Wyoming Region H

[mnhoundman]

Well here's the deal, a few of us applied for second choice F muley tag. We are kinda thinking of using our points and go for H. Besides the wilderness areas there is still alot we could hunt, trying to decide which unit to head for. I have been looking on Google earth and all the areas all look so good, havent been able to get a hold of the biologist yet, looking for a unit with very few roads so we can pack in and hunt. Could anyone help me out and give me a little advice or a good unit to look closer into? Anything is appreciated, Thanks!

 

[Boehunter]

how many points do you have?

 

[Topgun 30-06]

F can be drawn with no PPs & H with 1PP, so if they have more than that they'll be giving up some valuable PPs if either Region is put as a first choice.

 

[mnhoundman]

I have 4 the others have less. Probably gonna take two to draw h this year, not sure and I wouldn't put f as first choice. Just thinking to hunt h just in case they have a bad winter next year than I'd be waiting another 4 or 5 years. Probably not going to draw a limited quota any time soon, so may as well go huntin! Do you think it's a bad idea? About the only LQ unit we could draw is 37, anyone know how that area is doing? Thought it wasn't real good, but not for sure. Any other areas worth diving into with 4 points. The others have 2. We applied as a group so we would have 3 average I guess. Figured maybe h would be a good choice. Any advice? Good or bad?

 

[Againstthewind]

I don't know if this is helpful information http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/MapsAndData/MapArchive.aspx

Last year was a sever to exceptional drought, so I am not sure some of the older bucks did very well. The 37 area is dry on average.
http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/sco/climateatlas/precipitation.html, so drought conditions are particularly hard felt I think.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/riw/?n=drought
but things are improving so far this year. Especially in the Wind River/Big Horn drainage, so maybe things will be better this year.

The south half of H looks like it is still having a dry year. The area around H can get pretty rugged. I would say it depends on how you are hunting, horseback or backpack I would go with H, drive to a spot for spot and stalk, 37. Don't know if that helps, others have good opinions and are pretty experienced.

 

[mnhoundman]

Thanks! Going to do a pack in hunt. That's kinda why I was thinking h, maybe a little better weather in September than October. I was thinking maybe 152, 153, 154, or 156. They all look good!

 

[Musket Man]

How many are in your group? What is the average of all of your points? H produces some big bucks but I think alot of it is pretty tough country and it has some wilderness. Good LE units are hard to find without max points or close to it. G is another option but it sounds like you guys dont have quite enough points to draw it. It sounds to me like you guys are in the middle of do we wait and build another point or 2 or do we put in for H that we know we can draw. One thing about H is you should be able to draw it every other year. I think it comes down to if you want to use the points this year or wait a year or 2 and hunt G or maybe a LE unit.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

If you have 4PPs and the others have 2, you can't have an average of 3. If there are 4 of you, your average would be 2.5. If there are 3 of you, your average would be 2.66. If you don't mind using your 4PPs, then change your first choice to H on your applications, pack in as far as you can to get away from as any people as you can, and have a fun hunt whether you fill all your tags or not.

 

[mnhoundman]

Thanks guys! We would have 3 points average. We plan on finding the most secluded area and get in as far as we can and have an awesome time in some awesome country and hopefully fill a tag ta boot! My luck if I wait next year for g they will have a bad winter or something and there I will sit. Or point creep will hit hard and I may not catch it, who knows, just need to get out and hunt the high country. Been waiting to long.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Thanks guys! We would have 3 points average. We plan on finding the most secluded area and get in as far as we can and have an awesome time in some awesome country and hopefully fill a tag ta boot! My luck if I wait next year for g they will have a bad winter or something and there I will sit. Or point creep will hit hard and I may not catch it, who knows, just need to get out and hunt the high country. Been waiting to long.

I repeat that the only way you could have an average of 3PPs would be if there is only one other guy that has 2PPs and you two partied together. Wyoming does not round up or down, so you would have to have a fraction of a PP as an average if there are more than two of you and the others have 2 PPs.

 

[mnhoundman]

Yes, my nephew has 2 points making it a 3 point average. His dad is going along also, but not applying. That's what I meant by others. My fault!

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Ah, that makes sense now, as I couldn't figure out how you weren't getting a fraction of a PP when you said "others" had 2PPs. I think you'll have a great time in some wonderful country, especialy if you're going to spend it with close relatives.

 

[mnhoundman]

Thanks! I think it will be on heck of a good time. Just need to decide which unit and start studying.

 

[mnhoundman]

Anyone send me some tips??

 

[Againstthewind]

You kindof got me interested in going back over that direction myself. I really like the area. Topgun is really good at the research part I have found out on here, but it looks like the hunter success rates in that area have not been very good for deer lately. I think it can be pretty tough hunting. There is such a huge amount of land to hunt with all the National Forest and BLM and everything so its hard to narrow down a place to go for me. Right now I am looking at going back into the Sawtooths. Mostly because I have always wanted to. I have no idea what kind of deer are back there. The only tips I can think of is make sure you have some good optics, good boots, and bear spray. The Wyoming game and fish has some seminars and stuff for hunting in bear and wolf country. I am going to read up on those. Backpacking in with your food, make sure you are extra careful with your food, cooking, and even your pack with the food smell. On the East side of the state, scouting a good water hole works for deer usually, so that is kindof the only tip I have. Not much help, sorry.

 

[mnhoundman]

Thanks againstthewind! I still have to call the biologist in that area. I was thinking to stay as close to g as possible, supposed to be not as many bear as the north units.

 

[stevevan]

Having lived in that area I did the majority of my hunting in G. However, I knew fellas who did hunt H and the area around Hoback Peak always produced good bucks. A tip you may want to explore and I recommend is to make some phone calls to the US Forest Service District offices in Big Piney and Jackson. Ask to speak with the Range Conservationist and find out the grazing rotations for the domestic sheep that are permitted. Wherever the sheep have been recently, save your boot leather and avoid those areas even if have scouted bucks in those areas earlier. Domestic sheep and Mule Deer just don't mix and the odds are high that the deer moved out.

 

[mnhoundman]

Thanks for the info! I've heard of that before, but didn't quite understand why except maybe they eat all the grass.

 

[hunterman2146]

I spend a lot of time in region H and can help you out if you would like? Let me know a little more of what your looking for? You know, size of bucks, quantity of bucks, how hard you want to work to kill a deer. You know all that stuff. And I can point you in the right direction.

 

[mnhoundman]

Thanks hunterman2146! Sent you a PM.