Winter Research - Wyoming Goats for a Canadian rambler

[Pgidley]

So up here in Canada, the thing that gets me through a long winter is dreaming about next fall and planning a big trip. Next year my wife and I have decided to check out Wyoming. It'll be our first Western big game hunt, and we're looking forward to camping and exploring as much as the hunt.

I know there's the option of getting a buck tag in an area with difficult access, but we'd be much happier to just start accumulating points, and get a feel of the land and areas we might want to hunt in the future. So I'm thinking we put in for a higher PP area as choice 1, and then put our second choice buck and doe/fawn choices in an area with decent tag numbers, maybe around Casper area.

So I guess I have a few questions:
- The way I understand the tag system, even with 0 PP, there's still a slim chance you can draw a buck tag in the random pass as a non-resident?
- The areas with high demand for buck tags, is it also difficult to draw a doe/fawn? Or since they're non-PP based, its a better chance?

We'll have our pointer with us, so if we can get into an area with some huns or blues, we'd be really happy. I'd love some recommendations for units to look into that would have good landscapes and camping. My short list so far includes 47, 32 and 73, but I'm starting to look a little more to the West. We likely will come mid to late October, stopping through North Dakota for some Pheasants on the way to and fro.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, and happy to trade tips on Ontario hunts for help with WYO!
PG

 

[conibear]

Pgidley there has been a ton of electronic ink spilled on your exact inquiry. Spend a week reading archived threads on here and all the other boards out there and you can have every question answered. Good luck! You also owe it to yourself to experience a chukar hunt if you have a dog in tow. Chukar hunting is awesome.

p.s. Good wishes to the Ontario workers axed by Generous Motors this holiday season.

 

[Pgidley]

Pgidley there has been a ton of electronic ink spilled on your exact inquiry. Spend a week reading archived threads on here and all the other boards out there and you can have every question answered. Good luck! You also owe it to yourself to experience a chukar hunt if you have a dog in tow. Chukar hunting is awesome.

p.s. Good wishes to the Ontario workers axed by Generous Motors this holiday season.

Yes you're right, there is loads of info available! Just want to make sure I understand things correctly, this system is much different than how we allocate tags (and better it seems).

Thanks for your wishes for GM. My family were steelworkers, and we went through tough times. Hopefully that that area can pull through.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I would for sure put in for Doe/Fawn type 6 tags as they are pretty easy to draw and require no points.

 

[Pgidley]

I would for sure put in for Doe/Fawn type 6 tags as they are pretty easy to draw and require no points.

Yeah I'm kinda thinking heading to a unit with good access and some doe tags in our pocket might be more enjoyable than a limited access unit that could be a headache. It'll let us roam around and explore a little more freely.

Can chukkars be found overlapping with lope country, or are they more up in the slopes? I've only shot released chukkars, wild would be amazing.

Nice Huxley quote. Ever read any Sigurd Olsen?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have never seen any Chukkars when I'm antelope hunting. I have seen plenty of huns, but all on private around hay fields.

I would definitely hunt the units with more public (like 73) for does. I hunted a unit near 73 this year and 3 of us got 6 does in 3 days. Real easy hunt. It will also get you some experience so you can better plan for a buck tag.

Never read any Sigurd Olsen, I'll have to fine him and check his stuff out. The Huxley quote actually came from my Dad, used to have it framed on his office wall. It is on his headstone.

 

[Pgidley]

That's a nice quote. There are a few from Huxley, Olden and Also Leopold that I'd be happy to have on my headstone.

I think we'll do exactly what you described. If we're lucky enough to tag out early it'll give us some time to scope out other units.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Good Luck. PM me if you draw, I know that area (72,73,74) pretty well, been hunting it since 1985.

 

[conibear]

Yeah I'm kinda thinking heading to a unit with good access and some doe tags in our pocket might be more enjoyable than a limited access unit that could be a headache. It'll let us roam around and explore a little more freely.

Can chukkars be found overlapping with lope country, or are they more up in the slopes? I've only shot released chukkars, wild would be amazing.

Nice Huxley quote. Ever read any Sigurd Olsen?

The chukars are in Oregon! What's another 700 miles!

 

[LCH]

Check out the AccessYes page also. I've hunted units with very little public land antelope country, but more WIA/HMA land than you can shake a stick at.