Wy Mule deer unit 89 vs 90
- Thread starter rrichins
- Start date
Dakota Kid
Member
NE69
Active Member
Before I would burn max points in either I would scout it one year and hunt the next and that is only if the scouting turned up what I was looking for. Just my thoughts on those 2 units.
NDHunter
Veteran member
I don't have any personal experience with those units but I've seen some threads from guys who have had those tags and said those units were way over rated.
I'm sure there are some decent bucks taken out of them but I would do a lot of research before burning points there.
I'm sure there are some decent bucks taken out of them but I would do a lot of research before burning points there.
I hunted area 90 for deer just a couple years ago and helped out a guy this last fall for 90. He went home empty after hunting over two weeks out there. He was looking for a big-un and never found one. Best buck he saw during scouting or the hunt was one buck he thought would go 170. You really cannot expect to hunt that area effectively without the assistance of a local or a guide w/unit specific details. Its a huge unit with all open country and those big bucks will bed down in a small clump of brush in the absolute middle of nowhere and you'll never find them because you'd need 10 years of hunting to cover all that ground. I know a local that his family has done well out there when they draw, but even he said its a tough hunt because of all the ground you have to cover...and he means covering without a quad or truck. In case your wondering, I took a nice mature buck, the biggest I saw out of 30 bucks (just counting the 4 pts or better) with the help of a local, but it didn't break 160. I always say 90 is a good solid fun hunt for open country 130-160 deer...a few bigger get taken every year, but YOU can't count on it. Same can be said of a lot of general deer areas in WY. I hunted it because I like open country muley hunting and I greatly enjoyed the experience. If anyone draws 90 shoot me a PM...good luck in this year's draw.
Musket Man
Veteran member
The biggest difference between 89 and 90 is public land and access. You could probably draw 89 but you are in no mans land in 90 without max points. Between the hard winters and drought mule deer in that part of WY are in pretty tough shape. There are still some good bucks but they will be much harder to find and most likely take alot of scouting to hunt either effectively.
If you ask the biologists who over see these areas they'll tell you genetically they're the same deer. Only difference is, 90 is managed for older age class deer. Having said that, they hardly gave out any tags for 89 last season because the numbers have tanked. 90 wasn't much better and its gonna take several years to build up herd numbers and those older age class bucks. If I was had a bunch of points, I'd be hanging onto them for another 2 - 3 more years before I considered either area...
Dakota Kid
Member
I have max points and I am planning on waiting at least 1 more year. I have also been looking at those 2 units, but not sure they are the route to go. I have also been researching 109. Lets stay in touch and we can compare notes.