New Or Noteworthy For This Year

April 7, 2024, Wyoming snow water equivalent map.

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April 7, 2023, Wyoming snow water equivalent map.

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April 7, 2022, Wyoming snow water equivalent map.

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April 7, 2021, Wyoming snow water equivalent map.

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April 7, 2020, Wyoming snow water equivalent map.

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April 7, 2019, Wyoming snow water equivalent map.

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April 7, 2018, Wyoming snow water equivalent map.

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April 7, 2017, Wyoming snow water equivalent map.

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Wyoming grizzly bear range in 1990 and 2020.

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Wyoming's Mule Deer Breakdown

Wyoming's Antelope Breakdown

WYOMING'S 2024 DEER AND ANTELOPE APPLICATION OVERVIEW

Note: The application deadline for Wyoming deer and antelope is May 31, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. MT. You can Apply online here.

Preference point reminder

Other important information

GOHUNT Insiders can research draw odds for female species within their account. Log into your account, hover over the Insider icon in the header bar. When the pop-up box appears, click on the “draw odds” link near the top of the box. Next, select Wyoming as the state and then either resident or nonresident regular draw as your residency. When the list of species appears, scroll down towards the bottom to find antlerless deer and doe/fawn antelope.

State Information

View important information and an overview of the Wyoming rules/regulations, the draw system, SuperTag and SuperTag Trifecta, tag and license fees and an interactive boundary line map on our State Profile. You can also view the Wyoming Species Profiles to access historical and statistical data to help you find trophy areas.

IMPORTANT DATES AND INFORMATION

*Applicants must front the entire cost of the licenses they apply for. There is also a 2.5% processing fee to the total amount. *Archery license is $72 for nonresidents and $16 for residents. *Reduced price licenses are valid for doe/fawn deer and antelope.

Snowpack in Wyoming

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Grizzly country

Since 2000, the grizzly population has continued to grow and expand well beyond the Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone. The grizzly bear population is now the largest it has ever been going into 2023. The estimated population, as of late 2021, for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population was 1,069 bears. This estimate is almost three times larger than the time at which grizzlies were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The 2021 population estimate is most surely even lower than what is actually on the landscape. 

The potential for hunter conflict is a real cause for concern, especially on or near a carcass. If hunting in occupied grizzly bear areas is something you do not want to do, please do some research and apply for areas where that is not an issue. Grizzly bears primarily occupy the ranges in and around Yellowstone National Park and southeast down into the Wind River Range. The Bighorn Mountains and the Medicine Bow Mountains are currently unoccupied according to the data. Those areas as well as the rolling grass and sage steppe throughout the central part of the state are your best options if you truly want to avoid conflict. See the map below for estimated grizzly bear range.

The draw system

UNDERSTANDING THE DRAW

Wyoming’s draw system for resident deer and antelope is completely random with no point system. Residents can also purchase general season deer licenses over-the counter (OTC). 

Residents are allocated 80% of the licenses while nonresidents are allocated 20% of the licenses. Nonresident licenses are split in a couple different ways. The first is that nonresident licenses are split into two draws, a regular draw and a special draw. The nonresident regular draw is allocated 60% of the nonresident licenses. The special draw is allocated 40% of the nonresident licenses. The licenses, once drawn, are exactly the same; however, the cost of the special license is over $800 dollars more than the regular license. The trade off for paying the higher cost of the special license is that fewer people are generally willing to pay the higher price and the odds of drawing are better in many cases. 

In both the regular and special draw, 75% of the licenses are guaranteed to nonresident applicants who apply with the most preference points for any given hunt. The remaining 25% of the licenses are randomly drawn with the remaining applicants for any given hunt with no weight given to the number of points each applicant has. There must be a minimum of four nonresident licenses available for one to be allocated to an applicant in the random draw. When looking at the Insider standalone draw odds, if there is some percentage displayed throughout the preference point values, it indicates that there were enough licenses that some were randomly allocated. If you apply and there are at least four nonresident licenses available, you have a random chance to draw.

