- Mar 30, 2011
- 13
- 0
what would you do with 4 preference points in WY? I'm not interested in spending the money on a special tag. thanks
4 preference points in WY
- Thread starter goathunter
- Start date
Airborne1
Member
I'd save my points this year if I had 4 pp. Based on everything I have read the antelope numbers are way down this year
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
There will be PLENTY of pronghorn to hunt, fish and game will adjust numbers according to the herd size, and success will be up near 90%. You should have no problem taking a nice pronghorn. A lot of units have doe tags cut way back which will put fewer hunters in the field.
Future years may be tough as I am hearing about lower fawn numbers which will affect the numbers of trophy bucks in 3-4 years.
If a top end trophy is important to you, you possibly might want to wait. The drought from last year may have affected the tops of the horn growth which starts in November, but good moisture so far may be indicating better than expected horn growth this spring. My gut says there will be equivalent trophy quality as last year. There are always going to be a few big antelope, it just takes more work to sort through them on an off year.
Last year, on the year so many are complaining about, one of the best pronghorn outfitters I know of in the US guided for 12 bucks on at least 5 different Wyoming units (public land I believe) and took the following bucks 91 4/8, 88 2/8, 88 2/8, 86 6/8, 86 4/8, 85 2/8, 85 2/8, 85, 83 4/8, 83, 82, 81. The median buck in that group is 85 2/8", and all but one scores at or above the B&C minimum. That just goes to show that Wyoming has big bucks even in off years, and that most pronghorn hunters have a very, very, very hard time sizing up trophy bucks.
See the last 12 bucks in this string of photos:
http://www.pronghornguideservice.com/recent-photos.html
If you are only applying in the regular draw, it may be a good year as far as draw odds since a lot of guys are scared about the drought.
One of these years, I am going to just take 2 weeks in Wyoming to hunt antelope and nothing else else until I find a mid 80s buck.
Future years may be tough as I am hearing about lower fawn numbers which will affect the numbers of trophy bucks in 3-4 years.
If a top end trophy is important to you, you possibly might want to wait. The drought from last year may have affected the tops of the horn growth which starts in November, but good moisture so far may be indicating better than expected horn growth this spring. My gut says there will be equivalent trophy quality as last year. There are always going to be a few big antelope, it just takes more work to sort through them on an off year.
Last year, on the year so many are complaining about, one of the best pronghorn outfitters I know of in the US guided for 12 bucks on at least 5 different Wyoming units (public land I believe) and took the following bucks 91 4/8, 88 2/8, 88 2/8, 86 6/8, 86 4/8, 85 2/8, 85 2/8, 85, 83 4/8, 83, 82, 81. The median buck in that group is 85 2/8", and all but one scores at or above the B&C minimum. That just goes to show that Wyoming has big bucks even in off years, and that most pronghorn hunters have a very, very, very hard time sizing up trophy bucks.
See the last 12 bucks in this string of photos:
http://www.pronghornguideservice.com/recent-photos.html
If you are only applying in the regular draw, it may be a good year as far as draw odds since a lot of guys are scared about the drought.
One of these years, I am going to just take 2 weeks in Wyoming to hunt antelope and nothing else else until I find a mid 80s buck.
Last edited:
WapitiBob
Veteran member
You will just need to see what units you can draw if you really want to burn your points. Begin looking at units that start with a 4 and work up to units that start with a 6.
- Mar 30, 2011
- 13
- 0
Eberle
Veteran member
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Low antelope densities in Unit 78 and 80. You can draw FAR better units with 4 points.
oldbobinjoseph
New Member
I too have 4 points for Antelope (as well as deer and Elk) keep waiting for my Marine son to be able to go as he has like points but not so again this year so I'm putting in for goat anyway. Don't really want to burn my points in the hope he can go next year so was thinking of doing the special draw and going for unit 57 as first and #71 as second with the hopes of drawing #71 and saving my points. Any thoughts and/or recommendations...?
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
That's a great strategy putting in for a great unit first and a unit you can draw as you second choice, go hunting and gain a point. One thing though, the reports on 57 have not been good the last could years. I think there are better choices than 57 for that your choice.
oldbobinjoseph
New Member
Thanks UH. I chose #57 ONLY because, according to EHJ it required the most points...Guess I should consider the possibility of getting drawn, huh? What do you suggest?
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
Unit 60, 61 and 64 are considered "ultra blue" units. Any of those I think would be a great choice.
oldbobinjoseph
New Member
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
Goathunter, areas # 61 & 62 Red desert ....trophy bucks, mostly public land (BLM) Hard to draw however.
BobT
Active Member
From what I've seen the last 2 years 71 will be a tough hunt, especially on public land. Last year all I saw were does and very small bucks in the unit, and very few of those. I never got off the road though since I was hunting 72.
Bob
oldbobinjoseph
New Member
Thanks for the info Bob. I'm not in the trophy business, but wouldn't pass one up. I would really just like a good hunt and do enjoy Antelope meat so a 14-15 incher would not be something I'd pass on. When my boy can join me he'll be out for horns. Sad to say, but here in NE Oregon, he's passed on bull elk that I'd have shot the first day. To each his own...
BobT
Active Member
No problem! I had a really fun hunt in 71 4 years ago. I would like to hunt it again some day, if you do draw it let me know and I can give you some starting points if you like.
Bob
Bob
oldbobinjoseph
New Member
MWScott72
Active Member
Anything less than 6 points going in last year couldn't pull 61 on a points basis. You'd have to get lucky and draw one of the random tags. This is one of the most popular units in WY and the odds show it.
A Type 2 permit on 62 would be doable as you could draw it with 0 points, but I have heard that 62 has some serious access issues (which leads me to believe that is the reason you can draw the Type 2 with 0 points). If you were to apply for 62, I'd make sure you have a spot with guaranteed access.
Keep in mind that quotas may be cut substantially this year (up to a third I've heard in some units). That doesn't bode well for odds either. Maybe those that do decide to put in will get lucky though because others are sitting it out this fall hoping for better conditions for horn growth next year. Only time will tell.
JEandAsGuide
Active Member
Type 9 is archery but I believe you can hunt archery with a type 1 or 2 license. Not sure on dates.