Region Y question(s)

[Jrod]

I was lookin at region y and none of the zones are LE, so this area would definitely be a second choice, or third choice? I saw the ed taylor habitat area and there is a lot of public land in there, blm, state, game agcy. It looks as though the access to the tops of the mts where the public land is, is shut off by private ownership. Can anyone give some insight into access into the area, coming from the Kaycee side. Deer areas 32, 33 and 163. Is it worth trying to get in there or is it hit pretty hard by guys thinkin the same as me. Is an ear width 4x4 an unreasonable expectation in that area? Cheers

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Topgun….where are you??

That is Topgun's area. No worries, he only charges $200/hour for advice.

 

[Musket Man]

Region Y is a general zone (group of units) so that is why there are no LE units in it. I have not hunted it but I am thinking about some of the areas you mention for 2nd choice antelope since it has a decent amount of public land. There are a couple units in Y in the Bighorn mountains with good access you could hunt in.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

32 and 33 are the units to hunt down there with a two week season and any deer is legal. If you have maps and a GPS with landowner chip, you can get into plenty of BLM land by going on the Barnum Mountain Road to the west to hunt the south end of 32 and Barnum Road gong north out of Barnum to hunt the north ends of 32 and 33 as the latter road divides the two units. Those are main public roads that access the BLM but you have to keep going through the private lands they go through.

All deer units in Wyoming are within Regions and those Regions can also have LE units within them. Most can't be hunted on the Region tag, although there are a few in the state that do allow some days of hunting with a Region tag, but the LE tag is always good for the best hunt in that LE.

 

[canvsbk]

Pm sent. I hunted pronghorn there last fall.

 

[Jrod]

Topgun you say you have to keep going through private lands. As long as it is a county maintained road they cant block access, is that correct. So I could drive to barnum, hang a right and go north and start huntin, without having to go through gates? People don't necessarily take kindly to California plates. It looks like there are wilderness study areas, are those the same as wilderness area where a NR needs a guide or is it different? Why not 163?

 

[Topgun 30-06]

163 and 169 are shorter antlered only seasons due to low deer numbers. The study areas you're talking about do not fall under the wilderness act like the ones where a NR needs a guide. As long as you stay on a county or state maintained road that is correct. There may or may not be gates you have to go through on a county maintained road. Usually there are cattle guards, rather than gates, where a fenceline hits a road. The common, courteous thing that everybody should follow is to leave a gate open or closed as you found it. Now after saying all that I wonder why I'm giving all this information to a guy from CA!!! Just kidding, LOL!!!

 

[AT Hiker]

I was lookin at region y and none of the zones are LE, so this area would definitely be a second choice, or third choice? I saw the ed taylor habitat area and there is a lot of public land in there, blm, state, game agcy. It looks as though the access to the tops of the mts where the public land is, is shut off by private ownership. Can anyone give some insight into access into the area, coming from the Kaycee side. Deer areas 32, 33 and 163. Is it worth trying to get in there or is it hit pretty hard by guys thinkin the same as me. Is an ear width 4x4 an unreasonable expectation in that area? Cheers

Hunted Y last year, with success. I spent literally all year scouring over maps and doing online research. When we got out there the first thing we discovered was EVERYONE did the same research as us! Tons of other hunters, some road hunting and some "off the beaten path". Saw a few sheriffs and some game wardens as well!

Access to the mountains is going to be dependent not only if it is a public road but weather as well. We got a lot of snow just before season opener last year.

The Ed O Taylor would be a good area, but it will have hunter pressure as well (but at least it is a large area to roam on). One thing to know about it is this; bring a ATV, UTV, something as those 2-tracks are a sloppy mess when they get moisture. I would think if you got in there then got off the 2-tracks you would be in better shape than most.

I seen more fork horn deer in the southern regions of Y then I have seen in my whole life! If you see a ear width 4X4 in that area on public land you will do better than 90% of the other hunters. The biggest deer I seen where on private hay meadows, for good reasons of course. I did see some 140" class mulies taken off public land, but the two I seen the guys spotted them from the road (so I guess if road hunting is your thing then it might pay off).

