Hunt Talk Radio - Look for it on your favorite Podcast platform

WY general elk tag point creep 2025??

I think the regular tag will start stabilizing around 5.5 points for the west and 5 for the south. People shifting from special and/or LE have driven the increase, but that dynamic will subside. I also think NR interest has peaked and price jumps are making people narrow application strategies.
 
I think the regular tag will start stabilizing around 5.5 points for the west and 5 for the south. People shifting from special and/or LE have driven the increase, but that dynamic will subside. I also think NR interest has peaked and price jumps are making people narrow application strategies.

I watch people buy new $2500 bows each year, $85K+ vehicles they can’t afford, etc.

I don’t think it’ll peak enough where it decreases like you think.

You’ll also be battling people like me who will just say “game on” and figure out creative ways to make extra money to get a tag each year.



All that to say I hope/wish you were right. I’m not giving up. I’ll always figure out a SMART way!
 
Sooner or later...I think anyway.

I do too. I think it will happen to come degree the next time we face a serious measure of economic downturn.

Aside from a few blips, the past decade+ has been a gravy train- it shows in the current amount of people that hunt states in addition to their own state of residence (myself included).

*(Barring 90/10, CWD crosses the barrier, crazy stuff like that).
 
The other side of a peak is just a steep ass dissent. If it ever happens I think the least of our worries will be out of state hunting.
Yah that's what I'm afraid of we've blown by the small slopes without a care. You know what they say the higher you fly the further you fall. The way some of these guys do it, you'd think if they missed a weeks pay the whole damn thing would crumble around them. Could be wrong, but I hate when I'm right.
 
Just read the 2025-26 hunt plans thread and you can see how many states people apply in. I make a decent living but I could no way afford to submit multiple applications across a bunch of states or much less afford to take unpaid time off (don't get vacation pay). I will likely buy a $50 point this fall and maybe apply in a another state for one species, but its not worth it to me to apply/draw when I only might get to hunt 5-10 days of the entire season. I don't see WY point totals going anywhere but up. Too many people with too many preference points. Wyoming will basically be a once in a lifetime hunt for a majority of nonresident elk hunters.
 
I hope they do. Hardly statistically valid, but my observation was an increase in non-resident pressure in my normal haunts with the switch to regional general tags.
That’s what happens when you put caps on regions and don’t let people move around.
 
Just read the 2025-26 hunt plans thread and you can see how many states people apply in. I make a decent living but I could no way afford to submit multiple applications across a bunch of states or much less afford to take unpaid time off (don't get vacation pay). I will likely buy a $50 point this fall and maybe apply in a another state for one species, but its not worth it to me to apply/draw when I only might get to hunt 5-10 days of the entire season. I don't see WY point totals going anywhere but up. Too many people with too many preference points. Wyoming will basically be a once in a lifetime hunt for a majority of nonresident elk hunters.
I'm I. The same boat but put it all on a zero percent card and have the money it actually cost setting aside. If I draw one of those tags I withdraw the rest. I don't have paid time off either so if I draw a hunt I pull out on the rest. I try to not let myself get into the position where if I draw one I'm burning points I other states. Easier said than done though.
 
How many non-resident general tag holders were moving between W,S, and E previously? Not many in my experience. The increase in pressure is due to removing the 7250 cap in my opinion.
How many more tags where sold over the 7250?
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
114,165
Messages
2,046,491
Members
36,482
Latest member
runbyruss
Back
Top