Wyoming Antelope 1 Point

[Barnesc6]

Hey guys,
My wife and I each have 1 preference point for goats this upcoming year. She's never hunted large game and I am new to antelope. I've hunted mule deer and elk for the past 17 years but finally coming around to the speed goat hunt. I've been looking at Eastman's Members Research 16' and 17' trying to figure out a doable place for us to put in for. I'm looking for a unit that is pretty much 100% odds of us getting drawn- my wife and I will be trying for our first child soon this next year so this may be her only opportunity to do a big game hunt for a while. We aren't looking for trophies- just a spot we can harvest a few bucks and have enough opportunity that she gets to see some animals. I prefer to stay away from units that have a lot of OHV and vehicle access. Would be nice to find a spot we can hike a few miles in and pitch a tent for the time we are out there. Anybody have good advice on a unit out there I should be looking at?

 

[Jlrineer1]

Hey guys,
My wife and I each have 1 preference point for goats this upcoming year. She's never hunted large game and I am new to antelope. I've hunted mule deer and elk for the past 17 years but finally coming around to the speed goat hunt. I've been looking at Eastman's Members Research 16' and 17' trying to figure out a doable place for us to put in for. I'm looking for a unit that is pretty much 100% odds of us getting drawn- my wife and I will be trying for our first child soon this next year so this may be her only opportunity to do a big game hunt for a while. We aren't looking for trophies- just a spot we can harvest a few bucks and have enough opportunity that she gets to see some animals. I prefer to stay away from units that have a lot of OHV and vehicle access. Would be nice to find a spot we can hike a few miles in and pitch a tent for the time we are out there. Anybody have good advice on a unit out there I should be looking at?

Unit 16 is a good area

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[Alabama]

I wouldn't believe everything I read lol. ^^^

There are a ton of 1st posts just like this every year. Look through the antelope section and the Wyoming section and I'm sure you can come up with a few areas. The WY draw odds tables are easily read. Just look for the units with 100% odds for 1 point in the regular and the special draw if you're willing to pay the extra $. The special will open up a lot of areas for you but man it's expensive! You can head over to Toprut to see the public land percentage, they have a map with public overlay for every unit.

 

[Barnesc6]

Thanks Alabama- I realize some people may try to push someone toward a bad unit or deny that a unit is any good as to keep them from going... I like to hear what people have to say and then do my own research. At some point just have to go for it... MRS antelope section doesn’t really cover too many units with limited point high percentage draw odds

 

[Jlrineer1]

I shot one 20 min into the first morning in unit 16. Get the mattress off your back pick up a trekking pole and do some hiking and you'll find antelope. I had 3 different trucks pull up to our camp on BLM land and ask if where we shot our animals was close. We told them 2-4 miles on foot from camp, all three trucks laughed and turned around and drove off. I know 16 can be a joke unit but I was happy with my speed goat and mule deer.

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[WapitiBob]

I "sort of" hunted 16 a cpl years ago and saw 4 animals a mile away and hauling ass. Probably saw 50 on pvt. I keep thinking of going back on leftover tags but those odds now suck. 2-4 miles in is about right, and notice the hill Jlr is on, no flat ground in that unit except a little bit over on the walk-in and that road is a constant stream of road hunters. There is limited access on the east side; only at those well heads so expect to get the stink eye if someone is already camped there but you don't have much choice.

 

[Prerylyon]

Idk-looks like you had a good time, got some meat! No joke in that. [emoji6]

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[go_deep]

A unit like 16 separates the hunters, from the road hunters.

 

[Jlrineer1]

A unit like 16 separates the hunters, from the road hunters.

You're right, coming from the east I had no idea what road hunting was. After driving around on one cold rainy day looking for spots and seeing the lines of trucks up and down the sides of the roads waiting on the antelope to jump the private fence to public I had no interest in that.

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[Jlrineer1]

I "sort of" hunted 16 a cpl years ago and saw 4 animals a mile away and hauling ass. Probably saw 50 on pvt. I keep thinking of going back on leftover tags but those odds now suck. 2-4 miles in is about right, and notice the hill Jlr is on, no flat ground in that unit except a little bit over on the walk-in and that road is a constant stream of road hunters. There is limited access on the east side; only at those well heads so expect to get the stink eye if someone is already camped there but you don't have much choice.

