WY Antelope Hunt Planning

[NLenz22]

First off, I apologize for making another similar thread. I know this topic has more or less been covered but I didn’t want to hijack anyone’s post.

There is a group of four of us that have been trying to build points until we could draw a unit with decent access and opportunity. My dad is 65, and my one buddy is 73, so while I would be fine trying to draw a poor access unit and just hike my ass off, that wouldn’t set the older fellas up very well.

Now in the past year, my buddy has developed cancer, and it has recently moved to his bones. So waiting to build points isn’t really an option for us anymore. I’m in charge of planning this trip, and I really don’t want to screw it up. He has been a big motivator for me to start hunting out west, and I’d like to do what I can to take him on one more good trip.

Right now we’re sitting at < 3 points as a group. I know there are several options to hunt even with our low points, but without the first hand experience and just going off what I’ve read online, I don’t have much confidence in any of the units we could draw. They seem like either poor access units and/or we would be fighting crowds during the hunt.

We would be willing to pay a trespass fee if it would give us a better opportunity to see antelope, but the landowners listed on WY G&F website are all in units we probably can’t draw yet.

If anyone has any advice or knows of any landowners that may still be accepting trespass fees in units we could draw, I would really appreciate it.

Or if my perception of hunting some of these lower point units is way off, and you think we’ll be alright, let me know that too. Even if we don’t end up being successful, I want to make sure I did everything I could to plan a good trip.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Nick

 

[Eastcoasthunter94]

If you’re willing to pay a trespass fee I would just use that money and apply in the special draw. That will open up a few more units you can draw

 

[teamwhitebelly]

Pick a unit that has alot of tags available that will meet your <3 points and has ample public. Now that the corner xng issue has been resolved hunters will be hop skipping around in areas that normally restricted them to the road access. This will leave those road areas with less pressure and easier to hunt. My wife n I have filled our tags on hunts we have done just by getting out and walking over that little hill you cant see over. If the tag allocation is high there are plenty of goats to hunt.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Apply in the special, there is no need for trespass fee. Access will not be a problem. Crowding is relative, just don't go the first week and plan the hunt during the week days if possible, it shouldn't be a problem. I ran your info through go hunt filters, there are plenty of 100% draw units (3 point special, nonresident) with 50%+ public land available.

 

[Maddog58]

I think the Gohunt odds will be way different in the special draw this year. Last year was the first year with the big fee increase and people weren’t sure what to expect. Now you can see good units could be had last year with 3-4 points so I bet they get flooded this year with apps

 

[Maddog58]

How about just booking with an outfitter in a unit where you could draw in the general at 100% with 0 points. You only live once and it really isn’t that expensive when you consider you’re paying less in draw fees plus you get food and a room. Should be able to grab a hunt for $2500-3000 each

 

[Indian Summer]

Apply in the special, there is no need for trespass fee. Access will not be a problem. Crowding is relative, just don't go the first week and plan the hunt during the week days if possible, it shouldn't be a problem. I ran your info through go hunt filters, there are plenty of 100% draw units (3 point special, nonresident) with 50%+ public land available.

$1200 is a pretty big price to pay for a goat tag!