Wyoming pronghorn hunting info needed

[RickB]

Well, I have got my pronghorn tag for area 46 in Wyoming. My dad and I are going to try the DIY route. Never been hunting out west. So I am looking for any info you wonderful people could provide. Tips pointers, anything would help. I would love to camp but with my dads age, he said his days of sleeping on the ground are over. Area 46 is near the Medicine Bow area. There is a hotel there called The Virginian? I will probably end up staying there. Unless anyone has another place they would recommend? I am also looking for a place to process the antelope once we are successful. Again, we could do this our self if need be. But processor would be a bonus. The only other thing I am wondering about is maps. I know there are some GPS maps you can get that you can put on your GPS that show property lines, BLM, and other government lands. Not sure if anyone has used these before? I am a rookie at this, so any info would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[HuntingGold]

There is another forum that may help you with the specific questions that you have asked about the area. **NOT**PERMITTED**.com
You can tab into the wyoming section and ask the same and probably find some guys from that area on the site.

If you call the local bios and warden for the area, they will probably help you out too. The key to calling these guys is to call now, waaaay before the season starts. Once the hunting seasons start, they are too busy to spend a lot of time on the phone. Dont ask where to go. Ask where not to go. Let them know you are coming out and looking to have a good time but to stay out of trouble. This approach is generally better received than one where you are asking for which rock to sit on.

There are usually lots of goats. Just spend the first day looking to get a feel for what a good antelope looks like and go from there. Have fun.

 

[RickB]

Thanks for the info HuntingGold I will check it out. I talked to the game warden before I put in for the tag. They where EXTREAMLY helpful. I have a couple of questions already written down for another call in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the input!

 

[HuntingGold]

Do what-ever you can to get your hands on a map before you talk to the warden and bio's. That way you can have some points of reference.

I cannot emphasize enough that you need to call in July or early August. That is the off-season, they are usually a little more relaxed and can spend more time answering your questions. You also need to know that often times these guys work right out of their houses and be respectful about when you call. Ask if it is a good time to talk. If it is not a good time, please respect that and call back at a pre-arranged time. No one wants to miss their kids birthday party!

Best of luck to you.

PS. Dont overlook the walk-in area options (if your unit has those). Also dont be afraid to ask if there are landowners that allow goat hunting. It seems most Wyoming ranches hate the speed-goats and want them gone. Some may ask a nominal fee to hunt their land.... some want a fortune.

 

[HuntingGold]

This is the same critter in the avatar.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I can't give you a lot of information. But I'd advise you to have some large coolers on hand with plenty of ice. The key to having good eating Pronghorn is to avoid as much as possible getting hair on the meat and getting it cold ASAP. It will be typically warm there during the day. Whether you have a processor relatively close by or not, you want to get that meat cold as soon as the hide is off which you should also do as soon as you can.

If you're thinking you will be doing shoulder mounts, again get the hide off quickly and onto ice. If you're not experienced with caping a hide in prep for a shoulder mount, it's not as difficult as you may think. There are guides for this on the internet. And if you have a taxidermist near your home, talk to him about it. I'm sure he'd be happy to give you instructions on how. It's in his best interest you come to him with a good well caped hide.

If you're going to be near the town of Medicine Bow, my guess is the closest meat processor will be in Laramie, I would do a google search for meat processors there. I'm sure they have plenty.

 

[BRICKBURN]

When I hunted Wyoming a few years back for Sage Grouse I used these guys to package my grouse for my trip home.
They have a processing facility and a freezer that is amazing. Blast freezer that got my birds home and they were still frozen two days after arrival

I am still in awe of the set up they have for processing game.
When I go Antelope hunting I'll be using them.

Now, I have zero idea where you are hunting and whether this will be useful. Hope it is.

Pearce Custom Butchering
Address: 7621 W Yellowstone Hwy, Casper, WY 82604, United States
Phone:+1 307-265-4744

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

When I hunted Wyoming a few years back for Sage Grouse I used these guys to package my grouse for my trip home.
They have a processing facility and a freezer that is amazing. Blast freezer that got my birds home and they were still frozen two days after arrival

I am still in awe of the set up they have for processing game.
When I go Antelope hunting I'll be using them.

Now, I have zero idea where you are hunting and whether this will be useful. Hope it is.

Pearce Custom Butchering
Address: 7621 W Yellowstone Hwy, Casper, WY 82604, United States
Phone:+1 307-265-4744

If you need a hunting partner in Wyoming for that Pronghorn hunt...well you know how to find me.

 

[jduckhunter]

Rick PM me I might be able to help. Been DIY hunting in WY for 30 years.

 

[RickB]

Thanks again HuntingGold and to everyone else for the info. As I said, I am looking for anything I can get. Jduckhunter PM is sent. I do have a hand held GPS. I bought the Wyoming map from HuntingGPSmaps.com This will show all BLM/government and private lands along with names of owners. I have read a lot of reviews and everyone says they are great! My area 46 is a smaller area, but is "checker boarded" with private and BLM land. I clearly have never done this before, and I am not a trophy hunter, so I will not be disappointed with any animal I am fortunate enough to take. Just looking to enjoy a week out in the field with my dad.

I saw the "walk in area" on the web. They will not update it till the 10th? I am defiantly following up on that option. I did print some areas that appear to be parks or public access areas off of the Wyoming website as well. Hopefully there will more walk in areas in my area?

 

[RickB]

This is the same critter in the avatar.

Nice one!

