Thanks for your service!
I hunted 7 last year for my first DIY antelope trip. There were three of us, with 2 antelope buck tags, 2 doe antelope tags, and 2 deer tags. We tagged out over a 6 day hunt.
It took us a day or two to get our bearings and a feel for the terrain and the access. Once we did that, we got into animals pretty consistently. Keep in mind, most guys just drive around and glass. We initially fell into the trap and didn't see much. As soon as we got off the beaten path, we saw alot more animals.
Another thing, 7 isn't a trophy unit. We went with the expectation of killing respresentative animals and that's what we did. We saw a few larger goats that were on private land, but most of what we saw were pretty small. I shot a 13" buck and my dad a 12". We were more than happy with that result, since it was our first trip. If you are patient, you can probably shoot a better goat.
Also, this year G&F slashed the tags for 7. There were 1000 buck tags last year, now 500 this year. There were something like 700 doe tags last year, but only 200 this year. I talked to a few locals and the biologist, and was told that numbers were down. That being said, you should have no problem getting into animals. There will be alot less pressure as well.
We group applied for 7 and didn't draw as first choice, so we are hunting different units in the vicinity. I do have a 7 doe tag though.
Good luck!
