Why does this post indicate point creep is out of control and how would you change point averaging? Not arguing that it isn't - I'm just not connecting the dots here.….and right here is why point creep is out of control and why point averaging needs to be changed.
You and me both... I'm sitting in the exact same spot. Too few points to draw a LE tag without waiting for 10 more years, and too many points to not feel like I am wasting them on General tag. In my defense, I haven't cashed in the points yet because I have gotten tags in other states the last 4 Septembers... But still, every year the decision to cash them in becomes harder. How awesome would it be if you could draw a Wilderness General tag with extra points? Everyone knows the second you get into a Wyoming DWA, its the land of milk and honey and 350 bulls...I've got five points now, there's basically nothing I can draw now that I couldn't pull two years ago at three points.
The tags that took five when I started are now 7-8.
I could be pulling my second general but instead I'm still sitting in purgatory.
Why does this post indicate point creep is out of control and how would you change point averaging? Not arguing that it isn't - I'm just not connecting the dots here.
Basic math...look at the draw odds.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department - Drawing Odds
wgfd.wyo.gov
This article also explains it pretty well.
Mountain Pursuit
Nonresidents Are Selling Preference Points Under Wyoming's Liberal Party Hunt Draw Regulationswww.mtnpursuit.org
Solution? Real easy, the party goes into the draw with the points of the lowest member of the party.
Nonresidents can accumulate at most one preference point per year. This means a nonresident must apply and be unsuccessful for 6 years on a row before having a reasonable chance at drawing a Region G Tag. Further, it means based on the current number of applications, the most a nonresident could hunt mule deer in Wyoming's Region G is once every six years.
Yeah, I get the basic math part and how it creates point creep, trust me. The option of going in with the lowest point holder is a pretty crappy solution. Colorado has that and they have the worst point creep of all the states. Now granted, CO's point creep isn't solely caused by their party system, however it doesn't help. I like averaging points as it enables me to take my kids on hunts as they grow older and I have the points. I don't have a solution for the selling of points on applications. Shady to be sure, but every aspect of the hunting industry has become monetized, from trespass fees to coordinates to honey holes, so it doesn't surprise me in the least. As far as the article from Mountain Pursuits, I'm not reading it. Rob Shaul hates us dirty NR public land hunters, so any of his articles are going to be written from that perspective.Basic math...look at the draw odds.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department - Drawing Odds
wgfd.wyo.gov
This article also explains it pretty well.
Mountain Pursuit
Nonresidents Are Selling Preference Points Under Wyoming's Liberal Party Hunt Draw Regulationswww.mtnpursuit.org
Solution? Real easy, the party goes into the draw with the points of the lowest member of the party.
"Solution? Real easy, the party goes into the draw with the points of the lowest member of the party. "
This is what Colorado has... still Point Creep
CO needs to stop awarding points to people that go OTC or to people that draw a 2nd choice tag.
I wouldn't know, I don't even look at top end units. If they tip the whole preference point system over they are going to get sued.
CPW doesnt award PPs if you hunt OTC. You still have to apply to get a PP.
Lots of people just hunt OTC and never get PPs