Anyone have advice as to whether I should apply for Antelope west of Casper or not???? I've tried a couple of times to call the biologist but they been closed due to weather.
Should I apply for Antelope in Wyoming or not???
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JimP
Administrator
From what I have heard the Casper area got hit real hard this winter, I'd go for a point.
JimP
Administrator
The thing that I would wonder about is how fit did the bucks go into the winter, and when we're the first big storms that hit the area.
I just wouldn't want to draw the tag and then not be able to find a buck that I wanted to shoot.
I might be hoping myself that 24 or 25 will be good years to go.
But right now everything is up in the air.
I just wouldn't want to draw the tag and then not be able to find a buck that I wanted to shoot.
I might be hoping myself that 24 or 25 will be good years to go.
But right now everything is up in the air.
bdan68
Active Member
I would just wait and see how drastic the next round of license reductions are in the area you're interested in.
for type 1 tags they went from 800 to 600 and for type 6 tags they went from 200 to 100
bdan68
Active Member
Okay, but I would expect that there might be even more reductions after the commission meeting April 17-18. I would wait for that and then decide. It could be that you won't even be able to draw anyway, with the decreased number of licenses statewide. I would expect a lot more point creep than normal.
I didn't think of that it makes sense, maybe I should just get a point for another year or two and hopefully the herd recovers.
Alabama
Veteran member
After the recent severe storms and the meetings where they were focused on winter kill, I think they will cut more tags than the proposed numbers.
I'd wait a couple of years for antelope. If they cut tags like everyone believes they should, then the population will recover quickly. Hopefully the mule deer will recover quickly as well.
I'd wait a couple of years for antelope. If they cut tags like everyone believes they should, then the population will recover quickly. Hopefully the mule deer will recover quickly as well.
I am so on the fence on this.
I like the Rock Springs area. I’m kinda waiting a bit to see how many they cut before I decide.
I like the Rock Springs area. I’m kinda waiting a bit to see how many they cut before I decide.
Hilltop
Veteran member
Few reasons to think hard about applying this year imo.
Those bucks that survive will have some pretty good feed to develop horns this year.
The chain reaction of point creep from those sitting out this year or, from those that don't draw that would have normally would have, will make the foreseeable future challenging as a non-resident. I guess I would weigh tough hunting this year vs waiting years for possibly the same tough hunting.
I would wait for numbers towards the end of the month before deciding but, if you think you can draw after, I would lean towards applying.
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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My opinion:
After all of the disdain for NR hunting and goalpost moving that has been happening with the WFG, if you have the time to hunt, I would be hunting. Go and hunt before they form another ridiculous, guide riddled, coalitional task force and put the proverbial nail in the NR's coffin and your points become useless....
We are paying the WGF biologists to analyze the herds and set the limits accordingly. It's not your job to manage the wildlife. Your job is to manage expectations and go hunting.
After all of the disdain for NR hunting and goalpost moving that has been happening with the WFG, if you have the time to hunt, I would be hunting. Go and hunt before they form another ridiculous, guide riddled, coalitional task force and put the proverbial nail in the NR's coffin and your points become useless....
We are paying the WGF biologists to analyze the herds and set the limits accordingly. It's not your job to manage the wildlife. Your job is to manage expectations and go hunting.
I just talked to the biologist and he said they don't plan on cutting anymore tags for my unit and he said he would still put in because I still will have a quality hunt. So I just have to make sure that's what I want to do I'm not sure if I will even get drawn this year I'm on the border for points. Worst case is I don't get drawn I will just get a point. As I'm writing this the other biologist just called and said the opposite of the first biologist...... they need to be on the same page lol
JimP
Administrator
They want you to draw a tag and get out of the point pool.
I'll have to look at my points and see just how many I have
I'll have to look at my points and see just how many I have
wy-tex
Veteran member
6 PP might be good this year.
Some areas are really hurting and conditions can vary within a region. That may be why 1 said one thing and they other another, lol.
Casper just got almost 3 ft of snow.
Wait until later in April and lets see when things start melting if numbers look less drastic. Might be some areas look promising or worse than thought right now.
Horn growth might be outstanding this year, we've been seeing some nice bucks in a not hard hit area we'll be apply for.
I know 3 areas that were doing well they stated at our meeting. I'll pm them to you.
Some areas are really hurting and conditions can vary within a region. That may be why 1 said one thing and they other another, lol.
Casper just got almost 3 ft of snow.
Wait until later in April and lets see when things start melting if numbers look less drastic. Might be some areas look promising or worse than thought right now.
Horn growth might be outstanding this year, we've been seeing some nice bucks in a not hard hit area we'll be apply for.
I know 3 areas that were doing well they stated at our meeting. I'll pm them to you.
WapitiBob
Veteran member
mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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I hunted in 73 last year. th time of year I hunt I normally see 200-400 antelope. I saw less than 30 total. I’ve hunted this area for 13 years and it was by far the worst I’ve seen. This year after all the snow they had near Casper I’m afraid there might not be many left .
I hunted it since 2016 I get a donated tag, but I havee my own points I was going to use. are you going to apply this year?