Wy antelope.... units 46 / 50..?

[Blacktail53]

Hi Guys,

New member and first post.
I've been looking around and I really like what I see here
I just signed up for both magazines and am looking forward to the MRS sections!

OK, so here I am - and I bought a pref pt for Wy antelope this year to use in 2015.
One of my hunting companions has done a bit of research and has shown some interest in units 46 and 50.

I know nothing about those units, except they're a long ways from Oregon and that there appears to be a lot of private land.
I'll by the Wy GPS chip for my Garmin and do as much homework as I can be fore we apply - but I thought
I would ask here of those who've been there.... are these decent units to hunt or should we be looking else where?

Average heads are good with us.... maybe after we have some speed goat time in, we'll look for better heads in the future.

Thank you in advance and good luck to everyone this season!

BT53

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Tell your hunting companion to look for other units. 46 and 50 have either mostly checkerboard land (difficult access) or NF that is not considered antelope country.

 

[Cobbhunts]

Are you going to apply next year with your 1 point, or build up a few points? That makes a huge difference.

And I agree with TG above, I looked at those units for a future hunt with less points than I spent this year in hopes that I could find that elusive place to go every other year. Well.....I got the chip and found out exactly what TG said. Checkerboard or rougher non-traditional antelope country. Good luck and welcome to the forum!

 

[Hilltop]

Welcome to the forum! With one preference point you won't likely draw any area with good public access. That said, you are doing the right thing in starting your homework early. I think your best bet for a hunt next year is to find a decent ranch in one of the easier to draw areas that will allow you to hunt with a trespass fee. Those fees can be whatever the rancher wants to charge. IMO reasonable would be $50 to $200 for decent property. Be careful and do your research as like anywhere there are scams. If you find what appears to be a good ranch, take the time to speak with the local game warden to verify it is worth your time and money. Good luck!

 

[Kevin W]

I hunted 46 last year and I would look else where unless you 1). really, really, really do your homework or 2). have an "in" with a ranch in 46. I wrote up a review of our hunt last year. With a little searching I am sure you can find it and see all of the details. My young son and I are going back to Wyoming this year and we didn't put in for 46 if that counts for anything. Kevin.

 

[Blacktail53]

Are you going to apply next year with your 1 point, or build up a few points? That makes a huge difference.

And I agree with TG above, I looked at those units for a future hunt with less points than I spent this year in hopes that I could find that elusive place to go every other year. Well.....I got the chip and found out exactly what TG said. Checkerboard or rougher non-traditional antelope country. Good luck and welcome to the forum!

That was ( or is at this time ) the plan... It's a ways off and there's a lot of research yet to be done.

Thanks, to all that replied

No one has any experience in unit 50??

 

[Cobbhunts]

If I were you guys.....I'd buy the point obviously, then narrow down your search to units that were 60+% chance to draw with 1 point. You should have a short list by then. At that point, I'd start looking at the amount of ACCESSIBLE public land in those areas. You'll need the WY chip to assist you at this point. Once you do that, contact the Game and Fish offices that those units fall under and request land owner lists. Start making calls off those lists. Since you are a year out, you should come up with a couple of land owners that have a spot available for next year.

I think most will charge a fee. And those fees will vary greatly. Early in my search for this years hunt, I had as low as $100 per person, up to $500. With 1 point, I'd say you'll just about have to pay a fee in order to have an enjoyable hunt. By that I mean.....less crowds and no worries about jockeying for a spot to hunt.

One place had showers and Game poles available, which I thought was really nice. It was the $100 priced ranch. We ended up drawing an area with a lot of public land (accessible public land!) So we didn't go that route. We had 4 points.

Good luck to you guys....stick around and when you get some units identified ask away!!

 

[ssliger]

Area 50 only has a few public pieces accessible and an HMA. Most is private.