The terrain is not ideal closer to the powder river but if you have a pack and you follow the right ridges you can minimize climbing. In 3 days of hunting 16 we saw close to 80 antelope between 6 of us. Less than 5 of them were a mile or closer to 90. I recommend 16 to people with the caveat that you must be willing to walk and you will get opportunities.

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[Alabama]

Jlrineer1: I'm not bashing unit 16 but there have to be better units for 1 point because that one can be reliably drawn as 2nd and 3rd choice and even had leftovers. Sounds like you had a good time and that's what it's all about!

 

[Jlrineer1]

Jlrineer1: I'm not bashing unit 16 but there have to be better units for 1 point because that one can be reliably drawn as 2nd and 3rd choice and even had leftovers. Sounds like you had a good time and that's what it's all about!

O, I agree 100% I wouldn't waste a point on 16. I'd try for a decent unit that you would've had around 50% chance of getting from last year's draw odds then use 16 for 2nd choice. If you don't draw at least you get another point and still have a place to hunt. I have 2 points and don't intend to use stop accruing until I can hunt a blue chip unit. Until then I'll keep my hiking boots on and hit up 16 and 22.

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[Barnesc6]

Thanks gents- thats what I wanted to hear... I enjoy putting some dirt under my boots so I?m looking forward to it

 

[mnhoundman]

We hunted 22 for does this past year the last week, I wouldn't hunt the last week again. Most were on private or on the line, couldn't believe how they knew where they needed to be. Ended up running into a rancher up town that let us get the Doe's. Only had a couple chances at some on BLM, but if you blow it they're not far from private. Just what we found out!

 

[JFox]

Having never hunted Wyoming, this may not be the best input, but I did live out there for a field season during college and I've spent an inordinate amount of time hunting public land in the Midwest. For what it's worth, a lot of people who hunt public land really don't wanna put time or effort in to get somewhere far away from others, or aren't willing to make the haul to get a downed critter back to camp. If you pick a 0 or 1 point unit, but are willing to put in the effort and get a ways back/make the haul out, based on what I saw when I was living there you will have success. That being said, it may not be an 80 inche toad, but we all define success differently. I dont look for giants when I go.

Best of luck!

 

[Prerylyon]

Having never hunted Wyoming, this may not be the best input, but I did live out there for a field season during college and I've spent an inordinate amount of time hunting public land in the Midwest. For what it's worth, a lot of people who hunt public land really don't wanna put time or effort in to get somewhere far away from others, or aren't willing to make the haul to get a downed critter back to camp. If you pick a 0 or 1 point unit, but are willing to put in the effort and get a ways back/make the haul out, based on what I saw when I was living there you will have success. That being said, it may not be an 80 inche toad, but we all define success differently. I dont look for giants when I go.

Best of luck!

Well put. I do think though for those uninitiated to the land 'flavors' out west, its important to really understand and have a legal access plan to get on public lands in some of the more 'complicated' units that holds animals. Those with the checkerboards of mixed private/ land locked public or private roads.

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[Barnesc6]

Ya I agree, I think that holds true to hunting in most any state comprised of public land hunting. I’m not too worried about legal access... I’ve got OnX maps and have already spent a great deal of time on the WYO game planner... also contacted BLM to confirm I’ll have acccess at the points I’m hoping to use... ya no 80in toad necessary for me... maybe someday when I get the points for a better unit I’ll hope for a sizeable goat but this hunt is really about exposing my wife to big game hunting.. family time

 

[Barnesc6]

Can anyone advise of the post rut migration in unit 16? I’m hoping to be there from the 6-10 October more than likely, would like to have an idea of where they’ve moved to if we aren’t seeing much

 

[wy-tex]

Antelope generally only migrate for winter and they may very well travel many miles to winter range. During the rut they stick close to their harem of doe. Pressure pushes them to private land not the rut.