Wife wants an Antelope!

[Sabot]

Every year, we go somewhere for an anniversary trip. Where we go depends on kids and money, but we have been blessed the last 2 years to go to 5 star resorts in Cancun.

So we started discussing 2016 and we always start with blue sky dreamy ideas and then settle down to reality.

Mrs. Sabot made it emphatically clear: She wants the two of us to go somewhere and hunt antelope together!

Of course we don't have any preference points, so I have the task of trying to sort all of this out, and I need your help!

My first step is probably going to be to but a GoHunt membership to assist in research. I also get Eastmans and Western Hunter, so I've got some resources, but I really value the opinions of this board as well. P.S. - Not opposed to paying a trespass fee, but not really looking for private land or guide services.

Mrs. Sabot:

 

[sbhooper]

Wyoming is wide open for opportunity, especially if you are not looking for a mega-trophy. Many areas that are not the premium areas are easy to draw and offer lots of public land. Antelope are fun to hunt because you WILL see them. They don't require a lot of skill, either, but good shooting ability at longer ranges will be a plus.

Start by researching the Wyoming G&F site and looking at draw odds, permit numbers etc. Then, check public access to the areas that you are interested in. Some look super, until you find out that private land blocks the area that you want to hunt.

If you decide to go to Wyoming, get an OnX hunt chip for your gps (if you have one) or the app for your phone. Plug it into the computer to have a big screen and learn the land. It will show you where you have access and how much of the area is public.

Now is definitely a good time to start looking.

 

[JohnCushman]

If you get the chip, download the Garmin Basecamp software to your computer and you can see the entire map of anywhere you want to go, then put the chip into your computer. You will be able to overlay the GPS info with the map of the state info at the same time and see terrain and public land and everything in each unit. That's how I found our camping spot last year in Wyoming in a brand new unit I've never been in before.

 

[VAspeedgoat]

Without a preference point it will be hard to draw a unit with adequate public land. Its not impossible but I don't like fifty fifty odds when planning a hunt. It may be easier to pay a tresspasse fee and apply to a guaranteed unit. That way you can have time to find a good ranch and get reservations for a good hotel if thats what you want. Just speculating on the hotel due to possible anniversary activities that can be enhanced with a warm shower and a good meal. Its may not be as gratifying as a public land hunt but the layed back hunt on private land is a nice change. If you wait till the draw and use these units as fall backs you may not find a good ranch.

 

[1_pointer]

Don't forget to check out Wyoming's Public Wildlife Private Lands programs. Some of these are in units that could be drawn without points. Worse case, lots of units open up with 1 point, so if you don't draw be sure to get your point next year and go in '17.

 

[Sabot]

Good advice so far. I'm studying the draw system and don't mind paying the extra $ for the special draw if needed to get a slightly better odds or unit. We are going to drive up, so the tags and maybe hotel are the only significant expenses. We are not looking at all for trophy animals, just the experience. An even modestly decent buck will likely go on the wall.

 

[Mudranger1]

Good advice so far. I'm studying the draw system and don't mind paying the extra $ for the special draw if needed to get a slightly better odds or unit. We are going to drive up, so the tags and maybe hotel are the only significant expenses. We are not looking at all for trophy animals, just the experience. An even modestly decent buck will likely go on the wall.

My advice is to buy the maps and hunt the public land then. We've done it the last two years. Lots of driving checking small parcels but we have filled 4 out of 4 tags. Good relaxing times

 

[sagebrush]

You can always buy a landowner voucher in NM and guarantee you're hunting in 2016. Chances of a trophy pronghorn are much better in NM than WY.

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/download/hunting/maps/a-plus/A_PLUS-Landowner-List-2015_2016.pdf

 

[muledeerjunkie]

If you are interested in a DIY antelope hunt, then I wouldn't overlook Montana or South Dakota. Although these states have point systems too, it's been my experience that pulling a rifle tag was easier than expected. Not sure how old your children are, but if they are hunting it doesn't hurt to putting them on your party application. We've had success in pulling tags without points; perhaps it's just coincidence, but seems too defy the odds when a youth hunter is on your application.

 

[WapitiBob]

Four Does between you, $165. Two dinker bucks, $570.
Hunt east of the Bighorns and add another 4 Does for $130. That's 8 Does for about $300 and multiple days to get it done. No points, no trespass, and a whole bunch of hunting.

 

[JohnCushman]

Don't overlook what seems to be not so great units with little access in the leftovers. You don't need much room to get them, you just might have to look a little harder. Also, go a few weeks after the rifle opener when they aren't so skittish anymore...that is just my opinion. They get run ragged by the locals on the opener and by road hunters, but give them a week or two to calm back down and you should be ok.

 

[Rooster52]

Never came home from Wyoming with an unused antelope tag.Fun hunt with lots of antelope sightings.And most on public land.Pick a unit and study maps for public hunting areas .Some ranch owner will let you hunt doe antelope for no fee.

 

[utah400elk]

I know of an area in Wyoming that is a great spot for Lope and has decent draw odds. As a side note it's a great area for archery deer. PM me if you want the info. Lope are fun and easy hunt IMO.

 

[Walkathon]

I'd also say Wyoming is a good spot. I hunted a leftover antelope tag last year and shot a buck. Hunted for 3 days and had a fun time. Lots of other hunters but I was able to find a couple of places without much pressure by walking for a couple of miles.