Wyoming hunt-first timers

[Mnbogboy]

I hunted centeral Wyoming for the first time in 2018. With zero preference points I paid the extra for the special draw and drew a deer tag. I had a great hunt, seen hundreds of deer and passed on a lot of nice bucks. I ended up killing a nice 145? deer right before dark on day 1. It was a great time, and I?m looking forward to going back again this fall and hopfully harvesting something bigger. Tons of opportunity in the general areas, as long as you do your research and find those hard to access areas. Even in the heavily pressured units it doesn?t compare to the pressure in Michigan. A very relaxing hunt. Goodluck ������

Congrats on the dandy buck.
I sent you a pm the other day to ask how you made out.
Give me a shout when you get a chance either pm or email.
Randy

 

[Bonecollector]

Highplains- here is mine from this past season.

 

[Rich M]

So you think pretty much everyone in this thread is giving bad advice but you are the only one giving good advice? LOL

You don't need to measure horns to have a successful and enjoyable hunt. Sad that you seem to be more focused on horns than having a good time as the 2 are not in any way related to each other.

If you really want a fun does challenge but want to focus on horns have a contest for who can shoot the doe with the biggest horns with the guys you are hunting with. A few of them actually have some decent ones and it can be a challenge to find them much like locating a nice buck. Interesting twist that antelope offer.

I would gladly go hunting with just a doe or cow tag anytime. I just love going hunting, especially for antelope.

We just aren't gonna agree. Besides, your tag says Laramie, mine would say Orlando. Worlds apart, yet connected by the internet.

I'm giving a different view.

He's got plenty of "go and shoot a doe, you'll have fun". Antelope hunting is fun, but it aint 60 hours worth of driving fun if all your gonna do is see is one buck after another and can't shoot 'em.

 

[Hilltop]

It's all perspective. I think the point many on here are trying to make is that it is much better be hunting than to not be for most. Some others prefer not to hunt unless they can shoot a trophy. To each their own... Time spent out west is the trophy to me. I go for the experience. Trophys have made their way onto the walls of my man cave but a lot more does and cows have made it to my freezer. Enjoyed the hunts for them all. No wrong answer - just personal preference.

 

[Rich M]

It's all perspective. I think the point many on here are trying to make is that it is much better be hunting than to not be for most. Some others prefer not to hunt unless they can shoot a trophy. To each their own... Time spent out west is the trophy to me. I go for the experience. Trophys have made their way onto the walls of my man cave but a lot more does and cows have made it to my freezer. Enjoyed the hunts for them all. No wrong answer - just personal preference.

My idea of a trophy is a good memory. I don't have a man-cave or racks or mounts on the wall. I don;t have enough to fill a box in the garage.

If your perspective is to drop over $1,000 to shoot an antelope doe, more power to you. I spent $700 on a 16 month old, 600# bull for the freezer this past year - he's tasty. Put his meat next to a button, 6 and 8 pt bucks shot 1 hr and 5 hrs away from home.

Had a ball in WY in 2017 and can't wait to go back once I get enough points to do a good hunt. Maybe it is being deaf, but traveling to hunt in a cluster of competitive guys was not fun for me, nor is it worth $1,000+ to do. Again - your mileage may vary.

I followed the doe advice a couple years back and wish I hadn't. That's my perspective. That's for folks to decide on their own. Instead of blindly saying yes - hunting is better than not hunting, I say that hunting how you want it is better - I used to say quality but somehow that makes me an antler hunter. I have to fight idiots over deer in FL and GA but somehow doing it in WY for antelope is okay?

If you don't want folks breathing down your neck, get some points. It will be MORE fun.

Then on your way out - check out Devil's Tower and Mt Rushmore - both are worth the drive.

If you are willing to drive from the east coast for a #100 animal and smile from ear to ear, then please do. The skies are amazing at night, the air is crisp, the views/vistas are amazing. The antelope are really neat to see - especially if they are headed your way. Just don't move or blink cause they'll see it. Tons of deer, maybe an elk to 10. Trout fishing if you go far enough west. Fun stuff.

 

[go_deep]

My idea of a trophy is a good memory. I don't have a man-cave or racks or mounts on the wall. I don;t have enough to fill a box in the garage.

