My first trip to Wyoming was in 2005. A friend of mine had hunted antelope there and told me how much fun he’d had, so the next year I applied and was drawn. I was hooked and have been back every year since with the exception of one. Over the years I’ve been fortunate to kill some very nice antelope bucks and quite a few doe antelope. To me hunting is a bonus to simply being in Wyoming during the fall season. Meeting landowners and finding new opportunities, the scenery, and the meat are all part of what I get from the trips in addition to the challenges of hunting.
Getting antelope licenses has become progressively more difficult in recent years. Conversely, getting licenses for antlerless whitetail deer seems to be getting easier so I’ve been looking for more deer hunting opportunities the last couple years. This year I had ten licenses: four for antelope, and six for deer. All were doe/fawn antelope or antlerless deer. The four antelope licenses were in two different units, and the deer were also in two different units –a “cover my bases” plan in case one of the units didn’t work out.
I planned a few extra days to go through Yellowstone, and also to spend a couple days scouting two units that I might apply for a buck antelope tag next year. I’ve accumulated enough points to apply for some pretty good units. A highlight of that was seeing wild horses in one of the units in addition to some very nice antelope.
A few years back I was fortunate to meet a landowner who has allowed me to hunt antelope on his property. This year he told me that he had permission to take people he knew on another property to hunt antlerless whitetail deer. Our plan was to hunt deer one day, and then hunt antelope on his property. I would still have some licenses left over in other units to hunt on my own if needed.
A big surprise this year was the snowstorm that hit a couple days before we planned to start hunting. There was about 16” of fresh snow the morning before, so the start got delayed a couple days. The snow was deep enough to close I-90 and nearly all the roads in the area for a couple days. After the snow had abated a bit I met my landowner friend the next morning and we drove to the property he had access to hunt deer on. We crept out in the snow among some hay bales to get within about 300 yards of a herd of whitetails. There was a small dirt mound (with snow) that we hid behind, and I was able to fill four of the deer tags with four shots. Not the greatest challenge, but the "whack and stack" provided some outstanding meat.
Later in the day I met him at his house, and we rode his snow track ATV around looking for antelope. Several miles later with nothing spotted we took a lunch break, and then headed out again. We found a herd, crept up a ridge hidden out of sight of the animals, and I was able to fill two of the antelope licenses. Six animals in one day is something I’ve never done before.
For the next couple days I hunted solo on some public land in another unit for antelope, and also hunted the property of another landowner who had given me permission. There was also a third property I had permission on that abutted landlocked BLM land; the landowner had given me permission to cross his property to hunt the BLM. Every time I did that I saw antelope on his property but not on the BLM. I decided to give him a call and he told me to go ahead and shoot an antelope on his property so I did. Interestingly, the next few days when I checked the BLM was full of animals so I’m looking forward to trying to hunt that property next year.
Seven shots, seven animals and I was done hunting even though I still had licenses left. I spent the next few days enjoying the scenery, peacefulness and solitude of Wyoming. It’s hard for me to get enough of that to last a year but I do my best. A few days later I loaded up and headed home. The freezer was full enough that we were able to give some meat to needy friends. Photos, high quality meat and fond memories will have to hold me over until next year’s adventure. The planning has already started.
Here are a few photos from the trip.
