Where do you stay?

[mossbacker08]

I am planning a trip out to Wyoming in the next few years, probably 2010, to hunt antelope. This will be our first trip to hunt out West. I just wanted to get opinions on where everyone stays when they go. I am leaning toward purchasing the Cabala Alaknak tent for us to stay in. I realize everyone has their own preferences, but just curiuos on where you all stay. Also, I am not sure if any campgrounds are open in October or is allowed to stay on BLM land.

Any input or suggestions you may have are appreciatted. Looking forward to hunting Wyoming and making it a memorable trip.

Thank you

 

[4x4elk]

BLM land is all public and yes camping is allowed. As far as a place to stay it might be better(depending on the area) to just rent a camper when you get to where your going.

 

[Willy_P]

LAST EDITED ON Mar-15-08 AT 11:02AM (MST)[p]I am planning on taking a tent for the first time in a LOT of years when I go to WY this fall. IF I draw a deer tag and an antelope tag I'll be out there about a month. I have a big XWT tent from Cabela's that I have been trying out this winter here in OH and don't expect worse weather in the fall in WY than we get for a winter here. So far the tent is excellent!!! I have stayed in motels in the past a lot for antelope and deer out there. The drive time kicks you in the butt as does the days you make 3 or 4 trips to town running animals to the processor if it's hot. Motels are about 80 bucks on the cheap end right now out there due to the housing shortage and the oil boom, I guess. Over the years it was really cheap to stay in town but with gas and lodging expenses it's getting tough, at least on my fixed income IF you look at tents don't expect a cheap tent to hold up to 50 or better mph winds in the prairie, I have seen a ton of broke down bargain tents over the years and some higher dollar tent also that the poles failed on. You will need a base if you want to save your tent floor as the prairie is about 10 per square yard infested with big honking needled cactus'!!! and the little ones you don't notice suck too!!! I am going to try 1/4" underlayment for under my tent and hope for the best. You might want to take a pleasure trip out before you take a hunt trip just to get an idea what the place is like if you have never been West before. IT'S DIFFERENT!! I forgot. EXPECT fire restrictions that time of year also!

 

[ICMDEER]

This answer likely will depend upon the time of year you are hunting and where you draw. If you are just going after an antelope, you can likely stay in town in a motel. But for deer, you need to be up and hunting earlier and you are usually hunting later in the year.

Most of the time when I archery or antelope hunt, I just sleep under the stars on a sleeping pad or a tarp. It's a quick camp and is very mobile. The weather is usually nice in September. But you got good advice on the tent. Get a quality tent that can handle wind. Wyoming is like another planet when it comes to wind, it really howls here at times.

Good hunting and I hope you are able to come to Wyoming.

 

[gonehuntinWY]

Look for September openers - better weather. Travel light- no trailer - no driving to town. Take extra gas water and a GPS if unfamiliar with area to hunt/explore. Get BLM maps. Travel to area 3-4 days ahead of opener. Find your buck and stay with him from morning til dark. That means a sleeping bag and star watching in the high desert. Take your best shot opening morning when legal shooting light arrives. Pack out your B&C goat - simple Huh. Best of luck in the draw.

 

[mossbacker08]

Thanks for all the information, I am sure I will have plenty of more questions. I would be interested if you could give any input on your Cabelas XWT and how it has worked for you this far.I am going to need a tent which could accomodate 3-4 people, two adults, possibly two kids. Also, we wanted to know if we should stay in a tent with heat or just get good quality sleeping bags.We also don't know if the winds are bad during the month of October.
When you mentioned fire restrictions does that also include a fire in a tent stove ?
Thanks again.

 

[mossbacker08]

>This answer likely will depend upon
>the time of year you
>are hunting and where you
>draw. If you are
>just going after an antelope,
>you can likely stay in
>town in a motel. But
>for deer, you need to
>be up and hunting earlier
>and you are usually hunting
>later in the year.
>
>Most of the time when I
>archery or antelope hunt, I
>just sleep under the stars
>on a sleeping pad or
>a tarp. It's a
>quick camp and is very
>mobile. The weather is
>usually nice in September.
>But you got good advice
>on the tent. Get
>a quality tent that can
>handle wind. Wyoming is
>like another planet when it
>comes to wind, it really
>howls here at times.
>
>Good hunting and I hope you
>are able to come to
>Wyoming.