If your perspective is to drop over $1,000 to shoot an antelope doe, more power to you. I spent $700 on a 16 month old, 600# bull for the freezer this past year - he's tasty. Put his meat next to a button, 6 and 8 pt bucks shot 1 hr and 5 hrs away from home.

Had a ball in WY in 2017 and can't wait to go back once I get enough points to do a good hunt. Maybe it is being deaf, but traveling to hunt in a cluster of competitive guys was not fun for me, nor is it worth $1,000+ to do. Again - your mileage may vary.

I followed the doe advice a couple years back and wish I hadn't. That's my perspective. That's for folks to decide on their own. Instead of blindly saying yes - hunting is better than not hunting, I say that hunting how you want it is better - I used to say quality but somehow that makes me an antler hunter. I have to fight idiots over deer in FL and GA but somehow doing it in WY for antelope is okay?

If you don't want folks breathing down your neck, get some points. It will be MORE fun.

Then on your way out - check out Devil's Tower and Mt Rushmore - both are worth the drive.

If you are willing to drive from the east coast for a #100 animal and smile from ear to ear, then please do. The skies are amazing at night, the air is crisp, the views/vistas are amazing. The antelope are really neat to see - especially if they are headed your way. Just don't move or blink cause they'll see it. Tons of deer, maybe an elk to 10. Trout fishing if you go far enough west. Fun stuff.

What area were you hunting that people were breathing down your neck?!? I get some of the worst doe tags in the state and rarely see a person. I personally think your experience is the 1 out of a 1,000, unfortunately for you.

 

[HighPlainsHunter]

We just aren't gonna agree. Besides, your tag says Laramie, mine would say Orlando. Worlds apart, yet connected by the internet.

I'm giving a different view.

He's got plenty of "go and shoot a doe, you'll have fun". Antelope hunting is fun, but it aint 60 hours worth of driving fun if all your gonna do is see is one buck after another and can't shoot 'em.

You need to stop focusing on horns and learn how to have a good time.

If the only way you find hunting fun is to shoot an animal with horns there is a problem on your end.

Believe it or not some people drive out to Wyoming to simply look at animals and not shoot any. Must be mind boggling to a guy like you from Orlando who an only justify a long drive with horns in the pickup.

The more you post the more you expose your issues.

Regretting going on an doe antelope trip is a prefect example. Just be happy you got to go hunting instead of whining and complaining.

People like you can take all the fun out of hunting.

 

[JimP]

The hunt is the fun part. Getting a nice trophy is just icing on the cake.

I have ate more tag soup and salad than most on here have and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

 

[Bonecollector]

I can?t agree more. I had four doe/Cow tags this year and drove 3500 miles round-trip to have a fantastic time. Sure beats the hell out of taking my wife and kids to the beach! And that?s only 1000 mile round-trip!
(just don?t tell the wife)

BTW: Who goes to WY and only sees one buck and never any doe?s. I?m not sure if I see more antelope or gophers when I?m there-LOL
Either way there are a lot of antelope and it?s a lot of fun.


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[roknHS]

It's 1500 miles one way for me. I've gone with a buck tag, I've gone with a doe tag, last year I didn't get a tag but I went so my wife could hunt. I just love Wyoming so I find an excuse to go. I've got private access in a unit with 100% draw so I can get what ever tag I want but, How many antelope can you hang on a wall? For me it is the one time I drop everything and go........and I stay for at least 2 weeks and some years 3 weeks. Leisurely hunting antelope, prairie dogs, visiting college friends, seeing the sites and generally just screwing off. This year it will be a family adventure with my son and his wife and again I probably won't get a tag. I get a kick out of watching everybody else have the time of their lives.
I've got a ranch here in Northern Idaho with all kinds of critters.....elk, deer, moose, bear, turkeys..........and I still look forward to Wyoming. I don't need to kill something (with or without horns) to make the trip worth while. I just need to go.

 

[mosquito]

Having never hunted out west (yet) I realize my opinion doesn't carry much weight. Having said that I believe it's all on the individual. I would love to come to Wyoming every year and hang out and leisurely hunt antelope and have just as good of a time watching a buddy or family family member kill one or not. Depending on where your at if life determines a lot of that. If I was retired and my kids were raised and the house was paid for I could see me doing it for weeks( or another hunt ever year). However I'm not there yet and have limited me time. So for me I've been collecting points for years planning a trip and waiting
6 pp . Were going to give it a go this fall. If I see some pronghorn and make it there and home safely it will all be worth it. If we bring home some meat great it not that's ok but we will hunt hard and give it are best. Having said that I still want a chance at a decent to nice buck for my man cave if not... a picture of us in my man cave on the prairie is almost as good. It's all about having and good time and making memories.

