Help Needed - WY NE Corner Antelope

[Rydonn]

Howdy,

I bought a leftover tag with a longer season in the NE Corner of Wyoming. I knew it would be difficult, but I bought the tag because I knew it would force me to get out and try to figure it out and give it a shot. I bought the particular tag in this unit over a few others due to the longer season, but I am now slightly discouraged after speaking with the wildlife biologist regarding the prospects in this unit on public land. I've scoured the maps, public road ownership and how to get to the public spots, and I have an ordered the likely spots that I am going to scout and/or visit first, but may need assistance finding a landowner in case all of the spots I've picked out are a bust.

Let me know if you have any insights or can be any help on this. I planned on going a few days early to scout but now looks as though one or more trips are necessary to figure it out. Given my family commitments, budget, and work commitments, I would like to save as many scouting trips as possible. I didn't give out the number of the unit so that I wouldn't screw up other's hunting pressure - those that bought a tag after not getting drawn in the leftover tag draw know that it's only one of a few in this area - if you PM me I will share the unit information. Any help is appreciated. 

Thanks,
Rydonn

[DOUBLELUNG]

I would have given you that same advice, but that's water under the bridge.  I would contact the Game and Fish access coordinator for that region, they may have more insights than the wildlife bio.  I would go over after the opener and first weekend, most of the paying hunters who made arrangements in advance will be done with antelope by then.  Hit the public areas you've identified at first light, be sure to walk in to the spots you can't see from the vehicle - if there are antelope there, they will most likely be out of sight of any vehicle access.  Don't give in to temptation to trespass.

Around 10, change out of your hunting clothes into clean blue jeans and a button down shirt, some kind of boots, and minimize anything that makes you look like a stereotype hunter.  Don't wear any orange, don't have a rifle in sight and ready - that just makes them assume you are willing to run and gun and try to get away with trespassing.  Don't have a ballcap with some pithy off-color hunting reference that you think is hilarious.  Wyoming landowners deal with a lot of BS from hunters and trespassers, resident and nonresident, and as a class they don't generally like you.  You will be miles ahead if you don't look ready to hunt, because if you don't have a place to hunt, from their perspective you shouldn't be hunting yet.  Go to the ranch house, or stop at whoever you encounter on the way in.  Ask if it would be possible to hunt an antelope the last two days of the season - they may say no, they may shoot you a cash price, they might even say yes.  Farmers who grow a crop are more likely to be receptive than straight up livestock operators.  Whatever response you get, be polite, well spoken and respectful.  If they tell you no, thank them for their time and leave.  Expect to repeat this several times, and let any verbal abuse wash over you.  There are some good kind landowners up there, there are also a lot who don't like to be bothered by strangers.  DON'T go early morning, and quit while it is still light out.  If you are so inclined, hit the bar at happy hour, sit at the bar, tip the bartender well, and if he asks what you are doing, tell him you are trying to find a place to hunt antelope.  Have two beers, leave sober, if they serve food have your dinner there.  Repeat this routine 2 or 3 days, you may make a connection that way.  It also doesn't hurt to drop by the local Chamber of Commerce, Visitor Information Center, Tourism office - these are people who actually want tourists to come and spend money, and for them hunters are just another kind of tourist.

If you aren't an A$$, and put in the time and effort, you will likely be successful on either those public spots or find a place to hunt.  Figure minimum cost for a scouting trip is $500, so if you save that and just show up for the season be prepared to spend that for access.  Take the grief you will likely get for buying that tag without a place to hunt, reply that you wanted to hunt Wyoming and figured it would be a learning experience. 

When I moved to eastern Wyoming from New Hampshire (where every place I ever hunted was private, as is 98% of the state), getting permission to hunt was second nature for me.  I had the advantage of living there and made my efforts well in advance, but getting hunting access was not as difficult as I was lead to believe, even by guys who had lived in those towns their entire lives - they would tell me that nobody will let you hunt any more, and I would not tell them I had permission to hunt on X, Y and Z.  There is a huge difference between people who are looking for a place to hunt, and people who are looking for a place to hunt RIGHT NOW. 

Fresh seafood will keep for a few days on ice, cases of fresh apples will keep the entire trip, bottles of decent whiskey keep forever.  All of these make pretty handy icebreakers.           

[Stein]

Don't get discouraged, you don't need a ton of land to get on a decent goat.  In MT, I hunted them on a single section of public land.  In WY in a different unit, I got in on some private land feel free to hunt that was probably only about 100 acres, maybe even less.

Spend some time in the unit and have some patience.  If it isn't pool table flat, get out there and poke around, they often travel and hang out where you can't see them from the road.

I think it all depends on your expectations, there are plenty of antelope in WY.

[finnman]

I might see you there! This is my third year in a row hunting deer and antelope in unit ?. We hunt public land and have enjoyed great success! Using the X Maps hunting chip is a life saver! We have also asked for permission from ranchers, as long as the paying hunters are all gone, they are very willing to give access, especially if you have a doe tag or two! Get in with that one and then ask about the buck tag. Be polite, ask questions about them and their life. Compliment their way of life. We even had an outfitter take one or hunters on a free doe hunt on his ranch! No fee, they just wanted to help a hunter out. People from what we have seen are very nice. We will have 7 in camp this year, mostly doe tags and a few buck tags....just plain fun in God's country!

[Rydonn]

Thanks all for the advice and words of encouragement! I'm just looking to put meat in the freezer, and am excited for the experience. It's going to be better than sitting on the couch watching football!

[syoungs]

I'm going to unit 10 with my dad and 2 friends, going for the opener though.

I paid a trespass fee this time, going to takes day or 2 to scout out for next time I'm there,. Figured hunting on private would be about the same cost as a trip early in the year scouting. From the people I've talked to over there, boots on ground can easily net you access if your respectable enough.

Did you buy more then 1 tag? What unit will you be hunting?

[Rydonn]

Thanks for the help. I'll be in Unit 19. The information I received from the fill-in game warden and the biologist didn't sound too promising. I'm hoping I can make my chances better by hiking in a bit. Sounds like many people don't. That being said, if anyone knows a good spot to pay I may have to do that to fill my buck tag.

Thanks,
Rydonn

[Duckhunter14]

Rydonn-

I think you're on the right track. Get off the road and use you OnX Maps chip and you'll find speed goats in that country. If all else fails knock on some doors. Good whiskey and salmon or cold hard cash is always a good bet. Continue running down leads with the Game and Fish and biologists and you may even turn up someone who will let you pay a trespass fee. The local watering hole is always a good place to gain some local knowledge too. Let us know how the hunt goes! We want to see some harvest pics!