Deer Region X
- Thread starter JeffyO_MN
- Start date
Topgun 30-06
Banned
They have cut Region F in half for 2015 and made the eastern units into a new one that they are calling X. You can go into the 2014 Regulation section on the website and click on the deer map to see exactly what they did. It's a good change and smart move IMHO.
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Anyone have any thoughts or advice on the new Region X or the remaining F for deer? Enough people talked me out of going to Y up in the northern part of the Big Horns 
that I think we're going to do either the remaining F or try X as it looks like we should be able to draw with no PP's. Plus we have the ability to rent a house on the cheap in Cody and base out of there. Looks to be lots of public land in both X and F. Will we be battling a lot of other hunters for both elk and deer? What is the terrain out there and any advice on what kind of terrain to key on for deer? I like hunting coulees and stuff with some elevation change. We're all in good shape and favor hiking over road hunting so we're not afraid to put some work in. Thanks for any help.
that I think we're going to do either the remaining F or try X as it looks like we should be able to draw with no PP's. Plus we have the ability to rent a house on the cheap in Cody and base out of there. Looks to be lots of public land in both X and F. Will we be battling a lot of other hunters for both elk and deer? What is the terrain out there and any advice on what kind of terrain to key on for deer? I like hunting coulees and stuff with some elevation change. We're all in good shape and favor hiking over road hunting so we're not afraid to put some work in. Thanks for any help.Topgun 30-06
Banned
That's really way too many questions to ask when you're talking the huge area F and X cover and the very diverse terrain from what I would call lowlands down at the Cody level and the mountains to the north and west of it. If you're a serious hunter, I would also deep six the house in Cody as a base idea unless you plan a vacation, rather than a serious hunting trip out there. Doing the house deal would involve way too much time lost going and coming from the hunt areas, especially being out before daylight each morning right where you want to be hunting IMHO. There is a lot of public land in those regions, but finding the deer in them as much as there is will be the challenge.
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Well fortunately my cousin lives in Bozeman so he's close enough to do some scouting trips for us. I also am hoping to get out there once this summer to do some exploring. I meant the house in Cody would be base camp for staging gear, maybe a shower once and a place to get meat in a freezer. I absolutely plan to camp where we'll be hunting. That's what I've always done and plan to continue doing. I know F & X are large areas and assumed there would be diverse terrain but was looking for some general advice on what terrain the deer are most likely to be in. I suppose we'll just have to identify some areas that look promising and get some boots on the ground. And then hope when the season rolls around that we're not battling an orange army.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
My point that I didn't really do well at explaining is that deer are just about anywhere out there, but in varying degrees as far as quantity. You can find them out in lower sagebrush areas that don't look like they would hide a rabbit all the way up to 10,000' where it's normally considered sheep, goat, and elk country. I would ask your cousin to start in the lower areas where there are plenty of draws with cover along with a decent food source whether it be right there or agricultural land in close proximity to where they can travel back and forth to a safe bedding area for the day. If you start getting up into the mountainous areas north and west of Cody you're talking about tough conditions, including grizzlies that are growing in numbers to the point where I won't even consider a hunt in that part of the state and they are coming down lower and lower toward civilization every year.
Well, F or X will be my third choice this year. Im hoping it doesnt have to be that way but if last year is any indication then it is a likely circumstance.
I have not studied the new region X...heck I just learned about it the other day.
So I will speak of the "old" F. Grizzly bears, everywhere! Down in Cody and all the way up and into Yellowstone. Be careful, hunt with a minimum of 2 people total, keep camp clean, all the typical grizz tips should be followed and then some.
There has gotta be big deer there, the late season 105 tag is tough to draw for a reason. Yea the deer arent down low while the general season is going on but they are somewhere.
Purely guessing I would say the lower BLM sections will get hit harder with hunters because it is easier to get to and closer to town (when hunting near Cody). I didnt see any deer really while scouting for pronghorn a few years ago and my buddy pronghorn hunted out there 2 years ago and did not see any deer on public ground either.
I have not studied the new region X...heck I just learned about it the other day.
