Antelope backpack trip

[mnhoundman]

Was thinking of a antelope hunt in Wyoming this year possibly that doesn't take many points if any. That being said I would love to maybe make a pack trip out of it, anyone know of good areas to do this in? The areas I've hunted before have so many roads it probably wouldn't work, or is this just not feasible? Thanks for any info or past experiences with this.

 

[roknHS]

What's you're definition of a "pack" trip? Is that boot soles or horseback? To me, a pack trip is horseback stuff. Back packing is boot sole stuff.

 

[okielite]

Pretty easy to cover some miles in the walk in areas and you can probably find some other spots away from roads that might hold animals.

 

[mntnguide]

My antelope philosophy and yours must be different...If I cant drag them to the truck, they have a pretty good chance at living unless they make book!..Nonetheless, i dont know of anyone who "packs" in for goats in wyoming. There is just no reason to. . Any decent area, you can see dozens a day from the seat of your truck or a short hike. Now, if you dont have any points, you will be limited to lesser quality areas, but still a short hike should be all it takes to get into them at most. When it comes to antelope, i wouldnt try to overthink it, its a pretty easy and fun hunt which is why i enjoy it so much

 

[Againstthewind]

I am with mntnguide. I can't really think of an area where packing in would be feasible. Like you were saying, a lot of the areas with antelope are criss-crossed with roads, so if you hike more than a couple miles, you will just run into a road again anyway. Some of the bigger walk-in areas around here you can hike a couple miles in without crossing a road, but you can just park on the other side of the area to cover pretty much the whole area. The areas around Gillette don't take many points and have leftovers a lot of the time, so that might be an option if you don't draw somewhere else with more public area. I think that some of the walk-in areas in Natrona County are huge, like 20 to 70k acres. Some areas have a lot of development, but it seems like north of the highway from Casper to Shoshoni isn't as busy as south of the highway, maybe not. Those big walk-in areas might give more of the packing in/remote feel of a hunt, Areas 73 and 75 maybe? I didn't look at the MRS or anything to see how good of an area they are. Good luck!

 

[mnhoundman]

Thanks for the info guys! I was wondering about that, they cover so much ground so fast if you don't have a truck close by you may chase them around in circles for hours and not get close enough.

I may look at a leftover deer tag, if there is any this year!

 

[mnhoundman]

What's you're definition of a "pack" trip? Is that boot soles or horseback? To me, a pack trip is horseback stuff. Back packing is boot sole stuff.

Backpack trip

Anybody know of Jon Groves? I've heard his name before, he has alot of private ground full of goats west of Wright I think. You pay a small fee and can go camp there and hunt. Anyone have his number?

 

[Gr8bawana]

If you were to find an area that might take a day to pack into, what would happen if you got an animal? I have found that you MUST get an antelope on ice within hours. Otherwise you will end up with a bunch of meat that is the reason a lot a people think antelope are inedible. Since it's usually pretty warm.
Just my .02 worth.

 

[mnhoundman]

If you were to find an area that might take a day to pack into, what would happen if you got an animal? I have found that you MUST get an antelope on ice within hours. Otherwise you will end up with a bunch of meat that is the reason a lot a people think antelope are inedible. Since it's usually pretty warm.
Just my .02 worth.

Yeah I was wondering about that also, but remember seeing pictures on here somewhere of people packing out goats. So was curious, thanks for all the input.

 

[Tim McCoy]

I have seen one of the Eastmans talk about Antelope up high in a WY unit, that may scratch your itch and be cool enough to make ice less critical. The only reason for the ice is the warm weather. Find a later season and/or some altitude, and you may be OK. If the weather does not cooperate, hunt closer to the truck with ice. Seems it was 9'+. Not sure of the unit or season. You may be able to search blogs/forum and find it.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I've hunted 73,74 & 75 for quite awhile. The large walk-in areas are also criss crossed with roads which you can still drive on, you just can't leave the tracks. A couple of years ago I almost got cited for going 20 feet off the existing 2 track I was on in a walk-in area.

 

[Tim McCoy]

I have seen one of the Eastmans talk about Antelope up high in a WY unit, that may scratch your itch and be cool enough to make ice less critical. The only reason for the ice is the warm weather. Find a later season and/or some altitude, and you may be OK. If the weather does not cooperate, hunt closer to the truck with ice. Seems it was 9'+. Not sure of the unit or season. You may be able to search blogs/forum and find it.

Franc's Peak, in NW WY, is what is rattling around in my head on the hi country antelope in a roadless or lightly roaded area. May be worth some research.

 

[ivorytip]

Idaho offers some high country hunts too to lopes. a place I always hike back into during late summer for backcountry fishing always surprises me at the quality of antelopes up that high in the timber. its a good 3 plus miles back from trail head.

 

[okielite]

I've seen antelope up in the Bennett Mountain area near Seminoe reservoir in Wyoming. You could turn that into a pack trip if you wanted to.

 

[mnhoundman]

I'll have to do some searching. Thanks for all the info, gave me some starting points.

 

[Elkoholic307]

Franc's Peak, in NW WY, is what is rattling around in my head on the hi country antelope in a roadless or lightly roaded area. May be worth some research.

It's 110. Long Range Pursuit has a really neat show about it.

 

[2rocky]

Nevada has some antelope units with Wilderness areas. Much of it you can see from a road, or hike over the ridge from a road.

I think to be feasible, you have to do your scouting a week or two ahead by locate a good buck on water, and then back pack in a blind to sit the water.

Runnin' and gunnin' Antelope on foot is like bringing a knife to a gunfight. It can be done but conventional wisdom would recommend against it.

 

[Elkoholic307]

I haven't found a reason not to road hunt for antelope yet.

 

[WapitiBob]

I haven't found a reason not to road hunt for antelope yet.

LOL +1000

We road hunted last year and almost every one of them was at least a mile pack out.