WY nonresident application

[Triformore]

I'm hoping someone can help me understand the WY nonresident application process for archery elk in 2017.  I read in Corey's recent post that nonresidents must hire a guide.  Is this true for all units?  He denotes Federal Wilderness areas, but I'm wondering if that encompasses most of the good elk land.  I have no experience in WY and I'm interested in doing something different than my usual OTC CO hunt.  0-3 the last few years with lots of hunter encounters is motivating me.  Any help is appreciated. 

 

[Wyo67]

You only need a guide if you hunt in designated wilderness areas.  Doesn't have to be a licensed guide.  A Wyoming resident who is hunting with you can guide up to two people per year in the wilderness areas.

The wilderness areas that require a guide are mostly around Yellowstone with a couple smaller areas in areas 13, 21, 110 in the Medicine Bow National Forest and areas 35-37, 41, and 45 up in the Bighorns.  Speaking only for the Medicine Bow area, the wilderness areas are by no means "most of the good elk land".  Plenty of opportunities can be had without hunting the wilderness.

If you are not hunting those wilderness areas, you do not need a guide.  There are miles and miles of huntable areas without going into wilderness areas.  Getting away from other hunters though... can be a trick.

Good luck

 

[Triformore]

Thanks for the clarification.  Now to the BIG question.  Do you (other WY folks) have any suggestions / recommendations on units that allow me to get away from people and still be in decent Elk country?  I'm not looking for a trophy...hell I'll take anything, just want meat in the freezer and to feel the pain of carrying it out the wilderness.  My experience in CO has been good, but I'm 0-3 and last year I ran into one person after another.  I've only bow hunted for Elk, I backpack in 4-6 miles and I've got a Jeep that can pretty much get me anywhere that is legally allowed.  I know CO has ample opportunities in other units, but I thought I'd spread the conservation dollars out a little bit this year (lol).  Really, WY is interesting to me because of the flexible tag program.  Fail on my bow trip and I can come back with a rifle.  Better bang for the buck.  Nonresident hunting is very expensive and I need all the advantages I can get.  Thanks for the help / guidance and any suggestions guys.

 

[Triformore]

Just so we are on the same page...I recognize no one is going to give me their secret spot.  I'm just trying to guidance on some general areas that historically have a decent amount Elk and aren't overpopulated by people. Like I mentioned in the last post...I will work for it and I know others may be in the area, but my hope is to gain an understanding of where I should start my WY research.

 

[Wyo67]

I can only speak for the General units around me (Cheyenne) and asking to get away from people in those areas is a real trick.  In today's world with Google Earth, landowner GPS chips, etc... it is extremely difficult to pick a spot and say with confidence that there's not going to be anybody else there.

The good news is there are plenty of General areas in Wyoming with hundreds of square miles you can hunt in and around the national forest.  Again, speaking for the areas I'm familiar with in South Central WY:
Area 6 - Always tons of leftover elk tags with a lot of elk.  However, there is virtually no public access in elk areas.  Which is why there's always a lot of leftover tags for sale.
Areas 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 21, & 110 - Close to Laramie and Cheyenne with a lot of national forest available to hunt.  However, every resident hunter in those cities can pick up a General tag over the counter.  No matter where I plan to hunt in those areas, chances are I'm going to encounter other hunters.  These areas get tons of pressure during rifle especially during opening week.  So much so, that I don't even bother hunting opening day/week of rifle.

You are correct on being able to hunt both bow and rifle.  Make sure you pickup the archery stamp prior to bow hunting.  My typical year follows the same pattern.  Hunt hard during archery and try for a bull, if I don't succeed, then come back late season for an opportunity for a cow to fill the freezer.  The trick is trying to time it so the elk have come back and settled down after the opening day salvos, but the roads are still passable due to winter weather.   

The good news is you have justover 8 months to scout.  Highly recommend having at least 3-4 alternate areas to go to if you find you're over-run with other hunters or as the case last year in 13, wildfires.

 

[Triformore]

Thanks so much for your willingness to share some insight.  With WY deadline fast approaching I'm in the need to pull a trigger.  Making these decisions from MO is never easy and around here money doesn't grow on trees. That said, I'll do the best with the info I have and thankfully your replies to the post help.  Best of luck in '17

 

[jvanhoy]

This will be my first year trying WY also. We always hunt CO. Hopefully you have a point for WY. With 0 points your only hope is through the special tag. Hopefully 1 point should guarantee my tag in the special. Would probably take 2 in the regular draw now. I think 1 point it dropped down to like 8 percent chance last year. Good luck

 

[Triformore]

No points...thanks for the heads up.  Looks like I'll just buy a point this year and then try WY next year.  Western hunting from MO is never easy and always expensive.  Sucks.

 

[jvanhoy]

You would have a chance through the special and a small chance through the regular. The good thing about WY is after the preference point you go in a random pool. So there's always a chance. Good luck if you decide to apply.

 

[briancomegys]

I too am from MO and was looking at Wy to go on my first and from the research i did you will need 2-3 points to guarantee your tag.  However like jvan said you can go the special tag route and have a pretty good chance at getting it because very few people want to pay over a grand for a tag.  I am looking to go to CO now because of the point system in WY.  This will be my first elk hunt so i think i want to get my feet wet in CO and build points in WY.

 

[Wyo67]

Point creep is alive and well in Wyoming.  Here's the drawing odds for a General tag over the last few years with 1 Preference Point (ie. able to hunt every other year) for the Regular draw only:
2013 - 80% chance to draw
2014 - 67%
2015 - 40%
2016 - 8%

Last year you needed 2 points to be able to guarantee a drawn tag in the regular draw.  For those that want to spend the extra $$$, you could enter the Special draw and still be able to draw a tag with 1 point or if you're feeling lucky and have 0 points have had a 31% chance to draw. 

It's not just the General tag either.  Point creep for some of the "trophy" units that are limited quotas are shooting up as well. 

briancomegys - I sent a PM to you.