I’m planning to take my 13 year old boy on his first out of state hunt next fall to Wyoming for pronghorn. I’ve been there in unit9 the Lusk area twice about ten years ago, and at that time there were plenty of goats and some good access to land. I’m hearing the population is down there, and there’s not as much walk in area as there was ten years ago. I’m doing some online research for a new unit that we can draw with 1preference point that had some decent public land access. Anyone here have any advice as to units that would be good to check into?? Thanks in advance

I don't have the answer , but good luck on your hunt . Sounds like a great time . Keep us posted .

The draw odds blew up in 2020 due in large part to a huge increase in applicants, and also due to lower pronghorn populations in some areas of the state. The unit I drew in 2018 and 2019 with greater than an 80% chance of drawing with no points had a 6.5% chance in 2020. I don't think anybody has much of an idea of what is going to happen in 2021.

Ttt

There are some parts of Wyoming that don't have any snow yet. That may mean low moisture in the spring if something doesn't change it could lead to reduced tags available. The drawing odds went in the crapper last year due to covid. Many people by points year after year and don't always use when they could draw. They just keep building points. And when they finally apply it blows the point to draw ratio all to heck.
If people aren't back to work and the government is still handing out free money no way of telling how it will be this year.

So was last year’s draw percentages somewhat of an anomaly then with everyone deciding to dump their points and hunt? It’s been ten years since I’ve been out there, and only hunted unit9, drew with zero points both times and had great hunts. Seems like a lot has changed since then. I spoke with a biologist who said unit 7 would be good but not sure if it could be drawn with 1 point. The search continues, Thanks

Doe tags have sold out on the initial draw for the last 2 years.

It takes 5 to 10 points to hunt the big public land tracts.


There is more demand than product.


There won't be anymore casual western hunting on a whim.

I see a lot of pronghorns including decent bucks along the east side of Pathfinder Reservoir between Alcova and Miracle Mile. Good luck.

is there anywhere a person can get otc tag out west out pronghorn's,

The draw percentages for prior years are available on the Wy F&G website. You can see what happened last year vs previous years for any particular unit. I'm hoping things go back to normal but there are factors involved in addition to covid, which in itself could affect things for a couple of years. One factor is point creep and the other is the new for pay services that slice and dice the odds data for you (GoHunt.com, Eastman's TagHub, etc), which have made it easy for folks to identify units with high draw odds. The services can have an inverse effect on future odds by attracting more applicants than would have applied in the past. My personal guess, and that's all it is, is that the odds in general will slowly trend back towards what they were in the five years prior to 2020. If correct, and you have good odds based on the 2020 data, you should have good odds in 2021. However, point creep will keep the odds from ever reaching what they were previously and the for pay service effect can blow up any particular unit.

What EdP said.

Many units with good public land access used to have leftover tags for deer and antelope. Not any more.

Antelope units with low point requirements seem to be the same way.

Best bet is apply and see what happens. If you don't draw you'll earn a preference point.

Application deadline is May 31st.

I think the inventory has slowly diminished over the last 10 years. More people in the world with better equipment filling more tags. And they changed the draw to automatically add a doe tag if your draw a buck tag so no left over tags now. What OTC tag that are left you better bring your check book to get permission cause their will be minimal public access. And with all the new electronic hunter maps has allow for anybody to find any public land to run through. Its been getting tougher for the last 10 yrs for residence to get permission i could only image a nonresident.

The pronghorn tag application deadline is May 31 and the draw results are available June 17th. It used to be that when you applied you could opt to buy a preference point if not drawn. That option was eliminated a couple of years ago but if you are eligible to do so PP's can be bought during the preference point application period of July 1 - Oct 31.

So now the preference point is automatically given if you don't draw? It used to be you were given your money back minus the PP fee .

I haven't gone Lope hunting since 06'

No, you have to go buy a point.

As Marty said



The only way to get a PP is to buy it during the July 1-Oct 31 PP application period, and you are eligible only if you did not draw a tag (including both if you did not apply for a tag AND if you applied for a tag but were not drawn). I don't know how OTC tags affect this process.

I draw almost every year as a resident but know a lot of non residents that have the same luck. Trick is put in for an area that is mostly private and pay the trespass fee to a rancher. In most instances its a small amount with the total cost and effort in a hunt.

What is the range of trespass fees? I’m sure it depends, but what’s rough idea? This sounds like the way to go.

10 yrs ago it was $100 for an archery doe just south of Saratoga.