If you go, go with the mind set that you are there to have fun and killing a deer is at the bottom of your priority list. We had a blast, got wet and cold and ran into more hunters than I thought existed. But the three of us in our party made memories that will last forever, so it was a success in my book.

Those wilderness study areas will be full of surrounding land owners elk hunting off horses. Look into the walk in area, we only seen one truck parked there.

Dont forget to eat in Kaycee and support the local economy too!

 

[AT Hiker]

You might want to look into region F as well, same situation as Y but more land.

 

[B4U]

I have hunted Reg Y for the last 5 years. There are a lot of bucks to be had here if you are willing to work for them. Have not seen much for big bucks, but an ear width 4x4 is very doable. Just have to get past the orange wall by the roads.

 

[Jrod]

Hey B4U thanks. Do you have any photographic evidence of success in the region? I am not afraid to work. Only goin for a week or so every year warrants hardwork to be successful; both in research and in boot leather. I gotta give it all I got.

 

[B4U]

I do, but as you can see by my profile, I am quite computer illiterate. Had a lot of trouble bowhunting, but saw a lot of 3x and 4x during the rifle season last year. Biggest was a 4x5 just past the ears. I was looking for something a little better, but went home with tag soup.

 

[Jrod]

HaHa. I am relatively illiterate with the computer also. I just recently learned how to attach pics, sometimes. I recently had knee surgery so I have been on the couch now for 4 weeks, Its 4 weeks today. I am learning all kinds about the computer.
Just outside the ears is more than adequate for me. Hear in California we hunted a premium zone for mule deer and the deer we shot were 24 inches from ear tip to ear tip. So I would definitely shoot a mature buck just outside the ears.

 

[Musket Man]

Biggest was a 4x5 just past the ears. I was looking for something a little better, but went home with tag soup.

Wouldnt that be considered a pretty big buck for Y?

 

[B4U]

YES it would

 

[JMBC]

I also was considering region y and saving my pts. A couple yrs ago I hunted 21 antelope and was all over the unit. Although I wasn't looking for deer I didn't see many. I was there the last part of season so maybe that was it. So me the bottom part of region might not be enough to buy tag, I need to look at north and central.

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[Musket Man]

Im thinking about Y for a 2nd choice hunt too, partly because I want to scout for elk on part of it. The units in the bighorns look like they have public land and good access atleast. How was your antelope hunt in 21?

 

[AT Hiker]

Im thinking about Y for a 2nd choice hunt too, partly because I want to scout for elk on part of it. The units in the bighorns look like they have public land and good access atleast. How was your antelope hunt in 21?

I will be there this fall doing the same thing. The northern units do not have as many deer, but of course its big country. Only issues will be if they have an early snow like last fall.

Antelope 163 encompasses alot of the lower BLM units of deer 163 and 33. I had some doe tags for 21 and I never once seen antelope near deer, except for the private ranches.

 

[Musket Man]

Thanks for the info AT! Deer hunting would almost be secondary to scouting for elk if I go, but its nice to have some kind of tag in your pocket! That early snow last year was something else. I went to hunt antelope a few days after it on a ranch in 16 and it was mostly melted and all mud by then, which worked to my advantage because almost all of the roads were impassable and I was the only one hunting there that was willing to walk and I ended up getting a pretty nice antelope while everyone else sat in their trucks!

 

[JMBC]

Musket Man
A friend on mine and I took our 12 yr old sons in 2012. New unit for me so it wasn't a cake walk for us. Everyone tagged out except for me. I put everything into getting everyone their goats...well when it was my time the snow came, driving was muddy and slick, and the boys had missed too much school so I said head home. Had a great time tho. It sounds like we might have some of the same ideas on hunts. Of course probably a bunch more too, ha. If you or anyone else needs help with 21 I'd be glad to help with what I got.
at hiker
Where'd you eat? That kaycee mom and pop restaurant? Dont remember name but it was pretty good, and busy.
Jess

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