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Blog Posts > Wyoming Elk Hunting // 2021 Availability

Wyoming Elk Hunting // 2021 Availability

Erik Schell

| January 20, 2021

Erik Schell
January 20, 2021

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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Nearly hidden under the jungle’s canopy, the camp is a curious mix of modern and traditional. The heavy-duty, screened wall tents are lifted off the jungle floor on wooden platforms. A generator provides ample energy to power electronics, including overhead lighting and the welcome relief of air conditioning. And yes, there is Starlink, although I suggest unplugging completely to fully experience life off-grid and away from the hustle of modern life. Camp is set along a meandering stream, complete with a swimming hole where you can spend the hot, humid midday hours cooling in the creek.

Camp and country aside, the real reason to travel deep into the Yucatan is to experience a turkey hunt like no other. In addition to checking off the species to complete a Slam, the ocellated sports some of the most beautiful plumage in the bird world. Looking more like a peacock than a traditional turkey, the male ocellated is plumed in a gorgeous array of purple and blue feathers that seem to change colors at different angles in the sun’s rays. In strut, the tips of the fan show what look like a series of eyes, lending the bird its name, which is derived from the Latin word for “little eye.” Its head is also like no other bird, with a sky blue color punctuated by orange warts and, in large toms, crowned by a pronounced crest. The ocellated turkey makes a striking mount, and the camp staff works to ensure the best care and transport of your turkey.

While the ocellated turkey does have a distinct call, it’s not like the deep gobble turkey hunters are most familiar with. Instead, the male ocellated, known locally as the macho, sends out a rolling chorus of notes that increase in both speed and volume, not unlike the sound of a two-stroke motorcycle struggling to start somewhere deep in the jungle.

Hunters used to calling turkeys into shotgun range will also be surprised to know that’s not common practice here. It can happen, but most ocellated turkeys are taken from the roost, after following a local guide on a hike through the pitch-black just before sunrise. No matter how far into the thick cover you go, your guide will walk you to the exact tree where the macho resides, and, before the turkey flushes, instruct you about when and where to shoot. If the hunter does his or her job, the ocellated tag is notched and a bucket-list bird hunt is achieved before the sun even rises for the day.

Once the World Slam celebration wears off, many other activities keep hunters busy in the jungle. First and foremost, there are several exotic bird species available to hunt on a trophy-fee basis. Great currasow and crested guan are the top two birds that hunters target after taking their ocellated turkey. Like the ocellated, both birds are sought after for their beautiful and unique plumage, making distinctive additions to your trophy room. Other hunting opportunities include the coatimundi, lowland paca, and collard peccary.

While Mexico may not be on the minds of all hunters, for that certain adventurous kind of person, a hunt in the jungle is a must-do trip. The brightly plumed ocellated turkey is much more than just a checked box on the way to a World Slam. It provides a unique reason to get with the professionals at WTA and plan a hunt at their exclusive camp deep in the Yucatan. They manage the details and make traveling to Mexico a safe, easy, and memorable event.

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Few Spring experiences rival the sound of a hard-gobbling tom echoing across the Kansas prairie. As winter gives way to warming mornings and longer days, Kansas comes alive with opportunity for turkey hunters who are willing to plan ahead. With strong Rio Grande turkey populations, abundant private land, and a well-managed season structure, Kansas remains one of the most reliable Spring turkey destinations in the country.

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Kansas turkey hunting rewards preparation. With clearly defined seasons and a firm February 13 application deadline, the hunters who plan early are the ones listening to gobbles come April. WTA TAGS is here to make sure you’re one of them—applied, prepared, and ready when Spring thunder rolls across the Plains. If you would like to book a well-vetted Rio turkey hunt in Kansas for this Spring, call us ASAP at 1-800-755-8247.

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