Options for an inexpensive hunt in the West?

[engineer40]

My Dad started me shooting when I was very young. I remember Christmas when I was 10 he got me a reloading press for my 20 Gauge. I'm thankful for all the time he spent teaching me various things about firearms while I was growing up.

We live in Michigan. He has always talked about wanting to go "west" for a hunt. He never has because of financial reasons...

I do better financially than he ever dreamed of; however I have a couple young kids and a stay-at-home wife that use up a lot of my financial resources.

I always tell myself that "Someday I'm going to take my Dad on his hunting trip out west". Well we all know the road to Someday leads to a town called Nowhere... It never happens.

My Dad has had cancer twice. He still gets around decent, still cuts firewood, etc... But chances are if I don't plan something relatively soon, I'm not sure how much longer he'll be in good enough health to go on a hunt.

I'd love to take him on an elk hunt. But some Googling has me thinking that will be cost prohibitive. So maybe mule deer and antelope?

All of my hunting has been in the Midwest. I know some of you on this forum have TONS of experience planning and going on hunting trips. If you were trying to be cost conscious, what would a good hunting trip look like to you all?

I guess I'm asking you guys to help me plan my first trip somewhere in a western state to go hunting and I can bring my Dad with. I'll be paying for both of us. So I can't spend so much that my wife will get too irate.

Off hand, I'm thinking hunting state land in Montana for Mule Deer...? Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Barrelnut]

No much is more fun than antelope in Wyoming. Price is relatively low. Physically it is relatively easy also. And nothing more fun than a 600 yard shot on an antelope. They are also very good to eat. You might even be able to get a couple doe tags also and bring back more than one or two. I think they look cool on the wall too.

 

[IdahoCTD]

You could probably get a buck and a couple doe antelope tags in WY and not spend 1000.00 each if you drove and camped out. Adding in a deer tag would run another 300.00 or so. If you stay in hotels the cost would go up probably 70-100/day plus eating out food. I would almost bet you could do a buck deer and antelope tag each, driving to WY and back, camping out could be done for around 2500.00 total.

A full price deer tag is 312.00, a full price antelope is 272.00, and a conservation stamp is 12.50. Gas for 3000 miles round trip is around 5-600. You obviously spend more driving around hunting so lets say 800. That's about 2000.00 less food and butchering fees if you have someone butcher your animals. Technically you have to eat weather your home or out hunting so that kind of shouldn't be factored in. Worse case with food and butchering you'd probably be closer to 27-2800. If you stayed in hotels it would be 3500 or slightly more with eating out.

 

[engineer40]

Awesome! Thanks guys. This is exactly the kind of insight I am looking for.

 

[WildRose]

Antelope hunting is a whole lot of fun and very challenging due to the terrain and their uncanny eyes.

Try and call around to see if you can find any prairie dog hunting in the area and you can add in something for very little that neither of you will ever forget.

 

[Dr. Vette]

Agreed.

Antelope is both fun and inexpensive. If Dad can walk, and sneak, you'll have fun.
We'll be going this fall on our second trip like this. It's inexpensive, and will make as many memories as our much more expensive guided elk hunts which have generally been disappointing.

Doing mule deer as well isn't much more money but can be a lot more challenge. Public land in WY during deer season doesn't feel much different than public land firearms deer season here in MI when it comes to hunter density.

Good luck!

 

[codyadams]

I live and grew up here in southwest Wyoming, and I think Antelope is just what you should go for. If you can get a goat tag, I would take you guys out on a goat hunt, no charge. I know this area pretty well (Kemmerer, Lyman, Fort Bridger) and can get on alfalfa fields as I know most of the land owners around here. I can relate to wanting to take your father on a wonderful hunt, and I know how money can be an issue. But if you guys can get a tag in the area of Lyman, Wyoming, get in touch with me and I will take you guys out. I'm not a professional guide, but my family and I know this area well and have killed many goats here, and as one hunter to another, I would make sure you guys had a fun time. If your interested, just message me.

 

[bayjoe]

There are a couple outfitters around Trinidad, CO that are reasonable on their antelope hunts. I don't know any by name but have seen a lot of antelope east of Trinidad.

 

[yobuck]

In Wyoming and Montana there are no license requirments for hunting prairie dogs.
Also many ranchers will gladly let you shoot them with no fee involved. If shooting 100
or more rounds a day each, as opposed to a few rounds for the whole trip, appeals to you then consider that. And its also possible doors might be opened for future hunts.

 

[Win.308Stealth]

If I was you I would definitely hit up CodyAdams on his offer. I'm from MN and my first big game hunt out west was antelope out of Gillette. I traded a rifle for a boat with a guy from Gillette many years back , and when I was ready to go hunting antelope, he helped me out. He let us stay in his travel trailer in his yard, and took us around showed us all the public lands. We have since became very good friends. Wyoming hospitality at its best. Plus, me shooting a buck at 675 yards was unforgettable. But having a local show you around is really valuable. Good luck, and enjoy your time with your dad. I lost my dad when I was in my early twenties and regret everyday we didn't share any hunting together.

