Understanding Wyoming drawing odds information

[Four22]

Can someone help me out and explain to me what the columns of this report mean? I think I have it correct but I'm not 100% sure

We're looking to hunt unit 7 and wondering what the odds of actually drawing are.

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Hunting/Drawing%20Odds/DRAW_ELK_PP_NONRES_2016.pdf

Thanks for the help guys and gals!!!

 

[Dougfirtree]

I think we'd need to know whether you're interested in a bull, or a cow, when you'd want to go and how many points you and your fellow hunters have currently. If you're after a bull and you want to go anytime soon, I hope you have some points...

 

[Four22]

We would be going for bulls. I know we more than likely won't get drawn for elk this year but hope to start building some points as we don't have any... hopefully we can/will draw antelope and or deer this year though

 

[BuzzH]

With no points your only chance for drawing unit 7 type 1 is in the random.

The regular fee odds were 27/1060...special fee odds 18/400

 

[sbhooper]

Unless you feel like you can win the lottery, it will take you many years to draw a Unit 7 bull tag. Start applying now and maybe you will draw before you get too old to go!

 

[Steelhead]

Starting with zero points...it could take 46 years to draw a unit 7 bull tag. Seriously.

 

[Four22]

Is there something spectacular about unit 7?? The only reason we're looking there is that we have access to a bunch of private land...

Is it similar odds for deer and antelope?

 

[sbhooper]

Is there something spectacular about unit 7?? The only reason we're looking there is that we have access to a bunch of private land...

Is it similar odds for deer and antelope?

If I were you, I would take advantage of your good access to private land to kill cows and really get familiar with the country, just in case you do draw at some point. I will bet that you would have very good hunts on that private land.

 

[BuzzH]

Is there something spectacular about unit 7?? The only reason we're looking there is that we have access to a bunch of private land...

Is it similar odds for deer and antelope?

Its a solid elk unit, but people that are applying there are hunting on memories of what it was in the late 90's IMO. The better bulls there are going to be in the 340-350 range with some bigger ones taken each year.

I've never hunted it for bulls for myself, but have hunted with others that had the tag. From what I saw, even on private land, I wouldn't pass a legitimate 330 bull there. No way would I pass a bull on public that was 330...no way.

The thing that makes that hunt difficult, is the amount of private, combined with elk that are always on the move. One day you can have a bunch of elk in an area, the next 2 weeks there may not be an elk there at all. That's true on both private and public. Theres also a lot tags issued, both bull and cow tags. Those elk get a lot of pressure.

Is it better than a general unit??? Yeah, I would say it is. Is it worth 8-10 points??? I don't think it is. Sure as hell isn't worth waiting 20 years to draw.

 

[sbhooper]

I talked to an outfitter one time in Douglas. He tries to take only bow hunters. He said that there used to be lots of BIG bulls in 7, but that started changing with a rifle season that can hit the rut. He took a 392 bull years ago with a long bow and he said that it is rare to find one that big now. He said that it used to be common to see at least one 350 bull on a hunt, but that now, you may see a 350, but that a 300 is more realistic. He basically mirrored what Buzz said.

 

[Four22]

Interesting... last time I was there was 1999 and I only had a mule beer tag. Sounds like 10 years of waiting on the points has become the norm.... might be worth a move to a different area with more public land or maybe a different state.

 

[Baerman]

Gohunt.com says you have a 2.5% chance of drawing the Type 1 non-res tag. As others have said, it's in the random draw. If you did draw random, you get to keep your points. wrong-o!, ignore my blabbing about keeping points!

 

[Big Fin]

Gohunt.com says you have a 2.5% chance of drawing the Type 1 non-res tag. As others have said, it's in the random draw. If you did draw random, you get to keep your points.

Is that true only for elk? I drew a random pronghorn tag and my points went back to zero.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Is that true only for elk? I drew a random pronghorn tag and my points went back to zero.

He is incorrect in that statement Big Fin. Any time you get your first choice for elk, deer, or antelope even if it's in the Random Draw your PPs go back to zero, not just if you draw it in the PP Draw. Many don't know that, but your experience backs that up.

 

[sbhooper]

Interesting... last time I was there was 1999 and I only had a mule beer tag. Sounds like 10 years of waiting on the points has become the norm.... might be worth a move to a different area with more public land or maybe a different state.

If you want a premium bull area in any part of Wyoming, you will be waiting a number of years for a permit, with lots of money invested just in points-there again, unless you just like to take your chances on the random draw. Arizona will cost you a lot, too, just in buying their hunting license every year-draw or not. New Mexico is a tough draw, but you do not have to invest a lot of money in pref points, as they don't have any.

I drew a bull hunt in a good unit in Colorado twice with four pref points. I think that the same hunt is now 8+ pref points. Because of TV, forums, magazines and the general internet, more and more people want to hunt elk and experience western hunting. The draw quandary is what happens as a result.

It is what it is.

 

[JM77]

I talked to an outfitter one time in Douglas. He tries to take only bow hunters. He said that there used to be lots of BIG bulls in 7, but that started changing with a rifle season that can hit the rut. He took a 392 bull years ago with a long bow and he said that it is rare to find one that big now. He said that it used to be common to see at least one 350 bull on a hunt, but that now, you may see a 350, but that a 300 is more realistic. He basically mirrored what Buzz said.

Oct 15th is the rifle opener and has been a long time. That's not the reason there are less BIG bulls.

 

[Baerman]

Is that true only for elk? I drew a random pronghorn tag and my points went back to zero.

well crud, I stand corrected it sounds. Maybe it's if you draw a second choice tag??? I swore a friend (fowladdict) drew a random antelope tag years back and kept his points and then drew on points the following year, allowing him to hunt a great unit two years in a row. My apologies if I got everyone excited.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

well crud, I stand corrected it sounds. Maybe it's if you draw a second choice tag??? I swore a friend (fowladdict) drew a random antelope tag years back and kept his points and then drew on points the following year, allowing him to hunt a great unit two years in a row. My apologies if I got everyone excited.

Second and third choice tags don't zero your PPs, nor do leftover tags.

 

[sbhooper]

Oct 15th is the rifle opener and has been a long time. That's not the reason there are less BIG bulls.

I don't know and don't care. I was just passing on his take on it.

 

[fowladdict]

well crud, I stand corrected it sounds. Maybe it's if you draw a second choice tag??? I swore a friend (fowladdict) drew a random antelope tag years back and kept his points and then drew on points the following year, allowing him to hunt a great unit two years in a row. My apologies if I got everyone excited.

I drew in the random and lost my points. Hunted the same unit the next year on doe tags. You are getting old my friend.