Nonresidents who apply in the draw and are unsuccessful do not automatically receive a preference point. This is uncommon in most western states. In Wyoming, if you are unsuccessful in the draw, you still have to visit the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) website from July 1 through Oct. 31, 2024 to purchase those preference points. Preference points are species specific. You cannot use deer preference points for antelope or vice versus. 

HUNT CHOICES

Wyoming allows applicants to apply for up to three hunt choices. They consider every applicant's first choice before moving to any applicant’s second choice. You will only lose your preference points if you draw your first choice. If you draw a second or third choice, you will retain your points and will draw the license. If you draw a license as a second and third choice, you can then also purchase a point in the summer point only timeframe for that year. To review your draw odds as a second choice, open the standalone draw odds, select Wyoming, your desired residency and then within the filters on the right portion of the page change the “choice” drop down from first to second. That will show you the odds of all hunts as a second choice on your application.

HUNT TYPES

Wyoming categorizes their hunting licenses by type.

Type 1 and 2 licenses are full priced any weapon licenses, but those hunts can also be hunted with a bow during the special archery season. The lucky license holder just needs to buy the OTC archery stamp to hunt during those early season archery dates. If you buy the stamp and bowhunt and are unsuccessful in your efforts, you can still return to hunt during the rifle hunt and fill your license then. Be sure to review the current regulations for specific dates and units that allow that opportunity. The nonresident archery stamp is $72.

GROUP APPLICATIONS

Wyoming will allow up to six people to apply on a party application for deer and antelope. Residents and nonresidents cannot apply together in a party application. Party applications have their preference points averaged out to the fourth decimal point. For example, a party application of three hunters with nine, five and two preference points will go into the draw with 5.3333 points (9+5+2=16/3=5.3333). The party is treated as a single application and, if it’s drawn, all members of the party will receive a license. Wyoming will allocate permits over the hunt quota to cover a party application, so there is no decrease in odds for group applications.

LEFTOVER LICENSES

WGFD conducts a second draw for leftover deer and antelope licenses that remain after the initial drawing. There is no cost to apply and no point system. Your preference points will not be impacted by applying and drawing in the second leftover draw. 

The application period for leftover deer and antelope drawing is likely to be between June 24 to 28, 2024.

Results of the leftover drawing will be available by early July and licenses remaining after that will go on sale on a first come, first served basis a few days later.

Wyoming was once one of the most exciting opportunities to hunt mature mule deer in the West. Unfortunately, that’s no longer the case. There are a few bright spots, but generally speaking, Wyoming’s mule deer are struggling almost statewide. Recovery is going to require several years to rebound and that is assuming Mother Nature offers favorable conditions. Any prolonged drought or another winter like 2022/2023, and Wyoming mule deer hunting is going to struggle for decades. In addition to license cuts, Wyoming’s nonresident preference point system is 18 years old and, without offering more licenses, point creep could be rough. In 2024, the cost of the special nonresident license will be increased by $826 in an attempt to offer better draw odds to those applicants willing to pay the higher price. The likely fall-out is that the top-tier hunts will still require maximum points for both the regular and special draw with the total cost being in excess of $1,200 for the special license. I do believe that for those willing to apply in the special draw for low- to mid-preference point hunts, those odds will get much better. Overall, Wyoming’s mule deer hunting is in bad shape and yet they still continue to offer unlimited OTC resident general season deer tags. I love Wyoming, but it's getting tougher for nonresidents to continue to apply and hope for a hunt that is on par with the cost. There is a lot of doom and gloom surrounding mule deer hunting in Wyoming, but for those that have already invested into the point system or those that just want a chance to hunt, let's explore some of the silver linings. 

