Another "Newbie to speed goats" thread!

[2fewdaysafield]

Hi all.

Sorry for posting yet another of these, but I am all excited!!!!

A buddy from another Forum invited me to join his Antelope camp in Wyoming come September. We've drawn for area 26 on Private land my buddy has hunted for years. We'll be camping.

So I am off for my first speed goat adventure and first Western big game hunt!

Naturally, I'm trying to figure out what I need to bring.

I'll be carrying a 30-06 and have been practicing with it to make sure I can put a bullet where it counts out to at least 300 yards. Any specific suggestions for factory ammo? I'm not a handloader.

I'll be flying from Ct to Mo where my Buddy will pick me up and we'll drive to Wy. My buddy says not to worry too much about gear as he has plenty of spares.

I'm planning to pack my personal gear and a duffel inside a large cooler for the plane trip out so that on the way back I can pack gear in the duffel for carry on aboard the plane and put meat (hopefully!!!) in the cooler for checked baggage. Naturally my rifle will be checked in both directions.

Could you all offer some advice on clothing and gear I will need?

Thanks in advance.....2few

 

[MachV]

Sounds like you got a good start.
Its not uncommon to get snow overnite and 70 by afternoon. Layering lighter cloths works better than a heavy jacket. Leather gloves and knee/elbo pads are a handy thing to have along as just about everthing out here bites,stabs or sends needles in ya.
Very few benches out here on the prairie and the sage and yuka have you shooting uncomfortably high off the ground at times.A good idea to practice offhand shooting as well as shooting off of sticks.
Goats aint hard to kill so whatever expanding bullet that shoots good in your gun will work. Clean and cool the carcase asap being carefull to keep the hair off the meat!

 

[2fewdaysafield]

Thanks MachV!!!!

Hmmmm....Shooting sticks. Never used 'em. I'm used to shooting sitting or prone. Mostly sitting (not a bench, field sitting). That's how I hunt deer, so that is how I usually practice at the range. Is a seated firing position going to put me too low to shoot over the grass/sage/yuka?

Thanks for the tip on the weather! That will be interesting. Maybe a set of XL BDUs with with some medium weight layers underneath? I guess a daypack with water to put excess layers into and to put knee and elbow pads in....or maybe just wear them next to the skin?

Thanks again for the advice you have probably given many times before!

Best....2few

 

[loaders_loft]

last year I wore cabelas microtex pants with fleece thermals underneath. Knee & elbow pads are a must. On top I wore a soft shell windproof jacket with a fleece vest inside.

You'll need at least one article of blaze orange.

 

[Buffalobob]

This is hail during my last years hunt in September!

One thing to remember is to bring your hunter safety card. Wyoming requires you to have it in the field.

Boots should be cactus resistant. They do not have to be steel toe or armored but lightweight jogging shoes don't work.

 

[2fewdaysafield]

Thanks loaders_loft!

 

[2fewdaysafield]

This is hail during my last years hunt in September!

One thing to remember is to bring your hunter safety card. Wyoming requires you to have it in the field.

Boots should be cactus resistant. They do not have to be steel toe or armored but lightweight jogging shoes don't work.

YOWZA!!!!!!

Hail in September!?!

"Hunter Safety Card"? I've got my license/tag......I've got my "conservation stamp" thingy.

What is this safety card? I was born in the '50s. Older than dirt. Am I not "grandfathered".

Am I crazy or are those DC tags on your truck?

Thanks....2few

 

[MachV]

Yep your grandfathered in....Check the regs but I believe its 1963 and after that have to have hunter safty cards. Remember to sign your conservation stamp.

 

[loaders_loft]

I was in the same scenario last year for hunters safety. I re-took the class from when I was 12 years old. It took 1 day plus some reading beforehand, and I aced the test.

Your local shooting range or fish & game office should have information for local hunters safety courses.

If a WY warden stops you, he'll probably check your hunters safety, blaze orange, rifle caliber, tags and conservation stamp.

 

[2fewdaysafield]

Yep your grandfathered in....Check the regs but I believe its 1963 and after that have to have hunter safty cards. Remember to sign your conservation stamp.

Thanks MachV!!!

I was pretty sure I was "good to go", but wanted to be sure. Don't want trouble with a warden 1500 miles from home!

Signed my "conservation stamp" as soon as I printed it! God bless computers....I can buy licenses, tags and all that stuff for almost any state from right here in Ct! And my thanks to all the states that have short term non res licenses!!! Makes "traveling" hunting affordable!

I guess there are SOME advantages to all these gray hairs!!!

I'm all fired up about this! Can hardly sit still!

God willing, I get a buck, I'm going to have it mounted.....just to remember my first "traveling" big game hunt!

Thanks again guys!

Best.....2few

 

[Buffalobob]

Am I crazy or are those DC tags on your truck?

I'm from the gov't and here to help you! Need your company bailed out? Need stimulus money? How's your health, need any insurance?
Are there any WMDs in Conneticutt, we'll bomb the sh1t out of you?

 

[2fewdaysafield]

Hey Buff....

You're my kind of fella!!!!! You can bomb this state into the stone age any time you want! Just give me a few hours notice so I can get home to Virginia, OK?????

Lived down there for 23 years. If I can ever "retire", I know where I am headed!

If you don't much mind, you can keep your health insurance!!! I try to stay healthy, and if I need an operation, I have a hunting knife and bottle of whiskey!

Best....2few