Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Western hunting opportunities?

Well, a buddy and I didn't get drawn for antelope in Wyoming this year so, our choices are getting a left over tag and paying for access on private land, or going after deer in another western state. Can anybody recommend a western state and general region where a couple guys might have a decent chance of tagging a deer on public land with a over the counter tag? We are hunters, not road hunters. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Not sure how far your looking to drive or where your located. Try Nebraska. Plenty of public land and National Grasslands. Call the Game and Parks they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Montana usually has leftovers. So will Wyoming in some regions. Colorado will have leftover tags for marginal or really heavily hunted areas. Nebraska has tags and some public land too in the northwest portion of the state.

And if you aren't sold on only deer, Montana, Colorado and Idaho will take your money and sell you an elk license. Oh yeah, Idaho will also have some deer tag options for you.

Thanks guys. Nebraska is a little far, but we will look into Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming.

If you call Wyoming fish & game and ask around, chances are you could find some private landowners that would let you hunt for free or a nominal fee.

Like many states, Idaho has both whitetails and mulies. In general, the whitetails are in the northern half of the state and the mulies are in the southern half. There's lots of crossover, though, and some areas have both. Idaho is very underrated for it's whitetails. I've seen some beauties in the north half.

Abner:

Wish I could help you. I feel your pain.

You seem to have a pretty good handle on the Wyoming regs.

The way things have evolved hunting public land has become a roll of the dice. Reality is that the guides and landowners are pretty savvy and locked in cahoots jointly. National Forests are public land but require a guide.

Here's the Wyoming Game website:

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/web2011/hunting-1001825.aspx#deerHA

I spoke to them on your behalf. You'll find their phone number. May want to call and jawbone a bit.

It shouldn't take much time to down a pronghorn or mule deer, maybe the first day, in the right place. White Tails are proliferating and easier to obtain.

National Forests do not require a guide in Wyoming. Just wilderness areas.

If I were in your shoes I'd do Idaho for sure:

Montana is really expensive, Wyoming's leftovers are left over for a reason, and Colorado's OTC areas are pummeled.

There is some great info here guys. Thanks. I'm going to talk to my hunting buddy and we will decide what to do. Wyoming antelope left over tags go on sale on the 8th of July so we have until then to decide which way to go. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again.

Exbiologst:

Correct:

There are extensive maps on the Wyoming Game site.

Well, we decided that instead of risking a so-so hunt in Wyoming in a zone with left over tags, but very little public land to hunt, we would go for mule deer in Idaho instead. Lots of tags and lots of deer. We are doing our research now and will decide on an area soon. So far, the information looks like we won't have to much trouble finding game. Thanks for the opinions from ya'll.

Excellent choice; good luck I hope you'll post a description of your experience!

Abner:

Good thinking.

If you lived in Wyoming and had 60 deer feeding on your ranch hay stack !!!

Don't you don't so ____________

Or rode around on horse and saw 11 shoot able buck in one day !!!!!

Or walked in to the Bridger National Forest and saw 3 bucks in less than 1/2 hour.

But that's another story.

Locals have the advantage.

Good luck.

Coues deer in Arizona..

Hit the Hells Canyon area. Folks on top look down and say "I'm not going down there," and people on the river respond with "I'm not going up there." Makes for a lot of ground where one will not see or hear another hunter anywhere on opening day. Some fine deer as well.

I myself find it more pleasant to use a boat. Much easier to come down to camp in the evening than climb back up to the top at the end of the day.

Thanks again for the options. We have our deer tags for Idaho and are still thinking of where to hunt. Biologists there say area 39, lots of deer, but lots of hunters. It's easy to think I could find a place where others don't know about there but that really isn't reasonable. Hells canyon does sound interesting. My uncle hunted there years ago and always did good. I know it's a tough hunt, but if that's where hunters don't go, that's where the big bucks will be. At least we have a little while before we make a decision.

I can tell you deer numbers are down and it's easy for a biologist to suggest Unit 39 simply because it is large and has some pretty good backcountry. I'm not trying to spread doom and gloom, just making you sure about reality. Wolves have definitely taken a toll and a lot burned recently (last 2-3 years).

Good luck.