8 years in I missed my opportunity. Wyoming residents who apply to other Western States see max quotas of 10% going to non-residents. The elk density is fairly low, and the Wyoming Game and Fish doesn’t have a very good handle on their population, but elk are living long enough to grow some tremendous antlers due to the interstate movements and light harvest in South Dakota. While the original units I had considered were neighboring units, a couple scouting trips this past winter made it apparent that I needed to spread my efforts out to have a better antelope and deer hunt. At least with it in place I know that eventually I will get to draw a good tag. I manage databases with far more data points on a desktop PC.So I am a 26 year Wyoming resident I was born and raised here. The chances are too small, with or without points. If I was that lucky, I would had at least two shot opportunities in the area I was hunting elk.I don’t agree that PP systems require massive computer resources to manage draw systems. Now the guy with 15 pts has 15 chances, the guy with 5, 5 chances, etc so the longer in the draw you are the more chance you have vs only in it for 2 yrs.My biggest heartache is with the state of Colorado and you hit the nail on the head about preference point systems.
State owned wildlife…. Doing both normal pts and special pt process. Here are some observations based on 20+ years of “playing the game” and talking to folks in various states that deal with these programs. This is unit 1 and 116 for elk in the Black Hills National Forest and Region A or units 2 and 4 for deer.Of course there are additional places where these combinations are possible, but if you’ve been thinking about trying to pull off a Wyoming combo sometime in the not too distant future, you’ve got some fun options to ponder.Combining any western hunt either in the same trip or while hunting at,A mule deer and elk combination hunt would be fantastic but given,While not the coup that mule deer and elk would be for this eastern.I always like a combo hunt. 50% going to hunters with the highest points and the other 50% random draw. I believe this is a law that I will see changed in my lifetime. I love states like WY and most of the people in the state, but even though the low population of WY really makes the state attractive, it also makes it such that a very small amount of people can control the entire state. No antelope are herbivorous What is synonym of elk? Elk and wapiti refer to the same animal, and in some locations, the word caribou is used to refer to elk, but that is not correct - But it would be great if there was something in place to help out us unlucky older folks.I guess maybe I’d be most in favor of a 50 – 50 split with Bonus Point System and Random draws.Somehow I smell a rat in this article. Do you not like the point system because it will make your life miserable? I did get 2 rifle tags in units as 3rd choice, they were 70% private with few elk. I’m 63, so if I apply now I might get a license when I’m 85!
Patting ourselves on the back certainly makes us feel good and wildlife populations and habitats have certainly benefited from our collective efforts; however, our self congratulations ignores the fact that we are a dying breed.
A lot of people just say no but don’t propose an option does that mean don’t change anything or what? Plus you get to hunt in shorts in what the locals call “winter”, all the while staying in what would be called a 5-star hotel back in the states—and you will never see another hunter, except in camp—and not even then if you plan it right. So?As a Wyoming resident I believe the legislature should first address the over-generous nature of non-resident licenses to appease the Wyoming Outfitters.
I finally decided 12 yrs ago to put in only for a premium tag for deer and got drawn last fall. Current non-resident quota would be cut in half. The antlers of the elk and reindeer are somewhat similar. Does it make any sense to keep the draw random and then if a hunter draws a limited quota area there is a stipulation he cannot apply for that area again maybe for a 2 or 3 year period?
That is like me saying when people from Wyoming need to drive through Colorado they cannot use Interstate 25 because even though it is federally funded, state highway patrol men and women manage it so only Coloradoans can use I25. At point there was zero reason to continue, and I haven’t. Now he wants to advise Guy about something related to draw systems?Very interesting reading and well presented Guy.While effectively discussing res/non-res issues, how about the ridiculous rule preventing non-residents from hunting wilderness areas without an outfitter? Point creep and nearly all of your arguments apply to the non resident hunters. As a Govt monopoly, they will always choose the course that allows them to make more money, buy nicer trucks, expand programs, start new programs, hire more people, expand benefits, and grow.
There are very few private inholdings in the Bighorn National Forest to mess with access.It seems like an odd combination and it is. I killed one of my nicest bucks off of a very small patch of soybeans that was left after rains created a...Hunting Tip: Don't Overlook the Soybean Patch.