http://www.fs.fed.us/maps/forest-maps.shtml
Well I do feel for you somewhat. My family has lost lands that we used to hunt due to outfitters taking over. Cant blame the landowners completely.....everyone has to make a living. But I do think there is a little greed at play too in some cases. Same thing is happening here in WI. Unless you got some big bucks, land is hard to find. and land is cheap out west compared to here.....taxes are better too than in WI. But anyways, thats a different topic. It is sad to see our sport slowly going towards big money pay to play........hope that trend somehow changes.
I do think you were kind of naive and didnt do enough homework, even though it seems like you were well intentioned. I too have hunted "hard access" units, and you really need to do your research. I posted a link to the Forest Service Maps. These are THE maps to use. Unlike BLM maps or online web maps, the FS does a great job of clearly showing public access rds. One hunt jumps to mind......an antelope hunt west of newcastle in the Thunder Basin NGL. We had BLM maps too (always get them as a backup reference), but they were more vague. The FS showed roads that were open to public access and crossed private lands. We used this map to get to a good chunk of public land that you had to cross private lands to get to. The FS highlights those roads in Yellow usually, and marks them "public access" road. We also verified this with the local warden, just to be sure. We watched with Binocs numerous trucks that went up to the gate, stopped, and turned around. A couple of trucks came through like we did, but not many. And we saw more and better goats in that area. HOWEVER.........there are very few roads like this in eastern WY. And there were some areas that we couldnt get to without getting permission, which would most likely would not have been given, or we would have been charged with fees. But if you do your homework, you can find a spot or 2 like we did, and you can have success. You dont need huge areas. Just 1 good spot will fill your tags.
I have nothing but good things to say about the WGFD. They have been nothing but helpful to me so far. Most of the wardens and biologists have been helpful, and honest, too. One warden we talked to said he would much rather talk to us ahead of time, answer our questions and try to help us, than end up responding to a tresspass call down the road. Most of the wardens we talk too, if you tell them where EXACTLY you want to hunt, they will help you get there. Simply saying "i want to hunt unit xyz" will get you nowhere. But syaing you want to hunt this draw, or this ridge in this area........then I have had nothing but positive feedback from the WGFD and the local wardens.
Hope my advice helps and good luck on future hunts.
