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Wyoming All Species Points Only

Erik Schell

| October 19, 2018

Erik Schell
October 19, 2018

Without question, the Consulting team at WTA TAGS field more phone calls on Wyoming hunting opportunities than any other state in the West. This can be attributed to the diverse hunting opportunities that exist across this game-rich state.

Wyoming truly offers a hunt that falls under every sportsmen’s bucket list of “must do” adventures. If the following three trips are not on your bucket list I highly suggest penciling them in:

Eastern Wyoming Mule Deer/ Pronghorn Antelope Combination Hunt: The high prairies of eastern Wyoming are home to enormous private ranches that contain plentiful numbers of mule deer and antelope. Generally speaking, one can say, that northeastern Wyoming contains such high deer and antelope numbers, most hunters leave this great state simply amazed. These hunts average almost 100% success, making them a great option for every sportsmen, from the first-timer to the expert hunter looking to add a great set of mounts to the collection.

Northeastern Combo Hunt: http://worldwidetrophyadventures.com/outfitter-profile?hunt_id=1199

Southeastern Combo Hunt: http://worldwidetrophyadventures.com/outfitter-profile?hunt_id=1514

Northwestern Wyoming Horseback Elk Hunt: No hunt embodies the West quite like climbing aboard a trusty horse and heading into some of the wildest country left in the lower 48. The beauty of the backcountry landscape only adds to the overall experience. This landscape is rough, requiring a hunter to be both mentally and physically capable of pushing the hardships which always accompany such an adventure. Elk numbers have been consistent over the last decade and shot opportunity, with the right outfitter is high, often times above 75%. Occasionally giant bulls are harvested on these hunts, but the norm falls under nice 5X5 and 6X6 bulls. The stories made, and experiences lived on these hunts are what make any bull harvested in this enormous country the painting of a true trophy.

Wilderness Elk Hunt From Cabins: http://worldwidetrophyadventures.com/outfitter-profile?hunt_id=1671

Wilderness Elk Hunt From Wall Tents: http://worldwidetrophyadventures.com/outfitter-profile?hunt_id=1345

Trophy Antelope: Wyoming is home to the largest population of antelope and due to improved range conditions we are set to experience the “glory days” of Wyoming antelope hunting over the next few years. Wyoming not only leads the U.S. in overall population but it also leads in overall Boone & Crockett Record Book entries. The southwestern quarter of Wyoming leads the state in trophy production, with certain units within this area being drawable with as few as three preference points.

Public Land Trophy Antelope: http://worldwidetrophyadventures.com/outfitter-profile?hunt_id=1662

Private Ranch Trophy Antelope: http://worldwidetrophyadventures.com/outfitter-profile?hunt_id=1327

The one common denominator to all of these hunts- You must have preference points to draw a tag! Understanding the Wyoming licensing process or leaning on a service such as WTA TAGS is pivotal when planning these hunts. Tags in Wyoming are issued through a fairly predictable, preference point, draw style system that contains a random element. This meets the best of both worlds, as those who need to plan hunts can do so, and those looking to “get lucky” always have a chance. Tags for most hunts are split with 75% of the tags being awarded to applicants with the most preference points and the remaining 25% going randomly to all other applicants regardless of preference point status. Each and every year WTA TAGS has countless clients harvest once-in-a-lifetime type trophies utilizing the random draw. To maximize random draw odds applicants need to be up to date on unit trends, historical draw data, and any/all changes in tag quotas which can be extremely time consuming.

Wyoming does allow hunters to purchase preference points for all species during their point only period – DEADLINE October 31^st. Even if you have no intention of hunting Wyoming in the next five years, do yourself a favor, begin building points!

If you would like to begin purchasing preference points in Wyoming, have questions regarding the Wyoming draw system, or would like to discuss one of WTA’s great Wyoming hunts – please shoot us an email at tags@trophyadventures.com or feel free to give us a call- 1-800-755-TAGS (8247).

To view a complete listing of all hunts offered by WTA within the state of Wyoming please click;

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Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

Preference Point Deadline: October 31, 2025

The deadline to purchase Wyoming preference points is October 31. If WTA is already managing your TAGS applications, you’re all set. If not, don’t miss the chance to secure points this year. It’s the perfect time to talk with a TAGS consultant to start a new portfolio or grow your existing one.

Wyoming’s system is unique. Unlike other states, you don’t automatically receive a preference point if you’re unsuccessful in the draw. Instead, you must log in after July 1 and purchase your points separately. Building points is critical if you want a shot at drawing a Wyoming tag. Over-the-counter opportunities are a thing of the past. Today, only 25% of non-resident tags are issued randomly. The other 75% go to applicants with the highest point totals.

If you want to hunt big game in Wyoming, building preference points isn’t optional…it’s essential.

Watch Wyoming Video

While preference points are an investment in the future, don’t let that keep you from starting now. While Wyoming has units that require 18+ points, there are also good opportunities to hunt sooner. There are elk, deer, and antelope hunts that can be drawn with 0–3 points. Think about it this way—the more points you have, the more options you have.

View Wyoming TAGS Hunts

Serious hunters know that Montana is home to some of North America’s most coveted species: Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, Shiras moose, mountain goat, and antelope. The key to unlocking these dream hunts is building points, and the deadline to secure your bonus point for this year is September 30.

Montana squares bonus points in its draw system, and hunters with more points gain a significant advantage in the draw. If you’ve ever dreamed of chasing a record bull, a giant ram, or a heavy-horned buck in Montana, strategically building points will put you in the best position to find success in upcoming seasons.

Watch Montana Video Rocky Mountain Elk

Montana consistently produces exceptional trophy bulls, making elk the most sought-after species in the state. Archery permits are especially appealing, often requiring only 4–7 years to draw—a remarkably short time period compared to other western states. Rifle permits can often be drawn with a similar point investment, though trophy quality is slightly lower on average. Many of these hunts take place on expansive private ranches, providing hunters with excellent opportunities and high success rates.

