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Wyoming Elk Hunting // 2021 Availability

Erik Schell
|  
Species: Elk

Wyoming continues to be a favorite among the team at WTA TAGS when it comes to hunting bull elk. This fact is largely due to the diverse hunting opportunities available, coupled with the fact that quality bulls can be harvested in almost every unit and herds are thriving in terms of overall population. Going into the 2021 season, nearly every elk herd is above the Wyoming Game and Fish objective for total population.

Elk tags in Wyoming are awarded through a very predictable, preference point system that contains a “random” element. This means, 75% of the available tags are awarded to applicants with the most points and the remaining 25% are awarded to all other applicants randomly, regardless of point status. The deadline to apply into the 2021 Wyoming elk draw is February 1, 2021.

Demand for quality elk hunts is currently at an all-time high, if you do not see a hunt that fits your priorities, please reach out to one of our professional consultants who will assist you to find the hunt of your dreams. For additional information regarding the high quality opportunities listed below, please contact the WTA TAGS office by phone 1.800.755.8247 or email tags@trophyadventures.com

Hunts Available To Applicants With 0 Preference Points

Classic Western Wyoming Elk Hunt – NO Preference Points Required

Dates:  Archery – September 26-30  Rifle – October 2-6, 21-25 or 27-31, 2021

Do not miss this unique opportunity to hunt elk in Wyoming in 2021, you do not need preference points to book and draw odds will be near 100%. Western Wyoming offers some of the finest horseback style elk hunting available and this veteran outfitter is sure to deliver a great experience. Archery, crossbow and rifle hunts are available for the fall of 2021. Traditional wall-tent camps equipped with running hot water are utilized for all hunts.

Hunts Available To Applicants With 2-4 Preference Points

Southeastern Wyoming Private Ranch Elk Hunting

Dates:  Rifle October 15-19, 2021

This portion of southeastern Wyoming is home to a thriving elk herd that is over double the state objective. The quality of bulls are excellent as well, with several bulls scoring 300″+ every year! This operation is relatively small, which means greater attention to detail and customer service. These are resident elk and do not migrate due to the quality feed and low hunting pressure. Bulls are often spotted from four-wheel drive vehicles, then your hunt will be carried out on foot.

Wyoming Backcountry Horseback Elk Hunt

Dates:  Archery – September 5-11 or 12-18  Rifle October 24-30, 2021

This outfitter offers some of the finest wilderness elk hunts in western Wyoming. They hunt a mostly resident elk herd so they do not rely on heavy snows or migration to ensure success. The areas hunted have not been affected by wolves like some of the other units in the state. You can expect to be hunting bulls that will score in the 300″ category with some bulls being harvested every year exceeding 350″.

Hunts Available To Applicants With 5-8 Preference Points

Due to high demand, all available hunts within this point range are currently booked for 2021. If you are within this range you should consider applying into some of the state’s top units in an effort to win one of the randomly allocated tags.

Hunts Available To Applicants With 9+ Preference Points

High quality hunting options are readily available for those of you that currently possess 9 or more Wyoming elk preference points. Hunting options vary from late season wilderness hunts that target bulls migrating out of Yellowstone to chasing bugling bulls with archery equipment, as well as rifles, on the immense private ranches in the central portion of the state. The consulting team at WTA Tags understands the value of these points and will diligently work with you to ensure you have the experience you desire and utilize your points to the fullest extent. Please contact the WTA TAGS office by phone 1.800.755.8247 or email tags@trophyadventures.com if you’d like help getting applied or paired with an outfitter. 

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Estate Hunting: A Closer Look at a Misunderstood Hunting Option

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Estate hunting, often referred to as high fence hunting, is one of the most misunderstood segments of the modern hunting landscape. The term can carry strong assumptions, but those assumptions rarely reflect the reality of what these hunts actually involve.

At its core, estate hunting offers hunters access to large, privately managed properties where wildlife is carefully stewarded, and hunting opportunities are predictable, efficient, and highly successful. These hunts are not intended to replace traditional public-land or limited-entry experiences. They are meant to provide an alternative option for hunters with specific goals, time constraints, or physical considerations.

Understanding estate hunting begins with recognizing how the properties operate and what the experience looks like on the ground.

What Defines an Estate Hunt?​

Estate hunts take place on privately owned ranches or preserves enclosed by a perimeter fence. These properties can range from several thousand acres to well over 100,000 acres, depending on location, species, and management model.

Within these boundaries, wildlife populations are actively managed year-round. Landowners and outfitters focus on habitat improvement, water development, herd health, genetics, and balanced harvest rates. The result is a stable wildlife population with a strong age structure and consistent hunting opportunity.

Because animals remain on the property, outfitters can offer hunts with a very high harvest probability. In many cases, hunters can pursue specific age classes, horn characteristics, or species that would otherwise require years of applying or limited-entry permits.

What the Experience Is Actually Like

One of the most common misconceptions about estate hunting is that animals are easily located and harvested quickly in a confined space. In reality, many estate properties are vast, and hunters may never see the perimeter fence during their hunt.

These ranches often feature diverse terrain of rolling hills, timber, brush country, open plains, canyons, and river bottoms, allowing animals to behave naturally. Hunters glass, stalk, track, and pass animals just as they would on large private ranches or expansive Western properties.

Once on the ground, the hunt feels far more like a traditional spot-and-stalk or guided private land experience than what many imagine when they hear the term “high fence.”

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

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