Wyoming "bucket list"

[Mtnwalker]

Racking my brain here trying to come up with a bucket list Wyoming trip for my Dad who was recently diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. I’ve been analyzing the heck out of this thing but hoping somebody might see some options that I’m missing.

His goals:
•   Wants to spend our points and do a family trip with my Mom, my wife and I, and our daughters ages 3 & 5. This is first and foremost.
•   Lodging preferred, but can wall tent it if need be.
•   Would consider outfitted for access reasons but logistically this doesn’t seem like a good choice with the family tagging along.
•   Wants to kill a decent buck
My goals:
•   See lots of critters.
•   Find a unit with overlapping seasons where we can have as many tags in our pocket as possible. Elk, deer and pronghorn would be ideal but so far it’s looking like 2 out of 3 might be as good as we can get.

Our points: 12 deer, 9 elk and 7 antelope. Already applied for regular elk, believe I can modify until May.

I’m not sure the state of the herds in various areas since last year’s winter. I understand this isn’t an ideal year to do this but we really don’t have a choice. We missed CO and MT deadlines due to being in the hospital for emergency surgery etc, so this is pretty much our only option.

Units being considered:
•   19 early deer/83 antelope- Not sure how the herds are doing here since last winter
•   41 elk/general deer/possibly 79 antelope
•   34 deer/73 antelope- Not a guaranteed draw, but possibly more critters. Not enough points for elk here but could maybe snag a 33 or 48 tag next door.

Any other ideas for good combo units within our points range would be greatly appreciated, normally I steer away from “combo hunts” but obviously the circumstances here are not ideal. Also prefer to discuss via PM please, don’t want to air out anybody’s units to the world. Thanks everybody!

[follow maggie]

I don’t have any input on the hunt since I’ve never hunted Wyoming, but I’m sorry to read about your dad. If it’s not out of line, I might suggest you make the trip, even if you can’t get tags. You can still do everything minus pulling the trigger, and it could make great memories for you your dad & your daughters

[bigfish51]

If he's a WA resident, you might reach out to the game department and look into a compassionate tag.  There's some good hunts available for this type of situation.  Good luck and sorry to hear about your dad.  That sucks!

[bobcat]

This is a good year to draw certain areas by applying in the special draw, due to huge increase in price this year. So due to your circumstances that's what I'd be looking to do. Not sure which one you did for elk but if you're willing to spend the money for deer and antelope in the special draw you could probably draw some good areas with the points you have. I don't think too many people are going to be spending $1200 each for deer and antelope. In your case I think it would be worth it. At least for your dad's tags. Maybe he could apply in the special and you in the regular to keep the cost down.

[boneaddict]

Since you mentioned other states, how about Utah with a landowner or guaranteed tag.   Might have to run the finances.   I've never done that so not sure about the specifics, and doesnt help your WY points much.   Herds are in much better shape there and application window is still open

[Karl Blanchard]

Shot you a text.

[Mtnwalker]

This is a good year to draw certain areas by applying in the special draw, due to huge increase in price this year. So due to your circumstances that's what I'd be looking to do. Not sure which one you did for elk but if you're willing to spend the money for deer and antelope in the special draw you could probably draw some good areas with the points you have. I don't think too many people are going to be spending $1200 each for deer and antelope. In your case I think it would be worth it. At least for your dad's tags. Maybe he could apply in the special and you in the regular to keep the cost down.

Definitely considering this route, not sure how the deer will swing on units like 34 where we're right on the edge but I definitely think antelope will skew heavily towards regular.

Since you mentioned other states, how about Utah with a landowner or guaranteed tag.   Might have to run the finances.   I've never done that so not sure about the specifics, and doesnt help your WY points much.   Herds are in much better shape there and application window is still open

Thanks Bone, I would be leaning harder into something like this if he just wanted to hunt a big buck but the family thing is pushing me more towards Wyo where we can hopefully get a crack at multiple types of critters and keep the kids somewhat entertained. I'll certainly look into it though

[Mtnwalker]

I don’t have any input on the hunt since I’ve never hunted Wyoming, but I’m sorry to read about your dad. If it’s not out of line, I might suggest you make the trip, even if you can’t get tags. You can still do everything minus pulling the trigger, and it could make great memories for you your dad & your daughters

Thank you, we will certainly get a couple tags in our pocket at a minimum and hopefully squeeze everything we can out of this trip