Newbie tryin to research/plan a Wyo Goat hunt with alot of ?s

[dzlfarmboy]

So im trying to plan my first Out West public land hunt in Wyo for goats in the fall with a friend and im having a hard time understanding the tag/draw system, points, speacial/standard draw. As we dont have that here in Maryland, just a license you buy and a couple stamps and you can shoot what ever the bag limit is. And im pretty much on Ipad everynight trying to learn as much info on where to draw/apply for a tag.

I plan to buy a GPS and chip for wyo so I know where public and private is.
I plan to camp where were hunting.

Some questions I have are....

Should I buy the chip now to find out where theres a lot of public land in certain sections? Then look at odds for drawing in it?

I'd like to deff get us both a tag even if its just a doe tag. Whats our best options?

If I put in for a tag and dont recieve one do I get a point? or do you just have to buy them?

Is it wise for someone with no points to apply for the $$$ special draw or just the standard draw.

Please bear with me as Im trying to learn all this new info myself and have never spoke with anyone that has done this before, and im reading as much as I can from multiple resources.

Looking forward clearing up some of these uncertaintys as I would like to plan a trip every year for some sort of western big game animal.

Thanks, Brett

 

[Canvsbk]

I'm going to just blurb here, no rime or reason....
The Wyoming fish and game web site has tons of info on it. Spend some or most of your time there. The DeLorme map book, about $20 I think, will help you a ton, quick and pretty accurate with public land marked pretty well. You will need the chip to hunt out there but not at this point. You get a point if you don't draw your first choice or you can just buy one in July, when the left over tags are available. Be carefully there.
I have found the BLM maps to be invaluable. $4 a pop. Tired of typing...
Pm sent.

 

[wyowinchester]

Canvsbk has it. Study some maps first. Doe tags can be bought over the counter for most areas. WY G&F has a lot of info on it. Bring good optics. Hope we've helped

 

[dzlfarmboy]

Thanks guys, yeah talked to Canvsbk and cleared up a lot of things. I have a set of 10x42 Leica Geovids and a NF 5-22, planning on picking up my first spotter this year too looking hard at the Vortex Razor HD angled.

So from what I gathered these sections all had 100% draw success for someone with 0 points in 2012

4 8 10 15
16 17 20 21
22 23 24 25
26 30 31 35
38 44 70 102

Now where is the best place online to check each section for the availability of public hunting land? Delorme map book? Then use that in conjunction with my GPS and chip?

Or could I buy the chip and use it on my computer ahead of time to research public areas?

Thanks for the tips

Brett

 

[wyowinchester]

If your going to buy the chip anyway, go ahesd and get it. But check out the BLM maps for a quicker look at PL. Then you can match it up with your GPS and chip.
Wyoming Game & Fish Department Put the curser on HUNTING and search the public lands.

 

[Canvsbk]

Mytopo.com will let you look at specific maps of each unit online before you buy it. They're kinda pricey but if you do get any they're pretty nice, kind of a cross between a topo and BLM map.

 

[Tikkamike]

Areas with 100 % draw odds have very little or no public access and the antelope know whats public and avoid it. I have lived here my whole life and hunted antelope all over the state. My advice is stay west of the big horn mountains. or on the south end of the state.

 

[dzlfarmboy]

So like 35-38 in the south east corner would be more ideal?

Another question, when I was looking around at the left over licenses it talked about the date they could be viewed and when they would be available for purchase. They also had applications for left over tags???? Can't you just buy them directly when they become available?

Thanks Brett

 

[Tikkamike]

I dont know areas 35 and 38 but if they have good draw odds they more than likely suck. Trust me you are better off playing the random odd of a special draw and if you dont get it save your points and when you do draw burn those points on a trophy area itll be well worth the wait. coming out here for a doe or a 13" buck is not good use of your time and money in my opinion.
as far as buying left overs I am not sure how that works for non residents

 

[dzlfarmboy]

Thanks for the advice, but you have to understand I have never been Antelope hunting before and I am not trophy hunting. I really enjoy going out west and just getting to hunt in that environment beings it's so much different than over here in Maryland where it's just whitetails flat woods and crop fields. I have been to South Dakota in 2010& 2011 for Phesants, Coyote & Prairie dogs and Montana in 2012 for just Coyotes and thoroughly enjoyed myself. So either way if we just end up with doe tags were planning to go camp and make a fun week out of it.

