WY elk unit?

gonhunting247

gonhunting247

Veteran member
Jan 21, 2014
1,216
797
I was hoping to get some of you folks opinions on good choices for WY elk. I have 7 pts. and I am afraid I might be in no mans land so to speak. I am a non resident DIY only guy, so as discussed heavily on here, unfortunately my choices are limited to non-wilderness areas (probably) or find a resident to go with. I've been looking at 38 or 45, but I am totally open to suggestions and not completely against waiting 1 or 2 more years. I'm also not willing to pay for the special draw price(just not my thing if I have a choice). Thanks for any advice or suggestions you are willing to share, it is all appreciated!
I'll add that any mature 6pt. is a good bull for me if that makes a difference on suggestions. Also I think opportunity ranks above quality on this hunt.
 
ssliger

ssliger

Very Active Member
Mar 9, 2011
900
0
Laramie WY
One idea is if you are willing to wait for a couple of years. Pick the area you want to hunt in the future and see if there are cow tags available without using points. This way you can hunt elk and learn the area. Are you wanting rifle or bow?


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CoHiCntry

CoHiCntry

Veteran member
Mar 31, 2011
1,390
21
Colorado Mountains
ssliger said:
One idea is if you are willing to wait for a couple of years. Pick the area you want to hunt in the future and see if there are cow tags available without using points. This way you can hunt elk and learn the area. Are you wanting rifle or bow?

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Click to expand...

How much are non resident cow tags?
 
NE69

NE69

Active Member
Jan 6, 2013
372
59
67
Southwest Nebraska
Cow tags are same price unless you go with a reduced price tag which will have restrictions to area and/or dates different from regular price tags. Someone correct here as I am familiar with areas in the Bighorns and not so much is other parts of Wy.
 
ssliger

ssliger

Very Active Member
Mar 9, 2011
900
0
Laramie WY
Like NE69 said, a full price tag costs the same wether it's bull or cow. The reduced price cow/calf cost $302. Some areas that have the reduced price tags have restrictions, some are open for a long time and the restrictions are for only part of the time. An example- Area 10, which is a general area open for archery September 1st thru the 30th, then rifle is now open October 15th-31st. The reduced price cow tag for 10 is open August 15th thru September 30th private land only, then is open October 1st thru December 31st for the whole unit.


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AT Hiker

AT Hiker

Very Active Member
Aug 2, 2012
638
0
Tennessee
I would hunt 45 if I had enough points to draw. Too many people and ATVs in 38 but 45 has wilderness. Granted I have never elk hunted either and some nice animals come out of 38. I would rather have less people, that is what makes a better hunt to me.


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NDHunter

NDHunter

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2011
1,166
25
North Dakota
I know the special tag is stupid expensive but at least think about it. If the bill passes this year to change NR allocation to 60% special, 40% normal, it could add a couple years to draw the tag. If you have to wait another 3-4 years and spend another couple hundred bucks on points, the overall cost of the tag won't be that much different.

I get it though. Close to $1,100 is a crapload of cash to drop on a tag.
 
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S

shootbrownelk

Veteran member
Apr 11, 2011
1,535
196
Wyoming
NDHunter said:
I know the special tag is stupid expensive but at least think about it. If the bill passes this year to change NR allocation to 60% special, 40% normal, it could add a couple years to draw the tag. If you have to wait another 3-4 years and spend another couple hundred bucks on points, the overall cost of the tag won't be that much different.

I get it though. Close to $1,100 is a crapload of cash to drop on a tag.
Click to expand...
Pretty sweet deal If you've got deep pockets. That bill is going to screw the DIY non-resident. Another bill being pushed through by the Outfitters lobbyists. Just like the one that says you need an outfitter to hunt in a Wilderness area....pure and simple B.S.
 
NDHunter

NDHunter

Veteran member
Feb 25, 2011
1,166
25
North Dakota
shootbrownelk said:
Pretty sweet deal If you've got deep pockets. That bill is going to screw the DIY non-resident. Another bill being pushed through by the Outfitters lobbyists. Just like the one that says you need an outfitter to hunt in a Wilderness area....pure and simple B.S.
Click to expand...
Yep pretty much. I wonder if the state will ever have a super special draw with tag fees double the special. Never know. It could happen. Just keeps getting harder and harder for the average guy.
 
ScottR

ScottR

Eastmans' Staff / Moderator
Staff member
Feb 3, 2014
7,931
2,833
www.eastmans.com
Make sure you contact your representatives on this stuff. It makes a difference, one time I got a personal email me back after she got about 10 emails.

Emails from non-residents saying they won't be spending money in Wyoming anymore will talk too.


Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator
 
K

kstitz

Member
Jan 24, 2012
51
0
Colorado
I am also looking at 45 for my dad and myself. We have been trying to draw 62 but we have 8 points so every year we are 1 point short of what we needed to draw. My dad is 72 and starting to loose his elk hunting drive and I would like to try to get him a decent bull in the next couple of years. Are there alot of atv trails in the non wilderness portion of the unit? Is it a unit that would be conducive to horse back hunting?
 
K

kiddwinner

Active Member
Jun 24, 2013
377
6
Cody, Wyoming
38 is a great area, went with a friend this year and seen so big bulls, unfortunatloey he missed on at 60 because hes old and has a single pin sight and couldn't see the yardage it was on...
 
1

11C50

Member
Oct 13, 2011
75
21
Edgar WI
I have never hunted elk in 45, but I have hunted deer for quite a few years in the southern part of that area, and I have seen some real bruiser bulls over the years. I could never draw a tag in the pre preference point years, and since then I have just been banking points. A lot of the area I was in had truck or ATV access back to a trail head with a green gate, from that point on it was foot or horseback only. I would estimte that in the almost 20 years I have hunted that area, if I had the tags, I could have scored a branched bull 40-50% of those years in the areas behind the gates. This is all in the BH National Forest, but outside the wilderness area.
 
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