Antelope hunting help

[Dearhunter3450]

Hi guys, I'm from upstate NY and am new to this site as well as western hunting. I am an avid hunter and fishermen and work as a police officer. I am trying to figure out where to apply for an antelope tag in Wyoming in 2014. I am open to any suggestions anyone my have. I definitely want a DIY hunt. Willing to pay trespass fees to hunt private lands. I would appreciate any help you guys could offer. I was thinking bow hunting my first time out west would probably be a poor idea so most likely be rifle hunting. Once again I appreciate your time and help, I am clueless at this point.

 

[realunlucky]

Plenty of places hold antelope northeast will have left over tags but allot more private lands. Wyoming has list of walk in hunting areas. I would look at what areas you can draw with 0/1 points and compare maps to see what public lands are in that unit. Most units I hunt take1 point to draw do you have any points?

 

[dbaker]

Hi guys, I'm from upstate NY and am new to this site as well as western hunting. I am an avid hunter and fishermen and work as a police officer. I am trying to figure out where to apply for an antelope tag in Wyoming in 2014. I am open to any suggestions anyone my have. I definitely want a DIY hunt. Willing to pay trespass fees to hunt private lands. I would appreciate any help you guys could offer. I was thinking bow hunting my first time out west would probably be a poor idea so most likely be rifle hunting. Once again I appreciate your time and help, I am clueless at this point.

i'm looking to put in as well for the first time. are you going solo or as a group?

 

[Coveyleader]

Do you guys have any points? I just had a look at WY's DOW website to look at some of the units I hunted in the past, and can't believe how things have changed in just a couple years. Even the Casper units are getting hard to draw.

In short, forget looking at any units along I-80 as your only chance at drawing one of them is via the "Random draw" which isn't something you can plan around. You will have to focus on units along the I-25 corridor which are heavy with private land. You could almost draw a North-South line from Casper and forget about everything to the West with 0 points.

There are two types of NR licenses. One is the "Regular" and the other called "Special". One is 286.00 and 586.00. As you can imagine, in some units the "Special" will get you in with 0 points but that comes with a cost.

I was going to recommend a unit or two that I had hunted but I just don't think you will get in with 0 points these days.

Finally, if you pick a unit, if it has any BLM or Walk-In Access, there should be pronghorn on it. You can also contact the WY DOW to get a list of Land Owners who allow hunting, but I always like the BLM approach. No Private Land hassles and no coordinating. Just show up and hunt.

Good Luck

 

[Dearhunter3450]

Thanks for your help guys. I was planning on going alone because I didn't think I would be able to draw a tag as well as my hunting partner. I have checked out Wyoming website and was looking at some of the ranches that allow hunting via limited permission slip but I'm sure hundreds of guys apply for permission after getting tag. I have no problem walking and I guess on public land if you walk far enough you can get away from the masses. I guess I'm thinking like hunter in NY where public land is over hunted with little game. I have no preference points but was told I can buy one. Thanks again for the help guys, I appreciate anything you can offer.

 

[dbaker]

i have no points. was under the impression some of the thunderbasin units were had obtainable tags..

 

[Coveyleader]

i have no points. was under the impression some of the thunderbasin units were had obtainable tags..

Like I mentioned, that is along the I-25 corridor,and it looks like unit 26 would be easy to draw. As I mentioned, in any of those grassland units where there is sage, if you have any kind of public or walk-in access you should do ok. I just like having options and when you look at the cost of coming out to WY from the East, why not make it a good trip?

You both need to purchase a preference point this summer so you will have more options.

 

[dbaker]

looks like 26 is easy to draw but has less public land/hardly any of the thunderbasin. if i'm looking at it right

 

[Dearhunter3450]

I'm definitely going to buy a preference point. You are absolutely right about trying to make it a good trip. Time and money are things I hate to waste.

 

[realunlucky]

That is the problem with easy to draw/ units with left over tags those units almost always are mostly private. That being said there are still hunting opportunities there just limited

 

[realunlucky]

I agree even one point gives you a ton more options

 

[oct71]

One of the things I've noticed in some units is if you buy the special tag, which costs more, your draw odds go up a lot. Something too think about before the march 15th draw deadline.

 

[wapitibob]

I get 4 doe tags/year and haven't burned a point yet. $165 for four does vs $280 for a 13" buck is an easy decision for me. Take your time and pick big does. The pvt land thing is over rated in many cases, but not all. Pick some units then fire up Google. You'll find the ones that are a problem and ones that are fine. I've never hunted more than 3-4 sections.

 

[Coveyleader]

I get 4 doe tags/year and haven't burned a point yet. $165 for four does vs $280 for a 13" buck is an easy decision for me. Take your time and pick big does. The pvt land thing is over rated in many cases, but not all. Pick some units then fire up Google. You'll find the ones that are a problem and ones that are fine. I've never hunted more than 3-4 sections.

As Bob has mentioned, if you're just looking to hunt, then you cannot do better than doe pronghorn tags in WY. I was going to mention that, but figured you were after bucks. Doe tags are cheap, and you can get into many units with ease. As a bowhunter, a 13 inch buck can be a very nice buck if it has some good features to him. Each hunt is personal, but to me, a 10 inch buck is nothing to look at and i'd rather shoot two does than a 10 inch buck.

The biggest thing to remember about WY is there are pronghorn all over the place and they move around a lot. They can be hunted all day long unlike other species. If you're rifle hunting and not picky, it would be hard to go a day without filling your tags. Archery is a different story. Either way, this is a high success easy hunt that is great for first time hunters heading out West.

 

[flatlander51]

Three of us hunted out of new castle a few years ago on private land. We drew deer and antelope tags with no points. It was an awesome hunt. We had a blast in town and all of us tagged out. I think we did have to put in for the special tags though. If you don't mind spending the extra cash for trespass fees it's nice having thousands of acres to yourself. And Like someone mentioned earlier wy game and fish will give you a list of land owners that allow hunting for trespass fees.

 

[dbaker]

i understand the idea behind limited access but when you pull up a map of a unit that wyoming deems limited access and there are 4x4 roads all throughout blm land wouldn't that be considered access?

 

[Broz]

i understand the idea behind limited access but when you pull up a map of a unit that wyoming deems limited access and there are 4x4 roads all throughout blm land wouldn't that be considered access?

Not if you have to cross private land to get to it. Many parcels are not walk in from a road. You need to be able to access it with out trespassing across private, or obtain permission to cross the private from the land owner.

Jeff

 

[ftballman125]

this is pretty good: http://www.wyomingextension.org/agpubs/pubs/B565R.pdf

 

[dbaker]

So your saying that even though the map shows 4x4 roads going through blm the land against the roads are private? The map may not be detailed enough. I'm using mytopo Wyoming antelope preview maps

 

[Broz]

So your saying that even though the map shows 4x4 roads going through blm the land against the roads are private? The map may not be detailed enough. I'm using mytopo Wyoming antelope preview maps

In some cases yes. I use a GPS with hunting land maps to keep me out of trouble. If you pull off a county road and have to cross private land that does not have a public easement, you could be trespassing. Just because there is a two track leading across private to the public does not mean you have the right to cross the private. Unless like I said, there is a public easement or you have land owner permission.

However, there are many places where the state and BLM land comes up to the county roads or hi-ways and you are good to go. But know where you are. I know of one place we antelope hunt where there is a thin strip of private probably 100' wide that keeps us out. The section line for the property on the other side of the hi-way is on the side with the public land. There is always antelope there in plain sight but we can not access as we do not have permission.

Jeff