Book Your Adventure 1-800-346-8747
Book Your Adventure 1-800-346-8747

Wyoming Should Be on Your Bucket List!

Jordan Roche
|  
Location: Wyoming

Wyoming consistently produces for WTA clients, regardless of the species, and this year is no different. The 2022 season is in full swing, and we’ve had great reports come back thus far. So, if you did not put in for the draw this season or you haven’t started acquiring preference points in Wyoming, now is the time to do so. The point-only period runs through October 31, 2022.

The Cowboy state offers some of the best elk, deer, and antelope hunting in the country and I firmly believe everyone should have at least one, if not all species, on their bucket list. Building preference points will certainly put you in a position to have an amazing adventure. To reaffirm, about 75% of the tags for any given hunt in Wyoming are awarded to whomever applies with the most points and the remaining 25% are awarded randomly among all remaining applicants. So take advantage of this opportunity and don’t miss another year.

Sheep, moose, and goat went to 90% residents and 10% non-residents allocation split this past year, which has created some frustration for nonresidents, especially max point holders. With that taking place there has been rumored more potential changes in the point system. We don’t know exactly what will come to fruition, but as things progress, WTA consultants will keep clients informed and advised on an individual basis. If you are sitting on 10+ points for sheep, moose, or goat I would advise that you get another point until we can confirm what changes, if any, will be made to the system.

Regardless of your point status, WTA TAGS will assist you with the Wyoming draw process and discuss available hunting opportunities. (See the hunts below that still have availability for the 2023 season.)

The first step is to contact a WTA TAGS Consultant before the October 31 deadline. We can be reached at 800-755-TAGS (8247).

Elk Options for 2023

Trophy Bulls In Wyoming (8 Points Required to Draw)

This 4th generation, 65,000-acre private ranch can only be referred to as paradise for the discerning trophy bull elk hunter. Elk populations in the area are high and overall quality is exceptional with bulls in the 320–350+ class being the norm. Enormous private ranches dominate this unit and public hunting pressure is slim to none. As both the landowner and outfitter, the family takes great pride in the stewardship of the ranch and employs superior grazing practices in conjunction with a large man-made water network that is beneficial to wildlife.

World-Class Elk Hunting in Wyoming’s Bighorns

These world-class elk hunts take place on large private ranch in north-central Wyoming. With more than 30 years of Wyoming outfitting experience, this outfitter’s long-term success rate is near 100%. Most of the bulls taken on this hunt are 6×6s, scoring between 300 and 320 with top-end bulls going to 350+.

Deer Options for 2023

Wyoming High Country Mule Deer – Region G

This outfitter’s camp is located at the heart of some of the best big game hunting that Wyoming has to offer. Located in the Bridger Teton National Forest it encompasses the famous deer hunting of Wyoming’s Region G. This outfit is dedicated to providing an experience as well as an adventure of a lifetime.

Antelope Options for 2023

Easy-to-Draw Wyoming Antelope Hunts

Wyoming is second to none when it comes to antelope populations and hunting opportunities. This outfitter has land in two different areas that offers non-residents the chance to hunt antelope with as few as 0–1 point. These hunts take place on private property that holds lots of antelope.

Wyoming Specialized Trophy Antelope (1 Point Draw)

This specialized trophy pronghorn antelope hunt takes place in the rolling hills of north central Wyoming. Availability on this particular hunt is extremely limited—only six spots are offered per year to ensure quality is high. Multiple days of pre-scouting by your guide, in conjunction with limited hunting, ensures bucks exceeding the magical 80″ mark are the norm. Hunts are conducted on a combination of private land as well as public lands that are only accessible through private ranches.

Recent Articles

Top Wyoming Hunting Trips

Draw Required
Rocky Mountain Elk   ·
Wyoming
From 
$11,000
Outfitter #1075
Draw Required
Antelope   ·
Wyoming
From 
$3,250
Outfitter #802

Related Articles

Apply for Alaska’s Most Coveted Tags

Apply for Alaska’s Most Coveted Tags

Most sportsmen don’t think of the draw when contemplating a hunt in Alaska. That’s because, for most of the big…
Against the Odds: Drawing Back-to-Back Sheep and Goat Tags 

Against the Odds: Drawing Back-to-Back Sheep and Goat Tags 

Drawing a sheep tag with 1-in-5,300 odds is amazing. Drawing a mountain goat tag the next year? That’s lottery luck. That’s why it didn’t seem real when my WTA consultant, Jordan Roche, called me two years in a row with that news!

