WY Antelope area 62 - South Ferris

[Green Back]

Hello everyone.

I'm wondering if anyone has input of past experiences in this unit? I have a 62 type 1 tag in the pocket this fall and pretty stoked to hunt this unit. I've personally never hunted this area prior and just trying to get a sense of other's past experiences here. I'll be hunting solo and planning on tenting out in the prairies and have 9 days set a side for this tag. As most of us, I'm looking for that coveted 80" buck and NOT to just punch a tag on a "good" buck. Have any of you guys took a book class buck out of here?

I've spoke to the regional biologist and the two wardens in this area and they gave some very good information and locations to start. Know where the main ranchers are, where Ed Chipperfield guide out of and have all the BLM lands/roads loaded up in my GPS and have all the mapping data I need. Sounds like the herd numbers may be down a bit from the past but the horn grow is exceptionally good this year, which was good to hear.

Just looking for other peoples opinions in this area, possible road conditions, and your thoughts. Plan on hunting last week of Sept (which is 3rd wk of the lope season). There's only 40 tags issued so hopefully pressure is minimal. Preferably want to do this completely DIY on public land and avoid ranch access fees. There is a good amount of "checker board" land in south half of unit by Rawlins, anyone hunt this area? Any thoughts, suggestions, locations or comments would greatly be appreciated guys!

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

One of the largest antelope I have ever seen was in Unit 62. We were deer hunting.

You should have a great hunt. Trophy antelope hunting is normally all about putting in the time to sort through a mess of bucks.

Just some helpful hunting forum etiquette, when joining a forum, it's always best to first introduce yourself (new members section), then contribute for a while (give), then ask for info (take). That pretty much applies to avery forum I've posted on.

 

[Cobbhunts]

Welcome to the forum Green Back, that should be a good tag. Took you enough points to draw it!! Really cool that you have that many days to spend in the unit too. Good luck

 

[Topgun 30-06]

For some unknown reason I have had a very polite post deleted from this thread. All that was on it was saying the OP had obviously done his homework and had the maps and equipment along with the time to have a good hunt. I then offered him good luck and to make sure and have chains for his vehicle if there happened to be any moisture out there during his hunt. This really surprised me when I was so nice to a first time poster, LOL! I sure wonder what the deal was on that one or whether may the website just had a hiccup!

 

[Hilltop]

Congrats on the great tag. I spent a good amount of time as a kid in this area as well as 55 and 61. I believe you have an excellent chance at an 80+ inch antelope if you can be patient enough. The challenge is not shooting the 15"-16", 77" bucks that you will likely see. Properly field judging antelope isn't easy even for the people that guide for a living. Remember, one essential key to a good scoring antelope is its mass. Many out there will have height and a decent prong but few will be really massive. My only BC buck is 14 & 7/8" tall but he has great mass and prongs. He was shot there in the desert years ago. Another weird thing about that area is that we seldom saw the very largest bucks with a herd- even during the rut. They were usually solitary or had just a handful of does. If its hot, be careful of snakes as there are a few rattle snakes in the area. If its rainy, some of the roads can really turn into really sticky mud- it cakes everything. Have a blast on the hunt and please post pictures for us!

 

[JPSeveland]

I have family that has hunted that area there hole life from back in the day when you could draw a tag every year. Its a great area yes the population is down a bit but you should not have a problem finding an 80inch antelope with 9 days to hunt the south half is all checker board and bigger chunks of public land north. The last time i was there i did noy hunt but had three people in camp that did. we used gps hunt maps on our garmin gps's it worked great and was dead on everywere we were. The biggest antelope that we have got out of there was 80-83 i have heard of bigger ones in the are. should be a great year for that tag hope this helps good luck.

 

[Green Back]

Thanks for all your input and responses guys, much appreciated. Feel pretty good about this tag in the pocket. Just hope for good weather and give her a go!

I'll give a hunt report and update upon returning home for others to reference in the future as this is considered a "blue chip" unit and is considered a premier goat country. Always difficult for a non-res to consider which tag to burn points on so I'm willing to share my experience to others.

Tiz the season and good luck to all who have tags in their pockets!

