of friends I know several that put in for those units yearly.
One drew a few years ago and killed a good bull.
Damn tough draw though, you might spend another 10 years trying.
Many other units with good bulls and better odds.
HH
One drew a few years ago and killed a good bull.
Damn tough draw though, you might spend another 10 years trying.
Many other units with good bulls and better odds.
HH
N
nontypical250
Guest
If you're lucky enough to draw any of those units you will see elk. I think the quality of big trophy bulls is down, due to lots of different reasons, more tags, more interest in the hunts, oil drilling, more accessibility to all areas. However, there are still lots of elk out there. Snow helps but can hurt as well. Let me know if you draw out or what you put in for.
In my opinion the General license in Wyoming is probably the most underrated elk tag in the west. Areas that get all the hype are excellent but good luck drawing a tag.
General license areas allow you to hunt a multitude of units and the majority of them are public land. Now if you are after a 350 or better bull then good luck, probably won't happen and a general license isn't for you.
Do some research, it's pretty simple really, especially with all the internet technology available today. Look for areas that the normal hunter would not go into, has north slope bedding cover, water and feed and not accessible by a road. That's elk country. Just be prepared to get one out of the woods, easier said than done.
A nonresident can draw a general license every few years and get to know an area. That's the key. Buy a new pair of boots and go wear them out, if you don't kill a good bull then you learned enough that the next time you probably will. Get the same general license the next year or two and do it again, or try a new area.
If you are striclty a trophy hunter then put in for those units, if you want to hunt elk get a General license.
My 2 cents.
General license areas allow you to hunt a multitude of units and the majority of them are public land. Now if you are after a 350 or better bull then good luck, probably won't happen and a general license isn't for you.
Do some research, it's pretty simple really, especially with all the internet technology available today. Look for areas that the normal hunter would not go into, has north slope bedding cover, water and feed and not accessible by a road. That's elk country. Just be prepared to get one out of the woods, easier said than done.
A nonresident can draw a general license every few years and get to know an area. That's the key. Buy a new pair of boots and go wear them out, if you don't kill a good bull then you learned enough that the next time you probably will. Get the same general license the next year or two and do it again, or try a new area.
If you are striclty a trophy hunter then put in for those units, if you want to hunt elk get a General license.
My 2 cents.
SouthernWyo
Active Member
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- 175
Xtec,
That's some of the best advise I've read on here for a long time. It seems like everyone wants to pick up one of the limited quota areas for an "easy" trophy bull. There's alot of folks that hold some of Garth's or Mike Eastman's top pick tags that go home dissapointed every year because they've never set foot in the area and face a steep learning curve during the season. I think that 3/4's (or more) of the secret to killing good bucks and bulls in Wyo. is just learning your hunt area like the back of your hand. Most of the general hunt units in the state will produce 300 + bulls, but in most cases, a guy really needs to put a few years in learning the country.
Here's another suggestion - put in for a cow tag as second choice for your first choice hunt area. If you don't pull the bull tag, you can learn the country chasing cows, bring home alot of elk meat, and still have a heck of a fun hunt!
That's some of the best advise I've read on here for a long time. It seems like everyone wants to pick up one of the limited quota areas for an "easy" trophy bull. There's alot of folks that hold some of Garth's or Mike Eastman's top pick tags that go home dissapointed every year because they've never set foot in the area and face a steep learning curve during the season. I think that 3/4's (or more) of the secret to killing good bucks and bulls in Wyo. is just learning your hunt area like the back of your hand. Most of the general hunt units in the state will produce 300 + bulls, but in most cases, a guy really needs to put a few years in learning the country.
Here's another suggestion - put in for a cow tag as second choice for your first choice hunt area. If you don't pull the bull tag, you can learn the country chasing cows, bring home alot of elk meat, and still have a heck of a fun hunt!
W
WYhunter
Guest
SouthernWyo and Xtec,
I agree with you guys for the reasons you have stated.
I agree with you guys for the reasons you have stated.
F
fc2038
Guest
Yes, If you do not draw your first choice and draw a second choice you do NOT loose your preference points. Page 7 second paragraph from the bottom on the left hand column.
Califelkslayer
Long Time Member
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- 4,077
I guess 600+ people drew General tags as a second choice last year. Ones that had a point and didn't draw their first choice. Hope that works this year too cause thats my plan, tough first choice, then general. Probably close that loophole soon though.
Califelkslayer
Long Time Member
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Anybody have any info on that????
H
HerbD
Guest
....or the odds when applying with 0 points as I just did?
Thanks,
Herb
Thanks,
Herb
H
HuntElk4Fun
Guest
Elk Loophole Closed (this is from the Hunting Regulations from the Wyo G&F, NOT the regs, the actual regulations):
"(A) The Department shall allocate not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the available Special and Regular Nonresident elk licenses to a preference point drawing. The order of the nonresident elk drawing shall allow individual applicants with the highest number of preference points to be given a drawing advantage for the total number of available licenses to be issued in accordance with this section; then the applicants with the next highest number of preference points shall be selected, and so forth, until the quota has been filled for all first choice selections. The Department shall allocate up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the available nonresident elk licenses to a random drawing in which all unsuccessful applicants from the preference point drawing and all other eligible applicants shall be placed. The preference point drawing advantage shall only apply to an applicant's first choice selection. All unsuccessful applicants in the preference point drawing shall participate in the random draw for all remaining choices giving no advantage to applicants with preference points."
"then the applicants with the next highest number of preference points shall be selected, and so forth, until the quota has been filled for all first choice selections."
That is the key that closes the loophole that won't allow you to pull a GEN tag
"(A) The Department shall allocate not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the available Special and Regular Nonresident elk licenses to a preference point drawing. The order of the nonresident elk drawing shall allow individual applicants with the highest number of preference points to be given a drawing advantage for the total number of available licenses to be issued in accordance with this section; then the applicants with the next highest number of preference points shall be selected, and so forth, until the quota has been filled for all first choice selections. The Department shall allocate up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the available nonresident elk licenses to a random drawing in which all unsuccessful applicants from the preference point drawing and all other eligible applicants shall be placed. The preference point drawing advantage shall only apply to an applicant's first choice selection. All unsuccessful applicants in the preference point drawing shall participate in the random draw for all remaining choices giving no advantage to applicants with preference points."
"then the applicants with the next highest number of preference points shall be selected, and so forth, until the quota has been filled for all first choice selections."
That is the key that closes the loophole that won't allow you to pull a GEN tag
Wyoming Hunting Guides & Outfitters
Urge 2 Hunt
We focus on trophy elk, mule deer, antelope and moose hunts and take B&C bucks most years.