The top-tier units in the GOHUNT hit list below offer great hunting for trophy bucks. The Unit 128 Type 1 hunt is still very good and lucky applicants will see a good number of bucks with a good chance at a big buck. Units 101 and 102 are also still great hunts as well. Units 87, 89 and 130 are good hunts, and the number of mature bucks has remained relatively stable. Unit 141 has struggled some in terms of population, but is worth considering with a few less than maximum points required to draw. I left Region G and H on the hit list even though those general region licenses are a fraction as good as what they were just a few years ago. Yet, the bucks that did survive the harsh winter of 2022/2023 and will be coming into the spring and summer months of 2024 with great body conditions and antler growth should also be very good. Even with the decreased number of deer in those general regions, I expect to see a handful of trophy caliber bucks taken there in 2024. Another couple of pockets worth considering are the units in the 117-120 area. Those areas did not experience quite the level of severe winter impacts that the more southern areas of the western range did. Finally, units near the south-central portion of the state are worth considering for the number of points they require; Units 80, 81 and 84 are worth a look. Be aware that Units 80 and 81 will see license cuts so it will require more points to draw and the random area will be worse. 

Finally, for those applicants that are just looking for an opportunity to go hunting and have a chance at any buck there are plenty of opportunities. Wyoming has ample amounts of public land to hunt as well. I did a quick search within standalone draw odds and there are 10 general regions that nonresidents had 100% odds in the regular draw with just one preference point. If a hunter wants to get out and hunt mule deer in Wyoming, there is still a good opportunity, just make sure your expectations are realistic. The trophy potential and number of bucks on the landscape is not what it once was, but there are hunts that someone can go on no matter how many points they have.

LIMITED QUOTA AND GENERAL SEASON HUNTING

Wyoming offers both general season hunting and limited quota hunts. Residents can simply purchase the general season deer hunting license OTC and hunt any general season/area in the state. Nonresidents must draw general region licenses. There is no OTC general season deer hunting for nonresidents.

Below in the tables you will see the proposed mule deer license quotas for 2024 and 2023. If you do not see a unit you were considering, there was no change to the number licenses that are likely to be offered. There were some general season units that will see license cuts for nonresidents, including Regions B, G, H, L, Q, R and X. Limited quota hunts in Units 10, 22, 78, 79, 80 and 81 will see license cuts in 2024. The only exception was a Unit 22 Type 2 hunt that will have 250 total licenses.

Below are my top picks for trophy caliber deer for 2024.

Managing deer preference points and expectations

The maximum number of nonresident preference points for deer is 18 going into the 2024 draw.

Wyoming slashed license numbers in 2023 in response to what was one of the most severe winters in history. It cut over 10,000 licenses and, by reviewing proposed license numbers in 2024, it’s clear that some of those were cut precautionarily. In many areas, there will be more licenses in 2024 than there were in 2024. Even though the statewide population is lower than it has been in decades, Wyoming still has the largest antelope population and it will still issue in excess of 6,500 nonresident licenses this year. The outlook for antelope hunting is better than it is for mule deer. Herds through the central portion of the state were not impacted as badly as was anticipated and antelope populations tend to recover much quicker due to a higher fawn production ratios. While it’s going to take several more years of favorable weather conditions and habitat management, hunting in 2024 will be good and hopefully continue to improve going forward. Wyoming has a vast amount of antelope habitat and the silver lining of the winter moisture Wyoming received was that habitat is in better condition than it was during previous drought years. In addition, the summer and fall of 2023 was good for moisture, and this winter was relatively mild. Overall, herds should increase due to prolific fawn production and horn growth will be good going into the fall of 2024. While I still believe Wyoming has many more years and hurdles to face to get back on track, I do think applicants should plan to apply and, at a minimum, purchase preference points this year. 

Looking over draw odds for 2023, it’s apparent that many applicants were concerned about the winterkill of 2022/2023 and withheld their application and purchased points only. While I anticipate that a chunk of those applicants will return to apply in 2024, I don’t believe that it will return to pre-2022 levels. For one reason, I think applicants are still hesitant because of the past winter mortality and, secondly, I believe the increased cost of the special nonresident license will cause some applicants not to apply and purchase a point only once again. Another impact of recent changes is that I believe there will be a large number of applicants that would have applied in the special draw now changing their application to the regular draw. As you can see, there are a lot of factors that are going to impact odds in this year's draw and, while I can not predict exactly what will happen for each hunt, I can pretty assertively state a few things that are going to happen. 1) There will be added point creep in the regular draw. 2) Odds in the special draw for low- to mid-tier preference point hunts will improve and the number of points to draw those will decrease. 3) There will be more applicants applying in 2024 than there were in 2023, but not as many as there were in the previous years prior to 2023.

