Wyoming Draw Odds

Wyoming uses a preference point system. Preference points guarantee that applicants with more points are drawn before those with fewer points. The applicant with the most points gets first pick. Wyoming uses a true preference-point queue for residents and a 75/25 split for non-residents, with 75% of non-resident tags going to the top point holders and the remaining 25% randomized among everyone else. Non-resident elk is famously squeezed: the state caps non-resident allocation around 16% of total tags, and special-fee licenses for premium units pull from a separate, more expensive pool. Wyoming preference points roll over indefinitely with no expiration, so a 90-year-old hunter with 28 points still sits ahead of a 45-year-old with 27. The application calendar is the trap: deadlines fall in late January, months earlier than most western states, and missing the cutoff means burning a year of point accrual. Most hunters set a calendar reminder for January 1 every year.

The Wyoming draw application deadline is typically January 31. Results are usually posted Late May. Always verify dates with the Wyoming wildlife agency as they can change annually.

Wyoming offers draw permits for: Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope, Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat, Bison. Some species like elk and deer may have both general and limited-entry options depending on the unit.

Wyoming charges $50 per point application. Points can be purchased during the application period and are typically valid for future years.

Wyoming elk draw success rates range from 7.8% to 9.4% depending on unit type. General units have the best odds at approximately 9.4%.