Best state to go to for speed goats

[huntergreg]

What is the best state to go to where you can buy over the counter tags for antelope? With a good chance at getting a goat?  I have never hunted for them and was thinking about doing it next year.

[BIGINNER]

i was wondering the same thing...  i was eyeing wyoming,... but just can't figure out how things work out there.    can someone simplify those regs and licence fees and apps for me?   or is there someplace better than wyoing?

[longrange7mm]

I think most speedgoat tags are draw   but east wy, mt, co, sd, nd all hold a ton of goats I know that east wy over buy gillette are easy to draw and tons of goats but lots of private land I would say your best bet would be any area between there and casper

[HardCorpsHuntr]

Wyoming.

[BIGINNER]

so.. can you get over the counter tags in wyoming?

[bobcat]

I don't know of any over the counter antelope tags for non-residents. The best bet is Wyoming, second would be Montana. This is if you're main goal is not a record book size antelope. If that's the case then other states may be better, like Arizona and maybe Nevada. I know there are many units in Wyoming that a person can draw every year, but they are the units that are predominantly private land. So you may have to be willing to pay an access fee.

[longrange7mm]

i was wondering the same thing...  i was eyeing wyoming,... but just can't figure out how things work out there.    can someone simplify those regs and licence fees and apps for me?   or is there someplace better than wyoing?

Wy antelope license price is 272.00 for non res. then a 14.00 application fee. so 286. for a goat

Go to hunting home page half way down is a link for non res hunting info and application - http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/hunting/NonResident/index.asp

Then go down to antelope look at the map and the season information. you can reference these areas with draw odds and harvest reports hope that helps.

If you need more help PM me

[HardCorpsHuntr]

Are you wanting a buck, or are you fine with a doe/fawn.  You can get either over the counter in Wyoming in some units.

[BIGINNER]

Are you wanting a buck, or are you fine with a doe/fawn.  You can get either over the counter in Wyoming in some units.

i want meat.  
and just the experience ...   

[longrange7mm]

I know there are many units in Wyoming that a person can draw every year, but they are the units that are predominantly private land. So you may have to be willing to pay an access fee.

Sorry i was gunna mention this in my last post but on WY hunting home page check out the private land public wildlife it is a great program. I normally donate $5.00 with my app even though i dont hunt these units in particular There are a lot of farmers that are happy to let you hunt just give them your landowner coupon after harvest they get $16 for every deer that gets taken off there land. also check the hunter management areas.

[MHWASH]

 Call the WY F&G and ask. They are very helpfull. It's basically what we did.

[carpsniperg2]

I just started putting in for montana last year. I hunted with a outfitter there when i was 13 and got a very nice speed goat. I am thinking about putting in for WY as well. I have always heard that for numbers, go to WY, for monsters go to MT

[MHWASH]

Are you wanting a buck, or are you fine with a doe/fawn.  You can get either over the counter in Wyoming in some units.

i want meat.  
and just the experience ...   

 Don't  go there just for meat, Buy a couple of doe/fawn tags for $34 and a buck tag. You won't believe the # of antelope, I bet we passed on 50-75 bucks a day.

[HardCorpsHuntr]

Are you wanting a buck, or are you fine with a doe/fawn.  You can get either over the counter in Wyoming in some units.

i want meat.  
and just the experience ...   

Where DOUBLELUNG and I hunt there has been years where we could kill 7 goats a piece.  I think this year it was 5!  I've never taken more than one a year.  DOUBLELUNG would be the one to PM, as he worked for Wyoming G&F for several years out of Casper (goat capital).  

[longrange7mm]

I have always heard that for numbers, go to WY, for monsters go to MT

I have heard that nevada,arizona,nm is were the big boys are but its all about what units you hunt in any state. If its an area that you can draw easily you can count on that the quality is low. also if you want a trophy goat look for the areas that are hard to draw with anything but 4 pref points.

[carpsniperg2]

I have always heard that for numbers, go to WY, for monsters go to MT

I have heard that nevada,arizona,nm is were the big boys are but its all about what units you hunt in any state. If its an area that you can draw easily you can count on that the quality is low. also if you want a trophy goat look for the areas that are hard to draw with anything but 4 pref points.

