DIY Deer/Antelope Wyoming

[RICMIC]

Much of the public land you hunt antelope on is BLM, and for the most part you are only allowed to drive on the established roads or the "two tracks". The two tracks were pretty horrible, but a 4x4 pickup was able to go anywhere I could go on my UTV. The big exception is if it rains or snows....then the trucks will have huge problems without chains all around, and even then??? As a first timer, you can do most of your initial scouting from the roads, and then do you your hiking when you see something worth a closer look.

 

[Hilltop]

How do folks normally retrieve their game when hunting public land antelope? I've read a lot about 4 wheelers, but I am unclear on if they can be used and where... we wont have one anyway but just curious if I should expect someone to zip by me on a quad after I've hiked in 3 miles...?

Aside from dragging it out, What about game carts? We use these a lot where I hunt...normally take it in with me the first morning and stash it somewhere in my hunting area. Or do folks butcher their animal on the spot and pack it out?

Thanks!

I use game carts for antelope in areas without thick sage. If the sage is thick, it is much easier to quarter them and pack them out. If you are within a couple hundred yards of a truck they are pretty easy to drag out. If doing this, be careful of your cape- that hair comes off pretty easily.

 

[ageewhy]

A few updates for the folks that have chimed and helped on this thread so far:

After many hours researching, we have decided to focus on Antelope only this year in Wyoming, as many of you recommended. Here is my plan as it stands now: We are looking at Antelope unit 9- it's 100% success draw with the special tag, it has quite a bit of land enrolled in the Walk in program, the season dates work with our availability, and its near Casper- which is likely the airport I'll be using.

The special Antelope tag is a bit pricey, but in our eyes the extra $240 is worth the chance to hunt a unit this year that has healthy antelope population, and a good amount of accessible property.

I do have a message out to the WYG&F to clarify: If we purchase the special tag for unit 9, but list another high demand unit as our first choice (to gain a pref point), and unit 9 as our second choice- do I still have a 100% success rate for the drawing? The person I spoke with was not certain that the special tags go into a 2nd and 3rd drawing, or if they just roll over to the regular drawing at that point..... anyone on here know?

Any input or comments on the above plan? I did confirm with an Access coordinator that all of the properties enrolled in the Walk in program are renewing for this season...

Thanks!

 

[JEandAsGuide]

You should draw unit 9 as 2nd choice in the special draw based on last years statistics. There is always a chance of an increase in applicants or a lower tag quota this year that will change that.

 

[go_deep]

Here's how most antelope come out. This is an entire antelope de-boned in the pack.
Don't drive where there isn't a legal road. You shoot one in a ways you push, pull, drag, or carry it out.

 

[480/277]

We do it like go deep. Then you can put that buck in the cooler and continue to hunt , you don't have to go back to town. And the meat is on ice as soon as possible.

 

[Hilltop]

ageewhy, There is no guarantee you will draw this year just based on last years numbers. Number of applicants change yearly so past years will only show you trends. These trends, IMO, are even less predictable in lower point class hunts since there are gobs of people out there looking for the same thing you are. For example, your post from yesterday will likely get a few guys searching to look at the same option.

IMO, your $240.00 would be better spent on a trespass fee in an easy to draw area with typical leftovers if you are dead set on hunting this fall. If you choose to do this, line up property before applying for the tag. I'm not saying your plan is bad but rather to point out it's not a guarantee that you will hunt this year.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Ice is nice...Carry a bunch in a large cooler and keep it full is my advice.

If you get a large one, want a mount with a cape, make sure you have a plan to keep the cape cool. A quick trip to town or cape it and cool it off. Antelope are notorious for slipping hair.

 

[go_deep]

I sent you a pm...

 

[wy-tex]

Game carts are great and atvs are legal on 2 track roads within public land. Don't cross off the areas with difficult public access. Do your homework and see if there are any HMA's or walk in areas or game and fish lands with the areas. The SE part of the state is mostly private but you can get a deer tag for the region and some antelope may be drawn with no points. The public land gets hunted but animals are harvested every year and if you have many days to spent in the field you should have some luck. The medicine bow national forest gets hunted hard but we are starting to see some good bucks come out of it again. Please remember you will be coming to altitude, we live at 7,200 ft here and mostly hunt at higher elevations for elk and deer.

 

[ageewhy]

I thought I'd post a quick update for the folks who offered advice, and guidance up to this point. My group was drawn for unit 9 Antelope, as our second choice and we also banked a PP for next year. We are looking to stay in Lusk, and hunt the WIA and other publics lands in that area. We are going to skip opening weekend, and plan on coming in about a week later to hunt around October 7th-13th.

We did not put in for a doe/fawn tag, hoping there would be leftovers...Unfortunately, there aren't any for unit 9 or really any other nearby units!

However, I did notice there is leftover deer tags, type 10-3 which allow the take of 'Any Whitetail' in deer units 10-14...and deer unit 13 overlaps with antelope unit 9 where we will be hunting.

Any reasonable chance of stumbling across whitetails in that area on public land? Or landowners that would allow a trespass for management whitetail at a reasonable price? I called Lusk chamber of commerce, and they are sending me a "hunt package" with more info...Thanks

Adam

 

[wy-tex]

There were lots of whitetail around the Lusk area but they had a die off about 2 or so years ago. Many ranchers will allow hunting for them if they have decent numbers. You will probably have to pay a trespass fee. The public land will get hit hard but waiting til after opening week is a good plan.That whitetail season runs into Nov. so during Oct you will be competing with the mule deer hunters, mostly residents. The ranchers are pretty picking about their mule deer hunting. After Oct. 15 the mule deer season closes and access may be easier then. Make your calls now to look for access.

 

[Horsenhike]

Unit 10 has 100 any buck tags this year. Around 300 any whitetail tags. Shows limited access for those. Folks say the stick to the private ag land, and from what I have heard the ranchers want them gone because they make better money off mule deer. Probably a cinch to get access for a bit of cash, but like wy-tex says you better get busy. The season for mule deer ends October 15. We have those tags and I would be happy to share with you if we find whitetails on public. When we scouted in March we only saw mule deer, but our time was very limited. Once we found good numbers we were satisfied and ran for home.

 

[ageewhy]

Thanks for the information guys-

I contacted the Lusk chamber of commerce and they are mailing me a 'hunting package" that has some local landowner information. Aside from that, how does one go about contacting ranchers and asking if, and how much they would charge to hunt whitetails on their property?

 

[go_deep]

Thanks for the information guys-

I contacted the Lusk chamber of commerce and they are mailing me a 'hunting package" that has some local landowner information. Aside from that, how does one go about contacting ranchers and asking if, and how much they would charge to hunt whitetails on their property?

Look at the county GIS mapping, it'll show landowner info, with that you can google the ranch name or persons name and get contact info. This will also give you and overview of how much acreage they own, and where, so you know ahead of time that it looks promising for deer hunting.