Wyoming Advice 5 Points Mule Deer or Antelope? DIY

[Derekc6713]

Looking for some advice from people familiar with Mule Deer and Antelope in Wyoming. A group of 4 of us (nonres) are looking to do a DIY hunt for either Mule Deer or Antelope this fall. We have 5 points for each. Which ever species we don't hunt this fall we plan to go back after in the fall of 28 with 7 points. Given that scenario which would give you better hunt with 5 points? Which would be better to wait till 7? Is there really any difference? Based on what I've looked into with what units we could draw for each species I havent seen a huge difference between 5 and 7 points between the two and I'm leaning towards Mule Deer now Antelope later. But I am Interested to hear any thoughts from people that have more experience with the state than I do.

 

[wapitibob]

I'd hunt Pronghorn this year without a 2nd thought.

 

[wildwilderness]

How much Wyoming experience do you have?

Pronghorn are easier to hunt imo and they also can recover faster from the bad winters (at lease trophy potential)- Prime pronghorn horn growth is usually around 3-4 years old.

Mule deer will take 4-5 years to be mature and have better antlers so based on the winter kill of ‘22-‘23 it would be better to wait if you want better trophy potential in deer

 

[Derekc6713]

How much Wyoming experience do you have?

Pronghorn are easier to hunt imo and they also can recover faster from the bad winters (at lease trophy potential)- Prime pronghorn horn growth is usually around 3-4 years old.

Mule deer will take 4-5 years to be mature and have better antlers so based on the winter kill of ‘22-‘23 it would be better to wait if you want better trophy potential in deer

Zero experience in Wyoming. I've hunted Mule Deer in Montana thats about it as far as my western hunting experience goes. I am planning to hunt Wyoming the next 3 seasons as I have some elk points, besides my deer and pronghorn points, that I will be burning next year. My biggest concern with pronghorn was I wasn't sure if with 5 points we'd be able to draw a unit with enough public land and access to have a good hunt. I know some of the units in the east side of the state are lower point units with a decent amount of walk in but I was't sure how much that gets pounded.

 

[wapitibob]

I've hunted WY the last 10 years and have never had people issues.

 

[wildwilderness]

In western Wyoming it would be hard to think of a unit that didn't have enough public land!

Also Farmers/ranchers look at Pronghorn very different than deer/elk. I have had very good luck asking for permission to shoot pronghorn. A key difference is Pronghorn do not leave the fields to bed ect. since they rarely jump fences. So they will LIVE in a field and ruin the alfalfa or other crop 24/7. Also if you shoot an animal on private land there was a voucher you can give the landowner and they will get some money back from the state.

Also you will notice a lot of checkerboard land. Generally speaking, especially if its oil/gas land you can hunt there. As long as a county road or open dirt roads cross through and its not posted, then nobody cares. If in doubt you can ask the local game warden. They have also have given me local land owners names in the past that wanted pronghorn shot

 

[NJ-Hunting]

I'd antelope now then mule deer later. Can find a big antelope buck in almost any unit in wyoming it seems like, even low point units.

 

[7RemMag]

I know some of the units in the east side of the state are lower point units with a decent amount of walk in but I was't sure how much that gets pounded.

I know of numerous people, residents AND nonresidents who have had enjoyable hunts in these areas. The antelope start to get a little bit wise as they get a little bit pressured but they’re still around. Just a matter of patience. If you want to hunt, go hunt. There are decent bucks, but I’ve not seen anything enormous. I travel through a couple of these units trucking in the oilfield on a regular basis.

Two fellas I know from back East (one is a member of the forum) filled their buck tags in one of these areas in under a week. They had a great time and are planning to come back in a couple of years.

 

[Derekc6713]

Thanks for the responses. Very much appreciated. Based on them I will consider switching to going for Pronghorn this year.

 

[elkocd]

WY Pronghorn is just a fun low key hunt. It's not like elk where people plan their year around a week or two in the mts and depending on where can be crowded. Most people just go out for a couple days or weekends. I have never really ran into other hunters out antelope hunting and there is soo much land that it wouldn't really matter if many other hunters were out or not.