Topgun 30-06
Well-Known Member
That's funny! The application period for the draws isn't even over until the end of May. The draw results will be posted on the G&F website for you to look up on your individual account around June 21.
Wyoming antelope hunt help!
- Thread starter aOWENc
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That's funny! The application period for the draws isn't even over until the end of May. The draw results will be posted on the G&F website for you to look up on your individual account around June 21.
Dskiper
Well-Known Member
thanks on draw info.thought it was right after elk lotto. havn't applied in 3-4yrs.sure do love that game richarea of the west. lookin forward to visit soon.
Last year was my first antelope hunt. East side of the state. No snakes. My girlfriend and I each killed 3 antelope. Hers was 243, mine 25-06. Both turned in stellar performance, but longest shot was 340. They die pretty easy and aren't very tough.
How was the meat / body damage with the 7mm? I've only taken antelope with a bow but have a two antelope rifle hunt booked for October in WY. My plan is to take my new proof 7mm. It's surely overkill but it's the smallest rifle I have other than ARs.
Thanks! ~Robert
Topgun 30-06
Well-Known Member
Just make sure and shoot them back behind the shoulders through the ribs with your 7 mm and you'll be fine. If you hit them on the shoulder with almost anything you'll make a mess because they are so small.
IAHNTR
Well-Known Member
We shot for the lungs on the antelope to save the front shoulders. We were shooting the Berger 180 hybrids out of the 7 mag at 2953fps. The first goat my dad shot at 320 or so and it blew a good 4x8" hole on the exit side and guts were hanging out. She still ran 150 yds. We did bugger up one front shoulder on a quartering away shot, but other than that we stayed away from the shoulders and didn't ruin them. It's all about shot placement.
Thanks!
That's a huge exit wound. I've never shot the Berger Hybrid, is it considered a rapid expanding bullet? I'm wondering if a lighter weight lesser expanding bullet in 7mm would be an option? Barnes recently recommended I use the 180gr TTSX I've been using for elk out of my 300 win mag on my javelina hunt last month with the idea that it would not have the time and mass to fully expand.
I really don't want to blow a fist sized hole in a 90lb antelope, because we use those hides as well as the meat.
Robert
IAHNTR
Well-Known Member
I really don't want to blow a fist sized hole in a 90lb antelope, because we use those hides as well as the meat.[/QUOTE]
I don't think the hybrid would be considered a rapid expanding bullet. I believe the VLD had a thinner jacket, so those possibly could expand more on less, so to say.
Most of the exit holes were golf ball sized. The one large hole was the anomaly. Maybe that one caught a more bone or it could have been the angle. May I ask what you are doing with the hides? If you don't know, the hair pulls out of the hides very easily.
I don't think the hybrid would be considered a rapid expanding bullet. I believe the VLD had a thinner jacket, so those possibly could expand more on less, so to say.
Most of the exit holes were golf ball sized. The one large hole was the anomaly. Maybe that one caught a more bone or it could have been the angle. May I ask what you are doing with the hides? If you don't know, the hair pulls out of the hides very easily.
maninthemaze
Well-Known Member
Me and my brother went to Wyoming last year for our first antelope hunt. I took my 7WSM shooting 168 Berger Hunting VLD's at 2950fps. I'm not real sure what he was shooting, it was a 150 bullet of some sort, Hornady I think.
Either way, my antelope was shot a little back into the liver area, very small exit hole, but exploded everything inside south of the liver. So much so, that I recovered but didn't eat the tenderloin. He ran about 75 yards and crashed.
My brother had perfect shot placement and the antelope dropped within 10 feet. No damage to anything and no exit wound.
Walked several miles each day and never saw a rattelsnack.
Good luck and have fun!!! In my mind the road hunters are missing out on the best part of antelope hunting. I truly enjoyed just being out there, walking among the sage bushes and prairie grass.
Either way, my antelope was shot a little back into the liver area, very small exit hole, but exploded everything inside south of the liver. So much so, that I recovered but didn't eat the tenderloin. He ran about 75 yards and crashed.
My brother had perfect shot placement and the antelope dropped within 10 feet. No damage to anything and no exit wound.
Walked several miles each day and never saw a rattelsnack.
Good luck and have fun!!! In my mind the road hunters are missing out on the best part of antelope hunting. I truly enjoyed just being out there, walking among the sage bushes and prairie grass.
