Wyoming Randomness

[CiK]

I am still trying to decide if I want to burn my 3 points on a General Unit or apply for a tag similar to Randy and Marcus' 2017 Wyoming tag and hunt elk with a rifle in mid-Sept. Either way I go, I fret about the non-wilderness area and my incessant need to find a lonely glassing ridge or bugling canyon free of others.

I started wondering with all the hoopla us non-residents put on wilderness area, does it even matter to the Wyoming residents that much? From what I can gather, some/most places in the wilderness area don't allow motorized travel. How many residents are willing to make that commitment to get into the wilderness areas themselves? Just because they can....do they? Do they make that commitment for solitude or do they all stay close to roads and access points watching us non-residents walk on by crying over it?

Is success in Wyoming more about Public Land access or Wilderness access?

Tony

ps - I think my I am just going crazy from the research.

 

[LCH]

The wilderness rule stinks, but is not much of a game changer IMO.

Where I've hunted elk and deer in the Medicine Bow, and deer in NW Wyoming, the roads are crawling with hunters but most don't get far from their vehicles. I hunted a heavily roaded unit in 2014, got there 3 days before opener to scout and hunted the first 4 days of season, deer, elk and moose opener. There was a regular procession of trucks and UTVs on the road, but I only saw 2 other hunters (together) the entire week hunting away from the road, and they were over on private. I went back to the same spot this past season, but a week after opener folks had cleared out. There were still lots of camps around, but they were mostly empty; I assume residents who would return on the weekends.

I think success is more about getting out and getting after it than anything.. If you work harder than the majority of other hunters (which usually isn't that difficult), odds are good you'll be in that minority who are successful.

 

[Deleted member 18333]

The Wilderness rule is lame. Most residents, I feel, would agree. It is not a significant issue to resident hunters. It is significant to some Outfitters in Wyoming.

That being said, there are enormous areas in Wyo that do not have a Wilderness designation that a hunter can find the same solitude a Wilderness area provides. There are not a tremendous amount of open roads in Western Wyo. A person can wander for days and not encounter a road. Find a side canyon off a major horse trail and you will largely be alone. The elk hunting in non wilderness National Forest land in Wyoming is very good. Pick a drainage, hunt it smart, and you will find elk.

If I was a non resident of Wyoming, I would pick a Gen Tag over the unit Randy hunted last year, every day of the week and twice on Sundays. My two cents.

 

[Flatrock]

I am still trying to decide if I want to burn my 3 points on a General Unit or apply for a tag similar to Randy and Marcus' 2017 Wyoming tag and hunt elk with a rifle in mid-Sept. Either way I go, I fret about the non-wilderness area and my incessant need to find a lonely glassing ridge or bugling canyon free of others.

I started wondering with all the hoopla us non-residents put on wilderness area, does it even matter to the Wyoming residents that much? From what I can gather, some/most places in the wilderness area don't allow motorized travel. How many residents are willing to make that commitment to get into the wilderness areas themselves? Just because they can....do they? Do they make that commitment for solitude or do they all stay close to roads and access points watching us non-residents walk on by crying over it?

Is success in Wyoming more about Public Land access or Wilderness access?

Tony

ps - I think my I am just going crazy from the research.

I can't say I have ever talked to any residents about it but I doubt most care. However, if you were to run into an outfitter hunting in "his" wilderness, he sure as hell might care. And it's possible you could run into a warden on a horse.

And I would agree with the other couple guys, it's more about getting away from the roads and into some remote country. Which there is plenty of outside the wilderness.

 

[Richardbell]

The wilderness rule stinks, but is not much of a game changer IMO.

Where I've hunted elk and deer in the Medicine Bow, and deer in NW Wyoming, the roads are crawling with hunters but most don't get far from their vehicles. I hunted a heavily roaded unit in 2014, got there 3 days before opener to scout and hunted the first 4 days of season, deer, elk and moose opener. There was a regular procession of trucks and UTVs on the road, but I only saw 2 other hunters (together) the entire week hunting away from the road, and they were over on private. I went back to the same spot this past season, but a week after opener folks had cleared out. There were still lots of camps around, but they were mostly empty; I assume residents who would return on the weekends.

I think success is more about getting out and getting after it than anything.. If you work harder than the majority of other hunters (which usually isn't that difficult), odds are good you'll be in that minority who are successful.

