Holy cow, NR buck antelope was $100 in 1981, that seems a little excessive given the fact you could pick up a used Dodge Charger at the time for $500. :D :D
This is the same pack style I run, minus the rifle scabbard. Throw in my spotter, small tripod, game bags, food and water and I bet I'm right around 22 lbs total.
Wyoming is similar for NRs. There is a points pool where top point holders win a majority of tags. If you don't draw in the pool, you get kicked out to a random draw where points don't matter. If you draw, you lose your points in either pool.
Not sure where you're located but Western MT has all transplanted eastern birds. I grew up in the Flathead Valley and killed about a dozen of them. Half on public.
What Prerylyon said! The 280 Rem if you want to stay tradition or the 280 AI.. I have one of each. The AI can literally do everything and you can load them down or put a break on your gun if you're not liking the recoil. I have a Kimber Subalpine in 280 AI shooting a 154 grain interbond at 3050...
I'm going to say Area 7. Most of the units that take a lot of points to draw have a ton of bulls but very few big bulls. Especially if you're used to Arizona bulls.
Eat foods high in iron leading up to your hunt, get some diamox and if you want cardiovascular performance enhancement at 10K ft get some cialis or viagra. I've done it before and it works great. Let the jokes roll in...I see mallardsx2 is already started. haha
I restored one a few years ago and then sold it. I ran 10w-30 in it I believe. Such a cool classic but didn't have the clearance I needed in the mountains.
Slick tricks are great steel heads and have always flow great for me. If you want a head that is more lethal try gravediggers by Bloodsport. I was a fixed head hunter for years but have been blown away by how much more lethal a hybrid is.