Historically, draw odds for antelope are tied closely to the amount of public land that exists in a unit. The more accessible public BLM and state land that exists in a unit, the tougher the licenses have been to draw. There are many units that either have a limited amount of public land or the unit is largely checkerboarded with private and public land, and corner crossing is still up in the air in regards to it being a viable access option. Because of this, these areas are easier to draw and may still offer a decent hunt. Many areas that are mostly private have guides and outfitters who offer hunts on private lands. If you are willing to pay for a guided hunt, those areas can be drawn and offer a good hunt. The other option is to research units for potential access. Some areas have decent amounts of public lands, but you will be required to find the access points and be willing to hike. Some areas have country roads that cross through public and private land, and you will be able to hunt public sections that touch an open country road. Be aware that you are limited to those public accessible sections and will need to cover ground to attempt to encounter antelope that you can hunt. These types of hunts may not provide the type of hunt you want, but it is an option to explore. 

Wyoming has good walk-in access and wildlife habitat management areas (WHMA) that are accessible to hunters. An area may appear to have a very limited amount of public land, but through one or both of these programs, there can be more than enough land to still offer a good hunt. Before you rule out an area due to public land limitations, we recommend that you take a look at the unit maps and review the layers for walk-in access and WHMAs.

With that, there are some considerations for applicants. The cost of the special draw is $1,200, which is a lot of money for an antelope license; however, if you are willing to put that money into the license, I would highly suggest that you go that route because odds will be better. The horn growth is going to be quite good in 2024 and, if you can draw a license, I think this would be a good year to do so. There will definitely be less hunting pressure on the landscape than there was prior to 2022 and there are still good numbers of bucks on the landscape relative to other states. Lastly, even if you cannot afford the special draw, I do think it’s worth applying in the regular draw as the price is still reasonable. If you do not have the points to draw the hunt you want in the regular draw, I would suggest applying for quality hunts since there is a random chance to draw and all applicants in the random portion of that draw have equal odds of drawing. Lastly, even if you decide not to apply in the draw, I would highly suggest that you purchase a preference point during the July through October timeframe. With habitat conditions improving and the ability of antelope herds to rebound quite quickly, it’s highly possible that licenses will continue to increase in the coming years.

THE GOHUNT HIT LIST AREAS FOR WYOMING ANTELOPE

The table below displays hunts that are generally within the three to eight preference point level in last year's draw. It’s important to note that with the cost of the special license increasing to $1,200t it’s likely to increase the number of points to draw in the regular draw and decrease the number of points to draw in the special draw. This is much more likely for hunts that have fallen into the mid-tier point levels. The best units in the state for trophy caliber are not going to change all that much because applicants who have been waiting 10+ years to draw are much more likely to still put up the $1,200 license fee. It’s hard to predict exactly how much, but it will not surprise me if it requires two points more to draw hunts in the regular draw and two points less to draw in the special draw. That two point number is purely based on gut intuition — and it could be even more exaggerated — but there will be some swing in the regular to special odds and number of points to draw. 

Below I have included hunts that had some chance of being drawn as a second choice in the draw. It’s worth noting that most of those are only available in the special draw. My gut feeling is that this list of units that could be drawn as a second choice in the special draw will grow in this upcoming draw because there will be far fewer people willing to pay the special draw cost to apply. There will be more hunts that are available as a second choice. Remember that if you draw a hunt as a second choice you will retain any preference points that you have accrued and be able to purchase a preference point this year. It’s hard to predict, but if you are considering some of these hunts as a second choice, look at the table below and also look at hunts that only required one or two points as some may slip into second choice territory this year.