Hello, I have subscribed to eastmans for 2 years now. Enjoy the magazine and finally got to hunt in Montana 2 years ago by Alzada on a private ranch. I shot a 8pt whitetail and my brother shot a nice muley. Being from Wisconsin, I have always wanted to hunt out west but always waited for people to commit or tried to find someone to go with. Done with that. The rancher in Montana said the deer numbers are down on his land and advised us to find a different spot. This was nice of him since he could have just taken our $ and said too bad. I would love to do a antelope/muley combo hunt in Wyoming. My question is should I contact a landowner off of Wyoming's deer/antelope list and pay a trespass fee for a ranch with both species. I am definitely going to start putting in for preference points in Wyoming. Or I would like to try the block management in South east Montana for deer only and try antelope another time. A good chance I will be going by myself this fall. I know the rut is the best time for muleys, but it is during our gun season for whitetails.
What a great forum!
- Thread starter Bucky19
- Start date
Musket Man
Veteran member
Welcome to the form! From what I have herd deer and antelope are down alot on most of eastern MT. Weather you go on public or private really depends on what type of hunt you are looking for, how much you want to spend, ect.
It was a lot of fun hunting the plains of eastern Montana so something with that terrain I guess. We paid $1500 each for that , which included lodging. I dont know what landowner in Wyoming typically charge. Should I just start calling them and asking prices. I guess I don't know how to go about it. A lot different hunting then what we have in Wisconsin, but a lot of fun.
Musket Man
Veteran member
I really liked hunting eastern MT too but then they raised the prices and the deer and antelope numbers went down so I havent been back for a while. Im sure there good places in WY but Im not sure what the best way to find them would be.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
***Agreed, and I'd add that many of the ranches that have antelope access fees are strictly that. To do what you are talking about for both species with no PPs the way many places are now leased out, you may end up dealing with an outfitter and then you're talking a good chunk of change for a fully outfitted hunt.
Would it be too early to call landowners this time of year? I don't want to bother the people. I tried getting hold of the biologist in Gillette or another city last spring and she was really busy so I didn't want to bother her. I was also thinking about getting a antelope tag and trying it for a few days in Wyoming and then going up to eastern Montana and hunting deer for a couple of days for the opener. I really don't know how much to put on my plate. A lot of good advice on this forum. I never realized it existed until a couple of days ago. I don't know how much I can help other people being from Wisconsin, but I will throw in my two cents worth if I have any experience.
ssliger
Very Active Member
Your allowed to draw one buck antelope tag. Certain areas you are allowed to purchase another buck antelope tag if there are leftovers, these are usually in areas with lots of private land with access issues.
If you wanted to you could apply for a eastern WY antelope unit, they usually have limited access to public land but if you hunt later in the season it is less crowded. You just have to put a lot of miles on your truck and boots in thee units and purchase a good GPS with a chip to show private vs public.
Since MT season is so long, you could hunt the later WY antelope season and then head up to MT.
Some of those trespass fees are crazy, you are actually better off paying a outfitter IMO. $1,500-$2,000 will get you a 3 day antelope hunt with a good outfitter, I seen some antelope trespass fees for $1,000.
Its really all about what you want...do you want to kill or hunt? Are you limited on time or not?
Musket Man
Veteran member
I wouldnt worry about bothering the biologist. It is part of their job to answer your questions. I dont really like trying to put more then 1 hunt together especially if I dont know the area very well. I like to concentrate on 1 at a time. Its easy to put alot more pressure on yourself with more then 1 hunt, atleast thats how it seems to end up for me usually. And it you are successful on the first hunt you have to do something with the meat while you are on the next hunt which can be a problem at times. This year I had a buck and doe antelope tag in the same unit and after I got the buck I was 1/2 wishing I didnt have the doe tag because it meant I had to get a doe the next morning so I could get them both packed up and ice in the cooler or go get Ice for the buck which would have meant driving over 100 miles round trip.
Yes good thoughts. I am just looking for a fun time chasing goats or bucks for a couple of days and hopefully shooting a nice representative animal. Back home for whitetails my goal is a pope young minimum score buck every year with any weapon. I know p & y is just archery but that is my baseline. Many years I don't harvest a buck and it isn't a big deal. Some times I get lucky and get one. Some years I pass on nice deer that would make it knowing there are bigger ones around. I am just looking for a nice animal and having a good time, not just driving around and shooting one and being done. As far as time off I can get about any date for a week. I will have to look at gps and get the chip. That sounds like the ticket. Thanks for all the info.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I have a Garmin Oregon 600 and have the Colorado landowner chip for it and it is really helpful. I will get the Wyoming chip when my plans include Wy...probably next year. One thing to remember is that the private land status is only as good as what the local county recorder has put on their own map. If they havn't updated the maps recently, the info could be old. Usually the private land doesn't change, just who currenty owns it. Problems could show up if you wanted to contact owner for permission to hunt/trespass. Just sayin............
Musket Man
Veteran member
The gps chip is one of the best things I ever bought! Last year was the first year I had it and I dont know how I went so long without it. Even on the private land I hunted last year it was very helpful do be able to see the boundaries of the ranch I had permission to hunt.
The chip I have (its actually a download) you have to purchase the update every year. Unless you know exactly where you will be hunting and know it well, that chip will be the best investment you will make in quit some time, at least that is how I feel about it.
Put it this way, that chip will inevitably save you a $200 plus dollar trespass ticket at least once. Or it will get you into animals because you once thought the land was private.
Musket Man
Veteran member
After using the chip last year I liked it so much I am going to get it for every state I hunt even if the area is mostly public land! Look on www.huntinggpsmaps.com for more info on them. I have a garmin oregon 450t gps.
Musket Man
Veteran member
Depends on the situation for me. How far from the vehicle you are, terrain, ect. If its tough going and a long ways I would most likely bone it out there. If its not to bad or far I will take them out whole or cut them in 1/2 and pack 1/2 at a time. It also depends on if there is a place to hang it up once you get it out. Not as much reason to get it out whole if there is not a place to hang it up.
Retterath
Veteran member
I had the GPS chip for my garmin 450t when I hunted eastern montana for mule deer. I was able to zoom in on the private land far enough and it gave the land owners name and out of luck I called the guy when I looked up his name and he was nice enough to give me permission so we met up with the rancher and also got a lot of info from him.so don't always think cause its private u will never be able to hunt it,ask it never hurts you might be surprised and also get some other good info from the rancher. We hunted lots of block management but if u don't call and get your name in it will get booked up because they only allow so many people on at once. We hunted south of mile city on the Bise Ranch that was block management and my buddy shot a 165" and a guy earlier that week shot a 170". So that block management can hold good deer. Good luck