Wyoming needs to change..

[justinthedoc]

I wish the residents of this great state would state up to the politicians in the game and fish org. I personnaly think that it is rediculous that we have the wait until the end of june or early july to find out if we can go elk, deer, or antelope hunting. Why not have everything drawn by the end of april so you canactually plan and start scouting.

Im also probably in the minority but I wish we had a choose your weapon policy as well bowhunting is becoming a joke. I started with a bow and have ended up rifle the past few because of the sheer amount of bowhunters (i countd over 45 bowhunters elk hunting last year on labor day weekend) its like rifle just without the distance. Just a vent post maybe share yours

 

[Fink]

As a non resident, it's kind of hard to complain about Wyoming, considering how generous they are with their non resident allotment. I do really like the choose your weapon idea. I think it would do a great job in both spreading out pressure, and improving odds.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

They can't say they don't have enought time, as we get our NR elk results by the end of February.

I think the just want to keep your $$$ a little longer, short term interest dontcha no!!

 

[birdhunter]

Wyoming draws elk, deer, and antelope later and not at the same time so if the people who put in for moose, sheep, or goat draw, they can decide if they even want to put in for deer, elk, or antelope. Most poeple who draw these trophy tags will not put in for other big game animals since they spend most of their time with their trophy tag since its probably the only time in their life they will draw it. I personally like the fact that I can go out during archery season and if I dont fill my tag I can go out and hunt with a rifle. Yes archery is getting extremely crowded here in Wyoming. Its not gonna get any better either. More people are moving into this state and that wont stop as long as our coal, oil, and gas is booming.

 

[ADavid]

There is a petition i just signed to allow residents a preference point system like non residents for deer elk and antelope, that would be a nice change in my opinion.

 

[ADavid]

also it absolutely drives me nuts that we have to wait to see what we drew until the end of june, but even if i knew at the end of march what i would be hunting it would drive me nuts waiting so long till season starts.... soo i guess i just need to change my patience rather than game and fish change their system haha

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I understand why Wyoming does certain tags earlier, But that doesn't mean they have to keep the deer & antelope tag draw (and our money) until July. They have our $$$ on deposit for almost 4 months.

 

[jenbickel]

Yes, it sucks that we have to wait so long to get the results, but I like it that it's not at the same time as the moose and sheep results. If I were to draw moose and/or sheep, I would not put in for elk.

 

[justinthedoc]

Yes, it sucks that we have to wait so long to get the results, but I like it that it's not at the same time as the moose and sheep results. If I were to draw moose and/or sheep, I would not put in for elk.

But if you put in for the moose, goat, sheep, which should be a january only application period, draw could be done first of march to alllow thm their interest, aplly march thru april for elk, antelope, and deer and draw may. Seems simple to me and two months before the current tentative draw.

I am totally for a preference system for residents I have drawn 3 antelope, and like 9 elk. Where as friends of mine have drawn lik 15 antelope tags and 2 or 0 elk. Its hard to tell me that there draw system is completely unbiased

Plus this state has a serious mule deer problem and they choose to do nothing about it. (not enough time to type my true feeling on that issue)...

 

[BobT]

I was told the reason the draw dates are late is to allow time for biological data to be collected to determine tag quotas, fine with me. I see no reason to apply in March though, mail in applications are pretty much obsolete and with the technology available the results could be posted the day after the deadline but that wouldn't allow much time for interest to be drawn. I wonder how much interest they collect on tag fees?

As a non resident I only apply for antelope, might apply for a mule deer tag one of these years (banking points). It seems to me that Wyoming is a little biased in favor of non residents. My opinion is that non residents should only get tags if there are left overs AFTER the resident draw. The motivating factor I'm sure with the current system is $$$, just like everything else. Wyoming has a very generous non resident tag allotment. You guys pay taxes all year, you should get first choice on the tags!

