My girls Wy animal-lope hunt

[DanMan]

Finally got around to taking my wife and daughter on a DIY animal-lope hunt this
fall. We had put in for Shirley basin with 3 points but failed to draw so we went to plan B and did a trespass hunt near Buffalo. We hunted the 3rd week of Oct so they had already been chased around a bit and were pretty skittish. My wife was first up to fill her tag and after several attempts we finally put it together on a nice buck that we had picked out early in the day.




Day 2 was my 14 year olds turn and she really doesnt have much experience
with a rifle. It took pretty much all day because of little things like being
slow to find them in the scope before they took off but she ended up with a nice
buck and I was proud of her efforts. When she finally got to take a shot it was
dead right there at 190 yards.

 

[HARPERC]

From Arkansas to Buffalo Wyoming should give anybody an adjustment phase. Nice goats, sounds like a good time. It's a shame 3 points won't get you a Shirley Basin tag anymore.

 

[25 Otter]

Nice goats! Nuttin wrong with those.

 

[DanMan]

Thanks, We had a great time and in the end took home a couple of bucks that I thought were very nice. I had a tag in my pocket also but never took my gun out of the truck wanting to concentrate my efforts on helping the girls. I was happier with their success than if I had gotten 6 of the buggers myself.
My buddy did draw the Shirley Basin tag and I had spent a couple of days helping him get a buck before taking the family to Buffalo. Had a great trip and with happy hunting memories. My twin 5 yr old girls cant wait until its their turn!

 

[wyowinchester]

Those smiles tells it all. I know the feeling of eating a tag for the kids. They don't taste too bad. Great job. PM

 

[MMERSS]

Way to go ladies!!!

 

[ust421]

Never hunted out west I just have to ask what is a trespass hunt?

 

[wyowinchester]

I believe it is where you pay a fee, work, trade, or barter.... to hunt a piece of private land.
Alot of ranchers charge to "trespass" on their land to either acsess public or hunt thier's.

 

[ust421]

Ok I gotcha. I wasn't sure when I read the word trespass. We are hoping to go shoot some goats next year. Hope we have as good of luck as the two ladies did.

 

[wyowinchester]

You should. Plan and prep. Some public land gets hit pretty hard. Depends on where you go. Lots of walkin areas. Red Desert has some good blocks of public, and good goats. Refer to bold print

 

[DanMan]

A trespass hunt is where you pay a fee to a rancher for the privilege of hunting unguided on their private property. It usually cost far less than going guided.

 

[ust421]

Dan,

Do you find it best to drive around and find the goats and then ask to hunt the land or did you have it lined up before you headed out? Also what would be a good price to try to settle on? Is it per guy or per gun? Here in MN I have always hunted private land or public. Only time I have had to pay to hunt was for some P-dogs in ND.

 

[DanMan]

As WyoWinchester posted you definately need to plan in advance. First pick the general area you wish to hunt. Then call the game & fish office for that region and get a landowner list. Then start working the phone. Plan on making a lot of calls
before you actually get to talk to someone. Then most will be already booked with
repeat hunters. If you are persistent you can eventually find a place. Anyway that was my experience. The price will vary greatly from $100 - $500 or more per hunter for buck antelope. Depends on location and quality of hunting. Often doe will be free with a buck. This can be a great avenue to get a good place to hunt if you dont have preference points but expect to put forth some effort to find a place. If you happen to know someone local to the area that can help you it would probably be much easier. I had to do it the hard way this time but would expect it to be much easier next time since I now have history with this rancher. I still prefer public land if you can draw a good unit.
Hope this helps. Danny

 

[wyowinchester]

Dan's got it. Some ranches would welcome the taking of does. Barter all the way. If you take, say, 5 does, could you take a buck?? They eat the alfalfa intended for thier cows in the winter. Lots of calls.
If you will walk, Nat'l Grassland around Gillette.
Red Desert, South of Rawlins. Just two areas.
Wyoming Game & Fish Department