I don't know about the other areas, but 74 is in the toilet. Its not yet recovered from the big die off from a few years ago. The numbers just aren't there. We've hunted it the last 4 years. Heard the same thing from the game warden about a lack of quality. However, we saw decent numbers of bucks in the mid/upper 70's. Which was also the case the prior year and year before. We ended up with two goats one over 15" and one at 14 7/8" that both scored in the high 70's. I elected to not shoot anything because we couldn't find anything over 80. I know of several large bucks that came out of 57 last year and will be rolling the dice with higher draw odds. If you're wanting an easy hunt, go with 74, if you're wanting something better than 80, I'd burn my points somewhere else.
WY Antelope hunt picks
- Thread starter Fish
- Start date
Alabama
Veteran member
Not trying to hijack your thread fish. WY ME here's an Arizona study on horn growth (specifically: effects of precipitation and age on sheath length and B&C score) http://azantelope.org/Facts___Research/Horn_Growth_Study/horn_growth_study.html
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
There ya go, thanks Alabama! That was the study I was thinking of. Thanks!
The point being that trophy quality can turn around VERY quickly with antelope if the right factors present themselves (lower tag numbers, good range conditions, good fawn numbers, etc).
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
wy-tex
Veteran member
Other parts of the state have great conditions this year. The middle and SE corner have had a great winter and spring with good horn growth so far. The numbers are up in these areas. You do not need an entire area of public land to have a good hunt.
wy-tex
Veteran member
SE Wyoming has great conditions right now and lots of antelope. I took a 82 B&C down here years ago. Check out the areas in this part of the state. Public land hunting is great. We found an area that goes into Nov for hunting, wintering ground area. Later in the season they start grouping up after the rut and you can see many more bucks in one spot than the rut.Don't discount the areas with not as much public ground. The state has some great private access through their Private Land Public Wildlife access program. We have walkin areas and HMA's along with G&F WHMA. No drought here!!