Preference points

[accubond]

Hi everybody, I was wondering if someone could tell me when a non-resident can purchase a prefernce point. Also in your honest opinion what kind of a hunt on public land can a guy expect with two points in western wyoming. We hunt coloardo right now but are looking to possibly check wyoming to try a new state and see what kind of deer we can get into. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[james_wvu]

July through September. After the draw.

 

[piper]

I live in western Wy love hunting high country mule deer and probably wont bother hunting G or H, Its pretty country and if you dont mind seeing lots of hunters and few deer, it can be OK I guess

 

[accubond]

So what would you suggest Piper? I mean obviously without giving away your hot spots whare would you think a guy would have a quality hunt on accessible public land and how many points do you think it would take? I should add that I would be tickled pink with a 150" 4 point.

 

[ICMDEER]

This is going to sound harsh, but it is the way it presently is. The Wyo G&F does not manage for quality, just numbers of hunters and $$. I live in Wyoming and hunt in Colorado, Nevada and Canada. There are some big bucks taken in Wyoming every year, many on public. But there's LOTS of hunters and not as many deer as there should be. I hunted every year for over 20 years in Western Wyoming and I won't go back until there are management changes. I'll archery hunt in Wyoming, and it is a good way to get away from the crowds. But I'm no Randy Ulmer, so I don't plan to see or whack a brute every year.

If you really want a quality deer hunting experience in Wyoming, save your molney and go on a good private ranch hunt. Sorry, but those are the well-managed places. Most of the public lands get hunted very hard.

 

[accubond]

ICMDEER, Even with the preference point system now in place there is no chance for a quality hunt in western wyoming? Certainly there must be some units whare you have a fighting chance at a descent buck with some points and some hard work.

 

[piper]

sent a pm to you, maybe a little help

 

[BuzzH]

This is going to sound harsh for some.

There is good mule deer to be had in Wyoming on public lands.

I think the problem many long-time Wyoming hunters face is that they live in the past, hunt the same old places, the same old ways. Its easier to whine about how bad it is now compared to the "good old days".

I moved to Wyoming in 2001 from Montana. In that time I've shot good mule deer all but one year.

I see a few hunters, but I see even fewer good hunters. Most wander into the spots I hunt a couple hours after daylight, leave hours before it gets dark. Most dont have binoculars (and if they do, they dont know how to use them), most shoot their rifles the couple days before the season. They just arent good hunters, they lack motivation and skills, and dont really understand how deer behave. They just dont hunt correctly when they spend their two days a year "deer huntin'".

If a person takes deer hunting in Wyoming seriously, there are great bucks to be had. You just need to hunt harder...and more importantly...smarter than the average WY hunter. That isnt real tough to do from what I've seen.

 

[BuzzH]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-10-08 AT 10:47AM (MST)[p]Heres a few pictures of the last seven years I've lived in Wyoming.

Some good buck, a couple really good bucks:

My wife drew a NR general region tag the first year we lived in Wyoming and shot this buck in 2001:

The next year, 2002, I hunted a really crowded area with a general tag with two buddies. We took these two deer:

I'd seen enough of that area and decided to hunt different country the next year (2003). I found lots of nice bucks, but passed all season long looking for better. I ended up going up North near the MT border to try to find some whitetail hunting. I found a mule deer instead:

The next season, 2004, I again hunted the country I'd found in 2003 during the general season near my house. I saw some amazing bucks, at least 2 better than this one. This one scored 184 and change gross:

In 2005 my wife and I found this buck on opening day, but couldnt quite close the deal. Went back with my buddy and he made good on the next chance we got at him...scored 196 and change gross:

Another look at the same buck:

We saw lots of good deer the next couple days. An unfortunate set of circumstances led to me taking this buck:

The 2006 hunting season was miserable as far as weather, hot and very little deer activity. I'd seen this same buck on several occassions the year before. I found him again in 2006 on the 3rd day of the season. After looking at him for 15 minutes through the spotting scope at 200 yards, I decided he was good enough...174 gross:

Last year I spent very little time hunting mule deer for myself, only a few days. My wife had drawn a limited quota area and I spent most of my time scouting for deer in that area as well as hunting there. We saw over 100 mule deer bucks on this hunt, including several really good ones. We were looking for something special and passed many good bucks early. The last couple hours of the season, my wife decided to shoot this one. It was a tough hunt, with hot weather and deer activity limited to early mornings and late evenings. She liked the fact this buck was very symetrical and had nice eye-guards...and also that we were able to get within 100 yards for a quick ethical shot.

I wouldnt say the mule deer hunting is poor in Wyoming, but hey, thats just me.

 

[searcher]

Hey Buzz. Congratulations on some nice bucks. I wish I could get my wife to hunt. She has gone camping a couple of times but doesn't want to "hurt" anything. Looks like you have done ok.

