How Many Points for a Wyoming General Elk Tag This Year?

Wyoming's elk draw is one of the most confusing in the West — and also one of the best opportunities if you know where to look. Unlike Colorado's preference point system, Wyoming uses a **weighted random draw** where each preference point gives you an additional "chance" in the draw. This means you can draw with zero points. It also means a hunter with 6 points has 7x more chances than a first-time applicant — not infinite advantage, but real advantage. ## The Tier 1 / General Relationship Wyoming elk has two main categories: **Limited quota units:** These are your dream units — 25E, 38, 100-series units. They require significant points (often 5–10+) and are where most point-building conversation happens. **General license units:** Available statewide, these are over-the-counter in some hunt areas and draw-required in others. Often dismissed by trophy hunters, they represent some of the best opportunity in the state for hunters who are flexible on unit. ## Points Required by Unit Type (2024–2025 data) **0 points can draw:** - Several hunt areas in the northeast (HAs 1–7 range) and central Wyoming - Many archery general units statewide - Some cow elk authorizations in any region **1–2 points:** - Mid-tier general units in the Wind River foothills - Select muzzleloader authorizations in western Wyoming **3–5 points:** - Better general bull units in the northwest corner - Most popular archery units adjacent to Yellowstone **5+ points:** - Limited quota units start being realistic at this range - Some premier units (25E, 38, etc.) average 8–12 points ## The Real Opportunity: Hunt Areas 1–3 Points Can Draw Here's what most hunters from out of state miss: Wyoming has general elk tags that are available virtually every year in the 1–3 point range. The hunting quality varies, but it's real elk hunting on real public land — often adjacent to or overlapping with Wilderness areas. If you've been waiting to bank Wyoming points until you can draw a premier limited quota unit, ask yourself: would you rather hunt in 8 years, or hunt next fall? ## Wyoming Point Strategy (The Honest Advice) 1. **Apply for a limited quota unit as your primary** — even if you can't draw it, you're banking points 2. **Apply for a general tag as your alternate** — this costs the same and gives you a real hunt while you build points 3. **Don't skip years** — Wyoming points don't compound the way CO points do, but you lose a year of progress every time you sit out ## Check Your Wyoming Draw Odds Use the draw odds table to see exactly where your current point total puts you in Wyoming's elk draw — by unit, weapon type, and year. [Check Wyoming elk draw odds →](/scout?state=WY&species=elk)