You are right about the Medicine Bow. Opening week the roads are packed, but most don't stay long or go real far. 2 years ago my neighbor got a nice 5 point with his bow, 200 yards from where people had been camping and left. Richard

 

[jtm307]

In 2016, I hunted the same unit Randy and Marcus did in 2017. They went in over 2.5 miles farther than I did, and I was near screamin' bulls every morning. I even got a resident guide permit for the NR's I was hunting with, but we never set foot in a wilderness area once the season started. I plan on hunting a general unit this fall. I have 8 spots picked out on my map. Not a single one is in a wilderness area.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

...How many residents are willing to make that commitment to get into the wilderness areas themselves? Just because they can....do they? Do they make that commitment for solitude or do they all stay close to roads and access points watching us non-residents walk on by crying over it?

The Wilderness I've hunted in western WY has a good deal of resident traffic, and usually number of Utah residents who either don't know or don't care
As far as the western mountains go, most WY hunters are fairly lazy. However, A TON of them have horses. I see plenty of people deep in, but precious few get off their steed to glass. I hunt a mix of Wilderness and non, probably close to 50/50. Success in Wyoming is about making a good plan, sticking to it, and using your glass...just like anywhere. Good luck with your hunt!

 

[Big Fin]

If I was a non resident of Wyoming, I would pick a Gen Tag over the unit Randy hunted last year, every day of the week and twice on Sundays. My two cents.

Agree, especially as it relates to elk numbers and choices of places to hunt. We put ourselves in a very tight spot with the Wilderness boundary almost like a big private ranch boundary for non-residents. If hunting the Wind River Range is on your "need to do" list, then this is a super cool experience. If having freedom to roam and chase the elk wherever they go, I would look elsewhere.

 

[Wy067]

Whether its wilderness or not doesn't play much into our plans as residents. In south central WY wilderness areas, I've run into far more resident hunters in the wilderness areas than I have out in the rest of the forest, so we're usually not in the wilderness.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Whether its wilderness or not doesn't play much into our plans as residents. In south central WY wilderness areas, I've run into far more resident hunters in the wilderness areas than I have out in the rest of the forest, so we're usually not in the wilderness.

HUH?! That second sentence doesn't make sense!

 

[Deleted member 18333]

If hunting the Wind River Range is on your "need to do" list, then this is a super cool experience.

Easy to see how it could be. You would be hard pressed to find a cooler place to explore. My family and I spend a good deal of time in that area during the summer.

It was pretty cool to watch the daily's of that elk hunt and be so familiar with where you were hunting. I remember telling my wife, "wonder how far in they are going to take the horse trailer". That rock pile can be rough on equipment.

 

[Wy067]

HUH?! That second sentence doesn't make sense!

Okay... From 2009 - 2014 we would archery hunt in area 21 in and around the Huston wilderness area. Additionally, we would frequently rifle hunt cow elk the wilderness area after the initial rush of opening day (mid to late November depending on when the season closed). While hunting in the wilderness area during both archery and rifle, we consistently ran into other resident hunters - even when a mile or more away from Forest Service roads. In 2015 and subsequent years, we have moved on from that area due to increasing hunting pressure and we have almost exclusively hunted non-wilderness national forest land. However, if we were not have success (ie. not getting into elk or hearing bugles) in our current area, we would occasionally take a day trip and go back to our old hunting grounds in the wilderness area to do a temperature check for both the elk and hunter presence. So, we would occasionally hunt the wilderness, but it would not be our primary plan. Does that help?

 

[JLDemo]

Okay... From 2009 - 2014 we would archery hunt in area 21 in and around the Huston wilderness area. Additionally, we would frequently rifle hunt cow elk the wilderness area after the initial rush of opening day (mid to late November depending on when the season closed). While hunting in the wilderness area during both archery and rifle, we consistently ran into other resident hunters - even when a mile or more away from Forest Service roads. In 2015 and subsequent years, we have moved on from that area due to increasing hunting pressure and we have almost exclusively hunted non-wilderness national forest land. However, if we were not have success (ie. not getting into elk or hearing bugles) in our current area, we would occasionally take a day trip and go back to our old hunting grounds in the wilderness area to do a temperature check for both the elk and hunter presence. So, we would occasionally hunt the wilderness, but it would not be our primary plan. Does that help?

Exact reason I left that unit as well.

As for the OP, the wilderness rule is dumb IMO and no, it doesn't create a safe haven. From the few wilderness areas I've hunted, it gets pounded. Might be different in other areas across the state but in the southern regions it's no ace in the hole for us residents. There are a lot more resident hunters than NR's, I see more people within the wilderness areas than out of it. I can only speak for myself but the wilderness areas have zero bearing on my plans. I'd say go for the general tag, your options will be wide open. Good luck.

 

[dannyb278]

Agree, especially as it relates to elk numbers and choices of places to hunt. We put ourselves in a very tight spot with the Wilderness boundary almost like a big private ranch boundary for non-residents. If hunting the Wind River Range is on your "need to do" list, then this is a super cool experience. If having freedom to roam and chase the elk wherever they go, I would look elsewhere.

This is all great info. I've narrowed my unit down to the one mentioned here as well as a General Unit in the NW corner of the Bighorns. Should be able to draw a Type 1 tag with my 3pts in the Special Draw.

 

[CiK]

If I was a non resident of Wyoming, I would pick a Gen Tag over the unit Randy hunted last year, every day of the week and twice on Sundays. My two cents.

I was looking at the unit next to the one I think they were in. Little more space and still has the same Type 1 rifle start date as the unit I think they hunted in. With that, does it change your opinion any? I am betting no, but thought I would ask.

The wilderness area has this allure because it makes us non-residents think there is something there we need to be a part of and the only way to get in it on that is to pay the piper. It makes me feel better hearing others say that hard work on the land available is just as good as being in the deep wilderness.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

Okay... From 2009 - 2014 we would archery hunt in area 21 in and around the Huston wilderness area. Additionally, we would frequently rifle hunt cow elk the wilderness area after the initial rush of opening day (mid to late November depending on when the season closed). While hunting in the wilderness area during both archery and rifle, we consistently ran into other resident hunters - even when a mile or more away from Forest Service roads. In 2015 and subsequent years, we have moved on from that area due to increasing hunting pressure and we have almost exclusively hunted non-wilderness national forest land. However, if we were not have success (ie. not getting into elk or hearing bugles) in our current area, we would occasionally take a day trip and go back to our old hunting grounds in the wilderness area to do a temperature check for both the elk and hunter presence. So, we would occasionally hunt the wilderness, but it would not be our primary plan. Does that help?

Yes, it certainly did and I have to apologize because after reading your first post again I realize I had a mini brain fart, LOL!

 

[millerpaul17]

depends on which wilderness but a lot residents go into the wilderness areas by horse, llama, goats, and walking in. but I would say more residents stay out of the deep wilderness spots because of exactly what you said no vehicles they'll hunt a little ways into the wilderness but not to far 5 MAYBE 10 miles, from my experience where I hunt at. But I think it's stupid that non residents can't go into the wilderness. That's just my opinion.

Matter of fact we ride our horses to the Yellowstone boundary and when it snows man the elk poor out of Yellowstone and there are some BIG bulls. If they ever open wilderness to non residents I say you take advantage of that! but if it snows a lot early, like it did this year, where I hunt in particular the elk will move out of the wilderness where NRs can hunt them.

 

[Deleted member 18333]

I was looking at the unit next to the one I think they were in. Little more space and still has the same Type 1 rifle start date as the unit I think they hunted in. With that, does it change your opinion any? I am betting no, but thought I would ask.

The wilderness area has this allure because it makes us non-residents think there is something there we need to be a part of and the only way to get in it on that is to pay the piper. It makes me feel better hearing others say that hard work on the land available is just as good as being in the deep wilderness.

That is a fine unit to hunt elk in, you would have an enjoyable hunt there. However, it does not change my opinion. Go West young man! And maybe a little North.

 

[CiK]

That is a fine unit to hunt elk in, you would have an enjoyable hunt there. However, it does not change my opinion. Go West young man! And maybe a little North.

That is what I figured. If I go General Tag, I am heading closer to YNP for sure to become the 2nd highest predator in that ecosystem.

 

[Wy067]

Yes, it certainly did and I have to apologize because after reading your first post again I realize I had a mini brain fart, LOL!

No worries... Have a good one TopGun!