 

[aspenbugle]

Engineer...I completely agree with the others about antelope hunting. It is deceptively fun, not too taxing and you have a high chance of getting something and getting lots of "action".

However, I guess it really depends on the "dream" you and your Dad have in your heads. If that vision involves being camped up high in the mountains, with epic views, chasing elk, I wouldn't dismiss an elk hunt. Going self-guided is completely normal, and I hunt near many out-of-state groups here (Colorado) on their own hunting unguided. Your odds of success won't be as good as antelope hunting, or with a guided hunt, but in many ways--who cares. Many years when I was younger, I'd come home empty-handed, but it was still the best week of my year and a real highlight. Killing something is just a bonus.

Nothing beats the views, or coming back to camp for a hot breakfast late in the morning in the high Rockies, or sitting out in the sun at 70 degrees, in a recliner chair at 10,000' taking a siesta at noon (pretty common at least for early rifle seasons- but sometimes it's a blizzard too). It is also awesome sitting in your tent with a heater going after dark, telling stories and eating some hot stew or something. If you get a shot at an elk, that is a bonus, but even if you don't, spending a week in "God's country", away from people, enjoying the Rockies in the Fall is nothing short of awesome.

One of you could get a bull-tag, the other could get a cow tag, not too hard in many units, and that would cost you about $1100. If you drive out in a 4wd, and have a large pop-up tent, a cook stove an a few basics you are set. If you want to pull out an RV or something, you can have even more luxury.

Not trying to sway you away from antelope, that is an awesome hunt. However, elk hunting is still an option and can be a blast, too. Depends on what your dream hunt looks like to you. If you want better chances of success, apply for a bonus point for a year or two and then go to a unit that requires one or two, and the success rate tends to go up. However, it isn't mandatory. Last thing, if going for elk or mule deer, I'd go to Colorado before Montana. I have hunted many times with my brother in Montana, and finding good hunting on public land always seems harder there, and more crowded in most places we've gone (he lives there). Just my $.02.

 

[ATH]

Most elk hunts that are cheap are probably too physically taxing for your father. I have done DIY, the hard way on public land, and taken elk 2 of 4 tries, but they were remote and physical hunts covering a ton of ground. There are easier hunts to be had if you build points, but that can take many years.

I agree with antelope. When hunting MT for elk/muleys I have also easily gotten doe antelope tags; one year I took all three in a week. Last year I hunted NE WY for antelope…supposedly a tough unit but easy to draw…4 of us tagged out in 2 days. Doing the same hunt this year with 3 guys. Basically gas, hotel, tag expense. If the hotel is too much just camp. I'm sure it's a hard hunt if you never leave the truck, but we found a lot of antelope the truck hunters missed just by walking 200-400 yards from the road and glassing around into the coulees.

 

[aspenbugle]

I will politely disagree with ATH. I was born and raised here in Colorado and have hunted elk here over 4 decades - all of it on public land (millions of acres of National Forest and BLM). It certainly can be tough and taxing, however, it doesn't have to be. Many forest service roads go for hours back into the woods and to the tops of mountains, past the elk and above the elk. Much to my chagrin there are several times I've gone on 5+ mile sojourns through hell of thick, steep stuff, returning empty-handed only to find one of the less mobile of my party with a bull hung in the tree that he killed just 300 yards from camp.

Four of my last five bulls, shot on public land, no preference points, with over-the-counter tags I've shot when walking less than 200 yards from camp (no I'm not telling you where "grin"). Many out-of-staters spend all day riding their ATVs around the mountain, and some actually kill stuff. However, by going about 45 minutes up the mountain on a 4wd road you can walk 300-400 yards off the road, not too steep, an kick up bedded elk or watch small meadows that they will feed into at dark. Many dozens of elk that my group have shot (in fact most of our success and most hunters I know here in Colorado) has all been within 400 yards of a forest service road. The elk hang out in the timber a few hundred yards from the mountain meadows that the road goes through, and a couple hours after dark, they come out into those larger meadows to feed. I've hunted many units here and have had the same experience in most of them. You can make it harder if you want to, but it doesn't have to be.

Again, not steering you away from antelope, that would be a great choice. Just saying don't be discouraged from elk hunting...tons of public land and you don't have to hike 5 miles into some remote spot to find success, even with no bonus points or special draw tag.

 

[engineer40]

Wow! You guys have really given me a lot to think about. I'm seeing my Dad on Saturday and I'm going to chat with him about some of this.

I really do enjoy this forum. Everybody is super generous with their knowledge and even their time.

I might end up coming back with some additional questions. Thanks all!