7 NR Points going into WY antelope draw

[wilydawg]

Hi guys,

New member to the forum but not to Eastman's, I'm a long time subscriber. So I know the best manners would be to introduce myself in the new members area and try to add some value before trying to get some, but due to work schedule and the short time frame before apps are due I hope you'll forgive me for asking for advice in my first post, I'll give a short intro and will try to help others here in the future as I can.

I live in Utah, and have hunted many species all over the Western US and Canada. I've also been blessed to hunt Africa. I also hunt predators extensively, and love to fish. Basically anything that gets me out into God's creation with my family!

So without any further adieu, here's my question to you guys with Wyoming experience:

My nephew and I have 7 antelope points. I've killed a number of good goats over the years, a couple in the 80" range. My nephew only only one, but it was high 70's. My best ones have all come from Wyoming. I've only drawn one "blue chip" unit (Red Desert) but that was in the late 80's. I've just hunted hard and gotten lucky a few times in units not really known for their trophy potential, so I know that you can get a "good one" in any unit if you scout/hunt it long and hard.

The ultimate goal would be to burn our points this year in a unit that harbors a reasonable chance at seeing bucks in the 80"+ class as we really want to hunt quality after waiting 7 years. But above all we want to hunt goats this year, and if it made more sense we could put in for a unit that we couldn't draw (like 57, 58, 60 or 61), gain another point which could make us eligible for even some of them next year, and draw a second choice unit so we can hunt this year.

I've pored over the MRS, and had some discussions but am still a little torn, as I'm hearing conflicting info - "this unit look awesome this year / horn growth is bad and mature buck numbers are down" etc. With 7 points, if I'm willing to go Special draw (and I am if it makes sense), I'm a lock for most "blue chip" units, but don't want to risk blowing 7 years of waiting on a year that seems "iffy" to a lot of people. At the same time if I go option 2 - (draw second choice), I'm not sure of any ideas for a unit with access, most seem to be predominately private (I'm not opposed to paying a reasonable trespass fee).

I'm a little "google eyed" from all the internet search I've done and it's always good to get info straight from the source, so I'd welcome any and all opinions/ideas from you, good hunting to all this year, and thanks in advance!

wily

 

[Fish]

Wish I had that many points. Take a look at 90-1 and 2, 91 and few other of the 90's units.

 

[Hilltop]

Wilydawg,

You have a problem that many on here would love to have. It sounds to me you know as much as most here so I won't tell you where I think you should apply but rather offer an opinion. In your shoes I would consider splitting the two hunts. One of you apply this year for the best area you think you can draw and have the other try to get a doe tag or two. That way you can really focus on finding that needle in the haystack and not worry about the even harder task of finding 2, 80+" bucks on the same hunt. Whoever waits may have a shot at an even better area next year with the extra point. Just my 2 cents... Wish you luck.

 

[mnhoundman]

Welcome Wily, Hilltop made a good point. I would probably do that unless you can't come back next year. You could have 2 darn good hunts 2 years in a row. Can't help you much on units though, good luck.

 

[lostinOregon]

Something to look at with 7 points you probably won't catch the premium units like 57, 60 and 61. If you look at the application numbers and the max point holders sitting and waiting I don't thin you will catch these units any time soon. 2 points under max is where you should look at the draw history, not the number of points it took to draw the tag. I have the same amount of points and have looked at the numbers quite a bit.

Rich

 

[WapitiBob]

This ^^
You need to look at the size of the app pools and tags allotted to see how long it will take before your group becomes the max point pool.

 

[wilydawg]

Something to look at with 7 points you probably won't catch the premium units like 57, 60 and 61. If you look at the application numbers and the max point holders sitting and waiting I don't thin you will catch these units any time soon. 2 points under max is where you should look at the draw history, not the number of points it took to draw the tag. I have the same amount of points and have looked at the numbers quite a bit.

Rich

Not quite understanding this, maybe I'm missing something. I know I won't draw 57, 60 or 61 (I noted this in my original post) with 7 points, even going Special draw, but based upon the 2014 draw, assuming the number of tags allotted in an area in 2015 haven't changed (many of the areas I'm looking at they haven't), and if 100% of applicants with 7 points drew them in 2014, why wouldn't I draw in 2015? I guess the number of applicants could change? And why would I be looking at areas that draw at two points under max?

 

[okielite]

If I had that many points in WY I'd probably follow the pronghorn guide service trucks to find a whopper.

