I have been searching old threads but could not find an answer to my questions. Hoping that you can help. I am a non resident with 2 preference points for mule deer in Wyoming. Planning to acquire some more preference points but I would sure like to try to draw a random General Region tag to get out and hunt while gaining points. I do understand that preference points will reset to zero if I draw 1st choice in the preference point draw. Here is my first question: If I apply for a Random draw as a first choice, do preference points reset to zero with a successful draw? My second question is this: if you are successful in the Random drawing, as a first choice, can you buy a preference point in the same year that you draw?
WY mule deer draw, preference point questions
- Thread starter Johnbud
- Start date
theddguide
Member
- Mar 31, 2016
- 90
- 1
There is no difference between the two draws, it's just that only a certain percent of the tags for a given area go to the random draw after the initial draw takes place. No matter what if you draw your first choice you will burn any points you have. You don't select which draw you apply for unless you're wanting to do the special draw vs the regular.
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theddguide
Member
- Mar 31, 2016
- 90
- 1
You could put any area or region that usually takes several points as your first and then something else as second choice that may have a chance to draw that as a leftover, in which case you wouldn't use your points but also you'd still have a slim chance at drawing that random tag in the first choice for the area that took more points because after the initial draw all the other tags are given as randoms and are not drawn by the number of points a person has
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bdan68
Active Member
Hilltop
Veteran member
Short answer - yes you lose PP if you draw any 1st choice. No you can't get a PP in the same year you draw a 1st choice but you can if you draw 2nd choice.
Bonecollector
Veteran member
Well said! Sometimes the draw strategies seem nuanced, but this clear statement is greatly appreciated!
Prerylyon
Veteran member
Another concept I'll add to this: depending on your long term goal of hunting certain areas that require more points to draw-high point counts, researching that 2nd choice unit (land access, deer population, hunter density) becomes more important really than the 1st choice, simply because that is what you'll likely draw-assuming you pick an area that historically still has a statistical chance of being drawn as a 2nd choice.
There is also the 'special' draw that costs more money, but will up your chances. I'm on a real tight budget, so I avoid it. I did it once, and I got the mule deer tag I wanted, but it was costly; also, it was a wilderness hunt with an outfitter that I booked in a very specific area. However, I have been wondering about a concept I call: "true cost of tag"?
Using some simple numbers for example, a guy has 10 yrs of $50 pref points-a $500 investment-and the tag itself is $400-and he draws it in 10 yrs-his cost for that tag is really $900.
At the same time, let's say he could have drawn it with 2 pts in the special draw and that tag costs $700. He invested $100 in pts and spends $700 on the tag. His cost for that deal is $800-cheaper than $900 and he got to hunt sooner.
I can't say that some good areas would work like my make believe example, but its something I've been thinking about.
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There is also the 'special' draw that costs more money, but will up your chances. I'm on a real tight budget, so I avoid it. I did it once, and I got the mule deer tag I wanted, but it was costly; also, it was a wilderness hunt with an outfitter that I booked in a very specific area. However, I have been wondering about a concept I call: "true cost of tag"?
Using some simple numbers for example, a guy has 10 yrs of $50 pref points-a $500 investment-and the tag itself is $400-and he draws it in 10 yrs-his cost for that tag is really $900.
At the same time, let's say he could have drawn it with 2 pts in the special draw and that tag costs $700. He invested $100 in pts and spends $700 on the tag. His cost for that deal is $800-cheaper than $900 and he got to hunt sooner.
I can't say that some good areas would work like my make believe example, but its something I've been thinking about.
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Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Be careful with this one. I have max points and last year applied for the "special" tag and got zero. If I had applied for the regular tag, I would have drawn. You really need to look at the historical stats of the unit you are applying for. Sometimes the extra $$ for the special tag is a disadvantage.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
- 3,923
- 3,242
I believe in the first couple of years there may have been a big point gap between the Red and the Special in a lot of cases.
But now the gap is shrinking and is hardly worth the additional cost to get the special tag. In some circumstances I noticed the special tag went for more points than the regular tag....
I bet those people were bummed and pissed off. lol
But now the gap is shrinking and is hardly worth the additional cost to get the special tag. In some circumstances I noticed the special tag went for more points than the regular tag....
I bet those people were bummed and pissed off. lol
Prerylyon
Veteran member
'CC,
Its statistics. Weird things can and do happen year to year. I have only done the special once, and it wasn't on one of the most high demand of units. Back at that time-in my specific case-it did what it was generally advertised to do-bumped me up and got me the tag sooner at the extra expense-but I agree that its no guarantee.
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Bonecollector
Veteran member
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Winchester
Veteran member
Hilltop
Veteran member
The special tag option generally bumps you up a 1-3 points for the non-premium tags. For instance an antelope area that takes 3 points in the regular can typically be drawn with 0-2 points in the special. When applying for a highly sought after tag the special typically isn't worth the extra $ as it provides little if any bump.