Anybody have any updates on central Wyoming antelope? I head out on the 25th and I'm getting damn excited!
2021 WY Quality
- Thread starter accubond
- Start date
Populations down, no two ways about it, but while I was up there working for the week before labor day I seen some pretty good ones.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I talked with the game warden in unit 75 today and when I asked him about 75"+ goats he paused and said "there isn't many". I'm not expecting to see a lot of goats that size but his take on the trophy potential wasn't real rosy. There has to be a couple in that much country and I'm giving myself a week to find one and if I don't I will eat the tag as I've done so often in the past. Gonna have an awesome time whether I fill a tag or not as I'll be with great friends and we will be doing some fishing in and around Thermopolis as well. Thanks for the feedback and good luck to you all this fall.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Tim Hughes
Member
Does anyone have an opening weekend report from unit 91? My son and I are headed out later this week to try to make the most of it.
You will have a good hunt, It was dry but there are still good bucks there in the drought years.
Don K
Very Active Member
Was he in the Dodge pickup? I saw one glassing me when I was stalking a buck in 67 on Thursday I wasn't far from 75. Seen him twice but he just drove on by (probably laughing about me )
Hilltop
Veteran member
Just saw an article about EHD killing deer and antelope in several areas of Wyoming. I think we are going to see further reductions next year. Looked like it was impacting the eastern half of the state mainly.
Article on EHD with a map.
oilcity.news
Disease outbreak confirmed among deer, pronghorn; could impact Wyoming hunting season
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said on Monday that it is tracking an outbreak of a disease that mainly impacts white-tailed deer and
oilcity.news
This is definetly one to keep track of.Article on EHD with a map.
Disease outbreak confirmed among deer, pronghorn; could impact Wyoming hunting season
CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department said on Monday that it is tracking an outbreak of a disease that mainly impacts white-tailed deer and
dan maule
Very Active Member
I literally just arrived in Casper, I drove across 90 to Gillette and south through Midwest to Casper. It’s been 4 years since I’ve made this drive and in my opinion the Antelope population seems to be at most 50% of what I remember. I really hope I am wrong. Did see some really good bucks though.
I'm pretty sure he told me he drives a green Chevy so it must have been somebody else laughing at youWas he in the Dodge pickup? I saw one glassing me when I was stalking a buck in 67 on Thursday I wasn't far from 75. Seen him twice but he just drove on by (probably laughing about me )
. How have things been looking in 67?
Don K
Very Active Member
Fun, flustrating, ....fun, flustrating.....I'm pretty sure he told me he drives a green Chevy so it must have been somebody else laughing at you
Should have filled my tag but 2 inches to low.
Found this guy wonder if he was part of the EHD thing.... (this area isnt on the map though)
Nice buck and I hope it isn't EHD ! How has overall quality looked?Fun, flustrating, ....fun, flustrating.....
Should have filled my tag but 2 inches to low.
Found this guy wonder if he was part of the EHD thing.... (this area isnt on the map though)
View attachment 36919
Don K
Very Active Member
Im not sure how to compare it as this is my first time in the unit. I saw lots of bucks, most where low 70 type bucks, some younger ones, and I have seen 3 or 4 that where real nice. I thought the numbers where decent in certain parts of the unit. The big bucks where still all by themselves while the others where gathering the does up as the rut approaches. (thought that was kinda strange) Only a couple rattlers seen, not much pressure, and overall good hunt. Did get some bucks to come into my bow mounted decoy and actually missed the one when I was using it (miss judged the distance and excitement).
After 1 day of hunting near Laramie yesterday, I refuse to fill my tag. We found a mature buck for my son who's a second year hunter, but we will make no attempt to fill a doe tag, and I couldn't even bring myself to put a round in my chamber for my buck tag.
One area we sat and glassed from we could cover roughly 4 sections with 3 active windmills, 2 ponds and in all that country we seen 1 doe with a fawn. Several other large areas would have 1 buck with maybe 3-5 does, and other areas that looked like great Antelope country were void of any animals.
One area we sat and glassed from we could cover roughly 4 sections with 3 active windmills, 2 ponds and in all that country we seen 1 doe with a fawn. Several other large areas would have 1 buck with maybe 3-5 does, and other areas that looked like great Antelope country were void of any animals.
Pretty sad when the GF issues more tags than there are animals available in the unit. Its sad how bad things are getting with pronghorn in the Laramie area.
Its to the point there needs to be a total season closure for a few years.
I think you probably have the same tag I do...I'm tossing my buck and 2 doe tags in the garbage and my wife is tossing 2 doe tags as well for the same unit. Pathetic when I'm having to address piss poor management by applying for tags I have no intent to hunt, just to save some animals.
I definitely agree with Buzz's comments above. Where there historically were hundreds of antelope in the Laramie Plains there are vast savannah's with hardly an animal. The same thing is true stretching from Laramie to Rawlins....and from Rawlins north in Central Wyo. It's the worse I've seen for antelope numbers in that area since the horrible back to back winters in I believe the late 80's! Unfortunately if the WG&F cuts numbers it means less revenue for them plus a longer wait for hunters to draw tags. I really think it's worth the short-term sacrifice of eliminating tags (especially doe tags) in areas where numbers are incredibly low. Something also needs to be figured out immediately why antelope fawn recruitment is so low!
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
In the area that I hunt in central Wyo, I have seen a general decline in antelope numbers in the last 5 years. In prior years a hunter could get quite a few type 6 (doe/fawn) tags, up to 5 or 6 in some years. The last couple of years, there have been none. I am sure this, along with more moisture, will help rebuild the population. The good thing about it is that this will have less impact on the money the state gets as the type 6 tag is really inexpensive.