Just a reminder to any of you Wyoming nonresidents wanting to hunt big game in Wyoming in the next year or two. Preference points can be purchased only during a time window of July 1 through September 30 each year and Sept. 30 is fast approaching.
Tags for some species such as antelope can be easily obtained after the drawing in some units with limited access to public land, but those areas are the exception. General statewide any sex elk tags have required one point to draw for the past several years. Many mule deer areas require a point or more. Antelope requires 2-3 points in the units where we hunt. Preference points will keep for a couple of years if you change your plans and don't use them right away. You need to have some activity on your account every other year such as applying for a tag or buying another point and your points will remain valid. Nonactivity for two years will result in your points account being purged.
Elk points are $50. Mule Deer points are $40 and pronghorn points are $30. Points purchased by September 30 this year will be good for the Big Game drawings that open in January 2013. If you do not already have 9-10 points for Moose or Sheep I would not waste the money chasing them. There are thousands of point holders ahead of you and you are not likely to live long enough to catch up.
Some people seem to think Wyoming has a somewhat complicated big game proclaimation. I am well versed in what you need to do to draw tags and will be happy to answer any of your questions if you want to ask.
Good Hunting
John Berger