WY ‘26 Elk Tag Strategy

[gwhunter]

My son and I will be chasing pronghorn and mule deer in WY this October.

I’ll be thrilled to get a cow tag and save my points till later, but there are SO MANY variables on those tags to wade through that are not intuitive to an NR.

While you are out there maybe plan ahead for an extra day or two to spend some time (or overnight in the tent) in 1 or 2 of the units you are considering for the GEN or type 6 tag? It will get you more familiar with the area and help decide if that's the area you want to hunt next year.

 

[claytonbeilstein]

My son and I will be chasing pronghorn and mule deer in WY this October.

I’ll be thrilled to get a cow tag and save my points till later, but there are SO MANY variables on those tags to wade through that are not intuitive to an NR.

Weird question what part of Tennessee?im in Arkansas and have 6 points as well

 

[EastTNHunter]

Weird question what part of Tennessee?im in Arkansas and have 6 points as well

I’m north of Chattanooga

 

[Kimber7man]

It only took 2 or 3 points to draw a non-resident East region general tag this year. I had three points and paid the extra for the special tag - ouch….

I wouldn’t waste 6 points on that general tag. There’s tons of left over cow/calf tags available over the counter in area 6 where I hunt, so we just buy them in Wheatland when we get there.

If you’re not adverse to paying a guide, there’s one in area 6 I could recommend to you.

 

[mattdeere1]

I agree 100% with this. Ill also be the 4th or 5th person to say getting a type 6 cow tag in one of the general areas you are looking to hunt would be an ideal way to get you and your son exposure to DIY elk hunting while still banking those points to be able to guarantee a general bull tag/any elk tag in an area you have experience in once you have it figured out. You may find out your son doesn't enjoy/isn't ready to hike 2 miles uphill in the dark to get to where the elk are, and that is good info to have prior to feeling like you HAVE to still hunt because you've got 6 years of points tied into a tag.

My kids are younger than yours (6&8), but that's what ive been doing with pronghorn tags until they are old enough to start that same process with elk. We get doe tags or easy to draw unit 700 tags and then get to go at the pace and enjoyment of my kids. Don't want to wakeup while its still dark and you'd rather go eat breakfast at a diner instead of eating out of the cooler? SURE! I want this to be just as enjoyable for you as it is for me and if im stressing about a tag I spent 10 years of points on, I know that's going to spill over into how I 'push' my kids to be able to fill my tag with the best buck, bull, etc. possible instead of the one "they pick".

Wisdom right here..

 

[Pagosa]

I would focus on either the south or west regions. The east has some great elk, but will mostly require some type of private land access. The few ranchers Ive met in the NE only allow trespass hunts to people they know and have relationships with. The south region has more forgiving terrian and very high elk numbers from what Ive seen, but prob more hunters.
Im at 6 points and planning to hunt west region next fall if Im still on this earth.

 

[mattdeere1]

I would focus on either the south or west regions. The east has some great elk, but will mostly require some type of private land access. The few ranchers Ive met in the NE only allow trespass hunts to people they know and have relationships with. The south region has more forgiving terrian and very high elk numbers from what Ive seen, but prob more hunters.
Im at 6 points and planning to hunt west region next fall if Im still on this earth.

Are you familiar with Area 100?

 

[Pagosa]

Are you familiar with Area 100?

No Im not. Spent most of my time working in the eastern side.