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Book Your Adventure 1-800-346-8747

Wyoming Should Be on Your Bucket List!

Jordan Roche
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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.

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Arizona’s Deer/Sheep Deadline: That’s a Wrap on the Draw Season!

Arizona’s Deer/Sheep Deadline: That’s a Wrap on the Draw Season!

The Arizona deer and sheep deadline on June 2 marks the end of another application season. There are a few minor draws and point-only periods coming up, but the major deadlines have passed and the draw results have been posted. I hope this is your year to draw an awesome tag! If not, you’ve built another valuable bonus point for your future. That’s the name of the game!

If you successfully drew a tag, you received a call from your dedicated WTA TAGS consultant informing you of your good fortune. If you drew a tag and haven’t booked with an outfitter, this needs immediate attention. WTA’s owner Mark Peterson said it best: “After finally drawing a great tag…don’t screw it up at the end…hire a reputable outfitter!”

Arizona Deadlines

Arizona has a staggered deadline for its limited-entry big game tags. June 2 marks the deadline to apply for deer and sheep tags. For deer, we’re talking about mule deer and coues deer. And for sheep, desert bighorn and Rocky Mountain bighorn are both available.

Mule Deer vs. Coues Deer

Applicants in Arizona are restricted to one deer application. The state considers two choices on the application. You can utilize two mule deer choices, or two coues deer choices, or one choice for each. For example, first choice mule deer, second choice coues deer.

Consider this quick, low-level consultation when deciding how to apply for deer in Arizona. Arizona boasts the best mule deer hunting in North America. It is truly the land of 200″. However, these deer reside in a handful of units with VERY limited non-resident tags. This is a tag you may never draw in your lifetime.

Arizona also boasts the best coues deer hunting in the West. Early hunts in October and November can easily be drawn with 0–3 bonus points and we offer highly successful adventures with our TAGS-endorsed outfitters. The more sought-after late coues hunts in December are more difficult to draw, but the tag can be drawn within 8 years, hopefully sooner.

Desert Bighorn vs. Rocky…
More than a Mount: A Bull Elk I’ll Never Forget

More than a Mount: A Bull Elk I’ll Never Forget

It’s one thing to chase a bull through the Nevada mountains…it’s another to relive that moment every day in your own home.

When I got the call that my elk mount was finished, I knew it would be special. But seeing it in person and having it in my home brings it full circle in a way I didn’t anticipate.

That Nevada hunt was already unforgettable. The climb in the dark still stands out. So does the moment everything came together on that rock ledge with the team behind the glass. It was hard earned and intense. Then suddenly, it was over. Like most hunts, it left me wishing I could hold onto the moment just a little longer.

Now I can. This mount is more than a display of an incredible bull elk. It takes me right back to that hunt and everything that came with it.

More than Just Antlers

When I look at this bull now, I don’t just see antlers. I see that canyon again. I remember the cold wind and the nerves settling in as I got prone for the shot.

I remember Richie behind me talking me through it. I remember the team working together like a machine. And I remember walking up on that bull for the first time, realizing just how big he really was.

That’s what a great mount does. It holds the memory, not just the animal.

Read the Full Hunt Story The Details Matter

New Mexico’s draw system is a 100% random lottery, which means you could draw the tag of a lifetime your first year in, or you could wait a decade. You either get lucky or you don’t. I’ve been applying in New Mexico for years, and honestly, this wasn’t the year I expected to get the call. I’d hoped to draw a Montana archery elk tag, so I applied for one of New Mexico’s most coveted rifle elk units, fully expecting to come up empty. But instead, I drew the New Mexico tag and didn’t draw in Montana. That’s how it goes sometimes, and I wouldn’t trade the way it played out for anything.

The unit I drew is a rare place with both the genetics and the age structure to produce truly exceptional bulls. But it’s not a high-volume elk area. You don’t see elk on every hillside. You go with the understanding that you might only lay eyes on a handful of animals, but they could be the bull of a lifetime. That tradeoff is something every hunter needs to consider before applying. Are you willing to grind it out for a chance at something special, taking the risk that it might be a boring hunt? For me, the answer was simple.

The Outfitter Made the Difference

When I drew this tag, I didn’t need to scramble to find an outfitter. WTA already had a relationship with a guide who routinely operates in this unit. Despite the extremely limited number of tags issued each year, this outfitter spends time in the area every season. That kind of consistency is invaluable. He sees the trends year after year. He knows where the bulls tend to hang out during the rut, where they go after it winds down, and how they move through the country as conditions change. That accumulated knowledge gave us a significant head start.

In fact, our outfitter had been in the unit the week prior with one of our clients on the second archery hunt, so he already had fresh intel on where two big bulls had been hanging out. That’s a huge advantage you can’t replicate on your own.

Getting There and Setting Up: A Day and a…

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