WY 63, 66, or 83

[Alabama]

I'm thinking about these units while waiting on NV draw results. I have enough to draw (hopefully if the odds don't go crazy) and am looking to go this year, as everything else I've applied for has been a bust so far. I don't think I could go wrong in any of them but it's my 1st hunt for lopes and I just want to have a chance at a decent buck without being overrun by other hunters. Has 63 recovered enough to have some decent bucks? Eastmans is pumping up 83 this year and odds could go down so I'm leery of that one. It didn't see the tag reductions like unit 63 did so I know there will be some good ones. 66 had some reductions in 2013 but has been slightly increasing since then so I assume the herds are doing well there.

Thoughts? PM's welcome.

 

[nunt'nbutmuleys]

Wished I had some info for ya but I never hunted any of those areas. Pick one and apply you won't be disappointed. Good luck

 

[hoshour]

Eastmans' bumped up 83 last year. A lot of people applied because it was a new blue chip that had taken 0 points to draw the year before in the special draw.

Look at the WY draw report https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Hunting/Drawing-Odds/2015-Drawing-Odds for nonresident special draw and you'll see that last year you could get drawn in 63 with 2 pts and 7 people did not get drawn, 3 pts in 66 and 47 people didn't get drawn and 3 pts in 83 and 141 people did not get drawn.

They bumped up the tags in 83 this year but that's a lot of demand that may carry forward. The thing WY won't tell you is how many points those 141 people had to see how you compare.

 

[Alabama]

Thanks hoshour, I'm good on understanding the odds. I was just wondering about the overall experience and about the herd recovery in 63. It looks like 83 was almost unaffected by the 12-13 die-offs, 66 was minimally affected and 63 was hit hard. I like these units because the long seasons will spread the pressure out.

 

[Work2hunt]

I hunted 63-2 last fall. Saw a ton of antelope. I saw maybe 2 or 3 antelope that would go upper 70s or possibly better. I couldn't close the deal on them but we had a blast. Let me know what questions you have.

 

[jtm307]

I hunted in 63 the past two years. I never saw any above-average bucks, but I'm more concerned about putting meat in the freezer than a mount on the wall, so I don't spend a lot of time looking for trophies.

 

[DRUSS]

i hunted 63 2 yrs ago. lots of antelope. was first hunt in wyoming. wife and i had fun. each got nice bucks. seen couple bigger than ours. but were happy with the entire trip.

 

[jschaffer]

I would opt for 63 first if you have the points. Good options on the southern border and I have seen some nice goats in that northern portion of 62 from time to time. Also, we have had a pretty good late winter and spring here in WY with great moisture. That means the bucks should be putting on some good mass. I do think the herds are still recovering, especially in that 4 year and above bucks. My two cents. Good luck.

 

[Alabama]

Thanks guys. I pulled the trigger tonight and hopefully will be pulling the trigger on my 270 In October.

 

[Work2hunt]

Thanks guys. I pulled the trigger tonight and hopefully will be pulling the trigger on my 270 In October.

Good luck. If you went with 63 let me know if I can help.

 

[DRUSS]

not to intrude but Work2hunt how did you like having the type 2 tag?? i really enjoyed our hunt but wasnt sure if i would feel the same with that tag? mostly because i spent more time west of the border.

 

[Work2hunt]

I didn't mind it at all. We went a couple weeks after the opener and I never saw another hunter. Most of the antelope were around the lake and we saw plenty.

 

[DRUSS]

we seen a pretty nice buck around castle rocks. but ran into people around there and lost interest....