Deer Region J general license (nonresident draw)
How many preference points it took to draw this hunt in 2026, and your estimated chance at every point level.
717 nonresidents put this hunt first in the regular draw for 693 licenses (520 by preference points, 173 at random). Everyone with 1 or more points drew. At 0 points, 302 of 499 drew. Everyone else had about a 88% chance in the random draw (173 licenses, 197 applicants).
Sure draw at 1 points
Residents don't draw for this license: it's sold over the counter.
Compare every Wyoming deer hunt at your point level →
Odds by preference points
Nonresidents
| Preference points (nonresident) | Applicants | Drew | Actual odds | Estimated chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 5 | 11 | 11 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| < 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 4 | 14 | 14 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| < 4 | 12 | 12 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 3 | 26 | 26 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| < 3 | 9 | 9 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 2 | 19 | 19 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| < 2 | 19 | 19 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 1 | 37 | 37 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| < 1 | 61 | 61 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 0 | 499 | 302 | 1 in 1.7 | |
| All | 717 | 693 | 1 in 1.0 |
Residents
Wyoming residents buy the general deer license over the counter, so there’s no resident draw for it.
Nonresident special draw
The special draw is a separate application with higher-priced licenses (40% of the nonresident quota) and usually fewer applicants. 24 nonresidents put this hunt first in the special draw for 96 licenses (24 by preference points, 72 at random). Every point level drew in the preference point draw.
| Preference points (nonresident) | Applicants | Drew | Actual odds | Estimated chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| < 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| 0 | 20 | 20 | 1 in 1.0 | |
| All | 24 | 96 | All drew |
WGFD hunt description: “REGION J GENERAL” (as printed in the report, which cuts descriptions at 20 characters). Check the regulations for exact boundaries and dates.
Trends, 2024–2026
"Sure at" is the fewest preference points where every nonresident drew in the point draw that year (0 = any points drew).
| Year | Applicants | Licenses | Odds | Sure at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 651 | 639 | 1 in 1.0 | 1 |
| 2025 | 583 | 637 | All drew | 1 |
| 2026 | 717 | 693 | 1 in 1.0 | 1 |
Points for a sure draw: 1 in 2024, 1 in 2025, 1 in 2026. The bar has held steady at about 1 points. Applicants rose 10% since 2024.
How this draw works
Wyoming draws elk, deer and antelope licenses by preference points for nonresidents only. In each nonresident draw (regular and special), 75% of licenses go to the applicants with the most points, and the other 25% are drawn at random from everyone who missed, regardless of points. Parties use their average points, which is why some levels read "< N". Residents don't use points for these species: they're drawn at random. Points apply to your first choice; if you don't draw it, you gain a point. WGFD: Understanding the draw.
About the numbers. From WGFD's 2026 demand reports. The point-draw results are actual; the chance of drawing in the random draw is an estimate (random licenses ÷ applicants), and so is the resident chance. How we check and estimate.