We use them as wall hangings / art in our home. I'm aware of "slip" issues with antelope hides and go into it prepared to handle, freeze and ship the hides back to our taxidermist via FedEx immediately. She's an expert with hide rug of all types and handles a lot of African / International big game as well as all North American species. Not only does she do amazing work but there's none of the typical taxidermist BS of waiting a year plus. She's done elk and antelope for me and always has great work back within 3-five months max.
Truly exceptional work. I had one elk ruined in 2015 by someone else I tried in NM. 16 months and it was trash / junk. Such a waste of a fine animal. I'll never cheat on Andrea again! Here's her website. She has some amazing giraffes, zebras and exotics too.
Home
Robert
BAR BAR 2
Well-Known Member
I ranch and guide hunters in area 24 and every year I have to explain to hunting clients that smaller is better when it comes to rifles. 300WM is overkill by a long ways. I always suggest that clients bring a .243 or 25/06, as that is all the gun that is needed. I have seen too many times, hunters thinking that more gun means they can take longer shots. Most hunters will have a rifle that has more ability than they do as shooters and then they get mad when I won't let them take that long shot. As a guide, I owe it to the game to make sure it is harvested in a clean and humane manner.
Last season I had a hunter get mad when I wouldn't allow his son to take a 500 yard shot at a goat. When I said no, his response was, "Well the gun will reach that far". When they arrived the day before, I took them to the range to check "0" on their rifles, which also made Dad mad, because, according to him, they had zeroed everything before they flew up from the east coast. Anyhow, while at the range, I let them shoot my rifle and Son said he had never shot at anything over a couple hundred yards. There was no way on earth I was going to let him take a 500 yard shot.
Another factor that people are not usually prepared for is the wind. Again, just because a rifle will punch through the wind doesn't mean the shooter has the ability to judge his hold. What would be a clean shot through the boiler room on a calm day can often mean a gut shot or hip shot animal goes off and suffers until it dies or is killed by coyotes.
It is a point of pride to be able to shoot and harvest game with a nice long distance shot, but rarely does luck play a role. You have to practice to make those shots. And not only does a person have to practice, but they have to practice in similar conditions. Being able to shoot 500 yards on a calm day is a hell of lot easier than shooting 300 with a 20mph crosswind.
OP, don't overthink the rifle or optics. A .243 or 25/06 with a 3x9 scope is more than sufficient for cleanly harvesting an animal. If you are using an outfitter, call him and see what he suggests. I bet he will say the same. Don't worry too much about snakes. There may still be a few out, but the weather could also be pretty rough by then too, and they most likely will not be an issue.
What area will you be hunting?
Good luck and have fun.
Tex
Last season I had a hunter get mad when I wouldn't allow his son to take a 500 yard shot at a goat. When I said no, his response was, "Well the gun will reach that far". When they arrived the day before, I took them to the range to check "0" on their rifles, which also made Dad mad, because, according to him, they had zeroed everything before they flew up from the east coast. Anyhow, while at the range, I let them shoot my rifle and Son said he had never shot at anything over a couple hundred yards. There was no way on earth I was going to let him take a 500 yard shot.
Another factor that people are not usually prepared for is the wind. Again, just because a rifle will punch through the wind doesn't mean the shooter has the ability to judge his hold. What would be a clean shot through the boiler room on a calm day can often mean a gut shot or hip shot animal goes off and suffers until it dies or is killed by coyotes.
It is a point of pride to be able to shoot and harvest game with a nice long distance shot, but rarely does luck play a role. You have to practice to make those shots. And not only does a person have to practice, but they have to practice in similar conditions. Being able to shoot 500 yards on a calm day is a hell of lot easier than shooting 300 with a 20mph crosswind.
OP, don't overthink the rifle or optics. A .243 or 25/06 with a 3x9 scope is more than sufficient for cleanly harvesting an animal. If you are using an outfitter, call him and see what he suggests. I bet he will say the same. Don't worry too much about snakes. There may still be a few out, but the weather could also be pretty rough by then too, and they most likely will not be an issue.
What area will you be hunting?
Good luck and have fun.
Tex
Topgun 30-06
Well-Known Member
I hope the OP listens to that great post of yours, rethinks and takes his .243 Tex!
Appreciate the advice, however I find that I can shoot my weatherby vanguard 300 better than I can my 243. The combination of the Monte Carlo stock, and 2.5 pound trigger allow me to shoot this weapon much better than my TC encore .243. While the recoil is more severe I do not find it a problem as many people do. We applied for area 17 , thanks tex!!
