Wyoming Region R Archery Mule Deer

[#22]

Greetings!

I'm new here and looking for some advice. I'm from Ohio and am planning my first trip out west this year to bowhunt mulies. I've put in for the draw in Region R.

Does anyone have any recommendations on what units would be best to try? I'm in good shape and not afraid of working hard for a shot.

Thanks!

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

Howdy #22, welcome.

 

[woodtick]

Head on over to the Nevada 2014 draw results thread and tell us about yourself, since that's the happening thread!!

 

[Againstthewind]

Oh sweet, Region R is kindof where I grew up. I haven't been back in a while, but I love the area. I think it was area 50 for Mule Deer we went to. There are areas that where you can backpack or horse ride in forever and never see a soul, or stay within a couple miles of a pretty good road. The Red Gulch Road in Area 46 out Greybull goes to one of my favorite spots at the Paint Rock Lakes. The Wilderness Boundary is kindof close to that area, but there is still a lot of country that isn't Wilderness and even some game management areas right close. I like those management areas, some don't though. I am not sure how the deer quality is, but it is a cool spot. There are a lot of trails and turn offs and places to go out on your own from that main road. Area 50 is the same way Forest Road 10 goes right along the divide, so as long as a you stay west of the road, there are tons of places to go wander off to and still stay in Region R. That one is not quite as good of a road, so muddy roads might be a little problem. I have never done that to get out work and don't recommend it. Probably should double check the Region boundaries especially, its been a few years. Good luck.

 

[woodtick]

Take a camera it's some of the most beautiful country in the world IMO!!!

 

[#22]

Very cool!...Thanks for all of the info!!

 

[AT Hiker]

I did a quick scouting trip there a couple years ago the first of Oct. I was not impressed at all with game sightings, didnt see any from the road and only a handful of doe and a couple small bucks when I went in to hike. I did see hunters camps and a few hunters riding ATV's. Watch out for the sheep and their dogs, I thought they were gonna eat my truck one day!!

The country is beautiful and Im sure you will find some deer when you start looking really hard, but unless things have changed drastically the numbers in the northern units seem pretty low, I didnt venture south any.

Weather will be a factor Im guessing, if its warm I would stay up high but if you go later and get some nasty weather it wouldnt hurt to check the lower boundary. Heck, it wouldnt hurt to drive down low one day and look to find some access points for the lower elevations. Maybe find a hay field they feed in and hunt them in a draw....to do this you would for sure need to hike in a few miles, likely from up high which would be tough getting one out if you killed.

 

[Againstthewind]

Good advise AT Hiker. The sheepherders are more reclusive than the sheep. They are hard to find. Sheep graze pretty close to the ground. I think they compete more for food with deer than cattle do. I am not sure on that subject. If you see sheep in an area there probably are not many other animals. That topic has been on other posts with better info. Its probably worth a call to see about the grazing rotation. That side of the mountain is a rain shadow desert, so good feed is prime real estate. They do try to get the animals rounded up before rifle hunting season usually I think. By the way... did you hike the AT or part of it? That would be really cool.

 

[AT Hiker]

Good advise AT Hiker. The sheepherders are more reclusive than the sheep. They are hard to find. Sheep graze pretty close to the ground. I think they compete more for food with deer than cattle do. I am not sure on that subject. If you see sheep in an area there probably are not many other animals. That topic has been on other posts with better info. Its probably worth a call to see about the grazing rotation. That side of the mountain is a rain shadow desert, so good feed is prime real estate. They do try to get the animals rounded up before rifle hunting season usually I think. By the way... did you hike the AT or part of it? That would be really cool.

For sure, where there were sheep there were 0 game, most all livestock compete for feed with the native critters and sheep more so than others.

I am section hiking the AT, if I didnt hunt I could prob do a thru hike but no way am I missing Spring and Fall hunting season! Longest section I have done so far is a tad over 200 miles in 11 days.