3-Year Hunt Rotation

For Justin Gentry

2026 – 2028

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 5-point or less bull hunting in area 111 again in 2026. If all else fails, a good Colorado 3rd season would be a good backup. I’d make sure to draw the Colorado hunt as a hedge, then turn it back if you opt to not go on the hunt.

  • 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.

2026 To-Do List

Apply For Wyoming Elk | Due Jan 31, 2024

  • Reduced Price Cow/Calf | 1st Choice: Unit 111 Type 6 (78% Draw Odds)

  • Full-Price (SPECIAL) Elk | 1st Choice: Unit 111 Type 2 (100% Draw Odds)

Apply For Colorado Points | Due April 1, 2025

  • Use these codes for applications: Elk - E-M-050-O3-R | 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 AND MULE DEER POINT

  • Sheep & Moose Preference Points NOT Recommended

Your “How to Pick Units” Session Replay

Your 2025 Season Hunt West Session Replay

2026

WYOMING | FULL-PRICE BULL ELK

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

Unit Recommendation: Unit 1111, Type 2 (5 Pts. Or Less)

Season Dates: Nov. 1–Nov. 14, 2026 (Rifle)

3-Year Harvest Success: NA

COLORADO | 3rd Season Rifle Hunt

Preference Points: 3

Unit Recommendation: 50

Season Dates: Nov. 7-14, 2026

3-Year Harvest Success: VARIES

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