Hey guys, new member to the Eastmans Forum here. Me and some buddies put in for deer preference points last year for Wyoming and plan to draw a tag this fall for Wyoming Deer. We are really having a problem deciding on which unit to put down as first choice. Unit C or Unit Y, we have no private land to hunt on so we will strictly be hunting public, walk on properties or Hunter Management Areas. Does anyone have any insight for us? We called out and talked to some Wyoming G&F folks and they mentioned that pressure is heavy on public land. Being from Wisconsin I know what heavy pressure is and im not sure if that equates to the same out west. We have no problem hiking off the beaten path to get away from people but are there many places that a person can actually do that or not? Any insight would be great, we are on the fence right now. Maybe would even consider region A or B as well if needed. Thanks. Luke
Wyoming Unit dillema
- Thread starter mustang8
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mallardsx2
Veteran member
- Jul 8, 2015
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Hunting pressure out west is nothing like what you are used to.
Anyone who says it is has not been exposed to what you have been.
Having said that, When a deer gets bumped it doesn't run 5 miles before stopping like an elk...lol
Anyone who says it is has not been exposed to what you have been.
Having said that, When a deer gets bumped it doesn't run 5 miles before stopping like an elk...lol
wyohunter1
Member
- May 5, 2012
- 112
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Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I have hunted Wyoming since the 1980's and never hunt opening on antelope, but usually do hunt it for deer. Yes it gets pretty crowded in some areas, but after the first weekend is over and most of the residents have gone back to work, it's pretty tolerable.
Horsenhike
Very Active Member
My advice would be to look for limited draw units with large amounts of public land that can be drawn with zero or one points. Even if you have to go the special tag route. Wait to go until after the first weekend and you will have it to yourselves. Plan on spending ten days and in that time you should be able to find deer.
Umpqua Hunter
Veteran member
wyohunter1
Member
- May 5, 2012
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wy-tex
Veteran member
Tags prices will probably increase after next year. Either get in before they go up or, after the increase your chances may go up due to drop outs with the price increase.
We thought about skipping this year and trying for a tag in Montana but it seems non residents hardly have a chance to draw with 0 points there. We gave that a werl last year for antelope and did not draw, and the g&f totally talked us out of paying for the preference point because they said they were giving so many tags out we wouldn't have an issue. In Montana I have a 28,000 acre chunk of private land that we can hunt (hunted in the past) for either deer or antelope but that's a crap shoot to draw there, at least in the Terry montana area. So like my original post said we are up for anything but on the fence for everything.
I currently live just outside of Stevens Point in the town of Rudolph. Where were you from?
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
I was kindof thinking, rare moment, but A might be out if you wanted to do both. The seasons for antelope and deer only overlap in one unit, and it is kindof a tough area for public access. C can be pretty difficult for access, it just gets so tricky sometimes with what is private and what isn't. Its doable, but the walk-in areas there get hit pretty hard. Maybe not Wisonsin hard. Y has good access in the forest for deer, but it has an asterisk I think because the lower country where the deer and antelope are more visible is a lot more private, but still lots of places to get out and you can get away from crowds. If you like deer hunting in the mountains, that's probably where to go. B is more the walk-in area, state ground close to agriculture, probably still some cows on the same range, but its a more open sagebrush hunt with juniper, small pine ridges in between. Anyway, not sure of animal numbers or quality, especially this year, but between Y and B, it depends on how you like to hunt I would say. Pretty general I guess
wyohunter1
Member
- May 5, 2012
- 112
- 1
Grew up in Mosinee, went to college in LaCrosse then on up to Phillips to hunt and fish til I moved out here.
There are several WY General Deer tags that you can draw with 0 or 1 point. They are called 'General' because they are 'General' for residents. For NR, everything in WY in limited draw. Check the WY G&F website for the draw odds and you will get a better idea what is available. These will be the 'Regions' listed as letters Y,R,M,W,C,A etc. Also, the WY G&F website has the Hunt Planner section that has some good maps and info. Look for the regions that shows lots of NF and/or BLM land and that would be a key determining factor.
The Eastman's MRS is another good research tool to evaluate hunting areas.
Hunting pressure is just a fact of life on public land hunting with short seasons. Most of it, however, is within 1/2 mile from a road with vehicle/atv access. You can use this along with good maps to find areas to escape some of the pressure.
Keep expectations reasonable and enjoy being in God's Country.
Good Luck
The Eastman's MRS is another good research tool to evaluate hunting areas.
Hunting pressure is just a fact of life on public land hunting with short seasons. Most of it, however, is within 1/2 mile from a road with vehicle/atv access. You can use this along with good maps to find areas to escape some of the pressure.
Keep expectations reasonable and enjoy being in God's Country.
Good Luck
aboss014
Member
- Aug 7, 2016
- 56
- 0
- 40
I'm from NY and have hunted region A the last two years with great success. I took whitetails in both years but had lots of chances of decent muley bucks but was looking for a real nice one. I hunted in the Black Hills National Forest the first year in the second week of the season with little other hunter pressure. This past season I hunted on some BLM land starting on Nov. 5 and there were a lot more hunters there. But the hunters I did see were hunting close to their camps and the road. If you are willing to move further in and put some miles on your boots, you will see many more deer. Here are a few deer we took last year...
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RICMIC
Veteran member
I just drove across MT from Boseman to Minnesota both ways on a snowmobiling trip to ID. My impression compared to the last 14 years making the same trip at the same time is that there is a little more snow, yet it is still very light. The temps ranged from 5 to 43, so from what I saw the winter so far isn't a problem. A local resident will have far more relevant input.