WY Antelope - 2nd and 3rd Choice Ideas

[Prerylyon]

Been mulling over starting this thread, because there are already so many threads delving into the lower tier WY antelope areas over many years of postings. Nevertheless, things can change over the years-like winterkill, WIA, and HMA access-making a discussion worthwhile, so here goes nothing. [emoji2]

I have 2 antelope pts. There may be others in this same boat. I would like to save these points and let them grow for a better unit in the future, but ideally I want to do a DIY non-trespass fee hunt this year on a regular draw type 1 tag as well. Can I have my cake and eat it too?

Looking at several yrs of draw stats, as I shared in some other posts, it sure looks like with 2 pts, you're stuck in a no-man's land of sorts. There are some units with more WIA and HMA land that could be drawn, if the draw stats hold out similarly as previous yrs, but they aren't great and I'd lose my pts in drawing them.

On the random part of the draw process, it seems anything I might pick as a 2nd or 3rd choice of the better * units with known difficult access would get scooped up by guys with 0 pts in the 1st choice phase of the random draw, since they picked those units as their 1st choice, hence leaving me with the usual list of the most challenged access * units left (the notorious area 23 or 24, for example).

Its looking like my best option may be to just apply for doe tags in a slightly better than lowest-tier * unit and not mess with a buck tag until I get more points-if all I want is a reasonable DIY hunt. Of course, me and everyone else accumulating pts adds to the point creep problem-but that is for another discussion another day.

Be happy to hear your thoughts on my dilemma and if you prefer PM, my inbox is far from full. Lol [emoji38]

Regards,

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[HighPlainsHunter]

Going to have to do your homework but I can assure you that there are lots of good second choice tags out there for NR's.
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Hunting/Drawing-Odds/2017-Drawing-Odds
I will use unit 11 for example as I guided there for a season.


NR random draw = 21 tags for 119 first choice applicants. (no chance drawing as second choice)
NR random special draw = 13 tags for 0 first choice applicants, 8 second choice applicants, and 0 for third choice applicants. (100% chance for drawing even as third choice)

Just a matter of finding a unit with more tags than there are first choice applicants in the random draw. In many cases simply going to a special draw allows you to get tags as a second choice and keep PP's..

 

[Prerylyon]

I hear ya; but my budget won't allow me the extra expense of the special draw; just not in the cards for me this year. Other NR can and certainly do go that route, and it will open more options. Many justify the extra cost of the special in lieu of what they would have spent on a trespass fee in a * unit. I know, I know, sometimes ya gotta pay to play...

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[HighPlainsHunter]

I guess I am not understanding your question or you aren't taking the time to look at the sheets as there are literally dozens of units you have a chance of drawing as a second choice in the regular NR draw.

Starting from the top
Unit
1 = 50% chance as second choice
2 = slim to none as second choice
3 = 100% draw as second choice.
4 = almost 100% draw as second choice.
5 = no chance
6= no chance
8 = almost 100%
9 = no chance
10 = 100%


The hardest part is not letting a * scare you. Nearly any unit in Wyoming can be a fun antelope hunt. Just gotta do that homework, find out all the options on public access beyond just state/federal. There is almost always a way to find antelope.

Some guys buy leftover tags in * units every year and kill nice bucks, and here you are concerned that you can't kill an antelope with a second choice tag in the regular NR draw. Just gotta do your homework.

 

[Prerylyon]

I'm not so sure about there being "dozens" of bona fide 2nd choice units; I counted roughly 17 possibilities off the 2017 non resident random demand draw report where there was a chance of pulling the unit as a 2nd choice. I think they are all * units.

I have been studying maps and doing my homework on it. With tough access and limited budget, I am wondering if I'd be better off trying for doe tags in some units with better access for the time being and holding off on a buck tag?

I probably just need to narrow it down, close my eyes, and just do it. What will be will be. [emoji6]

Regards,



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[Bonecollector]

Text Message Sent.

 

[mallardsx2]

102 or 20 seems like a safe bet according to my sources. But I didn't look too hard.

 

[the wanderer]

I’m somewhat in the same predicament. My dad and I have 7 points and would like to draw unit 68 with 7 points, but it was a 93.75% chance to draw with 7 points last year. I’m worried we won’t draw the tag. Unit 21 would be a nice second choice as a back up, but it appears as though Iwe couldn’t draw 21 as a second choice. Is that correct?

 

[Prerylyon]

I?m somewhat in the same predicament. My dad and I have 7 points and would like to draw unit 68 with 7 points, but it was a 93.75% chance to draw with 7 points last year. I?m worried we won?t draw the tag. Unit 21 would be a nice second choice as a back up, but it appears as though Iwe couldn?t draw 21 as a second choice. Is that correct?

Based on last yr's odds, correct.

75 tags available for the regular price NR random antelope draw, 112 1st choice 'applicants'-that includes parties-so they all went in round 1 of the random. And yes, just based on map 'homework' and reading years of posts, it looks like a reasonable unit of the ones with access concerns. That is the dilemma I was posting about. You guys want to save your points, like me, but hunt someplace you have sensible access to for a hunt. Its a weird twist where the guys with no points or less than you might have a better chance of drawing these what I call '2nd tier challenged units' for a type 1 or 2 public land tag.



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[Bonecollector]

I’m somewhat in the same predicament. My dad and I have 7 points and would like to draw unit 68 with 7 points, but it was a 93.75% chance to draw with 7 points last year. I’m worried we won’t draw the tag. Unit 21 would be a nice second choice as a back up, but it appears as though Iwe couldn’t draw 21 as a second choice. Is that correct?

You could draw in the special draw if you wanted to go that route.

 

[the wanderer]

The dilemma is we were also planning on applying for a region E deer tag to make it a combo hunt. We have 3 deer points. So I know we will draw this tag. I know not the best use of 3 points, but this will be my dads last trip of this kind, so trying to get the most out of it. I do see that antelope unit 106 was 100% draw with 6 points. Which is right next to Jeffrey City where we were planning on staying. Anyone know anything about 106? Sorry for hijacking the thread. I will start a different one after this post.

 

[dirtytough]

I hunted a 2nd choice * unit last year. I only had a couple days before the draw to figure out a unit because I decided last minute to apply. It was supposedly a unit with tough access. My boy and I did a one day scouting trip to buy BLM maps and check on access. It was definitely not very good access but there was some. We hiked around a little and saw enough antelope that I figured if we hunted hard we could harvest an antelope.

You might be over thinking it. The map on the wyo game and fish website seemed spot on and with googling the unit and the county road maps it didn't take long to figure out what units had slightly better access then others.

I didn't count but you said there are 17 units you have a chance to draw 2nd choice. Probably would take 15 minutes to cut that list in half with lack of public land or access to public. After that google the units. Send PM's to guys that have hunted the units you are interested in. I bet 5 hours of research and you can have it down to only a couple of units.

Anyway good luck and try not to over think it.

 

[Prerylyon]

No worries hijacking the thread - we're lucky to have a forum where folks can chew the fat. [emoji6]

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[the wanderer]

Here’s another question. I see the tentative opening dates for the particular tag, but I don’t see dates for the end of the season. Is this stated somewhere else? This will play a big part in my planning whether the deer and antelope seasons overlap.

 

[Big Chief J]

Here’s another question. I see the tentative opening dates for the particular tag, but I don’t see dates for the end of the season. Is this stated somewhere else? This will play a big part in my planning whether the deer and antelope seasons overlap.

You can look at last year's regulations to get an idea of what the season dates are.