Wyoming help

[explorerss]

Hello, my name is chad and I am a new member from Wisconsin. I am going to be buying my first preference point this year for an elk hunt, most likely archery. I have elk hunted before in Colorado and was successful harvesting a 5x6 bull with rifle but want to try something new and possibly get away from the mass crowds in co. I have been looking at the mrs and I see that as of now if a person had 4 points he could hunt unit 65 archery and 48. Those 2 units interest me as long as a few other units in the northwestern part of the state. Any info on those 2 units? Type of terrain and how good the elk heard is? Also while I am building up points I would like to try and get a general tag for any other area that doesn't require any points just as a fill in hunt. Any units to look for there?
Thanks chad

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I have no idea how you came up with a unit 65 in Wyoming for elk because there is no such unit. I've hunted out there since 1994 and am very familiar with unit 48. It took 4PPs in the Regular PP draw and 3PPs in the Special Draw for a 100% chance to draw that tag this year, which means it will probably take even more than that before you would have that number of PPs. 48 also doesn't have enough accessible public land that holds elk to waste points on. If you want to pay big money to hunt a private property like the Orchard Ranch, the outfitter that leases it wants over $6K for a five day guided hunt! I would suggest you buy a PP this year like you already plan to do and start trying for a General Tag in the draw. You could draw that tag next year as a second choice in the Special Draw and that will save you from burning your PP. If you don't want to spend $1K for that tag, you could have a decent chance of drawing the tag in the Regular Draw as a first choice, but you would lose your PP if you draw it.

 

[explorerss]

So the wyoming regs has it as unit 54 but the mrs section eastmans has says it is unit 65. Not sure what it is now buy northwest part of state. I read that a couple units were combined or something, not sure. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

So the wyoming regs has it as unit 54 but the mrs section eastmans has says it is unit 65. Not sure what it is now buy northwest part of state. I read that a couple units were combined or something, not sure. Sorry for the confusion.

You need to go by the map and unit numbers on the Wyoming G&F website. Yes, there were big changes made to the units up in that part of the state and 54 now is a huge unit that used to be several different ones. If the MRS Section shows a unit 65 for the 2014 season, it is definitely a mistake.

 

[Shooter]

For a general tag hunt I would look at the very west side of the state. Rifle season starts in september and early october in a lot of units. The rifle season there will be a lot of people, if you archery hunt you will have the whole area to yourself dang near. It is big steep country with few roads.

 

[ib_reel]

Chad - I too hale from Wisconsin and will be hunting elk in Wyoming this fall. Tags are actually fairly easy to obtain without preference points.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Chad - I too hale from Wisconsin and will be hunting elk in Wyoming this fall. Tags are actually fairly easy to obtain without preference points.

Could you please explain why you made that statement? You have a chance to draw a tag without PPs in the random draws, but I sure wouldn't call it fairly easy!

 

[OregonJim]

I think I know what he means but hopefully he will explain.

I would have phrased it; there are some units where you can draw "second choice" hunts with near 100% results (tag not animal ) That option allows you to build points and still hunt each season.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I think I know what he means but hopefully he will explain.

I would have phrased it; there are some units where you can draw "second choice" hunts with near 100% results (tag not animal ) That option allows you to build points and still hunt each season.

That may be, but it's a far cry from what he's saying because you need PPs to do what you're talking about and he's saying draw without PPs.

 

[Musket Man]

He could be referring to General tags or cow tags.

 

[ib_reel]

Maybe we just got lucky - we put in for 2 non-resident bull elk rifle rags w/ no PP and both got drawn - I must be mistaking easy for lucky !

 

[explorerss]

I think this is what he means, Wyoming Nonresident Draw: A nonresident of Wyoming has two draw options – they can either apply for a Wyoming general elk tag, which is fairly easy to draw (three out of every fve years) or a limited-quota elk tag in a unit that limits the amount of hunters, both resident and nonresident alike. That is what a few people I know do, first choice they try for a limited draw unit mainly to build points and for second choice apply for a general tag that requires no points, according to eastmans and the wyoming fish and game a non resident should draw a general tag with no pp 3 out of 5 years. That is the way I read it correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[ScottR]

That may be, but it's a far cry from what he's saying because you need PPs to do what you're talking about and he's saying draw without PPs.

Easy killer, the guy is asking a question looking for help.


Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Easy killer, the guy is asking a question looking for help.


Eastmans' Staff Digital Media Coordinator

I was helping the OP and my response was not to him, but rather to another new member that made a statement that I questioned. His return response if he and his buddy drew bull tags as NRs applying separately with no PPs would definitely be lucky, just as he stated because even the General Tag is getting harder to draw without 1PP now that it's been publicized all over the world!

 

[explorerss]

Thank you for the help so far. Are there any maps that show what is public what's private and what is wilderness? Looking into maybe some general units around the jackson area.
thanks

 

[Cobbhunts]

BLM office sells land status maps for $4 each. If you pin point a few units they will tell you which ones you need. I ordered 3 additional maps from them on Friday and they were in my KY mailbox yesterday. Pretty impressive. I suggest buying the On-X GPS chip as well. That's a must have. Good luck!

 

[explorerss]

Also does anyone know of any places that would pack me and my own gear in. Trying to figure out all of my different options here. Thanks

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Click on this link and you can go through and find the maps for the animal where tha you are planning to hunt. Then you can order those maps like Cobbhunts stated and they are promptly sent out for $4 a piece, whcih is well worth that little fee.

http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/resources/public_room/gis/datagis/state/huntareas.html

Call the Outfitters & Guides Association at 307-265-2376 and they can either help you with your packin question or at least mail you a copy of their latest magazine that has all the licensed people in it that you can look up and call. It's very nice and pretty comprehensive with where they are located and what they offer, etc.

 

[Musket Man]

Look at the preview maps on mytopo.com. they are good to get an idea of land ownership and its sometimes worth paying a little more to get a map from them if the unit is on several different BLM/FS maps. I get my BLM/FS maps from plicmapcenter.org. It is the easiest and fastest way to get them that I have found.