So I will speak of the "old" F. Grizzly bears, everywhere! Down in Cody and all the way up and into Yellowstone. Be careful, hunt with a minimum of 2 people total, keep camp clean, all the typical grizz tips should be followed and then some.
There has gotta be big deer there, the late season 105 tag is tough to draw for a reason. Yea the deer arent down low while the general season is going on but they are somewhere.
Purely guessing I would say the lower BLM sections will get hit harder with hunters because it is easier to get to and closer to town (when hunting near Cody). I didnt see any deer really while scouting for pronghorn a few years ago and my buddy pronghorn hunted out there 2 years ago and did not see any deer on public ground either.
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
I was kindof curious about the new X even though it doesn't really apply to me after seeing this thread. It kindof makes sense to me to split it up. X is lower in general, but like TopGun said, it varies alot. It kindof looks like X has a lot of the agricultural part of the Big Horn Basin and F has some of the higher elevations,mountains, and timber type areas with the Beartooths and Absoroka type stuff. Its pretty dry in a lot of X, so most of the ag. is irrigated and the BLM is sage or just plain desert like Topgun was saying. As for where the deer are, I haven't got a clue, but finding a good water source in the BLM in X might be a strategy. AT Hiker looks like he has F covered pretty well above. There are a couple local guys on this forum that might help correct me.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Finding water if you're talking elk or antelope is one thing because those two species need water pretty much every day for survival. On the other hand, deer will go to water if it's close to where they live, but they don't need it to survive based on their completely different digestive system.
LCH
Very Active Member
I'm considering picking up a Region X leftover. I know deer density is not high, but the late season dates (11/1-11/10) has me leaning that way over a Region M.
LCH
Very Active Member
My sentiments exactly. The plan is to put on as many miles as possible getting away from roads, and hunt the last 6 days of the season (and pray for snow).
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
I think it is a fairly new region that was split off from F if I remember correctly. I think it was a good split because F has a lot of National Forest and more public land I think. X has a lot of irrigated agriculture and some BLM, etc. mixed in. I think most of it is pretty difficult access. It is also pretty dry normally, so deer densities like you were saying are not always great and have probably been down for a couple of years before these last couple good years. I don't know how far you can get away from roads in that area. Its not heavily populated, but lots of farms and ranches, especially along what water there is. Like go_deep said, lots of research, ok tag better than no tag. Actually, I would say almost the same things about M also. I am a little more familiar with what BLM accesses there are in M, so I would lean that way a little.
LCH
Very Active Member
I've done a fair amount of research on the area.. I don't think access will be an issue, as there are hundreds of square miles of accessible BLM, plus some Walk-In Areas. I think the trick will be locating the deer in all that country.
I would have preferred F, but there are no leftovers this year due to the split. I didn't apply for deer this year, since I thought I'd be hunting antelope (point creep bit me).
As Againstthewind mentioned, there is a lot of irrigated private around Cody, Powell, Greybull, and some other small towns in the region. The BLM badland-type country goes right up to the edge of these fields in a few areas. I think we're going to try to put a lot of miles in these areas, either trying to intercept deer entering/leaving the fields to bed in the badlands and sage, or glass up bedded bucks.
My partner really wants a Mule Deer, as he has never killed one (never been west actually). I'd be happy with either a muley or a Whitetail. Neither of us are very picky, just looking for a good time out west
I would have preferred F, but there are no leftovers this year due to the split. I didn't apply for deer this year, since I thought I'd be hunting antelope (point creep bit me).
As Againstthewind mentioned, there is a lot of irrigated private around Cody, Powell, Greybull, and some other small towns in the region. The BLM badland-type country goes right up to the edge of these fields in a few areas. I think we're going to try to put a lot of miles in these areas, either trying to intercept deer entering/leaving the fields to bed in the badlands and sage, or glass up bedded bucks.
My partner really wants a Mule Deer, as he has never killed one (never been west actually). I'd be happy with either a muley or a Whitetail. Neither of us are very picky, just looking for a good time out west
Againstthewind
Very Active Member