Planning my first WY hunt 2016

Jlrineer1

Member
Nov 29, 2015
67
0
Hello everyone,
I've started planning a DIY hunt with 2 other guys for 2016. We're from PA and really want to take an antelope and/or mule deer without paying crazy money for it. So far I've been reading up on as many posts as I can, on here and other forums. I've decided to chance zone 23 for antelope and region C for deer. I know it's pretty slim on the public land but draw odds are really high for both areas. I put an ad in the gillette newspaper looking for private land to hunt for a tresspass fee.

If I do end up only hunting public land does anyone have any experience with the WIA and blm land to the west of area 23? Looks like a sizeable chunk and we're not afraid of hiking as many miles as it takes just wondering if it's worth it.
 

Againstthewind

Very Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
973
2
Upton, WY
The walk-in area gets hit pretty hard, and the BLM is a little tricky to get onto. There are roads all over that area. Sometimes I get turned around there are so many, lol. But if you can get to the WIA before they get chased off, or do it right so that the road hunters push them to you, there are some decent antelope and I have seen some ok 4x4 type mule deer there also. Maybe not huge, but there are animals around there for sure. They get some really good mule deer off the BLM, but I haven't researched how to get to those places a whole lot (one of the perks of knowing lots of people here I guess). The GPS chip and calling the county about access roads are worth it for sure. The roads are pretty good and well used unless it rains. The rain gets them a little sloppy, but they are frequently graded and what not. Its hard to hike a long way because the public is chopped up and blocky. Ground blinds are pretty popular around there, so setting one up and letting people push them from the roads to your lap sometimes works. Well good luck.
 

Jlrineer1

Member
Nov 29, 2015
67
0
Thanks, that helps a lot.

I'll have to do my research on the public roads. I like the ground blind idea, I didn't think about that.

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Psubowhunter

New Member
Jan 21, 2013
9
0
We hunted Region C this past fall. It was tough, we killed some deer, but had to work our butts off. Lots and lots of road hunters. I killed my deer on the 62nd mile of hiking. I did 18 miles the first day and never saw a buck. Also, I am not sure if you will be able to draw that unit again with zero points.
 

Againstthewind

Very Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
973
2
Upton, WY
We hunted Region C this past fall. It was tough, we killed some deer, but had to work our butts off. Lots and lots of road hunters. I killed my deer on the 62nd mile of hiking. I did 18 miles the first day and never saw a buck. Also, I am not sure if you will be able to draw that unit again with zero points.
Holy smokes! You put on the miles. Sorry for your luck. This year did seem especially bad for road hunters. There are better areas for sure, but it can be fun. I'm not sure I put in 18 miles in three days, lol.
 

cscott711

New Member
Oct 12, 2014
42
0
Southwest Michigan
I've been out to Wyoming seven times for deer and antelope. Our group size has varied from 4-6 and all drew tags for both species except for one antelope tag in 2014. However, looking at drawing odds and quotas in researching a hunt for next year, it appears we're screwed since we don't have points :( If anyone is feeling generous, I'd welcome a PM with any thoughts on where a group of guys could draw tags for deer and antelope next year. I was pretty bummed when I started reading through the drawing odds reports from 2015.

Good luck the rest of this year and Merry Christmas all!
 

Jlrineer1

Member
Nov 29, 2015
67
0
We hunted Region C this past fall. It was tough, we killed some deer, but had to work our butts off. Lots and lots of road hunters. I killed my deer on the 62nd mile of hiking. I did 18 miles the first day and never saw a buck. Also, I am not sure if you will be able to draw that unit again with zero points.
I saw last year's draw odds were 55%. I am going to buy the special deer license though it was 100% last year. We're willing to put on that many miles as long as we have places to walk. We're all relatively fresh out of the Marine Corps (5 years) so putting on miles isn't an issue.

Just a question about the road hunters it seems that's how a lot of people try to hunt is it just to easy/unsportsmanlike to spot them off the road and stalk in or what's the big complaint? Personally I'd rather hike 60 miles and enjoy my hunt than drive around all day looking for game just seems like the road hunters get a lot of flak.

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Againstthewind

Very Active Member
Mar 25, 2014
973
2
Upton, WY
I guess I shouldn't give grief to road hunters. I do it quite a bit[emoji4]. I think it is a good way to cover ground for antelope. It just gets a little annoying when there are the same trucks driving back and forth all day. It's my road damn it lol.
 

go_deep

Veteran member
Nov 30, 2014
2,650
1,984
Wyoming
Heck most of the guys I saw won't go 100 yds off the road.
Talked to some guys this year on the road the first day I got out, they told me they had only seen 5 antelope all day. I asked how far they had been hiking in, they said you can see everything from the road, why would we hike in?
While were sitting there talking I'm looking through his passenger window at a descent buck and 11 does about a mile back off the road. LOL!
The next day in 9 hours we killed a 77", 74", and a 2+, we seen a few hundred head total, and around 40 bucks, in 9 hours. These guys probably drove the roads for days and never seen that many antelope.
Yes Sir, I love road hunters too!