Make sure you post pics of the hunt wherever you end up!

 

[Tim McCoy]

Not quite understanding this, maybe I'm missing something. I know I won't draw 57, 60 or 61 (I noted this in my original post) with 7 points, even going Special draw, but based upon the 2014 draw, assuming the number of tags allotted in an area in 2015 haven't changed (many of the areas I'm looking at they haven't), and if 100% of applicants with 7 points drew them in 2014, why wouldn't I draw in 2015? I guess the number of applicants could change? And why would I be looking at areas that draw at two points under max?

In your example, if tag numbers and hunter behavior was the same, you'd draw. I believe max points going into the draw is 9, two points under would be 7, so if that is correct, looking at good areas in 2014 drawn two points under max points could be a good way to select possibilities. Just a different way of saying the same thing I suspect.

 

[Hilltop]

Not quite understanding this, maybe I'm missing something. I know I won't draw 57, 60 or 61 (I noted this in my original post) with 7 points, even going Special draw, but based upon the 2014 draw, assuming the number of tags allotted in an area in 2015 haven't changed (many of the areas I'm looking at they haven't), and if 100% of applicants with 7 points drew them in 2014, why wouldn't I draw in 2015? I guess the number of applicants could change? And why would I be looking at areas that draw at two points under max?

wilydawg,

Drawing doesn't ever seem to be a guarantee. There are currently 1,576 people with 7 points going into the 2015 drawing. Nobody really knows how many of them will apply and for what areas. Looking at previous years trends can give you a good idea but these things can and do change drastically sometimes. For example the moose tag I wanted this year jumped to 4 points where the previous three years it could have been drawn with 0 or 1 point.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Hilltop, that stings. Am in on a MD tag for a great hunt, near a guarantee, unless the number of max point hunters putting in for that unit increases, if folks would just stay consistent...

 

[wilydawg]

wilydawg,

Drawing doesn't ever seem to be a guarantee. There are currently 1,576 people with 7 points going into the 2015 drawing. Nobody really knows how many of them will apply and for what areas. Looking at previous years trends can give you a good idea but these things can and do change drastically sometimes. For example the moose tag I wanted this year jumped to 4 points where the previous three years it could have been drawn with 0 or 1 point.

Yeah I know it's never a lock, all you can do is use the latest info available and hope for the best.

BTW, anybody have any good ideas on a second choice unit?

Thanks!

 

[CrossCreeks]

I am sitting on 8 pts. going into the draw but I am holding out for 60 or 61 cannot help you much on advice but it's a gamble some times because you just do not know what those ahead of you will do. 1,139 hunters with 8 points same as me but 1,053 with max (9)points. I am going to draw a second choice tag and pay a trespass fee !

 

[Musket Man]

Apply for unit 67 and plan plenty of time for your hunt. Lots of public land and you can draw this year and harvest the antelope you are looking for if you put in the time.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Then there are people like us. My kids have lots of points, in fact two have max, one has one less then max. When they apply we will most likely be averaging a group to draw another tag or two for others. I believe there are lots of units that make great hunts in Wyoming. I would pick a top 10 hunt, invest the time, the more the better, and go hunt. My next WY antelope tag I hope to invest a week an a half and just sift through a mess of bucks.

 

[RICMIC]

I finally got off the stump and got my app in for WY with 6 pts. Unless I screwed something up, I should be a lock for the area I applied for. My partner is 74, with some hip problems and no points, so he'll just be after some meat does. Now it is just a matter of waiting. Things are starting to ramp up boys...now all I need to do is win the Trifecta tag.

 

[WY ME]

My next WY antelope tag I hope to invest a week an a half and just sift through a mess of bucks.

That's the best plan.

You have a good chance at taking a 16" antelope in a whole lot of areas. I wouldn't get hung up on the blue chip green chip stuff. There's booners roaming around this year in Gillette and Rawlins and Rock Springs and...

 

[WYhunter24]

I know it isn't a well known trophy unit but you might consider 29. It is just north of Douglas. There are a lot of good sized bucks, many near that 80" mark. I used to live around there and worked on the Grasslands so I got paid to drive and "scout." The amount of federal land is rather impressive. I think anything between Douglas and Gillette would be a good choice. If you do decide to try that I would suggest an Area 30 doe tag. The doe tags in 29 are "off federal land only" which is pretty limiting.

Wishing you the best