View All…

Dialed In: A 360-Inch Bull Elk and the Luck that Made It Happen

Winning one hunt sweepstakes through Worldwide Trophy Adventures feels like a long shot, but winning two? That’s the kind of luck I still can’t fully wrap my head around. I started entering WTA sweepstakes a few years ago, taking full advantage of their Bonus Bucks program and hoping to win someday. I’ve hunted whitetails in Minnesota’s flat woods, mule deer out West, and Sitka blacktails in Alaska’s rugged country, but this was different. When Worldwide Trophy Adventures called to tell me I’d won their 2024 Nevada bull elk hunt, just a year after winning a Utah mule deer hunt from them, I was stunned. Two sweepstakes wins in two years? Unreal. And the icing on the cake? I’d be hunting with a crew that truly knows their elk. As Erik Schell put it: “John, when it comes to elk, these guys are paid killers.” He wasn’t wrong.

I opted to drive from Minnesota to keep costs down and bring back as much meat as possible. I loaded my truck with Yeti coolers and hit the road for the long drive, stopping in Denver for a steak dinner with a hunting buddy before tackling the last 10 hours to Baker, Nevada. That stretch through Loveland Pass was sketchy with snow and ice, and on the way back I detoured through Gillette, Wyoming to avoid a 30″ Denver snow dump. Long haul, but worth it to have my truck for the meat.

Baker is a speck of a town, population 16, just shy of the Utah line. The outfitter set us up in an Airbnb called The Corner Place. It was homey, with enough beds for me, another hunter, and the guide crew. The kitchen had stacks of premade meals like casseroles and snacks, whipped up by the outfitter’s wife. We heated them up after long days, but if we got back late, we’d hit the Border Crossing, a bar and greasy spoon split between Nevada and Utah. One side had slot machines, the other a gas station. We’d grab burgers and a bucket of Budweiser, the guide Richie’s favorite, and swap stories. It was simple, but it hit the spot.

The outfitter’s team was world-class. They’d been scouting for a week, pinpointing a bachelor group of bulls in a canyon 20 miles north. That first night, we sat around the Airbnb’s kitchen table sipping beers and scrolling through their scouting videos. Three bulls stood out: a beat-up 6×6 they called Bondo, a heavy 5×5, and a narrower 7×7. We decided to hit the canyon at dawn.

Day one was no joke. Richie, my guide, led me up the mountain before light, climbing a couple thousand feet. The air was a bit thinner than in Minnesota, but Richie kept a steady pace. Two spotters, Cameron and Ryan, worked the opposite canyon rim. It felt like I had the dream team for this once-in-a-lifetime elk hunt. We eased onto a rock ledge about 400 yards above a bench where five bulls were feeding: Bondo, the 5×5, a thin 6×6, a young 5×5, and a spike. No 7×7. This was the first time I was faced with taking a bull elk, but Richie talked me through it. “The 5×5’s got 30 inches of mass per side, swords in the 20s, probably 9 or 10 years old. Scores at least 330. Solid first bull.”

I went prone on the ledge, dialing my Gunwerks Nexus in 7 PRC to 387 yards. Richie double-checked: “386 yards.” Right as I lined up, the bull bedded down. Great. I’d waited out a mule deer for five hours once, so I knew the drill. Lying on snow with a 20° northwest wind kicking up, I started shivering after an hour. Richie saw it. “You good? We can back off, build a fire, or shoot him bedded. There’s a branch over some of his vitals. Can you slip a round under it?”

I’d put in time at Gunwerks’ Long-Range University: a hands-on, no-BS school that focuses on real-world shooting conditions, not just benchrest skills. They train you to read wind, manage stress, and make clean, ethical shots in exactly the situations that hunters face in the field. I knew my rifle, my dope, and my limits. “I got it,” I said. I checked the yardage, my level, controlled my breathing, and squeezed. The bull collapsed. “You smoked him!” Richie said. When he tried to get up, a second round finished it.

Reaching the bull was an experience I won’t forget. I’ve taken plenty of deer over the years, but this 360″ elk was in a league of its own—sheer mass, thick beams, and antlers that looked heavy even from a distance. Standing over him, the scale of the hunt hit me. We built a small fire, took photos, and soaked in the moment. Then came the hard part. The canyon was steep and treacherous, slick with snow and loose shale. I took a spill on the descent, and every step down was a test of footing and balance with meat on our backs. It took over three hours to reach the canyon floor and get the bull out, but it was worth every bit of effort. Back at camp, we celebrated the way hunters do—cold beers and a good story to tell.

We caped the bull that night and packed the meat in coolers, though it was cold enough outside to keep everything fresh. I hung around a few days, spotting for the other hunter’s bull, glassing canyons, and enjoying the Nevada backcountry. No pressure, just good times behind the glass. When I left, I strapped the antlers to my truck, crammed the coolers in, and drove 24 hours straight home, still buzzing. Back in Minnesota, I vacuum-sealed the meat, enough for months of meals, and dropped the rack with a taxidermist for a shoulder mount.

This hunt was as good as it gets. The outfitter knew every inch of that country, had bulls dialed in, and gave me options. For a guy who’s now won two WTA sweepstakes, I’ll tell you straight: these hunts are real and the sweepstakes are worth it. Nevada’s elk country and that crew of “paid killers” gave me a bull and a story I’ll be telling for years.

Don’t miss your chance to enter to win this world-class elk hunt in Nevada. The entries are limited…only 1,750 total entries, giving you very good odds of winning this elk valued at $72,000!

Enter the Nevada Elk Sweepstakes