Well, the trip went well overall. Got two days of scouting in before opening day and filled my 3 tags (Buck and two Does) in the first 3 hrs. My Buddy took two days, but he finally got his two does. We whacked a bunch of Sharptail Grouse and even a couple Huns. Learned a lot about the areas we hunted. We primarily hunted unit 17. Learned that the landowner chip is essential for hunting any unit in Wyoming. Also learned that just because there is a ton of BLM land in your unit, doesn't mean it is worth anything. Most the BLM land in our area were the tops of ridges and buttes.....worthless for Antelope. The State land saved us. Only saw one antelope I would consider to be a trophy, but it was on private ground.
Also learned that the walk in area in unit 23 is worthless for Antelope. Good for deer, but there were about 100 other people all trying to hunt it. Oh and the big lesson learned for unit 23.....Beaver Creek Rd, the county road that leads from the walk in area to SR50, is a private rd, not public. Warden gave me a $120 ticket for driving down it. My map showed it as a County Rd as did my GPS (with Landowner chip). He told me my map was wrong. He told me he had the landowner chip in his GPS and it showed it as private. Told him I had the same chip and mine showed it as a County Rd. He asked to see it and it indeed showed it as a County Rd, again, he told me it was wrong. Apparently there is a guide service that owns both sides of the road about 5 miles in that complained about all the truck traffic, so the Warden closed the road. So, essentially you can hunt the first 5 miles of the road, then its closed for five miles, but if you go in from SR50 it is open for about 15 miles before it's closed. He had stopped about 15 other non-residents before me and wrote them tickets too. I flagged down two other Non-residents headed up the hill toward the Warden and warned them. They each told me it was a County Rd too, holding up their maps and gps. I held up my ticket and they turned around. I have to admit, this is the first time I have ever felt like I had walked into a trap.
We ended up leaving early after heading to S. Dakota to see Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Realized that S. Dakota is a Tourist trap. Nothing but billboards every 10' along the highways. Had no idea they had been working on Crazy Horse for 63 years and all they have gotten done is his face. 300 more years and it should almost be finished. LOL. Was unimpressed with it to say the least. Walked through their museum and saw a display saying eagle feather rattle from the early 1800's. It was wrapped in Pheasant feathers and they didn't introduce Pheasants into the US until 1881. Sad attempt at putting modern items in a museum and calling them old. Stopped at Devils Tower and have to say I was impressed with it. There were actually people climbing it while we were there.
Good trip overall and look forward to my next one.
