The Question

[Hatchie Dawg]

I try to avoid questions like this but here goes anyway. I have an antelope trip to WY tentatively planned for next fall. My neighbor and his 15y/o son will go along with me and my 17y/o daughter. We have two points each for this hunt. I am starting to study the regs, odds, maps etc but am also looking for good advice. We can either camp or hunt from a hotel and have up to a week to devote to the trip. We are fit, experienced in the outdoors, have some experience out west "backpack elk" and do all of our hunting DIY. I have the WY chip from Hunt GPS Maps. We have 0 antelope experience and 0 experience in WY.

Here are some questions

Are two points enough to burn and really upgrade our experience or would we be served as well looking at the leftovers?

In our current situation are there any units in particular that we should look at?

What is the best source for public vs private roads in WY.

In prepping for CO I got great help from wardens and biologists out there. I was given their cell numbers and spoke with them on numerous occasions. Is that possible or is there something comparable in WY? Hunt Planner?

Appreciate any help!

HD

 

[LopeHunter]

Use your points. Will have many more options for a hunt where are fewer tags yet more public land and perhaps a motel nearby. You might be an hour drive to get from a motel to the good hunting so choose the unit you apply for wisely. Lots of oil/gas activity going on so some motels are booked months in advance so once do draw a tag go ahead and book the motel if you want a motel.

I prefer a motel if is under 30 minutes to the good hunting. If I am going to be driving a couple of hours a day back and forth to hunt then will try to camp using a tent or trailer. The downside to camping is Day 3 without a shower which when the temperatures are warm will seem like Day 7.

Good luck on your applications and the adventure to WY!

 

[WapitiBob]

Burn your points and draw a mid tier unit. Add 2 doe tags ea to your apps when you apply.
Waiting on a leftover buck tag puts you in units 1-29 and a cpl of the 100+. Not ideal.
When you draw/pick a unit you'll need to call the area BLM and ask them if certain roads have easements.

 

[Hatchie Dawg]

Thanks for the replies so far. Wapiti, not sure I understand part of your response "cpl of the 100+" ?
I guess we will look to use the points
Thanks
HD

 

[WV Hunter]

If I had 2 points I would pay the higher price and look into the units you can draw in the special. This will open up the amount of units with easily accessible public land and lots of goats.

If you're not interested in paying more for the special I would put in for a unit with no hopes of drawing as a first choice and then a 0 point unit for second choice. Personally I wouldn't burn those two points on units you could only draw in the regular draw. YMMV

 

[firefranco]

We did what WV Hunter suggested this year and had a great hunt. Our group had less than a 2 point average and drew a Special Non-resident tag. There is a higher cost for a tag but we had more units with better public access to choose from.

 

[WapitiBob]

Hatchie, leftovers will be in units 1-29 and a cpl of the 100 series units.

 

[2rocky]

If you want a quality public land accessible hunt every 3rd year I like the idea of putting in for a Special tag.

I wouldn't worry about lack of experience. You blow one stalk, just go find another down the road and try again. Repeat as desired...