For the 2020 application season, Wyoming Game and Fish Department has made some big changes in how they are conducting their nonresident elk draw.

New Draw Result Date for Nonresident Elk

The application period for nonresident elk is still January 2 at 8 a.m. through January 31. But nonresidents now have until May 8 to modify or withdraw their applications. An even more significant change is nonresident elk draw results will now be published the third week of May. According to WYGF, this new change is meant to give applicants more information before the draw. “In the past, nonresident elk hunters finalized their applications long before the Game and Fish Commission approved the seasons in April,” said Jennifer Doering, Game and Fish license section manager.With the change, nonresidents will be able to withdraw or modify their application once the 2020 season information is finalized in April by the Game and Fish Commission. “Now licenses will be issued based on final and approved season information,” Doering said.

How Could This Impact You?

This new draw result date could greatly impact how many people apply for nonresident elk in Wyoming or even if they keep their application in. Now you'll not know if you draw Wyoming elk for an additional three months! In 2019, the nonresident elk draw results were released on February 21 at 10:00 am MST. If you don't draw, that application money refund could have been used for other states like in years past, so now you are having to float that money for a lot longer. Just think about how this will impact families who all apply for Wyoming elk? That's a lot of money on a credit card, for a long time!

Also, by the time you find out the Wyoming elk draw results, you will potentially have already found out if you drew tags in Alaska, Arizona (elk, antelope), Wyoming (moose, sheep, goat, bison), Utah (all species), Nevada guide draw, Montana (deer, elk), New Mexico guide draw, all species in New Mexico, Colorado (bighorn sheep, mountain goat), and potentially Idaho (moose, sheep, goat). So some people might decide to modify their application and pull their name out of the hat if they have drawn tags in other states that are more of a priority to them. Wyoming went to one of the first hunts you had results for, to now, one of the last. Wyoming will publish an update on the 2020 deadlines at the end of December.

Another new change for 2020, is according to WYGF, they will not publish tentative season information in the application packet for elk, deer and antelope. Instead, hunters can reference the 2019 regulations and archery season dates on their Hunter Planner. Tentative season information for 2020 is available for moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat. The final hunting season information will be published on May 1, which will allow time for hunters to make modifications or withdraw applications.

In Summary