1st time in WY-DIY

[stephen schwartz]

Hey guys, this will be my first time hunting antelope (pending draw)-DIY. I've hunted in central WY 5 years ago with great success, but it was guided. Nothing against guides, but my goals are to hunt DIY now.

I've been sifting through info off the WY G&F site, MRS info, Google earth, etc and here's what I've come up with...

I've got 1 PP, and dont want to use it. So does that mean for my first choice, I need to put in for a unit that I cannot draw with 1PP, then put in for a unit that requires 0PP to draw as 2nd choice? That way I can hunt and still earn another PP.

Hopefully that makes sense.

But another question, is if anyone has any useful info for the following units, I would be very appreciative for any info.

Im thinking for the special draw unit 83 or 73 (1st choice), and units 41 and 47 (2nd choice).

If i do the regular draw Im thinking units 25, 39, or 16.

What do you think?

thanks for the help!

Stephen Schwartz

[brooks]

I would put in for area 58 first choice if you don't want to draw first choice and you will keep your 1 point. If you buy another point when you apply or in july/sept when they let you buy a point only then next year you will enter the draw with 2 points. If you really don't want to draw first choice and loose your point be careful of the special price draw because your odds go way up in alot of areas thats why I would put in for 58 it is very hard to draw that area.
One point and special will get you into alot of areas.

[ChadH]

Sounds like a plan. I am not sure that you can epect to draw a unit that needs 0 pp in the second though. You have to look at the draw odds on WDGF website and see how many tags are left over after the draw (look at the total number of tags left after all first choice PP applicants including 0). It may be that there aren't any tags left... or in some cases 1 0r 2 only. You still might draw in the random. Which is why I would question using 83 as a first choice. There are more tags, it doesn't take that many points to draw (you will draw it with 1 point in the special), and less pressure. So even if you didn't draw in the PP drawing you might in the random segment and if it was your first choice I beleive you would loose your pp's. I would put a Red Desert unit as my first choice. VERY slim chance you would draw, and if you did win the random draw lottery you would be the happiest guy around (though maybe not this year after the winter kill).... still you would have a great hunt and IF you do win that random draw GO IMMEDIATELY OUT AND BY LOTTERY TICKETS!

That is just my 2 cents worth... and that is 3 cents short of a nickel and 8 cents short of a dime.

[stephen schwartz]

Ok guys, sounds like yall are telling me to stay out of the special draw, which makes more sense, now that I think more about it. I'm new to this, and just have to wrap my head around it. So shoot for the moon on the first choice, then put in for something realistic on the 2nd?

[ChadH]

Ok guys, sounds like yall are telling me to stay out of the special draw, which makes more sense, now that I think more about it. I'm new to this, and just have to wrap my head around it. So shoot for the moon on the first choice, then put in for something realistic on the 2nd?

Hi Stephen.
It is really up to you, it's just that in the special you are going to draw 83 with 1 point (last year was 100% with 1 point in the special, and 40% with 0 points in the special). Check here for last years odds. http://gf.state.wy.us/web2011/Depart...ResSp_2011.pdf

If you want to put in for the special then make sure you put in for a unit that has an "almost Zero" chance of drawing (I say almost because you WON'T draw, say unit 58, even in the special with only 1 point, there was only a 30% chance with maximum points of 5 last year), but you have a super slim, almost 0% chance, in the random draw (last year, if it was your 1st choice in the special random, you had a 1 in 38 chance to draw, 38 people where in the running for 1 random tag). If you get it there, you just got one of the best tags in the state so smile). If you want to put in special then fine, it might help your 2nd choice odds a bit.... maybe.

The hard thing to find is an undersubscribed unit with public access. The units left for 2nd choice, after the 1st choice tags are taken out, are mostly hard access. It can be done, though I am still looking for a good 2nd choice unit myself.

Good luck, and shoot me a PM if you want the game warden and biologist phone numbers for 83. You might want to talk to them first, before you put in for that unit.

Chad

[EBOLAVIRS]

I think Eastmans blue chipped 83 this year, why I dont know, but the blue chip status will balloon the draw odds, you may not get it with one point. Look at other units that have been picked by the mags in the past to see what happened to the number of applications the year they were picked. That being said, the quality in 73 is better anyway. Examine the draw odds both special and regular, sometimes the odds are very similar so its not worth the extra dollars, but more often that not your odds will better in the special.

[ChadH]

I think Eastmans blue chipped 83 this year, why I dont know, but the blue chip status will balloon the draw odds, you may not get it with one point. Look at other units that have been picked by the mags in the past to see what happened to the number of applications the year they were picked. That being said, the quality in 73 is better anyway. Examine the draw odds both special and regular, sometimes the odds are very similar so its not worth the extra dollars, but more often that not your odds will better in the special.

We will have to see about what the draw odds do in 83, I would guess they will be higher, but personally I doubt the odds "balloon". All four of the units that are "blue chip" in that area of the state, and right next to 83, are 100% with 0 or 1 point in the special. The point, however, is that Steve said he DOESN'T want to draw anything but second choice, so he can save his points. That being the case, it doesn't seem a safe bet to gamble on 83's odds "ballooning" this year.

Steve, if you really WANT to hunt 83 that might be a different story. If that is the case, I would just say do your research, then put 83 as a first choice if it seems like it will be a good hunt to you. To me, I agree with EBO about 73 might.

[stephen schwartz]

Well Im certainly not stuck on 83, it just landed on my radar while looking through the draw odds... but like i said, I'd rather not draw first choice this year, and build my PP. I can work with a mediocre atntelope hunt this year and next, and then put in for a better unit in a few years.
Im trying to build my PP in different states, and still hunt a little. I know I probably wont draw a great tag, but just to get to hunt a decent unit, and have a chance at some respectable animals is where Im at right now. Gotta walk before you run.

I'll continue looking at draw odd for my 2nd choice.

Thanks to everyone for your input. I really do appreciate it!!