Wyoming antelope hunt questions

[Cody King]

Hey guys, my name is Cody King. I'm from Utah, and am fairly new to antelope hunting. I've been doing some research, and trying to lock down a few units in Wyoming that I should start looking. I have been buying preference points each year, and currently have 5. The units I have been focussing on are:

Unit: 59
Unit: 63
Unit: 88,89,93

All of these units seem to be within my ability to draw, with the points accrued. They're also close enough to Utah, that I would have the opportunity to scout them on a regular basis, prior to my hunt.

I'm in search of a good buck, maybe mid to high 70's. But, I'm also looking for a great experience for my first goat hunt. More important than size to me, is the opportunity to see a few animals, and really learn their behaviors, and what I need to do to be successful. Through scouting, I can look over a lot of different goats, get schooled a few times (ha), and use this hunt as an education for me to learn the art of Antelope hunting.

My questions are:

1. Am I looking in the right direction, as far as area goes? Not looking for honey holes, I'll put my time and gas money in for that. But, can you help me confirm that those units would fit my hunt agenda?

2. When is a good time to start scouting different areas? I know, or think I know, that winter plays a big part in the numbers, and size of the goats from year to year. So do I wait until spring? Or do I push it into the summer? Or should I be out there right now?

Hope I have provided enough info to answer my question. Thanks guys

Cody.

 

[30Hart]

Cody, sent you a PM.

 

[Cody King]

Okay, I haven't seen it come through yet, but it may still be processing. Thank you 30Hart

 

[Againstthewind]

If I remember right you have to have a certain number of posts to get a pm, so go to the official post padding thread for a couple more. It seemed like five was a magic number but I don't remember for sure, hopefully it went through.

 

[Musket Man]

Of those units the only one I have any experience in is 93 years ago on my first WY antelope hunt. I didnt know much about planning hunts back then and I had some issues (none that wouldnt have been solved with a BLM map and GPS chip) but think it would be a good hunt. With WY antelope the main thing to look for is amount of public land and access to it. If you find a unit with good public access you can scout should have a good hunt and any unit that takes 4-5 points to draw should be a good hunt. Good Luck!

 

[30Hart]

Sorry, had to send you an email, PM not available. Holler if you didn't get it.

 

[30Hart]

Sorry, had to send you an email, I tried the PM again. Holler if you didn't get it.

 

[Cody King]

I just received the PM, thanks 30Hart.

And thank you Musket Man. That will give me something to go off of. I'll try to track down some BLM maps, prior to my scouting starts.

 

[Musket Man]

And thank you Musket Man. That will give me something to go off of. I'll try to track down some BLM maps, prior to my scouting starts.

Look at the preview maps on mytopo.com. It will give you a good idea of the public land in each unit. If the unit you decide on is on several BLM maps sometimes it is better to get the map from mytopo. The points it takes a NR to draw is generally directly related to public land and access for WY antelope.

 

[bdan68]

This is another good online map that I've been using to determine where public lands are in Wyoming.

http://onanypc.com/statelandaccess/

 

[wyheadhunter]

hello Cody,
I don't know much of anything about your prospective area's. I do get to look at antelope basically year round. will tell you what I have noticed in my personal little world that your pronghorns loose there horns in November and December. So I would say that looking now will do you way less good in winter than looking in summer to look for a particulars of antelope to hunt. That being said you can go out now and see buck to doe ratio and the such this time of year as horns are starting to grow back and can always tell by the black cheek patch. Not sure but I think There horns are growing all summer? maybe need a little help here. In my country we actually see a big influx in numbers during the winter. We have a group of high plains animals that move the 60 miles down into our lower country when we get enough snow up high to push them down. so scouting now could give you a false sense of security about your area just to see half the antelope during hunting season that you did during winter. Same can go the other way if the antelope are all gone in winter. The numbers may look way different after the spring migration. Just some thoughts on what I have noticed over the years in my world.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Was in what would be 93 for Antelope last year chasing Moose in late Sept/early Oct. We saw good numbers of Antelope on the north/NE end. As already mentioned, I suggest you check on migrations, I was told this was a migration corridor for them, just no idea when that might occur. PM me if you want further details.

 

[nunt'nbutmuleys]

Ill send ya a pm with my thoughts!!!