WY Unit 73

[bobby7321]

After researching where to hunt antelope this year, i zero'd in on unit 73 after reading some stories on here, plus being a unit that wasnt 100% draw, figured the pressure might not be as bad, PLUS i noticed that ELK and DEER season would all overlap. which I know means more hunters in the area, but figured what the hell. My grandpa is 81, and I wanted to just make the most of this trip.


well.. we ended up drawing all species! elk 120-2, deer 34-1, antelope 73-2.


i've already bought maps, and been talking a bit with local biologist and lady who handles the walk-in areas for the casper area. so already have some pretty good info to get started.


besides staying away from the motel 6, any other suggestions?
speaking of hotels, anyone stay at either of the Super 8s? (they give NRA and AARP discounts)


any info at all will be much appreciated. thanks!

 

[SDHNTR]

It will be hard to hunt all of those species as they inhabit different country. The antelope will not be where the elk are as you will usually find them way out in the flats. The same thing could be said for deer somewhat too. I can assure you that you will not have any problem finding antelope.

I can't help you too much on the elk and deer. From what I saw, there were a ton of elk hunters on quads everywhere up in the Bighorns. I didn't see too many really good bucks too so don't go expecting a monster. There is lots of good broken country in the foothills of the BH's that should be good to set up some glass. Especially if you get a little weather.

Speaking of weather, the mud there turns to absolute snot. Of the three times I've hunting in that general area, we've had rain and snow each time. You will want 4x4 with chains.

If you can secure private land access, by all means do it. The quality of animals you will see will go way up. Especially for deer.

 

[bobby7321]

thanks for the info.

i figured on each species being in different areas.
i knew we would have to work a little harder for the elk and deer. we'll be out there for about 7-10 days. so I dont mind combing the entire unit.

i'm just trying to figure out where to concentrate on the deer.

thanks.

 

[SDHNTR]

More in the NW part of the unit.

 

[Buck-eye]

When I went with SD, we saw a limited amount of deer. I remember seeing a nice group of mulie does. Cannot remember if there was a buck or two in the back. If so, not much to write home about. They were coming out of a river bottom. It was basically the only place in the the immediate area that looked like it would hold deer. I did find a nice shed in an unlikely place. It was near a quarry. Nice 3x. We saw elk coming off the mountain to feed, right off the highway near the Bighorns. Pretty cool. My only time seeing them wild. SD is right though. The spectrum of terrain you will hunt is as wide as you can get. Flats that lok like martian landscape for goats, deer will vary, and then timber, snow covered mountains for the elk. Good luck. Should be one for the books if you complete the sweep.

 

[SDHNTR]

Bucky, where we saw the herd of does coming out of the creek bottom was in the NE part of the unit and there was a small forky buck with them. The year prior I saw a group of does with a small 3 pt in that exact same spot.

The area where you found the shed is very close to the foothills and the badlands in the NW part of the unit where I would focus on if I had a deer tag for the area. I did see one good buck there the year before and I know a guy who killed a smoker just to the North a couple miles. This is was in the Southern foothills of the Big Horns.

Where we saw the elk herd with that big gimpy bull was not in the Big Horns (although there are definitely elk in the BH's). That was on the South side of 20/26. Kind of in the foothills of Casper Mountain. They were coming down into a hay field on private land, of course. The Big Horns are Northwest of Casper a ways.

 

[bobby7321]

thanks for the info fellas. i notice quite a few walk-in areas in the NW part of the unit. i will look into those, as well as a couple private ranches we have access to.

thanks!