Outfitter hunt while buying points?

[ruger35]

I have been buying points for elk in WY and currently have 7, but I have gotten the speed goat itch. I bought my first WY point this year for them and am browsing through 100 tabs I have open reading about doing the same in other states. I have only archery hunted whitetail in Kansas in what I would call semi-guided. For those of you that got started late on the pronghorn train, would you recommend going with an outfitter somewhere like NM where its a little easier to get a tag while waiting on other states for public land?

I was thinking an outfitter may be good exposure for my first trip out west hunting an animal I'm not familiar with. Or would you go with purchasing a land owner tag in a state like NM where a license is guaranteed if you get the tag and try that route? I plan on rifle hunting. I am currently setting up my GOHunt account and watching videos on the different draws to get familiar, just looking for past experiences and what someone may would do different to get out hunting quicker.

 

[Kurts86]

Going with an outfitter is a good way to speed up going on a hunt but don’t think you will learn a lot on most guided pronghorn hunts. Most guided pronghorn hunts you will just get sent out with a ranch hand to drive around until you see something you want to shoot. Unless you spend days trying to kill a B&C buck by looking over hundreds of bucks you won’t learn a lot that will apply to a future public land pronghorn hunts.

A landowner tag would at least let you learn in an environment where you still have a 90% of success.

Public land pronghorn hunts often are land navigation puzzle and a bit of combat hunting unless you have 10+ PP’s. I’ve known a few guys to go on guided pronghorn hunts that later when on public land hunts and they were borderline worse off for it. They couldn’t pick a unit and sort it all out.

 

[Rich M]

I've done DIY and guided.

The DIY hunt was orange army all the way - road hunters racing around, some hunters 400 yds down from me, tucked up into a corner of public & private. Had a big buck at 25 yards 15 minutes after shooting light, shot a yearling next to him cause only had doe tags - biggest mistake of my hunting career.

Did guided because I wanted a buck, and "pure" antelope hunt vs fighting with the orange army. It was like in the movies - had 4-5 stalks and they stayed put long enough to get into good position.

Saving points for next go-around but know it will be 5-10 years before we get enough points to do what I want. Otherwise, could go in 2 yrs and get on some.

I'd say if you want to get hunting faster, try a diff species - do a guided muley hunt or something. If you choose your unit wisely, antelope will be fun and fulfilling. If you pick and ez-pz unit & don't do your homework, you may end up with a dry run because of other hunters, but won't burn many points.

Have fun doing the research, the anticipation is 1/2 the fun.

 

[ruger35]

I've done DIY and guided.

The DIY hunt was orange army all the way - road hunters racing around, some hunters 400 yds down from me, tucked up into a corner of public & private. Had a big buck at 25 yards 15 minutes after shooting light, shot a yearling next to him cause only had doe tags - biggest mistake of my hunting career.

Did guided because I wanted a buck, and "pure" antelope hunt vs fighting with the orange army. It was like in the movies - had 4-5 stalks and they stayed put long enough to get into good position.

Saving points for next go-around but know it will be 5-10 years before we get enough points to do what I want. Otherwise, could go in 2 yrs and get on some.

I'd say if you want to get hunting faster, try a diff species - do a guided muley hunt or something. If you choose your unit wisely, antelope will be fun and fulfilling. If you pick and ez-pz unit & don't do your homework, you may end up with a dry run because of other hunters, but won't burn many points.

Have fun doing the research, the anticipation is 1/2 the fun.

What state did you go with the guide in?