How's the pronghorn population recovering?

[Ladykiller]

I seem to recall 2022 being a bad year for the WY pronghorn population and decided to hold off on burning my points for a few years to let them recover. Well Im curious how things have been the last few years and if it will be worthwhile to now hunt in 2025. I'm in no rush. Antelope will just be a one & done thing for me, and I will be looking for a trophy animal. So I can wait another year if need be.

 

[Bluffgruff]

Did you keep your points from 2022 when you were dialing back hunting in favor of fishing?

If you want a "trophy" and haven't hunted them much, I'd suggest hiring a guide.

 

[Ladykiller]

Kept the points and did not hunt in 2022. So I should pretty much have enough points for whatever unit I want I would think for 2025.

Wont be hiring a guide. Never have been impressed with most of the guides out there. I'd rather not get an antelope than fork over thousands of dollars for some chain-smoking guide who isnt worth a darn.

 

[Bullshot]

I seem to recall 2022 being a bad year for the WY pronghorn population and decided to hold off on burning my points for a few years to let them recover. Well Im curious how things have been the last few years and if it will be worthwhile to now hunt in 2025. I'm in no rush. Antelope will just be a one & done thing for me, and I will be looking for a trophy animal. So I can wait another year if need be.

Depends where but lets assume you want to hunt a hard hit area. They have only had two springs since that bad winter and were not doing so great before that. How fast do you think overall population numbers recover from a disastrous event? And trophy bucks are a small fraction of the overall and need at least 2-3 additional years of age. It would therefore take a fair number of years to really show a substantial bounce in the worst hit areas.

 

[Ladykiller]

How fast do you think overall population numbers recover from a disastrous event? And trophy bucks are a small fraction of the overall and need at least 2-3 additional years of age. It would therefore take a fair number of years to really show a substantial bounce in the worst hit areas.

Exactly, I have no clue ... hence why I asked. Hoping for a speedy recovery though.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

i drew out a central wy antelope in 2023[dont want to say exact unit} and numbers were way,way down from what i had expected,,but knew it could not be like a "normal" wyoming antelope hunt,,,me and my buddy did go 2-0 on them and got pretty respectable 75" ers,,seen 1 80+"er,but it was a fraction of what it would be in a good year,,it may be a few more years before the 80"ers are around again in numbers..i d i y it for antelope,,do not see the need for guides on wyoming lopers unless you draw a unit with alot of private.

 

[Bluffgruff]

Kept the points and did not hunt in 2022. So I should pretty much have enough points for whatever unit I want I would think for 2025.

Wont be hiring a guide. Never have been impressed with most of the guides out there. I'd rather not get an antelope than fork over thousands of dollars for some chain-smoking guide who isnt worth a darn.

Better dig in

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