wyoming a crock

[HiMtnHnter]

"Just got back from Wyoming Mule Deer hunt. Lessons learned! Most of the deer are on private property. Most game wardens and biologists feed you a cockamainy story. Deer numbers are down. Sometimes the hunters that work the hardest get skunked, while "hunters" that road hunt tag out. All in all im willing to give the state more of my hard earned money to give it one more try...any suggestions out there?"

Your blaming other people (and an entire state) for your bad hunt. There's not a lot of help I can give you in that case. If all my buddies blamed me for not harvesting a critter over the years I'd have a lot more enemies.

Mule deer hunting is tough right now. Guys who do well fall into a few categories: 1) pure dumb luck 2) access to private land 3)lots of hard work and scouting. The only two categories you can control are 2&3. you've said #2 is out because of the cost, so your down to #3.

 

[TeddyBear]

"Just got back from Wyoming Mule Deer hunt. Lessons learned! Most of the deer are on private property. Most game wardens and biologists feed you a cockamainy story. Deer numbers are down. Sometimes the hunters that work the hardest get skunked, while "hunters" that road hunt tag out. All in all im willing to give the state more of my hard earned money to give it one more try...any suggestions out there?"

Your blaming other people (and an entire state) for your bad hunt. There's not a lot of help I can give you in that case. If all my buddies blamed me for not harvesting a critter over the years I'd have a lot more enemies.

Mule deer hunting is tough right now. Guys who do well fall into a few categories: 1) pure dumb luck 2) access to private land 3)lots of hard work and scouting. The only two categories you can control are 2&3. you've said #2 is out because of the cost, so your down to #3.

You need to read my posts again! Nowhere do I blame anyone for a "Bad" hunt. I simply stated some lessons and thoughts from my hunting experience. I just think that the state of Wyoming could do more to help out non-resident hunters. The Eastmans themselves have stated on this very website that the state has mismanaged the mule deer population. Sell tags, sell tags, sell tags. That idea has finally caught up with them. I posted the positives of my hunt, but would like to pull the trigger on my 300 win mag once in awhile too.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

You need to read my posts again! Nowhere do I blame anyone for a "Bad" hunt. I simply stated some lessons and thoughts from my hunting experience. I just think that the state of Wyoming could do more to help out non-resident hunters. The Eastmans themselves have stated on this very website that the state has mismanaged the mule deer population. Sell tags, sell tags, sell tags. That idea has finally caught up with them. I posted the positives of my hunt, but would like to pull the trigger on my 300 win mag once in awhile too.

Title of Thread: "Wyoming a crock" (some of us live in Wyoming actually like it)
You said: "Most game wardens and biologists feed you a cockamainy story." Sounds like you're blaming biologists and game wardens for at least part of your bad time.

Maybe I'm just not used to your style of whining.

You applied for an area with tons of tags and tons of private land and your surprised you did not find the big one. Don't do that again?

Again, not sure how else to help you. It appears as though a bunch of guys on here are going to try though. . .

 

[TeddyBear]

Thanks for the positive post. My parents used to live in Oshkosh. I appreciate you taking the time to give me some good info and ideas. Im glad that you have had great hunting success. I believe this forum should be about understanding and helping others in our hunting endeavors. I have been hunting enough years to know that in 30 seconds your whole hunt could change. It just didn't happen this year.

 

[TeddyBear]

And I truly appreciate those "bunch of guys". It sounds like they are really trying to HELP, not just make smart remarks about my posts. Don't need that kind of help. I deal with that attitude enough at work. (Largest prison in Michigan, 2500 losers) God Bless!

 

[tim]

teddy bear

sorry to say your post started the attitude. If you read it from a western perspective, it is very negative.
with that said, generally easy land to hunt is private and very tough rugged land is public. you might need to look at some areas that have lots of national forest. Tougher hunting, but you can roam for miles.

 

[TeddyBear]

teddy bear

sorry to say your post started the attitude. If you read it from a western perspective, it is very negative.
with that said, generally easy land to hunt is private and very tough rugged land is public. you might need to look at some areas that have lots of national forest. Tougher hunting, but you can roam for miles.

