I just found this site about a month ago and first want to say thanks for the TON of info ive already found on there. Also got the Digital subscriptions to EHJ and BHJ and the info in those MRS sections is pretty awesome. Anyways my dad and I have decided we're going to head out to WY and try for mule deer this year. After looking around at the odds I think we are going to try for region Y tags and should be able to draw them. We are planning a scouting trip for mid july. I think we are going to concentrate up in the northern big horns around units 24 & 25 for 2 reasons. Hunting up in the mountains will be frickin awesome and will give us a jump start on the area for elk hunting in the future. I realize there are much better regions for muley hunting, but being our first year, I just want to get tags and get our feet wet. Hopefully have enough luck to bring a deer home. Ive got maps on the way from DIY hunting maps and from onXmaps which will both be very helpful. Making some good investments in gear (most of which I found reviewed on here, Thanks again). So now heres my questions. Im hoping to hear from anyone that has hunted up in that area in the last couple years. I know were going to have deal with crowds of elk and deer hunters, but how bad is it really? Ive read that its non-stop 4wheelers running around but ive also read that if you get a half mile off the trails its great hunting. I think the season opens on a Thursday this year so we might wait till sunday or monday to head out and maybe let the rush die down a little bit. Are there areas we could set camp and hike in a couple miles each day and not be overrun by other hunters? Thanks in advance for any info, feel free to PM me if you want.
Region Y (unit 24/25 areas)
- Thread starter usmc99
- Start date
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
24 has a lot more private land and is more in the foothills and valleys. You could probably see that from the maps. They are pretty good maps and I am not for sure where the boundary is. 25 would be a cool mountain hunt where you can set up camp in quite a few different places either on an improved camping area or anywhere you can drive to and start walking from there. During the week is probably less crowded from residents. A lot of people head up for the weekend. There are a lot of shift workers in Sheridan and Gillette, so that doesn't always hold true, especially opening day like you were talking about. My strategy is usually to get off the trails for a little while, and it does seem to clear out. It can be a little frustrating when it is crowded, but its pretty cool area when it isn't. It looks like elk seasons start at the same time in that area, so a lot of people will be elk hunting, too. So if you see horse poop, they beat you there and you might want to vere off, lol. Sorry I didn't have any good specifics or anything, good luck.
Your maps will help you identify areas to get away from roads. Just make sure you cross reference every map you can. Yes, ATVs run rampant up there where trails are. Elk and Deer open the same time I believe in those units so thats double the crowd.
Are you planning to draw this 1st choice? Its no longer a guaranteed 2nd choice (not that it ever truly was).
25 is all forest, which has elk unit 38 which I found out had to many ATV hunters for my liking. Im sure there are places to get away from them but you might need one to do so.
24 is almost all private and lowland so I wouldnt waste time down there. But Sheridan is a nice town with everything you need.
Good luck and it sounds like your going into it with the right attitude.
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Are you planning to draw this 1st choice? Its no longer a guaranteed 2nd choice (not that it ever truly was).
25 is all forest, which has elk unit 38 which I found out had to many ATV hunters for my liking. Im sure there are places to get away from them but you might need one to do so.
24 is almost all private and lowland so I wouldnt waste time down there. But Sheridan is a nice town with everything you need.
Good luck and it sounds like your going into it with the right attitude.
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Thanks for the responses guys.
Yes we are putting in for it on 1st choice. Looks like the 1st choice applicants jumped quite a bit from 2013 to 2014 but hopefully we can still draw it 1st choice.
Im hoping a majority of the traffic up there on the atvs will just be driving and hunting from the trails and that if we get off the beaten path a ways and do some good glassing we have a shot at spotting some deer. And if not, hey, a week hunting is still a hell of a lot better than a week at work!!
Yes we are putting in for it on 1st choice. Looks like the 1st choice applicants jumped quite a bit from 2013 to 2014 but hopefully we can still draw it 1st choice.
Im hoping a majority of the traffic up there on the atvs will just be driving and hunting from the trails and that if we get off the beaten path a ways and do some good glassing we have a shot at spotting some deer. And if not, hey, a week hunting is still a hell of a lot better than a week at work!!
Bonecollector
Veteran member
RICMIC
Veteran member
I don't know anything about hunting the Bighorns, but have a couple suggestions. I hunt on the western side of Wyoming, and was amazed at the beehive of activity around the road and trail access. The problem with camping by your truck, is that you will (or should) be hiking into your hunting area well before and after dark. That means you will likely be on a trail and will never know the game that you spook on your way in. Bring what you need for a spike camp to "coyote out", and you can often be hunting mere minutes from getting up and without creating any disturbance. Your July scouting trip can help you find a likely area. At some point, break away from the trails and look for an area where only someone on foot can access. Don't camp too far from a water source. Semper Fi
Thanks for the advice. Id love to do the spike camp thing and just stay out. If I was going out by myself thats the route Id be going but Im not sure my dad being a little older is willing to try that. Someday Im going to give it a shot though. Semper Fi