Yes that is 100% true I was just talking about between MT and WY. But there is some mega goats in NV,AZ,NM

[longrange7mm]

Yea i seen some toads down around St Johns AZ and Gallup NM and then over around Las Vegas NM

[Bob33]

In my opinion the best state starts with "W", and it's not Washington or Wisconsin.   They have the most speed goats, and you can find 15" bucks on public land if you work at it.  Lots and lots of animals, lots and lots of public land.

Here are a couple Wyoming bucks I took in 2008 and 2009:
[smg id=10175]
[smg id=10176]
[smg id=10177]
[smg id=10178]

[BIGINNER]

In my opinion the best state starts with "W", and it's not Washington or Wisconsin.   They have the most speed goats, and you can find 15" bucks on public land if you work at it.  Lots and lots of animals, lots and lots of public land.

west virginia???!!  no way!!  lol  just tell us.... please

[Skyvalhunter]

Nice animals you got there Bob!!

[longrange7mm]

I think that one W word is a good place to try

[longrange7mm]

Nice animals you got there Bob!!

x2 i like the 2nd pic thats a great pic of ur goat

[Bob33]

In my opinion the best state starts with "W", and it's not Washington or Wisconsin.   They have the most speed goats, and you can find 15" bucks on public land if you work at it.  Lots and lots of animals, lots and lots of public land.

west virginia???!!  no way!!  lol  just tell us.... please

Psst...don't tell anyone...it's Wyoming.

[Craig]

Wyoming is awesome. I would love to kill a non typical antelope.

[Ridgerunner]

If you can't figure it out based on this thread good luck, its a pretty unbelievable hunt over there, I can't wait to go back, just wish the drive was shorter.

[DaveBTS]

Wy, by far is your best bet due to sheer numbers.

I heard Monday that the Yakima tribe is bringing some antelope in. If they don't kill them all, we should be able to hunt them in 10 years. There's already a small herd above Naches on private land.

[Gutpile]

Bob!!! Nice goats!!!!

WY is the place for me but it's the only state I've hunted them. Literally thousands of animals to choose from. They are one of the funnest things to hunt, you can make it easy or hard. My 2010 lope hunt was the funnest hunt I've ever been on, I can't wait to go back.

[Bob33]

so.. can you get over the counter tags in wyoming?

Sort of.  There are always surplus tags available.  These can be purchased first come, first served.  Some of the units never sell their surplus tags. Most of the tags are doe/fawn and cost about $35.  In many units you can get up to four.

There are surplus "any antelope" tags, but they're generally in areas that are virtually all private land.

To get an "any antelope" tag in most of the units, it is a draw.  Draw odds go from around 5% up to 100%, depending on the unit.  Again, the units with the best draw odds tend to have very little public land.

If you simply want to hunt for meat, get four doe/fawn tags in one of the 70 units: 70, 72, or 73.  You will have a great time and should tag out.  There is quite a bit of public land, and also some private "walk in" areas.

[sakoshooter]

I'm gonna guess Wyoming! Am I right?

[GWP]

This brought back some memories! I worked in Montana and used to scout for some friends as I was on the road covering all four corners. I'd glass and report where the big ones were. Wyoming is supposed to have more then Montana. Good eatin'!

[Bigshooter]

For numbers and quality Wyoming is #1.  Wyoming ranks #1 with the most bc heads.  Almost twice as many as #2 New Mexico.  Wyoming has put more bucks in the books than #2 New Mexico and #3 Arizona combined.  If you don't want to hunt wyoming, put in for eastern montana.  Not because Montana has big antelope, but they have a lot of them and the tags are fairly easy to draw compared to New Mexico, Arizona, or Nevada.

[DOUBLELUNG]

2/3 of all the world's pronghorn live within 300 air miles of Casper Wyoming.  In Wyoming you will have to look at more antelope than in a premium draw unit in AZ, NM or NV, but the trophies are there. 

[jdb]

Wy, by far is your best bet due to sheer numbers.