Tim my man, I think you are on to something. From my experience, Hunters in the East go out of their way to help you have a successful hunt. I have given fellow hunters my own personal hunting blind so that they will have a memorable hunt. People have shot 150 class bucks off my property and I have been ecstatic for them. Hunters in the West are tight lipped with hunting information. They believe that hunters must learn for themselves like they had to. I had a friend that moved to Montana that couldn't even get his closest friends from church to budge regarding any hunting help. That to me is a BAD attitude. People truly are different in other parts of this great country. Those that are willing to help are like the mule deer in Wyoming, few and far between, but they are there and I will keep looking! Wyoming has not seen the last of me. I think I offended some Wyoming residents with my O electoral votes comment for which I officially apologize.

 

[tim]

teddy

you are correct in that eastern hunting generally speaking seems to be more of a social thing. Where some people out here see it as a measure of a man. To be honest I am not sure where I sit with that one. I have let people on my property to shoot does after I am done. So maybe I am what you are describing. But we are are more self sufficient and feel that folks should do there own homework, scouting, learning the ropes. So yes it is vastly different between the 2 schools of thought. And no tellum creek which runs thru non of your business drainages is where most game animals are shot out here.

There is about 5 of us that are all solo hunters but we have our own little contest. no of us will take our friends to our spot. but we are always comparing results, just not areas. definitely different dynamics than it sounds like you are used to. but now you know where not to go, which is just as important as where to go.

I have a pretty decent elk spot, and a great deer spot, the deer spot is my yard and I am looking for a better expierence. so I will be out trying to figure where to go for nice bucks. Last week I wrote one area off. I am curious if this weekend, if I find a good area, or one to not go back to. either way it will be successful and will allow a better hunt next time. Unfortunately I have a feeling you will be doing more of that for a couple of years, until you figure out which area has the best combo of what you want in a hunt.

we will give you the shirt off of our back, the last meal we have, but no way will we say which drainage to hunt in. Priorities my man, priorities. Besides, we don't have the deer densities that back east has. Heck Idaho only allows you one deer a year, and new jersey probably allows 10.

 

[In God We Trust]

Colorado boasts the most Boone and Crockett entries for mule deer period, that doesn't mean that every unit has a bunch running around. Public land mule deer hunting is tough. Hell I know my area well and I still put at least 40 miles on my boots over 8 or 9 days. Try to find a unit with rough terrain and lots of public land. Those two variables equals less people and bigger deer. You have to know that the Game and Fish Departments are trying to sell tags so they talk up their states. Keep at it learn a unit over 2 or 3 years and success will come.

 

[Musket Man]

Hunters in the West are tight lipped with hunting information. They believe that hunters must learn for themselves like they had to. I had a friend that moved to Montana that couldn't even get his closest friends from church to budge regarding any hunting help. That to me is a BAD attitude. People truly are different in other parts of this great country. Those that are willing to help are like the mule deer in Wyoming, few and far between.

There are alot of western hunters that are willing to help, but exact areas are something completely different. What happens is you share your spot it took you years to find with someone, then they tell their friends and their friends tell their friends and in a few years the place you found that was good hunting and you had pretty much to yourself now has 30 hunters in it and very few animals. You can get alot of advise, ideas, and general info from other hunters and biologists but when it comes down to it you have to get to know the area for yourself and find an area you like. No one is going to hand it all to you. Its just part of western hunting and part of the excitement of hunting to me. Talking to the biologists is a good place to start but keep in mind they also told 100's of other hunters the same things they told you and you cant expect them to give you an exact spot to find a buck. I dont agree that you researched it well. Its pretty easy to see just from my benchmark map that the Kaycee area is mostly private land and when you were in the Dayton area you were right next to a whole unit thats almost all national forest and you would of had no issues with private land and if I were hunting region Y it is definitely where I would be starting at. Your first posts were pretty negative and it sounded like you were blaming everyone else and its really not the way to ask for help if thats what you wanted.

