Did you know you can ring in the New Year by starting applying for 2025 hunting tags in Wyoming on January 2nd? One of the earliest application due dates across the west is the nonresident elk applications due less than a month from today. The Cowboy State has always been eager to bring in nonresident application dollars by the end of January, though the drawing for nonresident elk takes place in May every year.
Cause of the early due date aside, that means as you plan your western hunting strategy in conjunction with your bank account, it’s worth remembering tag fees are due when you apply in Wyoming and are only refunded if you do not draw in May for elk. You may also apply for deer, pronghorn, moose, and mountain goat tags on January 2nd, however, they have different application modification and results deadlines, too.
Nonresident deer and pronghorn applications are not due until May 31, so there is plenty of time to scheme your mule deer or antelope hunts in Wyoming after we hear how the animals fared over the winter.
The eager applicant may want to hold off on throwing down those applications until later, possibly when you submit your moose, sheep, mountain goat, or bison application. Those applications are due April 30th with results coming out on May 8th in 2025. You had better have a good credit card rewards program to use for your applications, because all four of these specialty species are expensive to apply for with the cheapest still being over $2,700.
As for the elk applications due this month, beware the tag numbers and seasons are set in April of each year. While the vast majority of hunts will not have a change, it is worth keeping an eye out for tag cuts or additions in the hunts you put on your application, as well as regulation changes. For instance, folks applying for the area 100 type-2 tag got a wild surprise after applying when the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission changed it during their April season-setting meeting to 5 points or less a few seasons back. You may modify your Wyoming nonresident elk application until May 8, 2025. Draw results will be available on May 22nd. It’s definitely one of the few dates on the calendar when you do not want a refund of your money.
Happy New Year and good luck in the 2025 draws!
