I drew region G with 0 points and don't know anything

[Sherman]

Thanks lol, I actually chose it cause you always see dudes with super cringy names (or at least I feel like I do) like "ElkSlayer98" or something, and I figured the best way to flex hunting skill on the internet is what I ended up choosing

When I registered it wouldn’t let me be “poonslayer69”......

 

[InGodsCountry]

@Laramie hits many nails on the head with that reply. I wish the OP good luck. I sincerely hope you smack a dandy!!

 

[InGodsCountry]

I live in G and have been doing the backcountry thing here for half a dozen years now (still a rookie I know) I'll throw out some general advice and if you get some more specific questions, PM me because I'm not going to put anything specific here.

- Get in shape now. If you haven't already started you're behind the ball because this is a very physical hunt unless you stick to the desert. Last season was my wife's first year as a resident and we put in well over 20 mountain miles before she got her buck. It was 3+ miles in. (side note: good boots don't hurt but need broke in as well)
- Get/borrow the best glass you can. It's big country and being able to determine if a buck is 1 you want to pursue can be a big decision. We spotted my wife's buck from about 1.5 miles away but to reach it required over 2 miles of hiking with over 1,000' elevation lost and gained.
- Stick with it. My wife missed a good buck on day 2 and didn't get another opportunity until day 7. That's not to say we didn't see bucks, just not bucks she was willing to go the distance for.
- If at all possible, get a buddy to tag along. There's countless ways that country will kill you. With or without a buddy, try to get a Garmin inReach, Zoleo or other similar device (you might even be able to convince mom to get you 1 for her peace of mind). I personally use the inReach and it saved me when I blew 2 tires in 2 days and no longer had a spare.
- Practice with your rifle and know your limits. I spend countless hours and rounds getting ready every year and honing my abilities. I would not recommend stretching your .243 much beyond 350-400. Also practice shooting how you will in the mountains; I can tell you for certain there's no shooting benches up there so be ready to shoot sitting/prone from your bipod/pack/etc.
- Get OnX or GoHunt so you can download maps to your phone. This allows you to mark trails, deer, places to scout, location of hanging meat (if you harvest), etc. so you can follow up as needed. If you don't get the chance to spend a significant amount of time in the area ahead of time this will be invaluable because things change a LOT in the dark and it's easy to get turned around.
- If you do harvest expect to have 70-120# of meat to get out along with the head/cape and whatever gear you hauled in. You will need game bags that breathe because that's not a 1 trip solo proposal unless you're a really big dude (or shoot a really small deer). You will need to find a shady cool spot to hang meat because temps still get into the 70's in September during the daytime most years even at 8,000'+.
- Have fun! It's a sad reality but it'll likely be 20-25 years before you get enough points to have a chance to draw this again. Point creep is carrying the unit about .5 point higher every year and you can only get 1 point a year so it'll be a while before you catch up (if ever). It's amazing country that I really wish I could post pictures of but due to the extreme amount of work I've put into finding my areas, I simply can't share it with anyone outside my closest circle of friends and family.

As was already mentioned, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep as much specific details as possible to yourself after your hunt. There are many of us who put in more effort than can be imagined and all it takes is 1 careless post to ruin a spot for us. I do deal with minor pressure every year but my spots aren't so remote that others wouldn't be all over them if they only knew.

Good luck!

Awesome feedback. Some good reminders here for me as well.

 

[frogman43]

WOW, talk about lucky! : )

 

[[insertspecies]Slayer]

WOW, talk about lucky! : )

And I'll probably never draw again, considering the potential cut in tags and just how many people are ahead of me since I'm at the very bottom

 

[Wyohunth]

Still looking for help? I‘ll be hunting G for 5-7 days around the opener. Happy to share a bit of intel and maybe help you pack one off the mountain.

 

[Indian Summer]

It’s about mid August. I hope you’ve narrowed down a plan. Get yourself some topo maps, pick 2-3 spots and hunt them. And contact Wyohunth! That’s exactly what you need.

 

[Billinsd]

How was the hunt? Should be pretty soon. Will you start another thread for that, that I won't read and may make a post in.

 

[618-Flatlander]

I’m not a super experienced western hunter, but I’ve done a couple hunts and am going out for a third time this year. My last hunt was a cheap black bear hunt in Colorado that was solo. I wanted to check out the area for deer and elk and figured a $200 bear tag was good motivation. My small bit of advice is for the solo side of things. I found out I’m more social of a person than I even thought. I talked some kentucky hunters ears off when I saw them. I would highly suggest an inreach if you don’t have one so you can have some communication with the outside world. Maybe consider camping for about 3 days max and then either drive to town for a meal or just drive around the area to try a new spot. I lasted 3 days before damn near losing it, but once I got to the truck and drove to a new spot I felt way better. Truck camping at least for the start with the option to hike in and spike camp if you find an awesome area will help you see more of the area and also make you feel safer, once again, from my experience. And bring a book or magazine to occupy your mind. I thought solo hunting was insanely hard mentally, but also something every hunter should do. It teaches you a ton about yourself. I’ll do it again and use what I learned from last time to make it more enjoyable.

 

[FLATHEAD]

I hope the kid slays a giant.

 

[KHNC]

I would send Buzz a PM. He's friendly

You mean Mossyoak52 now right?

 

[KHNC]

How was the hunt? Should be pretty soon. Will you start another thread for that, that I won't read and may make a post in.

Well, the season hasnt even opened yet.

 

[Donjuan]

You mean Mossyoak52 now right?

 

[Billinsd]

Well, the season hasnt even opened yet.

So, it's not over then?

 

[KHNC]

So, it's not over then?

Not til saturday this weekend

 

[KHNC]

View attachment 438171

If MO52 isnt buzz, then buzz trained him.

 

[DoubleDropMuley]

If there’s a grizzly in 144 I’ll eat my underwear! I know I know… someone’s uncle’s brother’s mailman saw one down near Commissary Ridge. Blah blah blah. I don’t think there’s a single grizzly in region G. I’ve hunted it from the north border to the south for elk. Never a single track or terd. Guys I know who guide there say the same thing.

I hope those undies are clean !!!

 

[4ester]

If there’s a grizzly in 144 I’ll eat my underwear! I know I know… someone’s uncle’s brother’s mailman saw one down near Commissary Ridge. Blah blah blah. I don’t think there’s a single grizzly in region G. I’ve hunted it from the north border to the south for elk. Never a single track or terd. Guys I know who guide there say the same thing.

A handful of bear baits shut down due to Griz in the spring around 144. Theres not many around but something to keep in the back of your mind. I’ve personally never had any trouble and have been all over that area.

Nothing like the upper green or over in the Absarokas.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[[insertspecies]Slayer]

It’s about mid August. I hope you’ve narrowed down a plan. Get yourself some topo maps, pick 2-3 spots and hunt them. And contact Wyohunth! That’s exactly what you need.

Yeah I have a few spots thought of. But let me tell you driving along the greys river and looking up is so surreal. You can barely see the tops of the mountains if at all. And some how I never realized there's a full blown airport and mansion being built the middle of the valley.

 

[[insertspecies]Slayer]

Still looking for help? I‘ll be hunting G for 5-7 days around the opener. Happy to share a bit of intel and maybe help you pack one off the mountain.

That's really nice and I might be able to go up that weekend but with how school is I wont be there up there until around that last week