4 preference points in WY

[goathunter]

what would you do with 4 preference points in WY? I'm not interested in spending the money on a special tag. thanks

[Airborne1]

I'd save my points this year if I had 4 pp. Based on everything I have read the antelope numbers are way down this year

[Umpqua Hunter]

There will be PLENTY of pronghorn to hunt, fish and game will adjust numbers according to the herd size, and success will be up near 90%. You should have no problem taking a nice pronghorn. A lot of units have doe tags cut way back which will put fewer hunters in the field.

Future years may be tough as I am hearing about lower fawn numbers which will affect the numbers of trophy bucks in 3-4 years.

If a top end trophy is important to you, you possibly might want to wait. The drought from last year may have affected the tops of the horn growth which starts in November, but good moisture so far may be indicating better than expected horn growth this spring. My gut says there will be equivalent trophy quality as last year. There are always going to be a few big antelope, it just takes more work to sort through them on an off year.

Last year, on the year so many are complaining about, one of the best pronghorn outfitters I know of in the US guided for 12 bucks on at least 5 different Wyoming units (public land I believe) and took the following bucks 91 4/8, 88 2/8, 88 2/8, 86 6/8, 86 4/8, 85 2/8, 85 2/8, 85, 83 4/8, 83, 82, 81. The median buck in that group is 85 2/8", and all but one scores at or above the B&C minimum. That just goes to show that Wyoming has big bucks even in off years, and that most pronghorn hunters have a very, very, very hard time sizing up trophy bucks.

See the last 12 bucks in this string of photos:

http://www.pronghornguideservice.com/recent-photos.html

If you are only applying in the regular draw, it may be a good year as far as draw odds since a lot of guys are scared about the drought.

One of these years, I am going to just take 2 weeks in Wyoming to hunt antelope and nothing else else until I find a mid 80s buck.

[WapitiBob]

You will just need to see what units you can draw if you really want to burn your points. Begin looking at units that start with a 4 and work up to units that start with a 6.

[goathunter]

well I was looking at 78 and 80 but haven't found alot of positive information about them

[Eberle]

Unit 63, lots of public & good bucks.

[Umpqua Hunter]

well I was looking at 78 and 80 but haven't found alot of positive information about them

Low antelope densities in Unit 78 and 80. You can draw FAR better units with 4 points.

[oldbobinjoseph]

I too have 4 points for Antelope (as well as deer and Elk) keep waiting for my Marine son to be able to go as he has like points but not so again this year so I'm putting in for goat anyway. Don't really want to burn my points in the hope he can go next year so was thinking of doing the special draw and going for unit 57 as first and #71 as second with the hopes of drawing #71 and saving my points. Any thoughts and/or recommendations...?

[Umpqua Hunter]

That's a great strategy putting in for a great unit first and a unit you can draw as you second choice, go hunting and gain a point. One thing though, the reports on 57 have not been good the last could years. I think there are better choices than 57 for that your choice.

[oldbobinjoseph]

I too have 4 points for Antelope (as well as deer and Elk) keep waiting for my Marine son to be able to go as he has like points but not so again this year so I'm putting in for goat anyway. Don't really want to burn my points in the hope he can go next year so was thinking of doing the special draw and going for unit 57 as first and #71 as second with the hopes of drawing #71 and saving my points. Any thoughts and/or recommendations...?

Thanks UH. I chose #57 ONLY because, according to EHJ it required the most points...Guess I should consider the possibility of getting drawn, huh? What do you suggest?