Outfitters Insight: Wyoming - 2
The second reason that western Wyoming is not at the top of every hunter's list of point-worthy units is the number of tags that are issued for the area. Wyoming residents can purchase a tag over the counter to hunt the area and 1200 non-resident tags are issued for G and H. There is more pressure than optimal on these bucks. We have tried many times to address this issue with the Wyoming Game and Fish, but they seem reluctant to reduce tag numbers, possibly because of the lost revenue that it would mean for the agency. Even though this may seem like a lot of pressure, I have hunted with a good buddy's son with the Arizona strip 13A tag and felt that there was 100 times more pressure on that hunt than we experience in western Wyoming, and there were only 50 tags issued.
The idea that bucks like these can be hunted every three or four years is exciting!
Scouting is difficult, but it is critical for success on giant bucks.
The saving grace for this herd is that the terrain is difficult enough that the average hunter is not willing or capable of doing what it takes for long enough to have consistent success. Even some of the local outfitters struggle with the area. We scout and hunt 900 square miles of western Wyoming to provide the trophies consistently for our clients. We don't hunt a secret mountain or canyon. Our success comes down to miles and miles of country. It is absolutely a year-round job.
First off, be willing to take the time to prepare for this hunt, or hire an outfitter who is prepared. I can assure you no other outfitter spends the time preseason or invests in a year round dedication to providing the best hunting opportunities for our clients than NTO. From guides, gear, horses, scouting and predator control, this is ALL we do year round. We are getting ready for next season right now!
Bring gear that will allow you to stay on the mountain no matter what the weather throws at you. Have good rain gear, good layering, the best boots you can find and an insulated, lightweight coat that allows you to sit in a snowstorm waiting for it to clear. Bring a backpack that you can comfortable carry with the gear you need and keep it under 25-30 pounds. Be sure that you are proficient with your rifle from 30 years off-hand to 400 plus yards from a solid rest. Know how far your bullet drops at different ranges and be able to fire your weapon from your backpack, bipods, shooting sticks, off-hand and off of anything else you can think of for a proficient shot in steep, asymmetrical terrain. I hear a lot of guys talking right now about their ability to shoot out to incredible yardages, which I am sure is true in controlled conditions from a shooting bench on the range. That is great, but can you do it in five seconds off the side of a cliff? How about straight up the side of a mountain at a moving target? I have seen the mountains of western Wyoming test the best shooters in the country. I have conducted training classes with some of our country's top Special Forces units. This terrain challenges even our nation's best. Prepare as much as you can and you'll be rewarded with a better experience.
To sum this all up, it is my opinion that the bext place to use your Wyoming points is here in western Wyoming. You can have the opportunity to hunt every three years with the current point system. It may come as a surprise to many, but if you laid out an Arizona Strip tag and a western Wyoming region tag and asked me to pick the one where I could take the biggest mule deer, I would take the Wyoming tag. Like Arizona, we have giant bucks to chase year in and year out. I also have a soft spot for the mountains and challenge that they provide.
The choice of course, is yours! You can hold on to your points and wait for that magical unit to appear, or pull on your "big boy" undies and take to the high mountain for the hunt of a lifetime!
The idea that bucks like these can be hunted every three or four years is exciting!
Scouting is difficult, but it is critical for success on giant bucks.
The saving grace for this herd is that the terrain is difficult enough that the average hunter is not willing or capable of doing what it takes for long enough to have consistent success. Even some of the local outfitters struggle with the area. We scout and hunt 900 square miles of western Wyoming to provide the trophies consistently for our clients. We don't hunt a secret mountain or canyon. Our success comes down to miles and miles of country. It is absolutely a year-round job.
First off, be willing to take the time to prepare for this hunt, or hire an outfitter who is prepared. I can assure you no other outfitter spends the time preseason or invests in a year round dedication to providing the best hunting opportunities for our clients than NTO. From guides, gear, horses, scouting and predator control, this is ALL we do year round. We are getting ready for next season right now!
Bring gear that will allow you to stay on the mountain no matter what the weather throws at you. Have good rain gear, good layering, the best boots you can find and an insulated, lightweight coat that allows you to sit in a snowstorm waiting for it to clear. Bring a backpack that you can comfortable carry with the gear you need and keep it under 25-30 pounds. Be sure that you are proficient with your rifle from 30 years off-hand to 400 plus yards from a solid rest. Know how far your bullet drops at different ranges and be able to fire your weapon from your backpack, bipods, shooting sticks, off-hand and off of anything else you can think of for a proficient shot in steep, asymmetrical terrain. I hear a lot of guys talking right now about their ability to shoot out to incredible yardages, which I am sure is true in controlled conditions from a shooting bench on the range. That is great, but can you do it in five seconds off the side of a cliff? How about straight up the side of a mountain at a moving target? I have seen the mountains of western Wyoming test the best shooters in the country. I have conducted training classes with some of our country's top Special Forces units. This terrain challenges even our nation's best. Prepare as much as you can and you'll be rewarded with a better experience.
To sum this all up, it is my opinion that the bext place to use your Wyoming points is here in western Wyoming. You can have the opportunity to hunt every three years with the current point system. It may come as a surprise to many, but if you laid out an Arizona Strip tag and a western Wyoming region tag and asked me to pick the one where I could take the biggest mule deer, I would take the Wyoming tag. Like Arizona, we have giant bucks to chase year in and year out. I also have a soft spot for the mountains and challenge that they provide.
The choice of course, is yours! You can hold on to your points and wait for that magical unit to appear, or pull on your "big boy" undies and take to the high mountain for the hunt of a lifetime!
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