1st time out West: Suggestions

[Jmnhunter]

I'd like to do a trip out west with my dad and have thought more and more about it. Not sure if I should try elk, maybe too demanding for a first hunt..
Was originally thinking of putting in for WY pronghorn or mule deer anywhere.

Any suggestions to draw a tag within a couple of years somewheres?

 

[NEWHunter]

WY is a great option. I did my first hunt out west last year on WY pronghorn. I had no idea what was involved in trying to pack a camp in and pack out an animal as an eastern deer/turkey/bear guy. Ive been a part of an epic drag or two, but never packed anything. Found out what it’s like to pack an animal 5+ miles when it’s pushing 80 degrees. Got my tail kicked on what would probably be an easy pack out for an elk hunt.

If you’re already questioning an elk hunt, don’t start there. Antelope is the most popular introductory western hunt for a reason. Success is almost guaranteed if you put in the time and effort. You can make the hunt as easy or as hard as you’d like. Pack a camp miles in and hold out for a trophy or ride the roads for does. And you can be after it next year in a 2nd or 3rd choice unit while chasing a better tag. In the meantime you can start researching and planning deer and elk hunts.

I was supposed to be burning my points with a group of four other guys last year but they bailed and I went by myself anyway. I was glad I went. I’ll be heading west again in a couple of weeks with my Dad on another 2nd choice tag. My point is - don’t wait! Buy some preference points now for next year and start planning. Good luck.

 

[elkantlers]

Buy a Wyoming pronghorn point right now and hunt next fall. Easy as pie.

 

[elkmo]

If your chasing lopes try to get a GEN deer tag...your lope hunt could take all of a hour. Been there done that, make it worth the time invested to get there.

 

[LCH]

Fun tags you could get year after year include deer in almost any state, certain pronghorn tags in Wyoming (getting harder though), javelina in Arizona, bears almost anywhere, or elk in several states if you're up for it.

I'm partial to cow elk tags in really good areas myself. Often, you can get a cow tag every year, or maybe every other year, in places that may take 20-30 years to draw a bull tag.

 

[TheGrayRider]

Hunt spring turkeys out West for your first trip. Tags are still cheap and mostly over the counter. Weather is usually nice and exponentially fewer hunters. You still see the same country as mule deer or elk hunting. You can hunt 2 or more states in one trip. Test your camping gear or stay in small town hotels. Happy hunting, TheGrayRider.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

What method of take would you like to use? Rifle, bow, or muzzleloader? That will make a bit of a difference since bow tags are in general easier to obtain than rifle.

 

[Ben Sellers]

I wouldn’t try to pick what would be the easiest or “best intro” hunt. Pick what you or your dad wants to hunt most and find a way to make it happen. None of this is insurmountable. Sure elk is hard but if that’s what you want go for it. On the other hand, if you want deer or pronghorn make that happen too. If it took being an expert and a true wilderness athlete to do western hunting there would be very very few hunters. I’m a big Cheeto eating MF and I had a great hunt diy last year.

 

[Jmnhunter]

SD-Goat: we would use rifles;

I've done a SD pronghorn hunt back in about 2009 or so with not much luck but loved doing it; now days, can a NR get a tag out there anymore?

Ben, good point, will have to mull it over with the old man

 

[Deleted member 28227]

SD-Goat: we would use rifles;

I've done a SD pronghorn hunt back in about 2009 or so with not much luck but loved doing it; now days, can a NR get a tag out there anymore?

Ben, good point, will have to mull it over with the old man

Pronghorn are fun... I think CO or WY mule deer would be a great option as well.

Not knowing anything about your experience, or fitness levels I might choose mule deer over elk just because they are more manageable especially if it’s your first trip out west and dealing with lots of others firsts. Also elk have the lowest success rates.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

SD-Goat: we would use rifles;

I've done a SD pronghorn hunt back in about 2009 or so with not much luck but loved doing it; now days, can a NR get a tag out there anymore?

Ben, good point, will have to mull it over with the old man

SD it's not easy to get a buck tag for Pronghorn... But if you get a couple preference points it is possible. Much easier to pick up a doe tag if you wanted to go that route.

Hunting here isn't easy, not very much cover at all, but that adds to the sport of it IMO.

 

[Eric.MN]

My first Wyoming hunt was antelope with my wife. It was a great time, not too demanding and a good first “western” type hunt. I then took my dad the fallowing year and had a great time, he was 61 at the time and it was his first public land western style hunt. We both had success and enjoyed the time while learning a lot along the way. I would suggest possibly doing the same.
Great first buck for the Ol man-

 

[thusby]

I've done a hunt with my father-in-law every year since I got married. Father time is taking its toll on him. Even scaling a small hill in farm country for a whitetail hunt is tough for him. Now we do pronghorn hunts out west every year. You can't beat it for hunters on the verge of aging out of the sport.

 

[rmyoung1]

Fun tags you could get year after year include deer in almost any state, certain pronghorn tags in Wyoming (getting harder though), javelina in Arizona, bears almost anywhere, or elk in several states if you're up for it.

I'm partial to cow elk tags in really good areas myself. Often, you can get a cow tag every year, or maybe every other year, in places that may take 20-30 years to draw a bull tag.

This is really good advice

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Fun tags you could get year after year include deer in almost any state, certain pronghorn tags in Wyoming (getting harder though), javelina in Arizona, bears almost anywhere, or elk in several states if you're up for it.

I'm partial to cow elk tags in really good areas myself. Often, you can get a cow tag every year, or maybe every other year, in places that may take 20-30 years to draw a bull tag.

I personally would find it very difficult to see those amazing bulls and not be able to pursue them... I'm sure its different when you're actually there, but man I hate having an X tag when a monster Y appears in perfect range/angle/direction. But that is when self restraint really comes into account!