Resident Preference Points for Deer, Elk and Antelope??

[JM77]

Yet, another stupid idea from people who don't know anything about the outcome of what they propose. Ask the residents of CO how their point system is working out for them.

-G

Guy

No disrespect here, and I have no dog in this fight, but I would caution you about which people you might be talking about and their "stupid" ideas. This is from your Myths oped:

1) HUNTER RECRUITMENT ? Every single state that has implemented a point system has seen resident hunter recruitment drop drastically. Try telling your pre-teen son or daughter that he or she has to wait 33-years to draw a high-quality Wyoming elk tag and see what happens. The X-Box starts to look a whole lot more attractive in a hurry. Colorado has been one of the absolute worst cases for this.

First, it doesn't matter what system a state has, unless it is a 100% PP system, you can't tell "your pre-teen" how long it will take to draw that high quality elk tag. With a straight random your preteen may never draw that tag, and if you think knowing they have the same chance every year, whether they draw or not, keeps them interested in hunting, you might raise three kids like I have into the outdoors before you make that assertion.

Second, in Wyoming, there should be no first time hunter that goes into the field without a deer, elk and antelope tag in their pocket, no matter the drawing system,unless they or their parents are "stupid" as you might say. My children were brought up hunting general deer(because they couldn't draw LQ on our random system), leftover or second choice cow elk and antelope in a 100% draw area. Two of the three are avid women hunters today.

Third, I would like to see your proof a PP system caused hunter recruitment to drop in states that have them. I have been told by G&F that resident hunter recruitment has fallen in Wyoming too, and wait for it; we have a random system!

No drawing system is perfect or totally fair, but the misinformation, on both sides is laughable. To read through your "Myths" column shows me you are no stranger to that misinformation either.

Good hunting!

Jeff

 

[Alabama]

I love the idea of a straight bonus system. No guarantees if you got in early, no exclusion of new hunters because everyone still has a chance. 1 chance to draw for every year you put in but no squaring of points. It still generates interest in the draw because you never know when you will pull the tag. It slightly improves the odds of those who are perpetually unlucky.

Simply put PP systems don't work unless you get in on year one. That is not a system I could ever support. Look at all the people wasting money on WY Moose and Sheep points, if there's not a change, they will NEVER draw.

 

[mntnguide]

Resident point bill has already died in committee[emoji106]

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Resident point bill has already died in committee[emoji106]

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Yep...just saw a note about it on Facebook.

 

[JimP]

I expect for this to come up some more in the coming years. Those that are for it will keep pushing it until it passes.

Look at how long it took for the MJ supporters here in Colorado to get it to pass, and we the people voted on it in the general elections. It was shut down for a number of years until it finally passed.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

I hear a rumor that they might push for a bonus point bill instead.

While bonus points are somewhat better than preference points, I'm not crazy about bonus points either.

And it would be complicated to have preference points for moose and sheep and bonus points for deer, elk and antelope.

Leave it alone!

 

[JimP]

If you want to see complicated take a look at Utah's point system.

Preference points for general deer, and anterless hunts. Separate point pools for anterless and general season so a doe deer or cow elk tag is not the same as a antlered deer or elk tag.

Hybrid bonus points which give 50% of the tags to the top point holders and the rest into a general draw with higher bonus point holders getting a few extra chances, but not many. This is for LE deer, elk, antelope, moose, sheep, goats, and bison. Every year people with very low points draw some of the best tags in the state not to mention the once in a lifetime tags for moose, bison, sheep, and goats.

 

[jimss]

I like Utah and Nevada's draw systems. Everyone has a chance to draw tags...not just those with highest pref pts. Those that have applied more years have something to show for the time and $ they have invested in the program! Believe me, in a system similar to Wyo's sheep and moose there are a lot of guys with less than max pts that are giving up. Young hunters don't stand a chance! It isn't worth the time nor expense!

If you take a look at the UT and Nevada draw stats you'll see that there isn't near the point creep and there are few lucky hunters that draw excellent quality tags the first year they apply. Point creep happens when there is a gob of hunters vying for only a few tags. When there is a high turn-over of tags (Wyo antelope as an example) each year everyone is happy because the mass majority of applicants are drawing (more tags than new hunters just starting to apply with 0 points). In years with fewer tags (winterkill or drought years as an example) everyone is in an uproar about point creep!


With that said, it isn't going to get any easier to draw tags....even as a Wyo resident.....and it's getting outrageously expensive to apply for high demand tags! As the population of Wyoming continues to grow there may be a time that it is wise to convert over to a point system? Fewer tags and more Wyo residents applying for tags means it will take longer to draw tags and there are more hunters concentrated hunting general units.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

The population of Wyoming has gone down the last several years. . .

The draw odds for all but the most popular LQ areas are still pretty decent for residents. The tough draw areas will always be tough, no matter the system. Leave it alone!

 

[Maxhunter]

Utahs draw system is terrible. You may get to hunt the high demand units maybe three times in you life if your a resident. Nonresident odds are terrible.

I lived there for 12yrs while in the military and once I retired. Once I got the opportunity I moved to WY.

Also Utah gives a lot there tags to the Hunt Expo. If your rich you can hunt good areas every year.