General Hunt Information
To help you prepare for your hunt, here is some general information you will need to know.
Wyoming Licensing
Hunts in Wyoming are managed with a specific quota for each species and only a certain number of licenses per area are given out each season. Wyoming non-resident licenses are drawn via a lottery system. The draw is mostly based on the number of preference points each person has but there is also a chance to get lucky in the random draw. The application period and draw dates for each species is listed below. We are happy to help guide you through the application process to ensure you get the best chance of drawing your license or when you book your hunt through us, we can do the work for and apply for your license.
Application Dates & Deadlines
Elk application period: January 3rd - 31st Draw date: May 18th
Antelope & deer application period: January 3rd - May 31st Draw date: June 15th
Preference Points ONLY
PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE HUNT! Preference points are a way to improve your odds of eventually drawing a license in a hard-to-draw hunt area. Seventy-five percent (75%) of available licenses in each hunt area and license type will be allocated to the preference point drawing. Applicants with the highest preference point ranking will receive priority in the preference point drawing. The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of available licenses will be allocated in a random drawing regardless of preference points. The random drawing is intended to provide everyone who applies a chance of drawing a license. We strongly recommend anyone planning to hunt in Wyoming, go online each year and purchase preference points for the species you are wanting to hunt.
Or take the easy route and let us purchase your points for you! We will send out invoices annually and purchase your points until you are ready to book your hunt. To sign up for our preference point program complete the WY License/Preference Point Application.
Preference point purchase period: July 3rd - October 31st
To apply, for more information, and access to regulations visit Wyoming Game and Fish.
Travel
If your plan is to fly to Wyoming for your hunt, the closest airports are Cody or Casper, WY and Billings, MT. Rental vehicles are available at any of these airports for you to drive to our base camp.
Arrangements can be made for us to pick you up from either airport for an additional charge of $250 per way + tax.
We strongly encourage you to purchase trip insurance.
Arrivals & Departures
We request that our guests arrive after 12 pm the day before their hunt. By arriving a day early it gives us the opportunity and time to perform gear checks and go to the range to check your rifle.
Our goal is to provide you with as much hunting time as possible so we suggest leaving the day after your final hunting day by 12 pm.
If you would like to stay and explore Wyoming more before heading home we can recommend things to do, places to stay, and food to enjoy.
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Wounding Policy & Game RetrievalIf the unimanginable happens and an animal is wounded we considered it a harvested animal and the hunt is terminated at that time. For this reason, we ask clients to only take shots that they are comfortable with. We would much rather you have a successful shot and hunt rather than a wounded, lost animal. O'Brien Creek Outfitters will make all reasonable efforts to track and/or recover the wounded animal, however, in the case that recovery is not possible O'Brien Creek Outfitters claims NO ethical or financial liability.
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Trophy & Meat CareRest assured that after harvesting your animal your guide will field dress, quarter, cape, and transport your harvest out of the field to our basecamp. While at basecamp we will provide proper care of your trophy and meat. Once your hunt is over you are responsible for the meat, cape, and antlers. We do not provide taxidermy services, meat processing, boxes, dry ice, or shipping of meat, cape, and/or antlers. If you would like to have your meat processed at a local locker plant we can offer to deliver it for you. If you would like to have your animal mounted we can recommend taxidermists we know and trust to work with you to make your trophy come back to life.
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TippingIn general a tip of 10-15% of your base cost is suggested. If you had an exceptional time and would like to tip more than that, please feel free to do so! Our guides work hard to provide you with a once in a lifetime hunt and are dedicated to making your hunt successful.
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Do I need to wear orange?Yes, Wyoming requires at least one article of fluorescent orange or pink clothing. There is no minimum square inch requirement. Items such as a vest, hat, shirt, or sweater satisfy this requirement. Fluorescent orange or pink camouflage are legal. Archers and crossbow hunters hunting during a special archery season or limited quota archery only Type 9 season are exempt from this requirement.
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Do I need a Hunter Safety Card?Anyone born after January 1, 1966 must carry proof of completing a Hunter Safety course.
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What is your alcohol/drug policy?Safety is our top priority. With that being said we do not allow drinking alcohol or drug use while hunting or otherwise until all firearms are unloaded and stored for the day. Detection of alcohol and/or drug use while in the field will be considered grounds for dismissal from the hunt. This determination can be made at the sole discretion of the outfitter and without refund to the client. There are no excuses for the compromised safety of yourself, other clients, or guides. Drinking in the evening is allowed in moderation. Alcohol is not supplied by O'Brien Creek Outfitters.