I’d been working with Jordan at WTA TAGS for about five years, letting him manage my hunting applications in multiple states while I focused on staying in shape for whatever hunts might come through. When he called about the Tok Range Dall sheep tag (the only non-resident permit out of 10 total), I knew it was special.

After the excitement of drawing my tag settled in, it was time to find the right outfitter to make my hunt a success. WTA recommended one of their top partners for that area and handled every detail. My outfitter made it clear: this would be a backpack hunt in some of Alaska’s toughest sheep country. At 64, with two hip replacements, I can’t run anymore. But I can hike. So that’s how I prepared—I hiked mile after mile with a weighted pack, knowing the Tok doesn’t care about age or medical history.

We went in a day and a half before the season opened and spotted a band of 14 rams, including one heavy-horned giant that immediately caught our attention. Then Alaska did what Alaska does best. Weather rolled in, the rams vanished, and we spent the three days scouring valleys and ridges to find them again.

When we finally relocated them, we had to break camp and make a major move. After a full day’s work, we spotted six rams bedding down as evening fell. The next morning, we made our play.

The wind that day was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It sounded like a freight train roaring up the mountain; gusting, dying, gusting again. At 320 yards, I had to time my shot during the lulls. My first shot went wide in the wind. The second shot dropped him—a beautiful 39″ ram. Honestly, I didn’t care about the number. That’s not why I hunt. I’m in it for the experience and a good animal. This ram was both.

The pack-out was its own adventure. We crossed the glacier-fed Tok River multiple times before Matt showed up with a Korean War-era military vehicle that could go just about anywhere. After nine days in the mountains, that slow, bumpy ride was a step up from travelling another 10 miles on foot. This was a trip I’ll never forget.

When Jordan called me in February 2025 to tell me I’d drawn a mountain goat tag, I actually laughed. “Figure out something for next year,” I told him, knowing the odds of a three-peat were one in a million. But first, it was time to prepare for my goat hunt.

I flew into Homer at the end of August, expecting to start hunting on Tuesday. By Monday evening, my outfitter, Paul, was warning me about the incoming weather. “We might not get you in until Friday,” he said. He wasn’t kidding. We sat through three days of howling wind, driving rain, and zero visibility before finally getting our chance.

Paul operates from a landing craft that serves as a mobile base camp. But getting from sea level to where the goats live? That was the hardest climb I’ve ever done, and I’ve completed five sheep hunts.

It was only 1,500 vertical feet, but every step came wrapped in devil’s club thorns, soaking brush, deadfall, and rain-slicked cliff bands. We hiked for what seemed like an eternity before stopping for the night to set up camp.

The next morning changed everything. Once above that coastal jungle, the alpine opened up to reveal why we’d suffered through that brutal climb. There were mountain goats everywhere. Good billies. The kind that makes you forget about devil’s club and exhaustion.

I took my billy on August 30, the first day of actual hunting after being sidelined due to weather. While packing him out, we witnessed something I’d never seen: ravens harassing a billy goat. They would swoop within inches of his head, and he’d swing his horns, trying to knock them away. Paul had told me about this strange relationship between ravens and goats, but seeing it firsthand was incredible.

The trip down gave us one more show. A black bear, fat from gorging on berries, army-crawled through the blueberry patches, entertained us from 400 yards away. I had a bear tag, but watching him was worth more than any trophy. Crossing salmon-choked streams on the way out completed the full Alaskan experience.

Both hunts worked because of solid preparation and connections with the right team. Jordan, my WTA consultant, had been helping me strategically build points and select units for years. When the draw results came through, WTA’s network meant proven outfitters were ready and handled every detail. They provided thorough gear lists, arranged logistics, and coordinated air charters. Everything was dialed in.

Some guys chase record books. Others chase hunting milestones. I finished my slam in 2019 with a desert ram, but what excites me most these days is the experience—the hunts that test you, humble you, and stay with you long after the pack is unloaded. When you work with the right people and put in the preparation, amazing things can happen. Jordan’s already working on my applications for 2026, so we’ll see what adventure comes through next.

Contact WTA TAGS to learn more about drawing the tags of your dreams: 1-800-755-8247

Get Started with WTA TAGS
Wyoming’s Preference Point Deadline Is Approaching: October 31

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

Get Trip Specials & Cancellations,
Right Where You Want It.

No spam. Just the good stuff. Opt-out anytime.