I heard Monday that the Yakima tribe is bringing some antelope in. If they don't kill them all, we should be able to hunt them in 10 years. There's already a small herd above Naches on private land.

exactly where above naches??

[Hangfire]

Where did the information come from about pronghorn near Natches, or the Yakima's bringing in animals?

In the 70's there were a few pronghorn on the firing center, I believe they were poached out. I saw the head of one a agent had confiscated. person thought it was a deer.

I have heard of a small inbred group some where around Ephrata? Any one know about them.

What I have heard is these pronghorn are leftovers from some introductions in the 30's prior to the irrigation projects.

There are pronghorn in Oregon just across the river at the east  end of the gorge. I wish they would swim the river.

[cohoho]

Wyoming for speed goats...  A couple trips in a row and we have done pretty darn well.  Tap into every resources as stated in here.  Alot of guys on here with a alot of knowledge of good areas and some with great inside information about speed goats.  Pretty easy to tell from their posts...  You don't have to pass trespass fees, hunt public or find HMA area and just do it.

[BushMonster]

WYO all the way.  Tons of them everywhere.  Took many when I lived in Colorado.

[npaull]

Bob and others with knowledge of WY antelope:

How realistic would it be for a bowhunter (longbow, 20-25 yards) to hunt for doe antelope in WY, do-it-yourself?

I'd love to go and hunt, I really don't care at all about antlers, but a lot of the country looks like stalking would be difficult. Could a bowhunter expect to get a doe or two?

Thanks.

[Bob33]

Bob and others with knowledge of WY antelope:

How realistic would it be for a bowhunter (longbow, 20-25 yards) to hunt for doe antelope in WY, do-it-yourself?

I'd love to go and hunt, I really don't care at all about antlers, but a lot of the country looks like stalking would be difficult. Could a bowhunter expect to get a doe or two?

Thanks.

Very realistic to hunt!  Now, harvesting one is another question

Here is the great thing about Wyoming: you get an antelope tag that is not weapon specific like Washington.  You can hunt with archery equipment starting September 1.  If you don't fill your tag by rifle season, you can use the same tag to hunt with a rifle.

I tried archery a few years ago.  I was not able to get any closer than 80 yards to a doe.  Believe it or not, the bucks are easier to stalk in September.  I think the only realistic way to hunt antelope with a bow is either with a decoy, or a blind by a water hole.  However, there is no real drawback to trying.  Just bring a rifle.  Try archery a few days before the rifle season.  If it doesn't work and you want to fill your tag, hunt with the rifle.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Bob and others with knowledge of WY antelope:

How realistic would it be for a bowhunter (longbow, 20-25 yards) to hunt for doe antelope in WY, do-it-yourself?

I'd love to go and hunt, I really don't care at all about antlers, but a lot of the country looks like stalking would be difficult. Could a bowhunter expect to get a doe or two?

Thanks.

Extremely doable.  Spot and stalk is possible, you have to be strategic in where you hunt - fortunately, those interspersed irrigated lands and sage uplands are where most of the doe tags are.  Should have no problem getting access to hunt does on the private.  Irrigation ditches and stream courses are great stalking.  Antelope are very predictable in where they crawl under fences or walk trails between alfalfa and uplands.  Ranchers or ranchhands can often point out where they come in and leave.  In dry country, you could sit a blind over a water tank or small pond - not my cup of tea though.  I hunted with a compound, but all my shots were between 22 and 35 yards.  Find the trails they are using, look for ambush points with tall sagebrush or greasewood for concealment.  I never dug ground blinds, but would find strategic spots where I could sit with my legs hanging off a bank and tall brush to the sides and behind - take a small saw to trim up your shooting lanes.  Your best bets, IMHO will be along the I-25 corridor through Sheridan and Casper regions, a late July call to those regional offices will help identify alfalfa growers with damage claims where tags are available.  Cody and Lander Regions have similar issues, with more public land uplands and are closer, but antelope densities are generally lower. 

Early archery seasons open in August for some areas, my advice would be to bowhunt mornings only (like 4am to 9am), and have a cooler 1/2 full of ice at the ready to bone that critter out and get it on ice ASAP. 