 

[Prerylyon]

Something being missed is how economical and practical doe tag hunting is:

1. Cost is a fraction of a buck tag at $48
2. Opportunity to learn units, areas, for when you can draw in an area
3. Practice at stalking wary game
4. Practice using maps and gps tools to legally navigate private/public land access
5. Practice shooting game in actual hunting situations
6. Practice field dressing and caring for meat in the field a long ways from town

I could go on and on, and that just is the basics.

I saved all my receipts from my trip to WY last October; camped, cooked my own food (other than splurging on a breakfast burrito at TJs in Mitchell, SD) yes Iowa is closer to WY than many, and came in under $600 for the trip.

I have 7 children, some with special needs that are costly. I get it.

If you're building points for a once in a lifetime hunt and unable to go on lesser hunts in the meantime, its prob wise to be saving up for an outfitter and guide for when you draw that tag. No shame in using outfitters or guides. I cashed in some stock options a few years back and did that. I learned a lot on that trip.

Regards,

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[lucky guy]

Something being missed is how economical and practical doe tag hunting is:

1. Cost is a fraction of a buck tag at $48
2. Opportunity to learn units, areas, for when you can draw in an area
3. Practice at stalking wary game
4. Practice using maps and gps tools to legally navigate private/public land access
5. Practice shooting game in actual hunting situations
6. Practice field dressing and caring for meat in the field a long ways from town

I could go on and on, and that just is the basics.

I saved all my receipts from my trip to WY last October; camped, cooked my own food (other than splurging on a breakfast burrito at TJs in Mitchell, SD) yes Iowa is closer to WY than many, and came in under $600 for the trip.

I have 7 children, some with special needs that are costly. I get it.

If you're building points for a once in a lifetime hunt and unable to go on lesser hunts in the meantime, its prob wise to be saving up for an outfitter and guide for when you draw that tag. No shame in using outfitters or guides. I cashed in some stock options a few years back and did that. I learned a lot on that trip.

Regards,

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All good advice and we go the same way. We have a family get together in Wy every year to hunt antelope. My brother, nephew and I, and it seems like each year a couple newbies come along from back east to experience a western hunt. You don't have to get hung up in horn size, etc. for your first hunt. Learn on the doe hunts while you accumulate points for a buck tag. You'll have a great time, see lots of bucks and learn tons, and likely have some excellent meat in the freezer to remind of the trip until next year.

Also take time to learn about taking care of the meat. It's among the best but in my experience can also go south on you the quickest.
We don't use local butchers anymore for antelope because the animals are too small for one batch grinding. A couple times we've gotten awful grind back because ours was mixed with somebody else's animal that laid in the back of the truck for half a day. It turns it into dog food. We now butcher in camp, including grinding, and it's wrapped and frozen the same day. The local markets have dry ice.

 

[bowtech840]

Not arguing the doe hunt if it?s something that interest you but there are 0-1 point buck options that allow for a great hunt if you do your research. I hunted a 1 point unit last year along with 2 other guys and we were tagged out on bucks at 10am opening day. Two of the guys went to the same unit the year before and had the same result. Between the afternoon before opener and opening morning at 10am we glassed over 30 bucks on public ground from the road.

Opening morning we went after what we thought was to be the biggest and had him dead a little after legal shooting light. Got him packed up and to the truck then on the way to where we saw another good one the evening before we ended up spotting a buck on public along the highway so we dropped a guy off and he walked over a hill and shot it. After packing and loading it we were planning our next move and we spotted another one off of the highway that looked decent so we went after him and had him packed and loaded by 10. All these bucks were spotted from and killed less than a quarter mile off the highway in a low desired unit. We never seen another hunter in the field. Plenty of them at the hotel and on the roads but never seen one out of the vehicle. Start calling biologist in different parts of the state and tell them your situation. They are very helpful and one of the most valuable parts of the research equation. Good luck!


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