Wyoming antelope 23

[goatman]

Well we drew a tag but have been told BLM isn't a very good option by the warden and the biologist. Not looking for any trophy just some fun speed goat hunting. Anyone have a good experience here? I hate doing this backwards but kinda of desperate. Thanks

 

[WoodMoose]

Contact the local Chamber of Commerce (Gillette?) and they should have a list of landowners who take trespass fees. You might also investigate any "Access Yes" lands that are in that area.

 

[goatman]

Thanks for your reply Moose. I have that list but everyone so far is either full or leased. I'm grasping here. Wyoming is getting tough unless your out in western Wyoming with public ground.

 

[alsatian]

Of course, if you call earlier in the year there are a lot of ranchers that are available to let you hunt on their land for a trespass fee. But you probably already know this.

Are there no leases available, or no leases available for the first few days of the season? What about leasing some land during the third week of the season? The common wisdom is that the pronghorn are easier to bag opening day and perhaps the bigger animals go down quickly after opening day . . . but unit 23 isn't known for big horns anyway and even in the third week of the season there are still plenty of pronghorn around and they are takeable with stalking and stealth, right?

By the way, what did the Wyoming biologists tell you was less than desirable about the BLM land in unit 23 -- such as the Thunder Basin National Grasslands? I'm curious because I have two permits for unit 23 and while I've got a two day lease, I've considered going to Thunder Basin National Grasslands as a back-up plan if my lease doesn't deliver in the two days I have to hunt it the third week of October.

 

[goatman]

Thanks for the reply alsatian. The biologist and the game warden said only 15% is BLM and it will be crowded. I'll have to check but I don't think there is any Thunder Basin Grasslands in unit 23. We had planned on public ground but they didn't advise it. There are some two day hunts later but my hunting buddy can't get off work then. Even the second week would work but haven't found anybody open yet. We have a few numbers left to check out but the list is getting small. Trophies aren't important as just the sagebrush and wide open will be enough. Also I've been told it is hard to figure out just where the boundaries are on the BLM. We'll probably go anyway and just stay out of everyones way and watch. Hate to miss Wyoming in the fall.

 

[Bura Nut]

When I was going through this same thing a few years back, I contacted the chamber of commerce in each city that was close to where I drew and they had different landowner contact lists than the game dept. I had the chamber mail those lists and called each landowner. I was in 22 I think just east of buffalo Wy. Maybe this will help.......... Allen Taylor......

 

[goatman]

Bura Nut
Thanks I'll give that a try. The list we had was from the game and fish.

 

[WoodMoose]

Here's a link to the Wyoming Access Yes website http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/access/plpw/huntingwalk/hunt_2.asp It's private land available for hunting. If you can't find a lease, then the Access Yes lands are an option (though they will have the same problem with possible crowds as other public lands). What I got from the Game Warden when I was planning my 2001 hunt in Area 26 (cancelled due to my deployment after 9/11) was that the BLM, Thunder Basins Grasslands, etc were bad the first 4 days, then it lightened up some during the week. Hopefully that is what you will find.

 

[goatman]

Thanks Woodmoose. I checked it out already and there is no access yes in area 23. We were thinking like you said that if we wait maybe some crowd will tag out and it won't be so crowded. We'll see what happens.

 

[WoodMoose]

It was worth a shot. Good luck out there. I was going to wait until 2006 to go back out for antelope - but may have to go next year, way too much fun!

 

[HogWild]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-28-04 AT 05:50AM (MST)[p]Hey Goatman, there is access for area 23, try this link

http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/access/plpw/huntingwalk/campbell/campbell2.asp

Its a walk in area for area 23 Antelope

Mel

 

[goatman]

Hogwild I must be blind. Thanks for your help. Thanks alot to everyone that helped. I think we hit paydirt last night on one of my last calls. Found a ranch that will work. Sounds like lots of speedgoats also. Sagebrush here I come.

 

[WoodMoose]

Good luck out there Goatman, I had a blast last year and was generally just south of your unit in 29.

 

[goatman]

WoodMoose
Nice antelope. That was the unit we hunted before and had a good hunt. The ranch we hunted was already booked before the drawing so we looked elsewhere.

 

[chambero]

A couple of you guys mentioned you hunted in 29. We have tags for there this year, but lost our private land spot due to the fact that it got sold. Have any of you tried any of the public land available in that unit?

 

[goatman]

chambero
Sorry but haven't hunted on public ground in that area.

 

[WoodMoose]

chambero - didn't hunt the public land, and there isn't a whole lot of it. From what I was told, it's a little bit of a zoo on it. Might have to wait out the first few days to let the crowds thin out some.