Now down the road after I get a few under my belt I might be looking for more advice on quality areas with larger, better managed bucks

 

[Canvsbk]

I certainly could be off on my dates but :
It seems like last year the left over list came out, was posted on or about July 1 and then you could buy those tags online on the 17th. Fouls be wrong on those dates but you do get some time for research. The 63-2 tags were gone in 12 seconds come 8 am. That's what WGFD said any way, I know they were gone by the time I got done typing at 8:03 am....
The tags left over for the really tough access areas can usually be bought over the counter when you get there but a doe tag in a decent access area will be gone very quickly.

Antelope hunting ain't about kill in' an antelope...

 

[Doublezranch]

Unless you know someone in unit 38, don't waste your money. I have hunted goats in WY the last 2 years. I wasted my money the first year because I picked up a left over doe tag in that unit and you can only access public land by going through private. You might get lucky and find someone that will let you on, but I never did. Stay away from 38. There is a reason it is 100 percent draw success.

 

[bronco]

We try to make an annual trip to area 92.

Most of the time we draw two doe tags per hunter and one guy in the group will draw a buck after collecting some points. The only exception was the 2011 season when nobody drew because of the extreme winter prior too. We try to time the trip in conjunction with the sage grouse opener.

We camp in the public area on Big Sandy Reservoir (only a couple miles from area 92) for a few days, hunting sage grouse and antelope. There is PLENTY of public land to roam and the local landowners usually have no problem letting you clear some goats out of their alfalfa fields as long as they get the landowner coupon after you harvest. (Get permission prior to going on ANY private land!)

After we have tagged out we spend the rest of the week trout fishing between Farson and Jackson.

Any additional licencing or provisions needed for the hunt or fishing can easily be bought in Pinedale about an hour north.

For an easy DIY it can't be beat. Just be prepared to collect points before you can expect to draw a buck tag. But when you eventually draw a buck, there are some real trophies in that area.

 

[Altiman94]

Many of the guys have already given you good information. I've only been to Wyoming once antelope hunting but I'll give you what I learned:

-My party (3 of us) applied for the special drawing with no preference points and we all draw. I knew we wouldnt have a chance without the special tag and it was worth it to me.

-Antelope are surprisingly hard to judge. A 12" antelope on foot looks bigger than you think it will so study lots of pictures and antelope on the hoof when you arrive to your unit.

-Be prepared to camp in single digit temps. I went out the first full week in Oct and it was down to 9* a few of the nights. It got up to the mid 50's/low 60's during the day, so you can dress light while hunting. But, have good cold weather camping gear.

-Having a GPS is not only nice, but 100% neccessary in my mind. Most of the land out there is checkerboard type, so knowing you are able to hunt an area is important. Ignorance won't get you out of a trespassing ticket.

-If you don't shoot a lot of rifles now, spend a bunch of time behind your rifle and find a good load it likes. I'd say being comfortable to 300y is the minimum distance. Antelope are hard to get close to and live out in the open. Not saying you can't stalk into bow range, just be prepared to take longer shots.

-Make sure your pants and shoes can withstand cactus and stickers. They are everywhere out there. Also get yourself a good pair of leather gloves for stalking in the cactii. Those stickers are not fun pulling out of your hands/knees.

-Don't be afraid to ask the game warden where a good portion of the unit is to hunt. The warden in the unit we hunted in gave us some great information. They are friendly as long as you are hunting legally and safely.

Being a 'flatlander' from IA I can tell you the experience was great. The meat is good and well worth the trip. I'm planning on going back out for a doe/fawn hunt. I enjoyed the hunt as much as I enjyoed harvesting a nice buck.