Thanks again,

Green Back

 

[jenbickel]

I've hunted this unit a lot and played around mostly in the checkerboard stuff down closer to Rawlins. I agree, you won't have problems finding an 80+" goat.. and I also noticed that a lot of the big bucks weren't in herds like the others. It's a great area to hunt. Be careful of the roads though. Some super sandy and some super muddy! I've taken several bucks here.. My best one being 16" tall.

 

[Dakota Kid]

Congrats on the tag! How many points did it take you to draw? I have been buying points the last few years and have been looking at unit 62.

 

[Green Back]

Took me 6pts to draw a non-res general tag.... type 1 that is.
Type 2 tag only requires about half of that.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Took me 6pts to draw a non-res general tag.... type 1 that is.
Type 2 tag only requires about half of that.

I live here in Wyoming, have been applying for 61 for 10 years and haven't drawn it yet. I had a 62 tag some time ago and took a nice heavy horned 15+" goat in a couple of days, looked over quite a few. Had a heck of a good time, you will too!

 

[247Buckfever]

I spend two days in this unit in 2012 after tagging out in Unit 68, saw two good bucks but both were with 10-15 does which made them wary. Definitely couple have shot one of them. Good luck, its beautiful area...especially the foothills of the Ferris'

 

[Green Back]

Well my unit 62 goat tag is a wrap. It was an awesome hunt in a very awesome area! However, I never did find my 80”er. I’m no antelope expert but I don’t think I ever seen an 80” goat the entire week. This region of WY went through some really tough winters/droughts/die-offs and I could almost tell by looking at all the alpha bucks… they were all pretty much the same size! I glassed up literally 100s of bucks covering the entire unit from the Ferris range down to Rawlins (except the east side which was Ed Chipperfield’s outfitting country) and never found that “holy smokes” caliber buck, but score is not everything. It was a great adventure and great time in beautiful country.

Mass seemed pretty decent on most around 6”+, but cutter seemed weak and I don’t think I ever saw a 16” goat. This unit is loaded with 70-75” however and I feel in a year or two there would be a handful of whoppers in this unit. I shot one of the largest bucks I glassed up. I hit the peak of the rut too which was just awesome to witness. Saw breeding, courting/posturing, chasing and a couple dust bowl sparring battles. I’m pretty sure I was the last thing on their minds. Population seemed solid. I pretty much could glass up some goats in just about everywhere I went.

The county was just awesome and very versatile from sand dunes, pothole like rolling sage country, boggy clay meadows, to ribbon cliffs… and clearly the beautiful Ferris range bordering the north. Just a very neat area.

One of the highlights of the trip was spotting a herd of elk about 2 miles out in no-man’s-prairie-country land. Next day put on a about a 6 mile hike to get closer look and how cool that was! 16 head in the bunch included 4 bulls and the herd bull was a WHOPPER!! I was guessing 360”ish if not bigger. Just and absolute tank. High, wide, heavy and ivory tipped throughout. Heck the secondary bull was a darn good 6x6 too. They were ripping and it was just cool to see and hear. The other highlight I must say was that I never saw a single person for a week straight!! A few oil field trunks and that was about it. Pretty awesome I must say, I had an massive amount of country to myself.

If any of you have questions about 62 feel free to message me. I covered the entire unit and pretty much got permission in all of the checkerboard area and the critters where definitely concentrated in certain particular areas. Would I go back for goats, absolutely! Thank you again WY for an awesome hunt and adventure!

My goat was right at 77”

 

[Kodiak32]

Awesome buck, congrats!! Sounds like a damn good trip, thank you sharing!

 

[wa-hunter]

great buck sounds like a fun week!!!! your pics are very nice!

 

[marcusvdk]

Awesome antelope

 

[Musket Man]

Glad you had a great hunt and got a nice buck!!! You sound kinda like me. I see a nice buck or bull and almost forget what I have a tag in my pocket for! haha!

 

[PlainsHunter]

Sounds like a great hunt! Congratulations on the Big Antelope!- I liked your write up.

 

[NDHunter]

Great story and great buck! Also those are some awesome photos. The picture quality is fantastic and with the mountains, blue sky and clouds in the background it just looks awesome.

 

[BobJohansen]

Great read and Great goat. Congrats!