Drawings completed for Moose, Bighorn Sheep, Bison and Mountain Goat licenses
by Wyoming Game & Fish
May 6, 2014
One of Wyoming hunters most anticipated events took place last week with 994 resident and nonresident hunters hitting the jackpot in the annual drawings for moose, bighorn sheep, bison and mountain goat licenses.
Game and Fish records show that 455 moose licenses were issued, 371 of which went to residents for overall drawing odds of 3.8 percent. Nonresidents received 84 licenses for a total drawing percentage of 5.4 percent.
For bighorn sheep, 200 total licenses were issued with 150 going to residents, resulting in drawing odds of 3.0 percent. Nonresident sheep hunters bucked even more difficult odds with 2,162 hunters putting in for 50 licenses with 2.3 percent drawing odds. Odds for individual hunters vary depending on hunt areas and the number of preference points each hunter had before applying. Drawing odds for individual hunt areas, quotas, and numbers of points needed to draw for each area are posted on the Game and Fish website at wgfd.wyo.gov. Click on "Hunting," then on "Drawing Odds." Hunters can determine their drawing success by visiting the Game and Fish website or by calling 307-777-4600. Licenses for those who drew and refund warrants for those who were unsuccessful in the drawing are being mailed the week of May 12.
By far, the most difficult license to draw was for mountain goat with 3,480 residents putting in for 21 licenses representing a .60 percent chance of drawing. Nonresident goat hunters fared a bit better with 679 hunters vying for 7 licenses representing a 1.03 percent chance of drawing.
Bull bison licenses were also difficult to draw with 72 resident licenses issued to 2204 applicants for a 3.3 percent chance of drawing. Nonresident odds were even more difficult with a 2.7 percent chance of drawing.
For moose and bighorn sheep, preference points have been available for 19 years, and hunters who have accumulated preference points have a significantly better chance of drawing licenses. Wyoming issues 75 percent of moose and bighorn sheep licenses to those who have the highest preference point totals, and 25 percent of moose and bighorn sheep licenses in a random drawing without regard to preference points. Preference points are not available for mountain goat and bison licenses, but goat is limited to one in a lifetime.
Hunters who did not apply this year still have the opportunity to buy a preference point later this summer. Points are available at wgfd.wyo.gov or by mail. Preference points are available online July 1 - Sept. 30 and through the mail during the month of July.
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