Planing first WY antelop hunt, No PP and advise for units?

[Eric.MN]

So planning first wyoming antelope hunt for my wife and I for next year, with no PP any advise on what units would be best to hunt? Been puttin in lots of time researching, purchasing blm maps, understanding drawing odds but with no PP and never been hunting in wyoming what sections would be a good fit for strictly DIY? I have a few picked that I know we can hunt but I understand lots of landlocked public land seems to be the troubles for many. We're just looking to have fun and a good experience weather we shoot does or bucks. I don't want to get into paying tresspass fees and all that if I don't have to so anyone have some good pointers? Any direction would help.

Thanks, Eric.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

When I did my first hunt I found the state game commission to be very helpful. It is big business to them so they can't afford to mislead you or to not be thorough. Start with the state headquarters and let them point you to a regional office. There you can talk to an access coordinator and maybe a biologist. Then let them point you to a game warden. In the end the game wardens were the most helpful to me because they all gave pretty exact locations to start hunting.

Trespass fees are not too bad but we have heard some horror stories of too many hunters and not enough game. I personally wouldn't recommend them unless you have been through the hunt area or have a contact to point you in the right direction. Some ranchers couldn't care less as long as they have your money.

It sounds like you know it already but be aware of landlocked parcels. They must have a state or county road bordering them to access.

If you are staying in a hotel, talk to them early. Most local hotels reserve rooms for previous customers so check with them just prior to the drawing and immediately after so you don't miss out.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Almost forgot......Good Luck! Planning is about half the fun.

 

[deer_shooter]

A GPS chip is a necessiity. There are a few units that you can draw with 0 PP and there are a number of units with leftover tags. Check out the walk in areas and hunter mgt areas to see if that may be an option. With a little research and a couple calls, it's not too difficult to have an awesome hunt in Wyoming. My wife and I have gone the last three years on leftover tags and we've done ok.

 

[Flatrock]

With no points, I would seriously consider applying for the special tags. That will get you into some better units.

 

[redwoood]

I would seriously consider paying a trespass fee. There are still ranches that will let you on for a couple hundred bucks. If you take into consideration the 100 dollar gps chip and the extra gas you'll burn driving to different public sections you'll probably be money ahead and plenty of units have 100 percent draw odds or leftovers. Just make sure to talk to several ranchers and find one that limits the number of hunters and spreads them out through the season. It's never to early to start making calls. Some ranches book up by the first of the year. That's my advice. Especially since you'll have your wife along and you definitely want a positive experience.

 

[Eric.MN]

Planning has been fun and has got me getting excited for next year but boy there's been a lot of back an fourth on where to go. I still am thinking I don't want to pay a ranch, but maybe until I get some points banked up i may have to. But still seems like if you put the time in, have a gps with land maps and willing to hike a bit in units 16 an 25 people can get away and bag some goats? I understand you may not see the big numbers or trophy size, I just think the exsperience of camping out and DIY would be pretty rewarding if we have some success.

Thanks all for the guidance so far!

 

[VAspeedgoat]

P.m. sent let me know if I can help further.

 

[Eric.MN]

I didn't see a PM? But I'm new to this site, Ill see if I'm missing something

 

[Randy11]

16 has a lot of public, and a lot of pronghorn. You're going to be hiking though, and probably a long ways. If you're ok with hauling antelope meat 3-4 miles you can definitely fill some tags. From what I saw there was almost no trophy potential, lots of 10-12" bucks slthough I'm sure there are some random nice bucks in there. You've also got to be okay with hunting right amongst the natural gas workers. Not exactly the experience you want or expect when you hike 3 miles back in before light.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Sorry my mistake, sent it again.

 

[Joe Hulburt]

With no points, I would seriously consider applying for the special tags. That will get you into some better units.

Great advice! My son and I were in the same boat the first time we applied and we managed to draw a premier unit on our first try by spending a little more $ on tags.

 

[Eric.MN]

I'm not real familiar how or what the special hunt is about?

 

[JohnCushman]

In the Wyoming draw process you can either go into the regular draw for regular price, or go into the 'special' draw pool for a higher price. The advantage to the special draw is that you can draw units that require more points a lot of times.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

One thing about it, the special draw ( double price ) is still cheaper than a trespass fee which is 300 plus the tag. Jusst make sure its for a region that is worth it. Although for a first trip and with your wife, just drawing a descent unit may be worth it.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

One thing about it, the special draw ( double price ) is still cheaper than a trespass fee which is 300 plus the tag. Jusst make sure its for a region that is worth it. Although for a first trip and with your wife, just drawing a descent unit may be worth it.

The Special Draw IS NOT double the price of the Regular Draw and trespass fees vary widely if you can even find a ranch that isn't leased by an outfitter. Also, in Wyoming the antelope are drawn by unit, not Region like deer can be where you can hunt most, if not all, the units within a Region on the same tag.

 

[JohnCushman]

My first year in Wyoming we paid $100 a piece for a trespass fee and the quality of the animals was definitely not worth it....especially when the rancher lets everyone on his property that is willing to pay and it gets way over crowded. Most units have enough public land that there is usually little need for a trespass fee.

 

[Eric.MN]

Hopefully there won't be a need for paying pass fee like John said, but I guess one thing I'm not clear on and like I said I've never applied for a hunt before but what is the differences in hunt types? I see some units have type 2. I see some have different season dates, can anyone clarify the differences type 1 or 2?

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Hopefully there won't be a need for paying pass fee like John said, but I guess one thing I'm not clear on and like I said I've never applied for a hunt before but what is the differences in hunt types? I see some units have type 2. I see some have different season dates, can anyone clarify the differences type 1 or 2?

Type 1 and 2 are normally buck or either sex tags that either have a different start or ending date in the unit or you're limited to a certain part of the unit. Look in last years Final Regulations and go down through the unit numbers and you'll see whether a unit has just a type 1 or both and what each is good for.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Regular draw non resident is 272, special is 512. Sorry topgun I was WAY off. The game department publishes a list of landowners and many of the counties publish one as well. As stated before you can easily be misled. Thats why it is nice to have a contact or prior experience with a place before this rout. Generally the fees are 300 to 500 but again can vary greatly and aren't necessary for a successful hunt in most units.

I could be wrong but as I understand it a type 2 is just for a portion of a given unit but you may want to verify that.