Hunt Plan of Attack this year

Chrisbb

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Aug 19, 2025
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So this year is going to be interesting and I have been working through the logistics of how hunting season is going to go.

Some how I ended up drawing a handful of tags between myself and my son and when it came time to apply for Wyoming, I selected a mule deer hunt and an antelope hunt to apply for that I felt were fairly good hunts, difficult but not impossible to draw odds, and decent harvest success in years past. I applied for mule deer region g and antelope unit 25. The whole idea was to apply because you never know but worst case, just get a point after I don't draw.

Well I ended up drawing both the mule deer tag and the antelope tag. My buddy and I are hunting Montana Sep 15th thru the end of the month. The mule deer tag has one area open 10/1-10/10 and three areas open 09/15-10/2. The antelope tag is for 10/1-10/14 and is about four hours away from where I'll hunt region G.

Ideally, I'd hunt Montana Elk opening day 09/5 but my buddy has military orders and it wont work out.

So since I am elk hunting in Montana 09/15-9/30 that leaves me with two overlapping hunts for Wyoming for 10/1-10/10 (deer) and 10/01-10/14 (antelope). Which hunt should I try to tag out on first or which seems more important to be there opening day or two before?

On one hand I kind of think I rather try to get on a mule deer first and hunt antelope with whatever time I have left. But on the other hand, I know the antelope unit doesn't have as much public access and it could be beneficial to be there at the beginning of the season.
 
I mean are you trying to tag a buck or trying to tag a 180+ type? I would 100% focus on Muleys like many have said you might never draw that tag again, prong horn are cool but a big prong isn’t as cool at a big Muley IMO, figure out what you want out of it and get after it, if you are just trying to get meat it should be pretty easy, but if you are trying to find a trophy in both those species you will likely have to sacrifice one or the other
 
I mean are you trying to tag a buck or trying to tag a 180+ type? I would 100% focus on Muleys like many have said you might never draw that tag again, prong horn are cool but a big prong isn’t as cool at a big Muley IMO, figure out what you want out of it and get after it, if you are just trying to get meat it should be pretty easy, but if you are trying to find a trophy in both those species you will likely have to sacrifice one or the other
My biggest white tail is probably 130 inches and I shot my first mule deer last year on NM public land is probably a 140 inch 4x4. I don't need a 180 inch mule deer to be happy but wouldnt want to shoot a small one for the sake of shooting something
 
I think 150 or better is very reasonable, not sure where you are hunting pronghorn, they can be tougher to judge even for an experienced eye so if any buck will do should be easy to accomplish
 
I think 150 or better is very reasonable, not sure where you are hunting pronghorn, they can be tougher to judge even for an experienced eye so if any buck will do should be easy to accomplish
For pronghorn, any buck will do. I have a few NM pronghorn on the wall. I am hunting unit 25 for pronghorn and region g for mule deer
 
I would focus on deer
Unit 25 is not a quality tag in any way
As a fairly new hunter (this being my fourth season) I think I would enjoy the hunt since I could say I did it on my own. White tail hunts have been DIY but my previous elk, antelope, and mule deer hunts have all been with outfitters. I have enjoyed all the hunts with some great outfitters but the goal was always to learn enough to go out there and do it myself. And if I fail, then I will have at least learned from my mistakes but I kind of see the antelope hunt as a faux confidence booster while I continue to learn and grow as a hunter
 
Are you from a western state? Or back east? The deer unit you have is pretty legendary for MD across the west
 
Spend the time on the 15th in WY. Those other tags are much easier to come by. It’s worth the effort and planning the other hunts around. Best of luck!
 
Are you from a western state? Or back east? The deer unit you have is pretty legendary for MD across the west
Coming from Texas, land of the worst public land hunting. I drew it with two points so I know I got really lucky. Not sure how lucky though. Does it usually require 8-10 points?
 
Spend the time on the 15th in WY. Those other tags are much easier to come by. It’s worth the effort and planning the other hunts around. Best of luck!
The only way I can do that is if I leave my buddy high and dry on the Montana Elk hunt and I just can't do that to him. He has military orders before the 15th so no way to move it around on his end
 
Coming from Texas, land of the worst public land hunting. I drew it with two points so I know I got really lucky. Not sure how lucky though. Does it usually require 8-10 points?
Gotcha, no I think it might require more than that… you got extremely lucky, focus on a good Muley
 
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