Wyoming

Wyoming uses a preference point system, which works differently from the bonus point systems common in other western states. Applicants are ranked by their accumulated points, and once enough points are held, drawing a tag becomes virtually guaranteed.

For most species, nonresidents go through a preference-point draw first, then a random draw fills any remaining tags. Residents of elk, deer, and pronghorn enter random draws only, since Wyoming does not publish resident preference point data. Mountain goat and bison are random draws for all applicants.

Our projections are based on five years of draw demand reports (2021-2025), weighted to give more emphasis to recent seasons. We first fill in any gaps in the historical data, then project forward, and finish with a check to make sure odds never decrease as points go up.

Wyoming's official reports express point thresholds in different ways — exact numbers, 'less than X,' and 'less than or equal to X' — which we convert to consistent numeric values. The point level at which a draw becomes guaranteed is read directly from the data as the lowest level where projected odds reach 100%.

Projections run from zero to 29 preference points per hunt, with separate projections for regular and special (higher-cost, better-odds) license tiers. Species covered include elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat.