BuzzH
Well-known member
I don't know how much this impacts non residents, I'm sure it impacts some that would venture into wilderness areas. I've found that not many residents hunt wilderness areas all that much, and if they do, its usually only a couple miles in.
Whether or not there is a wilderness guide law, it should be noted that many of the areas that outfitters hunt within designated wilderness, would be very tough for the average guy to compete with even if they had access. Most all of the best areas have designated camps in the best spots to camp where you have access to water, places to picket your horses, etc. They have multiple horses that they can rest/rotate so they have fresh horses to ride. They have wranglers, cooks, the whole nine yards. They usually run multiple hunters/guides at the same time and usually hunt those areas nearly every day of the season.
The average Resident or Non-Resident, DIY guy, even with horses, is going to have a tough time competing with that. Further, even if you chose to hunt those same areas, I'm not convinced the quality of the hunt is going to be that much better. You're going to have company, you're going to have competition, and in some cases the animal quality may not be any better, maybe even worse, than in non-wilderness areas. I wish there were a law that allowed DIY R and NR hunters to be able to have first crack at wilderness areas before outfitters are allowed to start hunting. Give the DIY guys say, the first 3 days of the season, before the outfitter assault.
I still think its crap that non residents don't have the option to go DIY in Wyoming Wilderness areas, but I think many are under the impression that the hunting is just so much better and they're missing out on quality in both terms of hunt and animals. I don't really think that's the case, at all.
Another thing that I consider, is the designation of any further wilderness in Wyoming. While I generally am very supportive of new designations, I now pause before I support any new wilderness areas here. I'm not all that jazzed about designating more wilderness that non-residents wont have access to without a guide or a friend that lives in Wyoming. I'm more inclined to be wayyyy more supportive of leaving WSA's just the way they are so that all Wyoming hunters can have access. I'm also skeptical of supporting new wilderness when it will just further subsidize the outfitting industry even more.
Its bad policy for all kinds of reasons.
Whether or not there is a wilderness guide law, it should be noted that many of the areas that outfitters hunt within designated wilderness, would be very tough for the average guy to compete with even if they had access. Most all of the best areas have designated camps in the best spots to camp where you have access to water, places to picket your horses, etc. They have multiple horses that they can rest/rotate so they have fresh horses to ride. They have wranglers, cooks, the whole nine yards. They usually run multiple hunters/guides at the same time and usually hunt those areas nearly every day of the season.
The average Resident or Non-Resident, DIY guy, even with horses, is going to have a tough time competing with that. Further, even if you chose to hunt those same areas, I'm not convinced the quality of the hunt is going to be that much better. You're going to have company, you're going to have competition, and in some cases the animal quality may not be any better, maybe even worse, than in non-wilderness areas. I wish there were a law that allowed DIY R and NR hunters to be able to have first crack at wilderness areas before outfitters are allowed to start hunting. Give the DIY guys say, the first 3 days of the season, before the outfitter assault.
I still think its crap that non residents don't have the option to go DIY in Wyoming Wilderness areas, but I think many are under the impression that the hunting is just so much better and they're missing out on quality in both terms of hunt and animals. I don't really think that's the case, at all.
Another thing that I consider, is the designation of any further wilderness in Wyoming. While I generally am very supportive of new designations, I now pause before I support any new wilderness areas here. I'm not all that jazzed about designating more wilderness that non-residents wont have access to without a guide or a friend that lives in Wyoming. I'm more inclined to be wayyyy more supportive of leaving WSA's just the way they are so that all Wyoming hunters can have access. I'm also skeptical of supporting new wilderness when it will just further subsidize the outfitting industry even more.
Its bad policy for all kinds of reasons.