If you live in Wyoming, you know we’re a destination state for hunting. Hunters will try every year to draw a coveted license for any of the top big game chances in the state.
With such a wide array of species found here, there’s no doubt getting lucky enough to draw is special.
World Population Review has ranked Wyoming as the #8 best state for hunting in 2022.
Here’s a look at the Top 10 Best States for Hunting
- Alaska
- Montana
- Idaho
- South Dakota
- North Dakota
- Wisconsin
- Minnesota
- Wyoming
- West Virginia
- Pennsylvania
For the rankings, the state had to have a couple main characteristics
A big percentage of the state’s population hunts and a large amount of public land is open to hunt.
Then other factors were figured in.
- hunting traditions
- variety of hunting
- amount of game to hunt
- hunting regulations
Wyoming scored pretty high in each category with a quarter of the population being hunters, 31.4 million public acres, and the wide variety of hunting opportunities.
Boone and Crockett was established in 1887 and is a big part in the conservation of hunting all over the United States. B & C is also an organization that has also been keeping track of record books for the biggest harvest animals ever taken. To a hunter, this is a prestigious honor to have your animal be a Boone and Crockett record holder.
The animal has to have an official score and be verified by an official judge, to be considered as a World Record. Not only do they keep track of the biggest in the country, but they have a state by state record book.
It’s really interesting that in Wyoming, many of the Boone and Crockett records are from years ago. The newest record on the Boone and Crockett Wyoming books, is a pronghorn from 2015.
Take a look at some of Wyoming’s Booner’s
- Typical Whitetail – 191 5/8 from 1986
- Typical Mule Deer – 217 from 1925
- Typical American Elk – 441 6/8 from 1890
- Pronghorn – 91 4/8 (3 tied) from 2011, 2012 and 2015
- Grizzly Bear – 25 10/16 from 1961 (measurements from the skull)
- Black Bear – 21 15/16 from 1976 (measurements from the skull)
- Bison – 136 2/8 from 1925 (horn measurement)
- Bighorn Sheep – 200 from 1883
- Shiras’ Moose – 205 4/8 from 1952
- Rocky Mountain Goat – 51 2/8 from 2010
- Cougar – 15 5/16 from 2013
No doubt there are some big animals here in the Cowboy State and people have been hunting them for years. If you want to know more about the Boone and Crockett Club and the records, you’ll have to join their website and get a free membership.
Good luck in the field this year and hopefully you’re next harvest will be a Boone and Crockett record.