 

[Mekaniks]

Well, I have got my pronghorn tag for area 46 in Wyoming. My dad and I are going to try the DIY route. Never been hunting out west. So I am looking for any info you wonderful people could provide. Tips pointers, anything would help. I would love to camp but with my dads age, he said his days of sleeping on the ground are over. Area 46 is near the Medicine Bow area. There is a hotel there called The Virginian? I will probably end up staying there. Unless anyone has another place they would recommend? I am also looking for a place to process the antelope once we are successful. Again, we could do this our self if need be. But processor would be a bonus. The only other thing I am wondering about is maps. I know there are some GPS maps you can get that you can put on your GPS that show property lines, BLM, and other government lands. Not sure if anyone has used these before? I am a rookie at this, so any info would be appreciated. Thanks

I did this same hunt with my father last year in a unit outside of Thermopolis and had a blast. Like you I was a rookie and never been there before or even hunted antelope before. I ordered the BLM map for the unit and it was INVALUABLE. I have a friend that lives in Thermop and he pointed us in the right direction but it was a full time job to make sure we were legal. We only hunted BLM and State land and we looked at lots of antelope. I passed on a couple of potential shooters before I connected with this one at 3:00 on the first day on State land. We looked at him in the spotting scope and looked at the map for quite a while before making the decision that it was what I wanted and was actually on State land. 320 yards with 35knt gusting crosswind and a hand loaded .338wm 185g Barnes TSX bullet.

The BLM map is an absolute priority if you are not hunting private ground. Next is a good spotting scope, range finder and wind speed meter. Man that is open country and the wind never seems to stop. Practice some distance shooting (300-400yards)

Have a great time and be patient, there is always more antelope over the next hill.

 

[flatwater bill]

Rickb...........congrats on your antelope tag. Have done 20 or more DIY antelope hunts in Wyoming, and have a couple of suggestions. Tentative regs are set, and final regs out later....but your hunt is set to open on Sept 25 I believe. That is a Thurs. Schedule your arrival for Sunday Sept 28th at the earliest. Most of the hunters will be finished by Sun eve, and there will still be plenty of lopes. The walk in area maps are scheduled to be completed by Wyom game and fish on or before July 10th, so look at these carefully. If your dad can walk even a little, these may pay off. Knowing you're hunting legal ground will be your biggest problem. Getting permission may be difficult on a unit(46) adjacent to the interstate, but everything gets easier once the first week end is over. Even the bleakest of the Wyoming desert has a lot of beauty and a lot of topography. Take your time, hunt on foot, don't shoot the first lope that you see. Reserve your room early.....................FWB

 

[RickB]

Thanks for the info FWB. I have a type 2 license. Season is from Oct5-Oct 31. Is the second season as bad as the one that starts in September as far as number of people hunting? Or should I avoid the first couple days?

From what I am hearing/reading the property lines and finding the BLM/Govt land will be the hardest part. I ordered my GPS map which should assist in this. I also have a phone call in to the BLM for their maps as well. Just to have a paper copy to refer to before the GPS. I noticed Wyoming has some Public areas. 3-4 of them. Show some camp sights and hunting areas. I printed those maps as well. I am hoping this will be enough info to keep me legal?

Anyone have any info on Hunter Orange/Blaze orange requirements in Wyoming?

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[gillettehunter]

Wy requires you to have one outside garment that is hunter orange. I forget the exact number of square inches, but I just wear a hat. I'll suggest the alternate strategy. Get to the hunt area 3 days early. Scout your open areas and find a antelope that you want to shoot. Put him to bed the night before the season opens. Be within shooting range of where you saw them the night before 1 hour before legal shooting light. Hopefully you get your antelope within the first 30 minutes of legal light. They often move little during the night so this often works well. Good luck. Bruce

 

[enysse]

I agree with Bruce, scout the area, prepare. Wear a hat or a vest that is orange. I love Wyoming, I'm collecting points right now.

 

[flatwater bill]

Rick..............you have one of the 13 tags for non residents in unit 46 type 2.......wow...there were 187 applicants listing this as their first choice. These numbers don't usually happen unless there is good public access and lots of lopes, so no worries. While you have had lots of good advice, my opinion has not changed. Unless you WANT your hunt to last only 30 minutes, take your time. If you have a week, look around for a generous amount to time while you enjoy Wyoming and look at the goats. They are very difficult to judge trophy quality for a newcomer, and it is also very difficult to get a booner on public land. Especially in an area open to rifle hunting. They are heavily culled. A truly large buck draws attention and is often pursued from the outset by locals. You will get a nice, adult male, and there is no hurry. My hunting partners and I have used model 94 winchesters, handguns, even flintlocks and crossbows during the rifle seasons, just to hunt a little longer. If you take the same aggressive steps toward lope hunting that one may take when, say, sheep hunting...you will be done by noon, and ready to head back to work.....on your second or third hunt you can apply the face paint, sleep in the sage brush, and use the Lazzeroni Warbird....................FWB

 

[Mekaniks]

Yes blaze orange vest is required. Also don't forget to get the Wyoming conservation tag and hunter safety class documentation.

 

[jduckhunter]

Yes blaze orange vest is required. Also don't forget to get the Wyoming conservation tag and hunter safety class documentation.

I think the requirement for hunter orange is 100 sq. in. so a hat will do. And you need the hunter safety card on your person if you were born after 1966.

 

[RickB]

I did read about the hunters ed certificate. I am good there. I kept mine from when I was 10 and passed it while I lived in Virginia. My dad laminated it and I keep it in my wallet to this day!

Mekaniks- I read about the conservation stamp. Does anyone know if this can be purchased online or by phone? or is this something you have to go to an office/license place and purchase in person?

I will be taking the long approach this year. We will be hunting for 7 days. If we tag out the first day lucky us! Maybe a ride to Yellowstone or South Dakota for Pheasant? My dad has an old Warrant Officer that retired there and has a small hunting outfit. Maybe all the stars will align and I can do it all? I wont be pushy and a quality lope will do just fine. We are not picky

Thanks again all!!