So, I may have some things messed up or just might be uninformed on this topic, but I'm having a hard time figuring out why anyone who is hunting elk in Wyoming just wouldn't get the general tag.
Here is the scenario I'm painting for myself. 2+ years ago when I started to plan to start hunting out west I was given advice and logically decided, "hey, maybe I should start putting in for points to hunt elk". In talking to my hunting partner (father), he thought since we had no clue what we were doing to hunt elk why not get a tag for a pronghorn because they are cheaper and from the limited advice we got from other Michigan flatlanders, pronghorn was a much easier proposition for a first time diy hunt out west. Plus we would use the trip as a scouting trip to figure out the ins and outs of elk hunting, traveling out west, what we needed, finding which zone to apply for, etc. to make sure we had a chance at a more successful elk hunt in the future.
With the education about the ins and outs of Wyoming pronghorn hunting and learning that all of the units were limited entry I therefore blindly assumed all of the elk units were limited entry and there was no such thing as a general tag for elk (further reinforcing the assumption stereotype). I just recently realized through responses from a post here, and the subsequent trip to the WYG&F website, that there are indeed general tags for elk in Wyoming. Additionally while out hunting pronghorn this year (write up to come) we talked to lots of people and stopped into the G&F and got lots of recommendations for specific units and optimal times to hunt those units. Everyone in Wy was so helpful with us first time elk and pronghorn hunters.
Now here comes where I may be still confused: It roughly takes 2 points to draw a general tag. 2/3 of the applicants with one point got them but I'm looking for the sure thing. There are 46 hunt zones available for the general tag that are listed without the G&F asterisk indicating limited public ground. Some of those zones being ones that were recommended to us by G&F and other locals when we were staying in Pinedale scouting for elk for a future hunt. Why wouldn't I want to be able to hunt a bunch more zones and get access with a lot less points than applying for only 1 zone and being limited to only that zone.
Are there very limited elk in those 46 zones? Is it only because of people wanting to get the "big one" or hunt a very special place that they will buy points for a premium zone (e.g. zone 100)? Me I'd prefer to just go hunting and get a chance at an elk regardless of size of antlers or sex and my father would be fine shooting cows every year. Am I the minority or just still confused? I want to just take my 2 points and go next year but for some reason I'm having doubts because there are 3054 people with 8 points. Why would I need to keep getting points instead of just going hunting?
Sorry for the long post...
Here is the scenario I'm painting for myself. 2+ years ago when I started to plan to start hunting out west I was given advice and logically decided, "hey, maybe I should start putting in for points to hunt elk". In talking to my hunting partner (father), he thought since we had no clue what we were doing to hunt elk why not get a tag for a pronghorn because they are cheaper and from the limited advice we got from other Michigan flatlanders, pronghorn was a much easier proposition for a first time diy hunt out west. Plus we would use the trip as a scouting trip to figure out the ins and outs of elk hunting, traveling out west, what we needed, finding which zone to apply for, etc. to make sure we had a chance at a more successful elk hunt in the future.
With the education about the ins and outs of Wyoming pronghorn hunting and learning that all of the units were limited entry I therefore blindly assumed all of the elk units were limited entry and there was no such thing as a general tag for elk (further reinforcing the assumption stereotype). I just recently realized through responses from a post here, and the subsequent trip to the WYG&F website, that there are indeed general tags for elk in Wyoming. Additionally while out hunting pronghorn this year (write up to come) we talked to lots of people and stopped into the G&F and got lots of recommendations for specific units and optimal times to hunt those units. Everyone in Wy was so helpful with us first time elk and pronghorn hunters.
Now here comes where I may be still confused: It roughly takes 2 points to draw a general tag. 2/3 of the applicants with one point got them but I'm looking for the sure thing. There are 46 hunt zones available for the general tag that are listed without the G&F asterisk indicating limited public ground. Some of those zones being ones that were recommended to us by G&F and other locals when we were staying in Pinedale scouting for elk for a future hunt. Why wouldn't I want to be able to hunt a bunch more zones and get access with a lot less points than applying for only 1 zone and being limited to only that zone.
Are there very limited elk in those 46 zones? Is it only because of people wanting to get the "big one" or hunt a very special place that they will buy points for a premium zone (e.g. zone 100)? Me I'd prefer to just go hunting and get a chance at an elk regardless of size of antlers or sex and my father would be fine shooting cows every year. Am I the minority or just still confused? I want to just take my 2 points and go next year but for some reason I'm having doubts because there are 3054 people with 8 points. Why would I need to keep getting points instead of just going hunting?
Sorry for the long post...
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