2025 Wyoming Antelope hunt

[brianwagan]

Looking for some advice on a Wyoming antelope hunt for 2025. My only big game hunting experience is whitetail in Iowa where I live so if I sound dumb that’s why. I have 7 points and have done research and have 4 units in mind that I should be able to draw and have decent public access. I’ll be 39 this year and had planned to get out west earlier in life but had twin girls so that changed plans. Girls will be out of daycare and in school next fall so plan was to go in 2025. I haven’t looked into point requirements much until now and was surprised to find that 7 points won’t get me into most of the areas I thought it would or would have when I started applying. In my research I have found that antelope numbers are down but also have been going down for the last 15 years. Lots of people talk about waiting for numbers to go up but seems that may not happen. My question is do I go or wait? 8 or 9 points seems like it would open up more areas but those areas that took 8 or 9 this year might be 10 next year. My thought is to just go and get some experience rather than wait. Have been buying points for elk and deer so that will be in my future as well.

Not looking to do the special draw or pay trespass fee unless it’s cheap but guessing that doesn’t exist. From my research it doesn’t sound like 2nd or 3rd choice will have many options that have the amount of public land I would need so would be relying on using my points on first choice. If anyone wants to discuss units or has recommendations send me a message.

 

[go_deep]

Go hunt, have fun

 

[wapitibob]

You'll be fine, go hunt.

 

[Kevin W]

I have 11 antelope points and am not thrilled with the options / stats of last years point draws. Lots of units to get a buck sure, but the units I was hoping to get to when I started buying points keep creeping up and up out of reach.

 

[wytx]

Plenty of great areas to use you 11 PPs in, I'd pick one and come take a nice buck.

 

[bz_711]

Always go now if you can!

 

[AndrewMT34]

Go now and have fun! Antelope is a great first western hunt. With the points you have there should be some great units available.

You could also consider the special draw if there's an 8 point area you are interested in.

 

[browning2480]

My boys and I used 4 points last here and had three bucks down in 45 minutes. Go hunt and have a blast. Make sure to have a good prairie dog gun to kill some time after the hunt.

 

[Buckfever24]

I am in a similar dilemma with points. Interested to see what folks have to say.

 

[hutty]

Life is short, and tomorrow isn't promised. Use your points, hunt, and make memories.

 

[Schock Squad]

Find a unit in that point range and get after it. You might be able to do the hunt twice in the amount of time you wait for your original choice. And, it's always nice to mix in a hunting trip where there's a good possibility sunscreen and finding a stream to cool down in are more important than getting the snow off your tent and your drinking water freezing.

 

[Coveyleader]

I have 8, see you up there!

 

[steep-siding]

Sounds like you're gearing up for a solid hunt, and I can respect the drive to get out west after putting in the time to research and accumulate points. Antelope hunting in Wyoming can be a rewarding experience, especially when you take the time to really scout out a good unit and understand the lay of the land. I’ll share some thoughts based on what you’re up against.

First off: 7 points is a solid start, but like you said, it won’t get you into all the "prime" areas. Units are getting more competitive as people are accumulating points, and it’s only going to get tighter as the years go on. With antelope populations being down, it’s a tricky balance between waiting for numbers to rebound or going now and learning as you go.​

Should you wait or go in 2025?​

Here’s the deal: Wyoming’s antelope population has seen some ups and downs, but it’s important to remember that antelope are still abundant in many areas, even with the overall decline in numbers. Some units may be less productive than in years past, but it doesn’t mean you won’t find a solid buck or get the experience you’re looking for.

A few factors to weigh:​

1. Unit Draws & Points Trends: It’s true that as the years go by, the points required for certain units keep climbing. If you wait, you might eventually have enough points to get into an area you’ve got your eye on, but that’s not a guarantee. Those “10+ point” areas could keep creeping up. That being said, getting experience now might be better than chasing an ever-elusive unit. It’ll help you learn the terrain, animal behavior, and how to deal with the weather and elements that can change on a dime.
2. Public Land Access: You mentioned not wanting to pay trespass fees, which is smart if you're looking to keep costs manageable. You’ll need to do some serious homework to figure out which units have the best public access. There are still good public land opportunities, but some areas have been hit hard by over-hunting and land fragmentation. Units with large chunks of accessible public land may be harder to come by, but they’re out there. A few of those units with decent access may have reduced hunter density, which could give you an edge.
3. Antelope Numbers & Quality: Yeah, numbers have been declining, but there are still good bucks out there if you put in the time. While some areas are struggling, others still hold solid populations. The key is to target areas that still have decent access and a consistent population, even if it’s not the trophy zone you might have been dreaming of. And don’t forget, antelope are often very approachable compared to other species, so you could still find a decent buck even if numbers are down.
4. Going in 2025: If you wait and build points, you might end up hunting in an area that gives you better chances of success, but there's also the chance you'll keep waiting and never quite get there. If you're in your late 30s now, it’s not the end of the world to wait a few more years, but it’s also not a bad idea to gain experience now—especially if you're eyeing elk and deer hunts down the road, as that will translate into a wealth of knowledge for those species as well.

My advice:​

• Go in 2025. You’re not going to get a ton of experience unless you jump in. Even if the numbers aren’t stellar, it’s still an adventure. Learning how to track, glass, and get your bearings in an area will set you up for success on future hunts.
• Focus on getting into a unit with decent access and start honing your skills. The hunt itself is what will teach you more than any point system or research ever could.
• If you like the idea of elk and deer hunting, this will be a good primer for those future hunts, as antelope tend to live in similar terrain.
• Don’t go after the trophy hunt just yet—if you’re after experience, aim for a manageable unit with good access where you’ll get a solid chance at a mature buck and learn the lay of the land.

One more thing:​

Contact locals or even folks in the area who can give you real-time intel. If you’ve got a few units in mind, reach out to hunting forums or Facebook groups specific to Wyoming. A couple of solid contacts could save you a lot of time and frustration.

Good luck, and be sure to share how it goes! 2025 is closer than you think.

 

[BigGameJames87]

Following this with interest as I'm also hoping to go on my first antelope hunt maybe as soon as this year.

Question for the experts here. I only have 3 preference points. Is that enough to have a reasonable chance at a tag? All my experience is hunting whitetails at home (Kansas) and I don't really understand how Wyoming's system works. I'm also a meat hunter so shooting a doe would be just fine if I would be better off applying for a doe/fawn tag instead of an any antelope.

 

[wapitibob]

Following this with interest as I'm also hoping to go on my first antelope hunt maybe as soon as this year.

Question for the experts here. I only have 3 preference points. Is that enough to have a reasonable chance at a tag? All my experience is hunting whitetails at home (Kansas) and I don't really understand how Wyoming's system works. I'm also a meat hunter so shooting a doe would be just fine if I would be better off applying for a doe/fawn tag instead of an any antelope.

3 is more than enough, doe tags are harder to draw than Buck tags.

look at the odds from the dept web site

 

[houghton_hunter]

Back when I could get leftovers (been a couple years now) I used to hunt the low public land units in WY, and still had a lot of success.

Best to go and learn, even with three points, you can draw a unit that has enough public to make it work. Get out the maps, figure out what is a public road, is there a corner of state or BLM that crosses it, etc. You have to go to learn (I used to drive from MN to make it happen). Had a unit that I hunted a bunch, and I knew of a little sliver of state land on a river, that always had antelope first thing in the morning, shot a couple bucks and does out of it in different years. But had to be there to learn about it.

Those doe/fawn hunts can teach you a lot!

 

[tracker12]

Plenty of goats to kill in all the units you can draw. Waiting is a waist of time and money.