3-Year Hunt Rotation

For Justin Gentry

2025 – 2027

Your Tag Strategy

This tag strategy is built on a 3-year rotation for western states that balance opportunities to fill the freezer and have great experiences afield. Preference is given to states that are closer to home base, and there are rifle, archery, and muzzleloader applications included in these recommendations.

  • Go cow elk hunting in area 111 again in 2025 with the chance of jumping to 122 to bull hunt. If all else fails, Colorado 3rd season is a good backup.

  • Consider burning your preference points in Wyoming for an area 122 5-point or less bull elk tag. Put in for the 111 cow tag again, but if the drawing gods are in your favor, try to go on a Colorado bull hunt before the draw changes.

  • Get aggressive in MT for archery hunting, then follow up with a late-season hunt in Wyoming on a tried-and-true cow elk hunt with your father.

Your Hunt West Session Replay

2025 To-Do List

Apply For Wyoming Elk | Due Jan 31, 2024

  • Reduced Price Cow/Calf | 1st Choice: Unit 122 Type 6 (100% Draw Odds)

  • Full-Price (Regular) Elk | 1st Choice: Unit 11 Type 1 (3.4% Draw Odds); 2nd Choice Unit 111, Type 4 (100% Draw Odds)

Apply For Colorado Points | Due April 1, 2025

  • Use these codes for applications: Elk - E-P-999-99-P | Deer - D-P-999-99-P | Pronghorn - A-P-999-99-P

Buy Preference Points In Wyoming & Montana | Opens July 1, 2025

  • Montana Closes Sept. 30, 2025

  • Wyoming Closes Oct. 31, 2025. | ADD PRONGHORN POINT

  • Sheep & Moose Preference Points NOT Recommended

2025

WYOMING | REDUCED-PRICE COW ELK

Drawing Odds: 100%

Unit Recommendation: Unit 111, Type 4

Season Dates: Sept. 1–30 (Archery) | Oct. 10–Dec. 31 (Rifle)

3-Year Harvest Success: 45%

OVERVIEW

Continue building on your experience in 111 from the 2024 hunting season since you are familiar with the hunt and can enjoy rutting action while chasing cows. Then, hopefully, jump to area 122 where you will have a type 6 cow elk tag to start learning the area before you pull a bull elk tag there.

BACK UP PLAN

COLORADO | Hunt the Over-The-Counter unit you are familiar with in the 2025 late season.

ALL OTHER STATES

COLORADO | Points Only

WYOMING | Deer & Pronghorn Points Only

MONTANA | Points Only (Deer, Elk, & Elk Combo)

UTAH | Consider building points

2026

WYOMING | FULL-PRICE BULL ELK

Drawing Odds: 100% at 0 pts (Regular Draw)

Unit Recommendation: Unit 122, Type 2 (5 Pts. Or Less)

Season Dates: Oct. 15–Nov. 30 (Rifle)

3-Year Harvest Success: NA

COLORADO | 1st Season Rifle Hunt

Preference Points: 2

Unit Recommendation: TBD

Season Dates: Oct. 14 – 18

3-Year Harvest Success: VARIES

OVERVIEW

After a cow elk hunt with your father, you will have a good idea of where to start looking for bulls on your subsequent late-season 5-point-or-less bull elk hunt. Hunters previously have looked for large broken bulls and done well, though it’s possible to look for a young bull and punch your tag, as well.

You should also apply for Colorado in 2026 to use your preference points in this state before the draw system changes in 2028. It could also be a good option for your annual September archery hunt.

BACK UP PLAN

COLORADO | Hunt the Over-The-Counter unit you are familiar with in the 2024 late season.

WYOMING | Keep an eye out for cow elk licenses that are often not taken by residents on June 24th.

ALL OTHER STATES (SIMILAR 2025 PROCESS)

COLORADO | Apply for Elk Hunt

WYOMING | Deer & Pronghorn Points Only

MONTANA | Points Only

UTAH | Consider building points

2027

MONTANA | Rifle Bull Elk

Preference Points: 2

Unit Recommendation: GENERAL

Season Dates: Sept. 5–Oct. 18 (Archery), Oct. 24–Nov. 29 (Rifle), Dec. 12-24 (Muzzleloader)

3-Year Harvest Success: VARIES

OVERVIEW

You must apply for Montana in 2027 to use your preference points in this state to prevent your points from disappearing this year. It would be a good option for your annual September archery hunt, with the chance to come back for late season rifle hunting.

BACK UP PLAN

WYOMING | Keep an eye out for cow elk licenses that are often not taken by residents on June 24th.

ALL OTHER STATES (REPEAT 2024 PROCESS)

COLORADO | Points Only

WYOMING | Elk, Deer & Pronghorn Points Only

MONTANA | Will Need to Apply (Elk, or Big Game Combo)

UTAH | Consider building points