Help! Which Unit to Apply for in WY
01-28-2013, 07:59 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2
Help! Which Unit to Apply for in WY
I am hoping for some advice. I have recently moved to Wyoming, and will be a resident later this year. But I have to apply for elk as a non-resident. The good news is I have 6 preference points. So I am looking for a unit I can draw (regular or special), for a rifle hunt that has good numbers of elk and public access. I want to DIY, and wilderness is out unless anyone knows of an outfitter that would customize a hunt in Area 61 or something. I would maybe pay a reasonable trespass fee. Not looking for the monster - in fact after 15 years out west I have yet to kill a bull. Came close a few times, but just couldn't close the deal.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
01-29-2013, 07:52 AM
#2
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
You should be in the running to draw a tag in the regular draw for unit 45 or definitely the special draw. It's on the west side of the BigHorns, has a good elk population and a good bull to cow ratio with bulls well into the 300s. Most of the unit is USFS in the higher elevation and/or BLM as you go lower to the west. There is some wilderness area up at the top, but it you qualify as a resident by the time elk season opens you would even be allowed to hunt that.
01-29-2013, 06:24 PM
#3
Spike
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Utah
Posts: 46
Hunted unit 7 last year and had a great time. Lots of bulls in the 300 range. We were chasing a 360" bull we saw on the archery hunt but could never quite make it happen. Passed on four bulls in the 260" - 300" range. Near Cow Creek. We helped a guy one canyon over from us haul out a great 330" bull.
01-30-2013, 12:26 AM
#4
Spike
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 45
Hunted unit 7 last year and had a great time. Lots of bulls in the 300 range. We were chasing a 360" bull we saw on the archery hunt but could never quite make it happen. Passed on four bulls in the 260" - 300" range. Near Cow Creek. We helped a guy one canyon over from us haul out a great 330" bull.
01-30-2013, 07:09 AM
#5
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
"How many pref points did it take to draw for unit 7?"
The max of 6PPs last year only drew at a 74.63% rate in the regular PP draw. 6PPs drew 100% in the special PP draw and 5PPs only drew at 41.98%. If you don't have the max of 7PPs in this years draw it will be almost impossible to draw because more people will probably be cashing in their PPs this year before the license fees are raised for 2014.
The max of 6PPs last year only drew at a 74.63% rate in the regular PP draw. 6PPs drew 100% in the special PP draw and 5PPs only drew at 41.98%. If you don't have the max of 7PPs in this years draw it will be almost impossible to draw because more people will probably be cashing in their PPs this year before the license fees are raised for 2014.
01-31-2013, 07:46 AM
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
That Bill died, but there are two more working their way through the Legislature right now. One would raise the NRs fees only and another has both resident and NRs in it like the one that went down last week. It's looking like before all is said and done that there will be some significant price increases for 2014.
