Wyoming Elk Hunt

[JES_Wisc]

I have been elk hunting in Colorado for about the last 15 years but now I want to try Wyoming. I am going to be going out there in September to scout some areas and then next year I plan to actually go elk hunting with a bow. There are a number of areas I am interested in but most of them are going to take a while for me to get enough preference points. I am going to apply for a preference point this summer in hopes that I can at least get a general tag next year. I am thinking about hunting the Medicine Bow to mostly because I have a friend that has a cabin out there and I was looking for some feedback on the units I was considering. I have been looking at Unit 15 and 21 in the Sierra Madre and then Unit 11 and 12 ( I realize 11 is not a general license unit) in the Snowy Mtn range. I am also considering 9. 10 and 110. Any input or advice for a first timer in Wyoming would be greatly appreciated.

[ElkNut1]

Jim, I've not been in those units so would not be of any hands on help! But, I can say welcome to the Forum bud, thanks for stopping by! Hopefully someone here can shed a bit of light to your questions!

ElkNut1

[WapitiTalk1]

I don't know anything about the great state of Wyoming but I welcome you sir to 'the' elk forum. Please, pull up a log by the fire. Perhaps Indian summer will chime in on your area specific questions. I think he's knows many of the elk there by name

[ST52V]

You might want to check on to see if you can pick up a cow tag and hunt a little while you scout.

[Indian Summer]

I have been elk hunting in Colorado for about the last 15 years but now I want to try Wyoming.

Really?

I can't help you in that particular area. If you were to draw unit 7 I know the owners of a couple huge ranches there though.

As far as your plan with the licenses... if you burn your points on a General Elk license in the regular draw you'll never accumulate them to draw in the Snowys. So in regards to that I'd keep buying the points and apply for the Special General Elk as your second choice so you can keep your points. The cost only doubles to $1171!

I'm guessing that if you give it a minute Wyo67 will find his way here and might be able to help you. He lives in Cheyenne & hunts that corner of the state. My stomping grounds are on the west side although I have hunted mulies and antelope for many years all around Medicine Bow and did see my share of bulls on the ranches and in the Shirley Mountains.

By the way Wyo... give me a minute to reply to your PM... I've been BURIED.

Welcome to our happy humble home JES_Wisc! Hope to see you here more often bud.

[Wyo67]

JES_Wisc - Welcome to the forums! As a Cheyenne guy those areas are my regular (when I don't hunt area 7) stomping grounds. Will be sending you a PM soon.

Indian - No worries!

[JES_Wisc]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the responses. As I mentioned, I am completely new to Wyoming so if I say something that sounds wrong let me know. Colorado was great, but seemed like time for a change. Its closer to home and I have heard good things about Wyoming compared to Colorado. It doesn’t hurt that my girlfriend shot a nice 5x5 in Wyoming either. I have heard good things about Unit 7, but I thought I heard it was tough to hunt because of all the private land. I am trying to understand the rules but I have to admit they are a little confusing. I feel like I have a better understanding of them now, but maybe not. If I hunt a General License Unit is it possible to get a cow tag over the counter? I didn’t apply in January and my plan was to put in for a PP this summer but it would be nice to be able to hunt while I scout. I just thought I was out of luck for this year.

[Wyo67]

JES_Wis - Tried to pm you, but system wouldn't let me. You probably need to make a few more posts.

So far as area 7, you're already way behind the power curve preference point wise. Last year it took a minimum of 7 points to draw (71%), 8 points needed to guarantee a tag. Random draw odds were only about 3%. It is tough to hunt due to all of the private land in the national forest, but it can be done.

To answer your question, yes you can hunt with a general license and buy a cow tag OTC once they are for sale on 7/17/14 at 8am MDT. You can also buy a PP this summer and hunt with a OTC cow tag. All OTC cow tags are for a specific area. I don't know how many cow tags they will have available for the areas you're looking at. Won't know until they post up the licenses for sale on 7/17.

[JES_Wisc]

I can't send a PM either. It says I dont have priviledges and I have to participate more. I'll have to make up a couple of new posts I guess.

I new Unit 7 required a lot of PP and I kind of eliminated it, at for now anyway. Until I get a little more familiar with Wyoming I am probably going to end up hunting in units with General tags.....proabably in one of the units I mentioned. Although I did look at 36 and 37 too

[JES_Wisc]

PM should work now .....

[Indian Summer]

Yep... you have to make 3 posts before you can send or receive PMs.

If you want to hunt this year my advice would be to get a cow tag in a unit where you can hunt bulls on a General license next year. Nothing like scouting with a tag in your pocket. To hunt cows somewhere that requires a 5 to 8 year wait just to hope for a tag is a waste when you can make your cow hunt an investment in a hunt next season. Killing a cow in a Wyoming General unit isn't very difficult.... well finding them anyway.