 

[mossbacker08]

Thanks ICMDEER for the information. When we come out it will be in October. I will be coming out with my son, who is still in school, so I figured he would be back in school for a month before we left for our hunt.

 

[Willy_P]

I was in an Alaknak <sp?> this past fall to check it out. A guy from KY was hunting here in OH where we were for several days. I got the XWT after that. Wind is the main reason I went with the XWT. It has no stove jack so you would need something like a propane buddy heater.Remember burning propane makes water as a byproduct so the more you run a heater the more condenstion on the rain fly!! I used my propane lantern to warm mine up the few winter days I had it out. Slept at night with no heat and at 4 or so I lit the lantern and then got up a hour or so after. My only dislike on my XWT is the 42 steel 12" stakes with it. That is the bulk of the 36 pounds that the 8x8 weighs. I would use them for WY though!!! For 4 I would go up from the 8 footer to maybe the 10 or 12 foot model. It would be more livable IMO. As far as following a buck. I shadow mine and sleep in my camp away from them. A great spotting scope lets you let your eyes do the walking IF you can get a proper vantage point without sky lighting yourself on a horizon! I tend to pattern animals more than dog them. Everyone has their own way though so you will need to find yours. You are going to misjudge yardage the first time West so I would get a good laser to do that with. Learn to shoot with a turret scope or mildot one! Learn to shoot in the wind also. Feel free to PM if you want. There is a lot of time to go over stuff if 10 is going to be your trip year! Sleeping bags, get very good ones! Western Mountaineering makes some of the best as do Mt. Hardware, Marmot, Exped and several others that don't come to mind right off, a 10 degree WM bag will take you to 0 if you know how to do it. Actually it will take you past that!

 

[Califelkslayer]

Mossbacker, hope you're buying points this year and next. That'll give you a lot better hunt, public with lots of animals. I regret not getting antelope points the last 2 years. Thought I'd only hunt Nv, Ore and Nm for trophy antelope. This year I had to apply for a unit with very little public and no trophy quality cause I wanted a hunt where my girlfriend and her son would see lots of game and have decent weather.

 

[RACKMASTER]

I never plan on staying long when out for stinky...just a fun an easy hunt.... sleep in your truck! chances are you can be done 1st day!
rm

 

[Willy_P]

Hehehe! Stinky. It sure fits. Antelope is never going to be an Axe body spray scent!! I'll never forget my first nose full.

 

[mossbacker08]

>Mossbacker, hope you're buying points this
>year and next. That'll give
>you a lot better hunt,
>public with lots of animals.
> I regret not getting
>antelope points the last 2
>years. Thought I'd only
>hunt Nv, Ore and Nm
>for trophy antelope. This
>year I had to apply
>for a unit with very
>little public and no trophy
>quality cause I wanted a
>hunt where my girlfriend and
>her son would see lots
>of game and have decent
>weather.


Califelkslayer,
Right I will be applying for prefence points the next two years.

 

[mossbacker08]

>Hehehe! Stinky. It sure fits. Antelope
>is never going to be
>an Axe body spray scent!!
>I'll never forget my first
>nose full.



Yeah, I have heard it is not good !!

 

[Willy_P]

>>Hehehe! Stinky. It sure fits. Antelope
>>is never going to be
>>an Axe body spray scent!!
>>I'll never forget my first
>>nose full.
>
>
>
>Yeah, I have heard it is
>not good !!


But I love it just the same!!! The smell of the sage, the sun setting, the coyotes howling, a pack frame with an antelope on it, and the wind up your ass so all you get is him and the prairie smells, and it is a mile yet to the truck!!! PRICELESS

 

[Maskhadov]

pack your hotel on your back - it's the best way, dude

 

[gundog]

I have a camper shell and often sleep in truck bed if staying one or two nights, especially if I really want to be mobile. Sometimes I use springbar tent for more comfortable sleeping in warm weather. Wall tent with stove for extended hunts in cold weather (freezing day temperatures).