 

[swampokie]

I totally agree with teddy bear on the description of biologists and wardens. They are at best cold and sarcastic with out of staters. I'm in New Mexico hunting right now and I'm running into a simular situation. You just have to do your homework and use your own know how to achieve sucess. I dont think he was saying anything bad about the sportsmen of wyoming rather blaming the high priced landowners that did nothing to earn the trophies that reside on their property but inherit it from parents and grandparents that busted their butt to earn it

 

[Musket Man]

I totally agree with teddy bear on the description of biologists and wardens. They are at best cold and sarcastic with out of staters. I'm in New Mexico hunting right now and I'm running into a simular situation. You just have to do your homework and use your own know how to achieve sucess. I dont think he was saying anything bad about the sportsmen of wyoming rather blaming the high priced landowners that did nothing to earn the trophies that reside on their property but inherit it from parents and grandparents that busted their butt to earn it

The biologists and wardens I have met and talked to have been very nice and helpful. How is it the landowners fault or why would he be to blame that the deer are on his property? They are most likely on his property because there is better feed on it, they are not being pressured there or both. I dont see how they have done nothing and what does it matter if they inherited it or not? I bet the guy that ownes it worked on it and busted his butt there his whole life and ranching is not easy these days. It is up to him if he wants to let anyone hunt on his property and what he wants to charge to hunt it. The ranchers I have met have been very nice to me as well. I have even been invited to hunt when I wasnt even looking for a place to hunt. Im not trying to start a fight here, just my opinion and experience.

 

[Eberle]

I agree with MM about the biologist and wardens. I've hunted multiple western states over the last 15 years. Wyoming has the best field officers I've encoutered. I'm partial to Wyoming, it is where I cut my teeth western hunting. There is a bunch of good guys on this forum. Lots of knowledge, just be respectful & treat people like you would like to be treated! I apply for about 50 hunts over 8 states & draw 2 or 3 a year. If I'm going to spend the $ it's going to be worth it! I also run cattle & it is tough these days to make money on them with the price of deisel, fertilizer, feed, hay, ect.......... Good luck & if there is anything I can help out with just ask.

God Bless!

 

[Eberle]

Hey Swampokie,

You going out with a smoke pole in the morning? Got mine ready to rock & roll!

 

[swampokie]

No smokepole this morn. 300 rum. Opening morn of my nm deer hunt! I will however be back in time to hunt the last weekend of pole season. Good luck to you this morn!

 

[TeddyBear]

I totally agree with teddy bear on the description of biologists and wardens. They are at best cold and sarcastic with out of staters. I'm in New Mexico hunting right now and I'm running into a simular situation. You just have to do your homework and use your own know how to achieve sucess. I dont think he was saying anything bad about the sportsmen of wyoming rather blaming the high priced landowners that did nothing to earn the trophies that reside on their property but inherit it from parents and grandparents that busted their butt to earn it

Hey Swampokie, thanks for your mature response! Some of these people go overboard on reading into my thoughts something that doesn't exist. I used to have a girlfriend like that. Dumped her 30 years ago. Best move I ever made. Just got my new Eastmans Hunting Journal today. Going to browse over it while waiting for the World Series to start. Looks like some great articles. Once again thanks.

 

[Manualman]

Deer numbers are down in parts of Wyoming. Look into some of the green chip areas that don't take lots of points, but have a good amount of public land or walk in areas. I've been through it also. Started in 95 in Hulett and felt the same way. Pay attention to the MRS section of eastmans, it's not perfect but it's a good starting point

 

[Musket Man]

Good luck to all! I will be done with this thread now. I have offered my advise and even pointed out a unit thats nearly 100% public land in the region you hunted but I expect I am 1 of those people that is going overboard reading into your thoughts.

 

[Triple BB]

I have a close friend who is a warden. I think he does a good job helping hunters. But I can see his point of getting burned out with people calling for information. He's always quick to point out, its part of job. However he says at times its non stop calls with guys who do no homework, know nothing about the areas except what they read on the net or saw in a magazine and then they expect him to send them to a trophy animal. I know I'd get pretty callous and fed up after listening to some of his stories...

 

[wapiti66]

Western big game hunters have spent years finding their hunting spots, and most are "fragile" meaning they can't handle much pressure before the game is pushed out. Don't expect to get on a western big game forum and have somebody tell you a specific area to hunt and have success. The game is spread out over a much larger area in western states than eastern, and it takes a lot more effort to have success. Hunting the west is a totally different game but it sounds like you have the motivation to make it happen. I'd say for most of us there was much struggle and frustration before there was success, and even after success there will be more struggles and frustration....but that's what makes it hunting. Good luck and hunt smart.