How to Apply for Wyoming Big Game as a Non-Resident

Welcome to Backbone Unlimited. My name is Matt Hartsky. This is the first video in a series breaking down how to apply as a non-resident for big game in the most prominent western states. To the best of my knowledge, this is accurate, but as always, be sure to do your own research.

I’ll have separate videos for Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Montana, and Utah, so stay tuned for each of those over the coming weeks.

In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how to apply for big game in Wyoming as a non-resident — specifically elk, mule deer, and pronghorn. If you’ve ever logged onto the Wyoming Game & Fish website and felt confused about preference points or which licenses to apply for, you’re not alone.

Wyoming has one of the most talked-about draw systems in the West. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. But once you understand how it works, it’s actually one of the easiest systems to navigate — and one of the best opportunities for non-residents to hunt elk, mule deer, and pronghorn across huge tracts of public land.

In this article, we’ll go through Wyoming’s draw structure, the difference between regular and special licenses, key deadlines, how preference points work, and how the 90/10 resident–non-resident split affects your odds. By the end, you’ll know exactly when, where, and how to apply — and how to make sure your 2026 application is dialed.

Why Wyoming’s System Stands Out

Wyoming doesn’t run a pure preference system like Colorado, and it’s not a pure random lottery like New Mexico. It’s a hybrid model that blends preference points and random chance. That combination creates opportunity both for high-point holders and for brand-new applicants.

If you’re a non-resident, understanding one thing immediately makes Wyoming easier: you must choose between the regular draw and the special draw.

Regular vs. Special Draw

Both draws pull from the same pool of tags. Same hunt areas. Same seasons. The only difference is cost.

The special draw costs more and typically has fewer applicants, which can improve draw odds depending on the hunt. But there are no guarantees — the same preference and random rules still apply.

When you apply for elk, deer, or pronghorn, Wyoming allocates:

• 75% of non-resident tags through the preference point draw

• 25% through random draw

If you have points, you’ll compete in the 75% preference pool. If you’re brand new or don’t have many points, you’re in the random pool, where everyone has at least some chance of drawing.

Wyoming also manages each species separately. You apply for elk, deer, and pronghorn individually. Each species has its own hunt areas and quotas, but the overall draw structure is the same.

The 90/10 Split

Wyoming reserves 90% of its big-game tags for residents and 10% for non-residents. Compared to other western states, Wyoming still offers great opportunity — especially for pronghorn and general deer or elk hunts.

General vs. Limited Quota

General licenses

• Residents can buy over the counter

• Non-residents must draw

• Cover wide portions of the state

• Can provide great hunting

Limited quota licenses

• Specific to hunt areas

• Limited tag numbers

• Often require more points

Understanding which category your hunt falls into is critical. That’s where your strategy starts.

Key Deadlines & Timing

Wyoming’s deadlines come early, so you need to be organized.

Non-resident elk

• Apply: early January – January 31, 2026

• Results: usually the third week of May

You can also amend or withdraw your elk application until the deadline.

Non-resident deer & pronghorn

• Apply: roughly May 1 – May 31, 2026

• Results:

  • Pronghorn: late June

  • Deer: mid-July

If you don’t draw, you must buy your preference point between July 1 and October 31. One point per species, per year.

Wyoming charges your card up front. If you don’t draw, you’ll get refunded minus a small processing fee. If your card fails, your application is rejected — no exceptions.

Bottom line:
Mark your calendar. Set reminders for January, May, and July–October.

Understanding Preference Points

Preference points in Wyoming apply only to non-residents. Residents do not use points.

When you apply, your points are automatically used. The system ranks applicants from highest to lowest and assigns 75% of tags to those with the most points — the preference pool. The remaining 25% goes randomly to everyone in the draw, no matter how many points they have.

If you don’t draw, you can buy one point for that species later in the year. You cannot buy a point for a species if you drew a tag for that species that same year.

Wyoming publishes draw reports showing how many points it took to draw each area in both the regular and special pools. Those numbers change annually because of pressure and point creep.

Pronghorn and general mule deer are often attainable with fewer points, while limited elk units typically require more patience.

Regular vs. Special Strategy

The 90/10 split means non-resident competition is intense, especially for trophy hunts. But the random portion keeps everyone in the running.

The special draw costs more, sometimes significantly more. In popular units, nearly everyone pays extra, so the odds don’t always improve. But in mid-tier units, special can be an advantage. Study the draw odds before deciding.

Wyoming lets you list three hunt choices. Almost all tags are awarded to first-choice applicants, so treat that first choice as your real play.

Step-by-Step Application

1. Go to the Wyoming Game & Fish website.

2. Log into your account or create one.

3. Select “Apply for licenses.”

4. Choose elk, deer, or pronghorn.

5. Select your hunt area.

6. Choose regular or special.

7. Enter your first, second, and third hunt choices.

8. Pay in full.

Payment must go through at the time of application.
If you need an archery stamp for early seasons, you can buy it separately.

If you draw, verify all details. If not, buy your preference point later in the year.

How to Improve Your Odds

Your best tools are:

• Studying draw odds

• Building points every year

• Staying flexible on hunt areas

• Considering the special draw

• Researching access before applying

Wyoming’s variety means you can hunt pronghorn or general mule deer while building elk points. This keeps you in the game while learning the landscape.

Winterkill, moisture, herd conditions, and unit access all influence pressure and demand. Track these every year.

Common Mistakes

A few errors come up again and again:

• Missing deadlines

• Using a failing credit card

• Applying for wrong hunt codes

• Forgetting to buy preference points

• Only applying for trophy units

• Ignoring access issues

• Not checking leftover tags

Avoid those, and you’re ahead of most people applying.

Preparing for 2026

Keep an eye on:

• Fee changes

• Unit boundary updates

• Public access shifts

• Preference point ending (for deer, elk, pronghorn) — proposed but not finalized

Double-check your account details — especially your name, SSN last four, and payment card — before submitting.

When you stay organized and plan ahead, your Wyoming application becomes predictable, not stressful. Treat your application as the first phase of the hunt. Start early, and be intentional.

Train Harder. Hunt Smarter. Never Settle.

- Matt Hartsky