Wyo Bison

[tperry5]

Wyo Bison- WGFD Story uploaded 2/22/16

Didn't really know where to post this topic so hopefully this will work. So this year I managed to not draw a single tag this year, not even a cow elk tag... To say the least I was getting a little hard to be around, so my wife says. Then in early June I found out I had drawn the Bison Supertag! I'm pretty excited and couldn't believe it, I think my odds were in the region of 1 in 4300.

I've talked to the Game and Fish in Jackson and several other people with experience on this hunt but I thought I would see if someone on this forum might have some suggestions and tips for this type of hunt. I do plan on going in September and probably hunting the forest but I do have permission slips for the refuge later in December if need be. I look forward to hearing some stories and/or tips for this hunt, at this point I'm just trying to get as much information as I can get!

 

[mntnguide]

DANGGG! Congratulations on one hell of a draw!....To be successful in the forest you just have to be persistent and put up a lot of effort to find the bulls. It is by no means a slam dunk hunt. . Pay attention to the boundary lines, those bulls will hang out right along the forest/national park boundary, and make sure you dont end up on the wrong side. Ive seen multiple people get caught by park rangers for screwing up. . Check around the area of Elk ranch flats/Spread Creek. Always bison up there, just a matter if they are in the forest or not. . If you end up waiting for December, just try and time the storm cycles. The bison make pushes after a big cold spell and snow, and you need to be there when it happens. It can be very hit or miss. Also out the Gros Vente area past slide lake, there is a big canyon that goes off to the north that i know some outfitters hunt for the bulls sometimes as well. . If you talk to biologists and wardens, you should have no problem getting info on where to look, as they want to keep that population in check. Good Luck and congrats...if you get one down and want to get it out without killing yourself...Double Diamond tag and drag does lots of game retrievals in the area and they also usually know where the bison are at.

 

[tim]

my buddy ralph does a lot of guiding for buff in Wyoming. let me know if you want his info.
he has some pretty cool vids of pulling the buff out by horse.

congrats on the tag.

 

[RICMIC]

Looks like you hit it big...both on the tag and getting some good info. Congrats on the draw, I'm sure you're much easier to live with now.

 

[sneakypete]

Wow, or auld I say holy crap! Did you buy a lottery ticket after you drew the Bison tag! Good luck on your hunt and keep us posted!

 

[RICMIC]

tperry, I sent you a PM.

 

[CrossCreeks]

Congratulations from someone who has been putting in and only wishing for the tag to come. I have learn like the most to deal with rejection. Enjoy this hunt it should be an awesome experience.

 

[Halo]

Congrats, It's an awesome hunt, I did it a couple years ago. Get the Wyoming chip for your GPS to keep track of the boundaries and have Ralph at Tag & Drag on speed dial for when you pull the trigger, best money I ever spent.

 

[tperry5]

Thanks for the input guys, some of the info I've read and people I've talked to have also suggested the spread creek and elk flats areas. I already have the hunt card, and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking about it, makes it a lot less stressful if you know for sure what land ownership you are on. I've been contemplating just going in December just because of the thicker coat they will be carrying then, but the hunter in me just wants to go whenever I'll have an opportunity to. I think I'm going to find/make some friends with horses for any forest hunts because I don't think tag and drag are very cheap for pulls out of the forest, they seem like they are more into the refuge jobs.

 

[HuskyMusky]

Congrats!

My dad took a 118" I think? which I think is a booner but never registered, a few years back. Thought he was a mature bull, turned out to be 2.5 or 3.5yo I think.

If you don't have a guide I would plan to at least have 3 additional men to help you with the field dressing!

If you're looking for a bruiser I would consider a spotting scope, ie more than simply a 10x binoculars to really judge them.

Look for broomed off horns vs. long and pointy, ie mature vs. immature bulls IMO.

Good luck!

PS- it only takes 1 ticket to win!

Picture of a picture, WY Bison.

 

[tperry5]

PS- it only takes 1 ticket to win!

And 1 ticket is all I bought too!

That sounds like a really nice bull to me. The one conclusion I've made with judging bulls is if they carry mass from the base of the horn all of the way to the tip they are big, if there are other field judging tips I would appreciate them.

 

[boiler]

How did the hunt turn out? Would love to hear how it went!

 

[Kevin W]

And 1 ticket is all I bought too!

That sounds like a really nice bull to me. The one conclusion I've made with judging bulls is if they carry mass from the base of the horn all of the way to the tip they are big, if there are other field judging tips I would appreciate them.

+2 would love to hear details and see pics.

 

[Maxhunter]

Like to see some pictures and a story!

 

[ivorytip]

he hasn't been on here since October, hopefully he's been to busy hunting takonka, id like to hear about that hunt too.

 

[tperry5]

Hey guys! I actually just got back from a successful trip, finally! I never thought I would experience such a wide range of emotions and frustrations from hunting just one animal! I'm going to do a write up on the hunt for the WGFD's magazine since it was a super tag, if they don't use my story I'll be sure to share it here so everyone can enjoy in detail. In this hunt I had everything from mechanical breakdowns to super cold temps and malfunctioning guns, but I'm sure some of you guys think that's just another day hunting! I look forward to sharing in detail my hunt.

 

[brushcreek]

Hey guys! I actually just got back from a successful trip, finally! I never thought I would experience such a wide range of emotions and frustrations from hunting just one animal! I'm going to do a write up on the hunt for the WGFD's magazine since it was a super tag, if they don't use my story I'll be sure to share it here so everyone can enjoy in detail. In this hunt I had everything from mechanical breakdowns to super cold temps and malfunctioning guns, but I'm sure some of you guys think that's just another day hunting! I look forward to sharing in detail my hunt.

congrats I look forward to reading the story

 

[boiler]

If they print it let us know. I can't wait to read it! Congratulations!

 

[tperry5]

WGFD updated pictures of the 2015 Super Tag winners, thought I would share the link, my bison is in there too.
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Hunting/Super-Tag/Super-Tag-Photo-Gallery

 

[Matthoek21]

Nice. Congrats on the bison.