Best Wyoming elk unit with 8 preference points? Unit 7?

[Faskill]

Hi Guys

I am looking to go elk hunting in Wyoming this fall with rifle.

I was thinking about unit 7 but I cannot find much information about it? Whether it be good or bad. I have 8 preference points and I am looking to draw the best unit for the points I have..... on a do it yourself hunt.

I am a newbie on here and do not have much experience with any western hunting so any information, help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

This blog and you guys were a GREAT help when I had asked about antelope hunting last summer. I had great success and I have paid my information forward to others who have private messaged me for help and information on where I had hunted.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Faskill

 

[nebowhunter]

I think the best options depends on what you are looking for in a hunt. Such as season type, access.

 

[mntnguide]

7...lots of private land. If you arent going to pay for access, and you dont have any knowledge of how to hunt the public that it does contain, you may want to keep searching for a different unit

 

[Hilltop]

2 points behind max is a tough position to be in. You won't draw the premium units for many years if you stay in the game but you hate to cash the points in on a mediocre hunt. You have enough points to draw a premium private land hunt in some areas but you will end up paying a decent amount of money for a guide or access. I think in your shoes I would look at paying the special and apply for 24 or 45 if your set on DIY. I agree with mntnguide on area 7- for a quality bull hunt in that area you either need private access or you need a good amount of time to learn the public. In my opinion, the points remain so high in 7 because of the demand for the high end guided hunts- not because of the public land opportunities.

 

[EBOLAVIRS]

For me it would be 16

 

[minn elk chaser]

Unit 7 on private land can be great but if your thinking about public land hunt you need allot of time to figure it out. I think 16 or 45 would be a better option.

 

[Faskill]

Ok I now have 2 recommendations for both unit 45 and 16? I am assuming this is because there is more public land in these units?

What is the average cost/fee to access land in unit 7? Where would I even start to find someone who would be willing to let me hunt on their land for a fee?

Again I am completely new to elk hunting in Wyoming so I have no clue on where to start or what it costs. I was originally planning a do it yourself hunt..... However I may be willing to pay to access private land if it's within my budget.....

Thank you for all the help and advice so far!

Faskill

 

[HiMtnHnter]

Ok I now have 2 recommendations for both unit 45 and 16? I am assuming this is because there is more public land in these units?

What is the average cost/fee to access land in unit 7? Where would I even start to find someone who would be willing to let me hunt on their land for a fee?

Again I am completely new to elk hunting in Wyoming so I have no clue on where to start or what it costs. I was originally planning a do it yourself hunt..... However I may be willing to pay to access private land if it's within my budget.....

Thank you for all the help and advice so far!

Faskill

16 has basically the same issues 7 has for the public land hunter.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Remember, if you have 8 now, you had 7 points last year. You need a hunt that fully drew out at 8 points last year, or preferably a hunt that drew with 7 points last year. Some of the options mentioned here you would only be in the random draw pool with low odds.

 

[NDHunter]

Have you EVER elk hunted? Sounds like you maybe haven't and it's going to be tough to be successful on your very first elk hunt no matter what unit you're in. 16 is supposed to be a solid unit but it's highly unlikely you'll draw it with 8. And chances are good you won't draw it next year with 9. And the year after, you might not draw it with 10...

 

[NE69]

With out much experience it is really tough even in a good unit to be successful on elk when you are coming from the East and going DIY. I would either hire a guide, hunt cows a couple years for experience, or make a trip out just scouting during the hunting season before I would waste 8 points. Even if you have a lot of hunting experience, hunting elk far from home in terrain you aren't used to is a real eye opener. Elk are wonderful to hunt, but far different than whitetails and it takes lots of experience or a good mentor to learn everything you need to have a chance at filling your tag.

 

[Triple BB]

16 has basically the same issues 7 has for the public land hunter.

Not even close on that one. 16 has plenty of public in the Shirley's as well as the Beer Mug. The Mug recently lost some acreage, but still has plenty to hunt. I've had both tags and would take 16 over 7 any day. Look at the most recent harvest stats for taking a bull. Not many areas in the state compare with 16 especially the ones with limited access issues.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

Not even close on that one. 16 has plenty of public in the Shirley's as well as the Beer Mug. The Mug recently lost some acreage, but still has plenty to hunt. I've had both tags and would take 16 over 7 any day. Look at the most recent harvest stats for taking a bull. Not many areas in the state compare with 16 especially the ones with limited access issues.

Both areas have issues with public land that will require the hunter to be careful regarding where they travel. I did not say that these issues make them bad hunts. If it could be drawn I would agree that 16 would be the better choice, simply for lower tag numbers, not better bulls, or more public land.

 

[Hilltop]

NE69 offers solid advice above. 16 is not an area you can draw with the preference points you have unless you get extremely lucky in the random draw. 45 should be a 25+% chance to draw in the special with your points going in. Area 7 should be 100% odds with the special or about 15% in the regular PP draw.

Area 7 has advertised hunts online. Simply Google area 7 Wy elk hunting. Most will run you 5k+. There are some ranches that charge a lower trespass fee but beware- there are no guarantees that there will be elk on the property.

As mentioned before, 8 points is a tough spot to be in. I believe NE69s advice is your best course of action. Put some boot leather on the ground before cashing those points in and you stand a better chance at a DIY elk- or pay a guide.

 

[30Hart]

The key w/ 16 is the early type 1 hunt when the bulls are still on the public up high and your chances at a bigger bull are better on the early hunt/archery. The archery is excellent too. After the first rifle shots the elk head to private and stay there. Since the Beer Mug lost the Destination Ranch, the late hunt there went down hill. Great hunt for a local that can hunt it every week during the long season, but incredible tough for a DIY out-of-stater when you factor in the weather too. My recommendation for you is 24 and hope the points needed come down a little.

 

[BuzzH]

With your points if you can draw 7, that would be a good hunt. There are still plenty of good bulls in that unit. Just like any other unit, expecting a 350+ bull is going to take some serious time and/or good luck.

As to 16, the season structure is going to significantly change in 2016. There is not going to be any hunting in December or January for bulls with either a type-1 or type-2. I have confirmed this with a couple landowners as well as the WGF Department.

That hurts this tag and IMO, makes it less desirable for both R and NR hunters.

 

[Faskill]

Thanks guys you sure have given me A LOT to think about over the next few weeks!

And like was mentioned in some of the earlier suggestions....I've had some private messages about unit 45? As long as I have your attention.....what are your thoughts on this unit?

P.S. I have hunted archery elk in Wyoming....but it was the one and only time I have ever hunted elk....it was a general unit....it was in 2008 and I never saw an elk......However I did meet a lot of nice guys from all over the United States and Wyoming on a daily basis! There actually should have been a police officer parking cars and 4 wheelers on top of the mountain each morning!. This time I would like to use my points on a good unit with less pressure and go from there.....

I actually only have 7 points but my hunting partner has 9 ...so together we have 8....pretty sure that's how Wyoming does it

Again thank you for all the help and advice so far!

Faskill

 

[EBOLAVIRS]

Look at the success rates for 16-2, the numbers don't lie. If you have the points to draw it, do it.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

Look at the success rates for 16-2, the numbers don't lie. If you have the points to draw it, do it.

I'm sure the success in 16 is pretty good, but g&f surveys should be taken with a grain of salt. Most areas get less that 50% response. 16 got a 40% response rate in 2014. Less than half returned. The success rates are something to look at, but don't paint the whole picture.

 

[jaeger63]

Based on my research you would have enough points to draw a type 9 archery only tag in several good units but a type 1 is a different story. I assume your looking to do a rifle hunt type 1 tag?