Well I burned my 5 points this year on a REG G tag. My gut said not to because I have heard about the crowds, but figured this would be my best chance at a DIY big mulie. Well my gut was right! I had flew out for two different scouting trips, once was partially on my works dime, as I had a business trip in ID. Well I found two good bucks that I really liked. I'm guessting they would finish high 170's low 180's. I was pumped, couldn't wait for Sept 15th. Well opening morning I am in my glassing spot and sun is coming up. See couple small bucks and a decent 4x4. Then I see 4 guys on the other side of the drainage from me, 3 more at the top of the drainage and one posted at the bottom. Well the guy at the bottom started up the drainage, blowing those bucks towards the other groups which two bucks were shot. Well threw my pack on and went to another drainage about 1/2 mile away. I see orange and horse, but I post up in my glassing spot watch some small bucks and does feed. Spent the rest of opening day moving slowly around to get better look from as far away as I could. Didn't see anything worth shooting. Seen at least 10 guys in this area. Well second day, back up in my spot and here comes the horse army. I was watching the lower sections pretty good figuring the bigger bucks had moved lower. There were a couple guys on horses coming up through the bottom drainage pushing deer and elk out. They hit every pocket on the way up the mountain, neither had orange on. They got to the top and met some others and I watched them move to another drainage and do the same thing. So after dropping down to grab some water, I counted 16 guys with horses in these two drainages. I figured time to move, but as I was almost past the second drainage I noticed a deer feeding so I set up to look for others (it was a small fork buck) Well he kept feeding his way to me so I hung tight and watched. Well a group of 4 guys was about 300 yards to my right and about 200 yards lower than me. I didn’t see them till one decided to put an orange hat on. Well I got to watch one of the guys not wearing orange shoot the small buck about 100 yards away from me. I headed to another drainage about 4 miles away. All I seen there was more horses and hunters. I tried to stay positive, but was very frustrated, I should have gotten horses to increase my hunt area. Well Day 3 (Sat) and by 9AM I had seen over a dozen hunters. They were all pushing up from the bottoms through all the drainages. I’m not sure if they were trying to push some buck up higher and then hunt them or what? But I through the towel in. Packed camp and headed back to IN. If I was to do it again, I would have a horse no question about it. The scenery was beyond amazing, Elk bugling at night, seen couple bears. I wouldn’t recommend a solo backpack hunt to someone who has never hunted this area. I’m not disappointed I ate my tag, just disappointed in how others were hunting.
First ever Reg G hunt
- Thread starter lostriverproductions
- Start date
stevevan
Active Member
Sounds like you experienced a typical nowdays region G hunt. I had the pleasure to hunt G for a number of years as a Wyo. resident back in the "good ole days." Watched it go from great to mediocre. Having said that there will always be a great buck or 2 harvested as the genes are there. Just not a quality hunt anymore as per your testimony. In my opinion G is a good example of what can happen when you have a combination of a general hunt and over exposure. If Wyo. G&F would make this area a limited draw G would return to greatness. The potential is there. Just my 2 cents.
Bonecollector
Veteran member
wy-tex
Veteran member
That is stuff the Game Warden should know about. For those who have smart phones while you hunt, take some pics if you see anything iffy. Sounds like meat hunters which doesn't make it right but maybe they will starve if they don't get that small buck. Sorry about your experience. We still have some great mule deer hunting all over the state.
CrossCreeks
Veteran member
I have hunted "G" several time and never ran into what you did but it has been about 6 years since. Thanks for the information.
I was camped right at tree line to stay out of the wind.
WY-Tex, I did get them shooting the buck on film, you can tell that the hunter in orange didn't shoot because he was on the wrong side of the thicket, he would have to shot at his two buddies. I have turned over a screen shot of the two shooters and will be sending them the footage as well. I have no problem with anyone shooting a deer that they want, regardless of size as long as its in a legal manor.
But with my experience, I may try H in a couple years? Either way high country hunt you better have a honey hole or better have horses. In hind sight I should have stuck it out till Tues maybe? But on way out I passed truck and horse trailer after truck and horse trailer.
mntnguide
Very Active Member
Did you choose a major trailhead?. ..I didn't have a soul anywhere near me and my hunting partner for the entire opening weekend. .I personally want nothing to do with horses in G. If you get up high you run out of water sources, and therefore get away from most horse activity, and gain plentiful mule deer habitat. I live for hunting off horses, yet I have 0 desire to use them in G unless I was just day hunting. Sorry to hear you had that type of luck, but you don't have to park at a trailhead to hunt great country in G.
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