Wyoming Buffalo Hunt questions

UThunting · May 27, 2008

Well my wife drew Number 10 for non res Bull Bison here are my questions

Am I right if figuring that she will have a 99.9% chance of being contacted???

Will these hunt be held around the Jackson Hole area???

And how hard would this hunt be?? I was told that most people harvest in 3 days??

My BIG Question is my wife will be due with are 3rd child in December. So I know we will not know when she gets called but when are most of these hunters called out??? And Will This be somthing a 9 month pregnent Woman can do???????

Thanks for any Info for the Best info there might just be a few Buffalo steaks for your help thanks

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Willard Utah

PleaseDear · May 27, 2008

Pack your bags!

Your heading to Jackson Hole!

To the best of my understanding...every 10 res get called and then a non-ressy...so if they get into 90-100 res bull hunters...then you and the Mrs are going!

9 months pregnant----all she really has to do is pull the trigger...but maybe getting close enough would require some deep snow hiking...tough to predict...

With her being #10 on the non-ressy bull list....any luck and she will get her call on the end of the hunt timeframe....after the little one has been born?

Kool for you guys Clynt!

Robb

highhunt · May 28, 2008

I live in JH and you will have zero problem getting a Bull. Did they give you any idea as to when you hunt would be? They assign 2 week periods throughout the fall for these hunts.

The hunt will be within a few miles of town and can be done by glassing from the truck or some light walking. You will need to contact "You tag'em We drag'em" to help get your Bison out. A Bull can weigh as much as #2500 pounds. Good luck. Send me a PM if I can help.

kilbuc · May 28, 2008

Solution....induced labor. But congrates to you and your wife. I know you will find some way to make it happen.

from the "Heartland of Wyoming"

UThunting · May 28, 2008

LAST EDITED ON May-28-08 AT 06:44PM (MST)[p]Thanks all

I know John with YOU tag them WE drag them, he has draged a few elk out for me and the wife. I figure I will contact him and have him keep a eye out.. Also I was told that since 2007 the hunts are more of a season dates where you can hunt for a few weeks????? but maybe we are wrong.

The only dates we got in the paper was the same as everyone and that is the prioroity list will be from july 1 to jan 31st. I guess we will see when the department of fins and fur send a packet out ...

Funny I think i am more stoked for her to draw it then if I drew it

P.S We found out today that my wife is due Jan 15th so we should be OK. But please share any ifo you can thanks

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Willard Utah

JRABQ · May 28, 2008

Assuming you will get to hunt on the Elk Refuge (probably for certain), shooting a buffalo shouldn't take very long. I tried to make my shot more like a "hunt", and it still only took about an hour. It was about 600 yds from the road, and it took 3 guys 7-8 hours to cut it up and pack it out on sleds and a cart, we didn't use the Tag-um-Drag-um guy.

I was #26 NR bull and hunted early December, I think I was in the last group to get called (actually they just sent something in the mail, I never got a phone call). From the time they mailed the package I think I had ~2 weeks, but in reality since the mail took 3-4 days, and with the time it took to get some last minute help and everything else arranged I think I shot mine with only ~4 days left before deadline.

At #10 maybe you should get to go before December. One hitch is I think the buffalo really don't start using the Elk Refuge in great numbers until October or November, so getting called too early might not be desirable.

It was an experience, my buffalo skull is in a post below regarding "Skulls I just finished".

Good luck,
JR

UThunting · May 29, 2008

JRABQ

Thanks for the info, I am still trying to figure the whole thing out. So what you are saying is they will send somthing in the mail and we will have 2 weeks to hunt??? I was thinking they would let you hunt outside of the refuge longer ????

Also I seen your post of the Oryx and Buffalo, Probably one of the cleanest skull mounts I have ever seen.. I bett the Buffalo was a PAIN IN THE A$$ to do...

Once again thanks all for the info it if anything gets me more pumped up every time I read a new post

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Willard Utah

3Toes · May 29, 2008

You can make this hunt as hard or as easy as you like.

Hunt the National Forest land north of the refuge and it can be tough. But a bull can be taken from the side of the road. Watch your map because the borders of where you can and can't hunt can be tricky. Walk into the hills and wooded areas along the river on the refuge and you have an actual hunt on your hands. Stalking tree to tree in the river bottoms, can be exciting. If you use the tag um guys in the river bottoms expect to pay greatly for the drag. Talk to them before she pulls the trigger.

If your wife is less mobile, use her refuge time to harvest a bull out on the flats. There are a lot of rules on the refuge and you will be checked a couple of times so learn the rules and follow them closely. The walk will be short and flat.

I was number 18 last year and was contacted the first week of November. If I remember right the first 10 non-residents were contacted in September.

