Early season Wyoming Archery - Elk or Mule Deer?

[AtenJones]

So, I'm doing my best to make it out west this Fall for my first DIY backcountry hunt, but I'm looking for a little bit of advice. Due to my job, I work every weekend from Mid September through early February, so my only real option is to get out for an early season archery hunt during the first week of September.

I shoot a crossbow right now (I live in Ohio where it's legal for deer), and while I would love to buy a bow, I have a little-one on the way this Spring so having the cash to buy a bow and having enough time to get proficient probably isn't going to happen for another couple years. So, that pretty much means Wyoming is my only option.

So that leaves me trying to decide what I want to hunt. I'm trying to decide between Bull Elk, getting a cheaper cow-elk tag, or even looking at Mule Deer.

So, what would you recommend for a first-timer who wants to have fun, but also have a decent chance of harvesting an animal? I'm not concerned about trophy size at all, I just want to spend a week in the woods and go hunting. If I bring back a monster then that's just icing on the cake. Which one of those hunts might give me the best chance for success during the first week of September? Also, any unit/region suggestions are more than welcome, though obviously not expected.

Thanks!!

 

[wytex]

Apply for a cow tag then after draw results are in you can apply for a deer tag perhaps in the same area. Remember there are a few set aside tags for a random drawing.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Do you have any PPs for deer, elk, or antelope in Wyoming?

 

[AtenJones]

Do you have any PPs for deer, elk, or antelope in Wyoming?

I don't. I only recently got interested in Western Hunting, so this is my first attempt to plan a hunt out there. I've been pretty spoiled with the deer hunting here in Ohio, which basically boils down to "just don't shoot more than 2 deer per county".

 

[TXinTN]

I shoot a crossbow right now (I live in Ohio where it's legal for deer), and while I would love to buy a bow, I have a little-one on the way this Spring so having the cash to buy a bow and having enough time to get proficient probably isn't going to happen for another couple years. So, that pretty much means Wyoming is my only option.

Couple thoughts...

If this is your first kid, keep in mind they tend to change your priorities in a way that's hard to grasp til you experience it. You may find the hunt is a few rungs lower on your list than it is now.

I think pronghorns are the gateway drug of western hunting. Great way to get your feet wet and have a lot of fun.

 

[AtenJones]

Couple thoughts...

If this is your first kid, keep in mind they tend to change your priorities in a way that's hard to grasp til you experience it. You may find the hunt is a few rungs lower on your list than it is now.

I think pronghorns are the gateway drug of western hunting. Great way to get your feet wet and have a lot of fun.

Yep, this is the first kid, so I'm well aware that these plans may change DRASTICALLY. So, my plan may be to buy a preference point this year, and then if things are going well and I can get away, buy an over the counter tag a month or so before the season. That may obviously limit my unit/region options as well.

I really want to do a pronghorn hunt, but since I start working every weekend in mid-september most of the refile seasons don't really line up with my schedule. I know I could do pronghorn archery - but I'm going to be sitting in a tree stand or ground blind all winter for Whitetail hunting, and I don't really feel like driving to Wyoming to do that for Antelope as well.

 

[JohnCushman]

Then spot and stalk them. I have the patience and attention span of a 3 year old on crack and can't sit in a blind. I shoot archery lopes every year doing spot and stalk.