Just my humble opinion!
Bob

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

You are right about NR tags. Every western state (except maybe Ca, Or & Wa) depend on the NR $$$ to keep them going. Here in Colo 30 to 40 % of the tags go to NRs. Without NR money, every resident would undoubtly pay a lot more for tags.

 

[Stig87]

ADavid- where did you find the petition for resident preference points. I would like to put my name on that as well.

 

[birdhunter]

Talked to a biologist for Wyoming and although I would like to see preference points for residents, there is a major downside. There are some trophy elk areas that may be once in a lifetime draw if they go to preference points. Im sure some deer and antelope areas would be the same. I personally would rather have a chance at a license every year than end up waiting 30 years like sheep and moose. Just something to think about. Preference points would hurt some areas.

 

[Drelk]

Birdhunter makes a good point. I'm not sure what the correct answer is. I would like a better chance of drawing a middle tier tag every two or three years. Today I would give up my chance to hunt general elk if I could get a good tag every two or three years. There really is no correct answer.

 

[ADavid]

ADavid- where did you find the petition for resident preference points. I would like to put my name on that as well.

I found it at Discount sports here in Casper im not sure where else it is.

My Opinion on a preference point system and the hard to draw areas is i dont see how they could be "hurt" take unit 100 for instance, i have heard of people putting it first choice for 9 years and still have not drawn it and every year they still have the same 5% chance (pretty much once in a lifetime lol), but non residents with max points which they would have if we had a system have a 15% chance at drawing.
You could still hunt elk every year off general tag or second choice tag and still gain a point in the process

 

[Wyohunter]

The big difference between moose/sheep and elk/deer is that there is a lot more elk and deer areas so there would not be much point creep unless you are trying to get one of the really limited areas. Even with a points system there would most likely be a lot of leftover OTC tags to get your hands on. There are upsides and downsides both ways. No matter what the they do they are going to have unhappy people any way.

 

[In God We Trust]

I like Wyoming's NR preference point system. You save up for points to 4 points and then everyone with 4 has the same chance. I live in Colorado and Our PP system is totally screwed up. You have to wait 20+ years for a tag in some units and only the people with that many points have a chance at it. Oh yeah unless you have five or more, than you get a .7% chance at one of the tags. A system that only rewards people that have been putting in for 10+ years discourages new hunters and we need new hunters in order for hunting to have a chance into the future. I believe the hybrid system is best. A 5 point cap and then you have as good of a chance as everyone else with 5 points at a trophy unit. This would space everyone out a bit and encourage new hunters to enter the sport as well as keep people from leaving the sport.

 

[kcaves]

I would rather be a non resident for trophy tags, odds of drawing them are better than they are for a resident. I think that's all that needs to change, elk and deer can stay the same for residents

 

[justinthedoc]

Just looking at most of the drawing odds for most of the mid to harder tags to draw a resident would on average draw a tag every 5 years doesnt seem bad to me beings I have gone 7 years on a 30% chance tag.

Plus the biological data crap is just that crap its a stall, last year the bio guy told me they should have cut tags in 73 for antelope and didnt because a outfitter showed up and reemed the commisioners that the bio guy was full of crap. Nothing but a political system. And to be honest getting really fed up with the lack of quality units for all species anymore. I would love to see a choose your weapon designation there are just to many people huntn here now, and believe me I know people like to hunt BOTH seasons but this is getting redonkulous. You cant take a crap in the woods without someone on the next ridge lookin at ya. Isnt this the reason why most of you people moved to wyoming OPEN SPACES, Im 4th generation wyoming and the changes I have seen in the past 10 years is incredible, and concerning...

 

[Wyohunter]

Justinthedoc, I agree too many hunters these days. Ten years ago there were far fewer hunters and general tags were great but now there is too much pressure. With everybody going out and having to settle on fork horns there are not as many bucks being able to mature. I would much rather wait five years for a mature buck than going out every year. Then right now with the limited areas I know some people who draw tags for certains areas each year, the same areas I have sent in for and never drawn for ten years of applying. To me it's not fair but then again for the guy that draws every year a points system would not be fair.