If you would like more specific information contact me at [email protected]

JRABQ · May 30, 2008

Clynt,

It could be my time limitations were due to the fact that I was in the last group called, and they wanted to stop hunting on the refuge by some date (Dec. 15?). I'm sure if you call the Jackson office they can give you the straight poop.

JR

UThunting · May 31, 2008

LAST EDITED ON May-31-08 AT 10:19AM (MST)[p]3Toes

Thanks for the info I will contact you soon. i am headed to Alaska in the morning so it will be a few days before you hear from me but thanks.

JRABQ

When I get back I will call Jacksons office for the fish and game and see what they think. That is a good plan..

Also if anyone has photos they can share with me and the wife post them I would love to see them..

Again Thanks all for the info you can share as it might be harder for us as the wife will be pregnant at the time of the hunt....

UThuntinng
Clynt L Citte
Willard Utah

JRABQ · May 31, 2008

Here's a pic of my buffalo, according to G&F it was 5 years old.

UThunting · May 31, 2008

LAST EDITED ON May-31-08 AT 07:30PM (MST)[p]Cool photo, How was the meat???

UThunting
Clynt Citte
Willard UT

JRABQ · May 31, 2008

I have to confess I've only eaten a little bit so far, a couple of backstrap and tenderloin steaks, which were great. Was trying to finish off some other older game first, then I shot an oryx which is covering up most of the buffalo in the freezer. Plan to make a big batch of buffalo burger tomorrow out of neck and miscellaneous stuff, but that's no real test.

I gave about half of the buffalo to some hunting buddies and friends who were low on meat. One guy said some of the steaks off hind quarter were good tasting but pretty tough. After the first batch he aged them a week in the frig and said they were much better.

JR

UThunting · May 31, 2008

LAST EDITED ON Jun-01-08 AT 00:03AM (MST)[p]Boy Those Oryx are probably one of the best tasting animals there are. I was lucky to draw a few years back and keep wanting my wife or daughter to draw every year.... Congrads on 2 great trophys..

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Willard Utah

JRABQ · Jun 1, 2008

Yes Oryx are mighty tasty, hard to believe when you look at the country they live in, eating grass, yucca, and creosote bush. The one I shot this year was one of the fattest game animals I've ever taken.

JR

gonehuntinWY · Jun 17, 2008

Jackson has an excellent hospital just in case it would be needed for the birth of your child. If hunting is allowed on the refuge this year the hunt will be easy - if not it could be difficult. My hunt in 2000 was before hunting was allowed on the refuge - it was as "western" as it gets. Take a horse or horses if possible to help in extraction and take as many friends as you can. A a small trailer is nice to place bison on for transportation back to UT. Take a big tarp, many sharp knives, axes, and saws. A brand new chain saw with Wesson Oil in it works great and will make the job so much easier. Metal stakes and rope to hold legs is also a good idea. G&F requires a rifle greater than .270 caliber and a shooting proficiency test for everyone when I had a tag. Have a great trip to Wyoming.

UThunting · Jun 23, 2008

gonehuntinWY

Thanks if my wife has the baby in Jackson we will call him Hunter Jackson Citte

She is planning on using a 300 ultra but I do not know if I will load up partitions or the new barns tripple shocks in 200gr. We have had great results with 180 sciroccos But I feel it might be better to jump up a class. or we have a 416 Weatherby that she could use but I do not think she will ever shoot a gun again if I let her shoot it.....

Also I am thinking about taking a 18 volt cordless saw, a lot of rope, and my best knifes. but 2 things you said that sound like very good ideas the Wesson Oil and the metal stakes I have a few Army surplus tent stakes that should work great. Thanks for the Ideas.

P.S We are also going to keep the you tag we drag em guys phone number..

3Toes · Jun 24, 2008

I would add just one equipment recommendation.

There is no clean way to handle a bison. Carry your raingear with you and put it on before starting to process the animal. That way you can take the raingear off and do what you have to do in town after the harvest without being covered in blood.

A little extra planning and effort goes a long way in not offending someone that may cause issues later.

JRABQ · Jun 24, 2008

We used the "gutless" method, and didn't have to deal with very much blood, and no guts. Rolling the critter over with half the meat off of the carcass, but still contining the gut sack was about at the limit of 3 guys though, but we "got-er done".

JR

UThunting · Jun 24, 2008

3Toes & JRABQ

Thanks for the info every bit helps I am writinjg most of this down so that I do not forget''

Again thanks

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Willard Utah

UThunting · Jul 12, 2008

Well we got the letter.

It looks like she can start hunting September 1st to Dec 15th.

And she can hunt the refuge September 27th to Oct 10th

What I want to know is should she plan on hunting sept 1st or wait for colder weather????

As I am NOT sure the Bison will be in the hunt area come Sept 1st ????????

UThunting
Clynt L Citte
Willard UTah