Antelope Hunting in Wyoming Status
Pronghorn
My son, brother and I have been gaining points to return to Wyoming for antelope hunting. We are 6 each now. I've been there three times hunting antelopes (DIY) and want to go in 2024. I'm concerned about the reported herd reductions. Those who have hunted this year compared to the past, is the scarcity noticeable? Thanks
I didn't hunt antelope out there this fall but I did drive across the full length of I80 on my way moose hunting and the lack of antelope was dramatic. From my perspective we only saw 20-30% of what we normally see and that may be a stretch to be honest. We were there the second week of October. Good luck.
I rifle hunted in a unit this year that didn't suffer winter loses. I tagged a doe my first day and a fine buck the second. There were pockets that still had good numbers.
Depends where in wy. Lots of variance but all got hit to some degree
Now wild. Of planning for 2024 you not only have to worry about what happened LAST winter but also what happens THIS winter
i drove through most of southern wyoming a week or so ago. i saw 7 antelope in the SE, around the town of Elk Mountain. one group had 5 the other 2.
that is all i saw along the entire drive, most of which was during daylight hours.
edit: i saw very few deer too.
We hunted near Saratoga and were surprised at numbers, thought they would be lower. Saw good bucks and good numbers of doe. Some areas are doing fine some need to bounce back a year or 2. Overall numbers are down across the state but you can find good areas.
Don't apply until quotas are set in April, we'll know then how winter was on the herds.
Plenty of goats near Buffalo Wy.
Buffalo got hammered. I watched antelope bed and never get up where we live.
Numbers were way down.
I have free access to private land just south of Cheyenne (Unit 34), but the area I like is west of Casper about 50 minutes (70-72).
I was in 71 and 72 this September they got hammered. The units SE of there were much less affected.
Go hunt. We can't wait, eventually all of us will be out of time. How long until the bad winter hits you?
Yes the numbers are down, but the tags are also cut. Making an already uncrowded hunt even less crowded. The fact that you get like 2.5 months to hunt, why wait? The units you can draw with 6 are not going to be any of the prime units. The tag numbers being cut only means point creep will go up...
We had 3 lope tags this year and filled 2 really easy. Never even looked at the 3rd. We also took 2 great lopes and despite hunting for several days we only saw 1 other lope hunter...
Sure might not be seeing 150 bucks a day but 10 is still reasonable... It will be years maybe a decade for some areas to recover if they ever do... By then the points will be through the roof and creep will be a real pain in the arse. I might suggest that only one person draws and you all go to support just one... Much easier to find one good buck than 3...
Saw hundreds in Gillette and the drive up from colorado. Going to be region dependent
WYOelker, Thanks for the good sense prompt. You are of course right. God willing and the creek don't rise (that's a redundant set of conditions by the way) I'm going to plan full steam ahead for 2024 in the antelope "woods".
We hunted a few years ago in a unit not so good. Drew with 1 point. We all filled our Tags & some Great Bucks. DIY, public. Then a few years later we drew a great area with great reviews (6 points). It SUCKED for numbers & good Bucks. We filled 4 of 5 tags but only 2 bucks that were less than anticipated.. Locals said we got ripped off as numbers in that particular area had been down for years. It's like any poker game. Some days good & some days not. GO & enjoy. Out of 5 trips my best hunt as far as numbers seen were in draws of 1 point....
I do have private lands access from a friend without cost. Surprisingly close to Cheyenne. I hunted here a few years ago. Saw antelope every day, but bow range was difficult. Two of three of us (my brother and friend) killed one and missed one. Lots of water tanks, but the ones cattle are using are off-limits due to weight gains needed and the landowner doesn't want us to spook cattle off water. He rarely has bowhunters on the ranch (if ever). I think the best I can hope for would be for 2 of the 4 of us to have a bow range opportunity. Of course I'll put myself in the worst spot because I'd rather those who have never killed or even hunted them before to get the shot.
Numbers are fine in Cheyenne area, no winterkill to speak of really. At least the SE part as a whole. Changes coming to prices next year may affect draw odds, Special draw is going way up so odds may be off next year or so . Might help you if you want to pay the money for Special draw.
