I realize this thread is somewhat old, but being as the 2015 season is what is being discussed, I figured I would jump in.
We ranch in Unit 24 and aslo guide and sell trespass rights for antelope. As has been stated, finding ground to hunt can be problematic unless one has done their homework beforehand. There are quite a few state sections available to hunt, but many times they are landlocked, making access very difficult. Because of oil and gas activity, many of these state sections will have gravel roads and 'two-tracks' going through them. Too many times though, the rules surrounding established two-tracks get abused and ranchers will find misplaced hunters on these two-tracks that were literally not there the day before.
Ranchers often get a bad wrap from hunters, but people tend to not see things from his side. He is out there taking care of this land all year long and through his efforts of being a good steward for his livestock and the land, wildlife also enjoys a healthy population. He is the one who is out there picking up the trash after season is over and it is him who is repairing the damage left behind by the few bad apples. Because of the river frontage on our place, this particular area is not productive for bowhunting, but I can't even begin to count the antelope I have seen after season that were toting an arrow from a hail mary shot that should have never been attempted.
We will also get our share of habitual trespassers who tend to think we forget faces and bs stories from one year to the next. Believe it or not, we do actually try to help people and we appreciate the ethical hunters. Myself and just about every other rancher I know, tries to manage the wildlife herds so that the population is healthy with quality animals. A few years ago we had some night hunters come down the road on the backside of our place and they dropped over 30 antelope and left them laying. Crap like that is inexcusable and thankfully, the punks were caught.
I have seen it mentioned that most ranchers in this area will let hunters in to harvest doe and fawn for free. I haven't necessarily known that to be the case around here. It probably happens to some extent, but I would not count on that being the norm. Since we came out of the drought and have been trying to recover, many ranchers are limiting the antelope harvests on their land to bucks only. We allow our paying hunters to harvest a buck of their choice and if they wish to harvest a second animal, it is strictly limited to a management buck. We have a few people who come and help around the ranch throughout the year and they get access to the whole ranch, but only after all paying hunters are finished with their hunts. These hunters are all out just for the meat, so in helping with our herd management, they agree to harvest only the lesser quality management bucks.
On this side of Area 24, we usually have a good herd to choose from until about the second week of season. By then though, the herd has been jostled and stirred so much they start seeking refuge over on the coalmines. Two years ago on our state section land, I counted 20 hunters on opening morning. I honestly don't know how people kept from being shot. Pressure like that puts the goats on the move in a hurry.
It isn't hard to possibly gain access to some private ground, but it does take some work. First, Don't ask for access after the rancher has caught you inadvertantly trespassing. He will figure, if you aren't smart enough to know where the lines are, he don't really want you on his property. Second, you will have to wait until the rancher has all of his paying hunters gone. Be sure to ask what his trespass fee is. All of the people wanting a 'freebie' have already asked and been turned down. Third, don't get your hopes up. It may take him a year or two to get to know you. We see alot of the same hunters year after year and when allowing access to hunters, it WILL go to the guys we know best.
Most ranchers are pretty easy going and friendly, but due to the nature of their occupation, they can spot BS almost immediately. Be honest and friendly, but try not to expect too much immediately. Building relationships can take time. The rewards are usually worth it though.
A slightly related little side story -
I am a sucker when it comes to helping kids get started in hunting. There has been many times when I will interrupt what I am doing in order to take a kid out hunting. That is one of those type deals that gives me that good feeling way down deep, if you know what I mean. Now, we have some of those same kids that are able to hunt on their own and they come back every year to get their goat.
Anyhow, we have this one section of lease pasture that is hunted every year by the nephew of the owners. Every year, this person would come and ask for access to the whole ranch and if the client hunters were gone, we would usually let him and whoever was with him. That all came to a screeching halt one year though and he lost access from then on.
He came to the door and asked the Hostile Native if he, his brother in law and his nephew could have full access. He told her that it was his nephew's first hunt and they would like to get him a good buck. Her being like me and liking to help the kids, she agreed.
In just a little while, she hears a shot and decides to head out after a bit to see if the kid had got the good buck she had told them about. When she gets out there, she sees the kid at the truck with a puny little buck that wasn't even worth taking a picture of, and then she spies Dad and Uncle out in the pasture trying to put the sneak on the good buck. She had granted permission so the kid would have a shot at getting the good buck, but Dad and Uncle got selfish and put the kid on a dink so they could go after the good one.
I don't call her the Hostile Native for nothing. Tearing across the pasture she goes. She sent the good buck and all of his does scattering to the nether regions and then she commenced to ripping some tail. She made them admit to knowing she had granted access in order for the boy to get the good buck. They next admitted they were simply being selfish. And to top it off, they acknowledged the fact that they were to never ask for full access again.
These guys could have went and harvested any buck they wanted, just as long as they had made sure to help the kid get the good one. It just blows my mind though why they would even consider trying to outdo the kid on his first hunt, especially when a really nice and easy buck was thrown right in their laps.
Have a good day.
Tex