[npaull]

Thanks for the advice Bob33 and Doublelung. Sounds like I need to look into it more - seems like a really fun hunt. Any other advice you guys would have for a longbow hunter looking to head down there?

[ribka]

Thanks for the advice Bob33 and Doublelung. Sounds like I need to look into it more - seems like a really fun hunt. Any other advice you guys would have for a longbow hunter looking to head down there?

Good advice doublelung

It is possible to get within distance with a long bow. Not easy but doable with the right terrain. PM Ray He took a yote doe with a long bow.

http://www.pronghornbows.com/Pages/Photos-Pronghorn.htm

[carpsniperg2]

Where did the information come from about pronghorn near Natches, or the Yakima's bringing in animals?

In the 70's there were a few pronghorn on the firing center, I believe they were poached out. I saw the head of one a agent had confiscated. person thought it was a deer.

I have heard of a small inbred group some where around Ephrata? Any one know about them.

What I have heard is these pronghorn are leftovers from some introductions in the 30's prior to the irrigation projects.

There are pronghorn in Oregon just across the river at the east  end of the gorge. I wish they would swim the river.

Yep they got poached out. And yes i wish they could swim the river Or maybe someone leave the gates open, on the dam Like they did with the big horn sheep

[MtnMuley]

npaull --  don't over look MT for archery antelope.  Not to argue at all that WY isn't much better, but if I remember correctly you can pretty much guarantee to draw a statewide archery antelope tag (400) or something of the sort.  It's a rut tag, and I've seen plenty of lopes within longbow range.  Just a thought.  As for the original poster of this thread, don't overlook MT also.  Definately some areas there with near guaranteed draw odds.  I have a group of friends that do this every year and each come home with a buck and several does.  They say it's a great time.  It's a closer drive than WY, and I believe cheaper.  Not a trophy hunt by any means. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

Thanks for the advice Bob33 and Doublelung. Sounds like I need to look into it more - seems like a really fun hunt. Any other advice you guys would have for a longbow hunter looking to head down there?

If you go in September, you can hunt deer too in the same spots.  Doe/fawn deer licenses are same price as antelope.

[Hangfire]

In late September 2009 EASTWAVIKING had his whole hunting season on here. He took a Pope and Young pronghorn at I believe 14 yards, spot and stalk. He had pictures of the buck. He has taken many pronghorn both does and bucks on public land with his compound bow. He does not believe in baiting and has not set on water holes. If you can find it, worth looking at. He is a serious archer with a very good set of ethics and how  he wants to hunt.  If I can find it I will try to bring to this post.

[Malardman]

Wyoming period..... nuff said. yes you can get over the counter tags, they are called leftovers I used to do it every year. Matter fact you can call licenced dealer over there and they will do it over the phone and hold them for you till you arrive. The Rourke Ranch specializes in archery hunts. Gillette WY.

[Hangfire]

A brief summary of EastWaVikings prong horn hunt on number 735 of his posts.

[engelwood]

Check out Eastman's hunting journal, jan/feb issue and you will see where the best trophy states are. Wyoming is not number 1, but is way up there. Based on costs and land access, I would think WY would be a great choice. There are some units available that average near or at 100% success each year for NR hunters. Tag cost is just over $200. Good luck if you go.

[DOUBLELUNG]

Check out Eastman's hunting journal, jan/feb issue and you will see where the best trophy states are. Wyoming is not number 1, but is way up there. Based on costs and land access, I would think WY would be a great choice. There are some units available that average near or at 100% success each year for NR hunters. Tag cost is just over $200. Good luck if you go.

I will bet that a significant portion of the trophy antelope shot in Wyoming, by residents anyway, never see the book.  When working antelope hunters out of Casper, I saw B&C bucks at check stations and during field checks nearly every year.  Those killed by residents rarely ever appear in B&C, in my experience.  To a lot of Wyoming residents, pronghorn were strictly a jerky/sausage hunt before the "real" seasons.  A classic case of familiarity breeding contempt.