2015 WY Antelope Father Son

[MDSurgeon591]

He doesn't need to do anything overnight on this, but should start getting all the information together to decide whether he wants to do a DIY or guided hunt. Wyoming has changed the application period for NRs to match the residents and the new dates are 1/1-6/1 instead of 1/1-3/15. The best I can offer if you don't want to do a guided hunt is to see if you can lock in a ranch fairly soon for unit 23 just south of Gillette. If you can do that, you can either put in for the tags in the draw or wait and buy the tags as leftovers on line when they go on sale in July. There are always hundreds of buck and doe tags left in that unit and Wyoming allows 2 buck tags and 4 doe tags in that area.

What about the public land West of Gillette?

 

[MDSurgeon591]

He doesn't need to do anything overnight on this, but should start getting all the information together to decide whether he wants to do a DIY or guided hunt. Wyoming has changed the application period for NRs to match the residents and the new dates are 1/1-6/1 instead of 1/1-3/15. The best I can offer if you don't want to do a guided hunt is to see if you can lock in a ranch fairly soon for unit 23 just south of Gillette. If you can do that, you can either put in for the tags in the draw or wait and buy the tags as leftovers on line when they go on sale in July. There are always hundreds of buck and doe tags left in that unit and Wyoming allows 2 buck tags and 4 doe tags in that area.

What about the public land West of Gillette?

 

[FearNoWind]

What about the public land West of Gillette?

I believe Gillette is in the Casper Region. The region immediately west of that is the Lander Region. I've hunted that area with good, but not excellent, results. I found it difficult to identify the points of demarcation between public and private property in some places. My GPS and some good mapping kept me out of trouble.
My son and I planned a trip last year but, even with points, didn't get drawn. That was a disappointment to be sure.
Best of luck to you in planning your trip.
If you insist on the DIY approach the only thing I can suggest is to study the Wyoming Game and Fish web site so you know every little nuance. If something happens to force you to act swiftly and you don't know how their links work together you could miss out on an opportunity if and when it arises.
One last point. I've found that the Wyoming prong horns are fairly easy to hunt on opening day. The next day they'll put a minimun of 500 yards between themselves and your rifle. 6 and 700 yard shots are not uncommon. Practice hitting that eight inch circle at 700 yards ... in cross winds.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

What about the public land West of Gillette?

It's a tough hunt in some rough areas that is more mulie country, but if a person has enough time and puts a lot of effort into walking and glassing they can find a few antelope. I probably wouldn't recommend that area for a person that has never hunted it or antelope before though.

 

[MDSurgeon591]

That is what I was kind of thinking. I am always on the range plinking steel out 900yds with and without wind. I wouldn't call myself an expert by any means but I am pretty deadly and rarely miss 800 yds and closer. I built an AR style 6.5 Creedmoor and that thing is crazy. Dropped a 300lb mule deer with it earlier this year @406 yds. I just want to go out there and show my dad a good time. Other than Wyoming are there any other states that have a good amount of Antelope with better odds?

 

[Topgun 30-06]

The simple answer to your question is NO. Wyoming is THE state to go for antelope and you just need to start doing your homework to find a place to hunt on private property for the best chance at a fun hunt with your Dad. You could draw some of the other units in that general area of the state that has more public land like a lot of people do with no PPs, but you'll be looking at a sea of orange if you go the first week like most do. If you go that route, I would certainly advise you to go toward the end of a season to avoid that and most times the animals have calmed down somewhat too. The other way to go in a unit that has a lot of private land like 23 is to go through an outfitter that has a lot of property leased, but that is getting more expensive every year. Personally, I would not pay someone four figures like they are asking to go out and shoot an antelope, but that's just me and a lot are doing just that.

 

[MDSurgeon591]

The simple answer to your question is NO. Wyoming is THE state to go for antelope and you just need to start doing your homework to find a place to hunt on private property for the best chance at a fun hunt with your Dad. You could draw some of the other units in that general area of the state that has more public land like a lot of people do with no PPs, but you'll be looking at a sea of orange if you go the first week like most do. If you go that route, I would certainly advise you to go toward the end of a season to avoid that and most times the animals have calmed down somewhat too. The other way to go in a unit that has a lot of private land like 23 is to go through an outfitter that has a lot of property leased, but that is getting more expensive every year. Personally, I would not pay someone four figures like they are asking to go out and shoot an antelope, but that's just me and a lot are doing just that.

I hear that... I have been searching several sources for land owner information and not coming up with much. I am going to give the Gillette office a call to see if they have any suggestions. The Idaho office helped my friend and I out a lot. I don't mind paying a ranch owner 4-5 hundred to use the land but the trick is going to be finding the land that is not already leased/taken. I have also been reaching out to co-workers that have customers in the area to see if they can help. We will see. Do you know if you could have a relative like wife or uncle apply to help your odds. For example, my uncle applies gets it and then I could buy them from him?

 

[HARPERC]

The simple answer to your question is NO. Wyoming is THE state to go for antelope and you just need to start doing your homework to find a place to hunt on private property for the best chance at a fun hunt with your Dad. You could draw some of the other units in that general area of the state that has more public land like a lot of people do with no PPs, but you'll be looking at a sea of orange if you go the first week like most do. If you go that route, I would certainly advise you to go toward the end of a season to avoid that and most times the animals have calmed down somewhat too. The other way to go in a unit that has a lot of private land like 23 is to go through an outfitter that has a lot of property leased, but that is getting more expensive every year. Personally, I would not pay someone four figures like they are asking to go out and shoot an antelope, but that's just me and a lot are doing just that.

There are landowner tags, raffle tags, commissioner tags, and governor tags elsewhere.
All cost money, but can get you in the field sooner.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

There are landowner tags, raffle tags, commissioner tags, and governor tags elsewhere.
All cost money, but can get you in the field sooner.

Wyoming does not allow any tags, including landowner ones, to be transferred to another person. They do allow NRs to party together and what ever their point total comes to is averaged out without rounding up or down. Then all go into the draw as one chance to draw or not. That way either all draw or none do and if not drawn the fee money is refunded minus the $14 application fee.

 

[HARPERC]

Wyoming does not allow any tags, including landowner ones, to be transferred to another person. They do allow NRs to party together and what ever their point total comes to is averaged out without rounding up or down. Then all go into the draw as one chance to draw or not. That way either all draw or none do and if not drawn the fee money is refunded minus the $14 application fee.

I worked nights prior to typing, actually thought I'd deleted this cause I didn't like the way it came out. I was trying to add to your post. It should have read in some of the antelope states, or Provinces, one can get a tag by other routes, but they are costly.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I worked nights prior to typing, actually thought I'd deleted this cause I didn't like the way it came out. I was trying to add to your post. It should have read in some of the antelope states, or Provinces, one can get a tag by other routes, but they are costly.

I understood what you were saying since I'm up on the way most states handle all this kind of stuff. I just wanted to make sure he knew how Wyoming does their tags and draw.

 

[MDSurgeon591]

I talked the Gillette office the other day and the lady provided me with a list of land owners names. I am going to be giving them a call next week. I am also heading to Cabelas today to try out some of the GPS devices. I might as well start messing with it now rather than waiting until the last minute.

 

[MDSurgeon591]

After looking at the land owner list it doesn't really look like the properties are that big. How much land do you think I need to be looking for?

 

[Topgun 30-06]

After looking at the land owner list it doesn't really look like the properties are that big. How much land do you think I need to be looking for?

Give me an idea of what the sizes are so I can comment.