Tim

 

[accubond]

Buzz, those are some awesome pics and even better deer, congrdulations. I'm not looking for your hotspots but could you tell me a little about the time you go and the elevations etc. Do you know anything about region G or H? If you want to PM me some general info on the areas you hunt I would be very greatful.

 

[TheGreatWhiteHunter]

LAST EDITED ON Jun-15-08 AT 08:22PM (MST)[p]BuzzH those are great pics and I do agree that there are still some good to great bucks to be found in Wyoming. And you nailed it on the head about people not knowng or having to the patience to truly hunt an area. David Long author of Public Land Mulies has waited days just to see a certain deer again for the Killing shot. So many people glass an area for 20 minutes to 1 hour and move on when sometimes it takes a few hours or longer to just locate a FLCK OF AN EAR OR A PIECE OF ANTLER.

But ICMDEER does have a good point to his opinion.

QUOTE ICMDEER-But there's LOTS of hunters and not as many deer as there should be. I hunted every year for over 20 years in Western Wyoming and I won't go back until there are management changes.

Wyoming does not manage deer like Colorado does and hopefully that will change. Fact is in Wyoming there are still good bucks out there but some people will have to hunt harder and longer to get them.

BuzzH those are great deer pics keep hunting hard and wacking those bucks.


THE LORD IS MY ROCK
COLORADO,USA
NRA LIFE MEMBER
HUNTING PASS IT ON

 

[SouthernWyo]

GreatWhite -

No offense, but there have ALWAYS been LOTS of hunters in Wyoming, and "not as many deer as there should be..." is a pretty subjective statement. Many herd units in Wyoming are over objective, and habitat conditions on seasonal ranges confirm it.

The deer are there, the big bucks are there. They show up every year on the winter range as proof. If folks have to hunt harder and longer to get them, then that's just part of the game. Overall, we hunt mule deer in Wyoming (in general hunt areas) during the period when big bucks are absolutely the toughest to find and hunt, and that's fine with me. We shouldn't confuse a successful hunt with an easy hunt.

 

[piper]

Thats true there has been lots of hunters for years in Wyoming, but there has never been the amount of people that hunt as hard and use as much technology to kill large antlered bucks as the last decade or so, and the deer that show up on the winter range in south western Wyoming tell the same story, don't anyone get all excited and tell me about the big ones that people see, there are always a few but not very many for the amount of country that they come from,its the information age and the sept high country gets pounded, there is lots of highway mortality, energy development on the winter areas, poor forage conditions ect, the deer herds in regions G and H are well below objective and they took a hit this winter, I mean its to the point where the only way to have a reasonable chance at a big mature deer would be to spend two weeks and have 5 or ten guides out mossbacking the place, Im not talking about all of Wyoming and some people might think everything is fine, I live here in SW wyoming but to tell the truth I'm mostly excited about going to colorado deer hunting this fall

 

[TheGreatWhiteHunter]

SouthernWyo
Quote:GreatWhite -
No offense, but there have ALWAYS been LOTS of hunters in Wyoming, and "not as many deer as there should be..." is a pretty subjective statement. Many herd units in Wyoming are over objective, and habitat conditions on seasonal ranges confirm it.

The deer are there, the big bucks are there. They show up every year on the winter range as proof. If folks have to hunt harder and longer to get them, then that's just part of the game. Overall, we hunt mule deer in Wyoming (in general hunt areas) during the period when big bucks are absolutely the toughest to find and hunt, and that's fine with me. We shouldn't confuse a successful hunt with an easy hunt.

Southern Wyo I dont know why I would be offended Live in Colorado and hunt Wyoming every year. See lots of hunters sometimes very crowed but I usually see my share of deer too.
I do just fine. Every one who hunts has a different opinion of what makes their hunt successful or not. I prefer to hunt hard and trophy to me is in direct reflection to the are you are hunting.

Your comments are in agreement with what I stated about the deer being there and hunting hard to get them.

THE LORD IS MY ROCK
COLORADO,USA
NRA LIFE MEMBER
HUNTING PASS IT ON

 

[deerhuntr4885]

Well... I have only been there once. Turned down quite a few small bucks and we took this one. Not bad for never been there and no scouting ahead of time. I think WY has it all over WA at least.

On public land you can not expect to always shoot a book buck and not see other hunters. See the story and photos here...
http://www.monstermuleys.info/cgi-b..._thread&om=12416&forum=DCForumID6&archive=yes

Mike Henne

 

[kilowatt]

Photo's no longer available in that thread.

Brian

 

[deerhuntr4885]

Oh sorry shoulda checked that first. Dang. Anyway...a nice buck with some character. That is what I look for in a good buck. I want something that is interesting to look at on the wall, not what it scored.
Mike Henne