Its that time again with less than 6 weeks before applications for the Wyoming antelope draw have to be submitted. We still have several openings on the both the below ranches.

These hunts are on extremely well managed private properties allowing you multiple opportunities to fill your tag. No shooting at 300 yard running goats. You will get nice broadside shots at less than 200 yards and often much closer. This an ideal hunt for a handgunner or muzzle loader enthusiast wanting an antelope.

Gillette area: Antelope 3 days $2000 per hunter. Price includes 1 buck and 2 doe antelope. Additional buck may be available for $1500. Additional does avaiable at $100 per animal. Lodging and food is hunter's responsibility in nearby Gillette. Expect 13"-15" nice mature goats and literally hundreds animals.

Kaycee area: Antelope 3 days $2100 per hunter. Price includes 1 buck antelope. Food and lodging are provided. There are less antelope here but trophy quality can be better than Gillette.

Also at Kaycee: 5 days 1x1 whitetail $3950 per hunter. Price includes 1 whitetail buck. Food and lodging are provided. The creek botom is loaded with deer. Expect 120-140 plus B&C bucks. Mule deer can be substituted for whitetail. A better deal is a combo deer/antelope 5 days $4950. Deer can be hunted early and late and the antelope throughout the day.

All the above hunts are fully guided and include use of 4x4 vehicle, trophy prep and assistance with delivery of meat to butcher and trophies to taxidermist if required.

I personally hunted both of these ranches this last fall and the below link will take you to my report.
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=930101755#930101755
If you are interested in any of the above hunts feel free to contact me anytime for further info and a reference list.

Mark

With only a little over three weeks left before the deadline for receipt of applications for the drawing you might want to consider this great hunt if you don't have a plan for '07. We stil have good dates available on both ranches for the upcoming season.

Mark

DIY

I second that DIY.

Rad

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:

No shooting at 300 yard running goats.

You will get nice broadside shots at less than 200 yards and often much closer. This an ideal hunt for a handgunner or muzzle loader enthusiast wanting an antelope.

Gillette area: Antelope 3 days $2000 per hunter. Price includes 1 buck and 2 doe antelope. Additional buck may be available for $1500. Additional does avaiable at $100 per animal. Lodging and food is hunter's responsibility in nearby Gillette. Expect 13"-15" nice mature goats and literally hundreds animals.

All the above hunts are fully guided and include use of 4x4 vehicle, trophy prep and assistance with delivery of meat to butcher and trophies to taxidermist if required.

Mark

Or, pay a landowner a few hundred bucks and stay in the same hotel, and have a great hunt. Antelope hunting is a blast, but it's not difficult, and outfitters are not necessary.

Sorry Mark.

MrHawg,

You know I agree with you that it is possible to hunt almost anything without a guide. On the other hand there are loads of people that want to have the best possible experience they can with the least hassle when coming on hunts they are unfamiliar with. A lot of people just want to hunt and leave all the rest to an oufitter. That is evidenced right here as most of my antelope bookings come from AR.

A hunter coming out to Wyoming for an antelope hunt often is not prepared for a DIY and doesn't have a 4X4, ATV for when the going gets sloppy or the experience to distinguish a good goat from an excellent one. Even if the hunter has the equipment and gets access to some private ground it does not mean that the antelope will not be running around wild because they are being hammered by several truck loads of hunters each day. A responsible guide that values his hunitng property can manage their antelope so the hunting is exactly like I described in the above ad.

As in the past I think you are looking at this from the point of view of someone that lives in the West and understands how to easily DIY and has the necessary equipment. My adds are directed at folks that don't live in antelope country and don't have the inclination or the time for the DIY experience.

Mark

Good points Mark

quote:

the antelope will not be running around wild because they are being hammered by several truck loads of hunters each day. A responsible guide that values his hunitng property can manage their antelope so the hunting is exactly like I described in the above ad

No offense Mark, but the antelope are being hammered by "several truckloads" because all the hunting access is being gobbled up by outfitters and your average Joe Wyoming resident or DIY nonresident have fewer and fewer places to hunt. If any outfitter thinks that they are doing some sort of service or "wildlife management" on the property they lease, they need to pull their heads out of their butts. The do no game management at all....just manage the amount of people on the property, where by the one's with the most $$ wins.

Outfitters....ruining hunting in NE Wyoming for over 30 years!!!

MG

quote:

Originally posted by Madgoat:

Outfitters....ruining hunting in NE Wyoming for over 30 years!!!

MG

I hate blanket statements but I think you are correct on the trend of this one. I have seen some pretty shady tactics by some outfitters operating there. For example, claiming that public property is their private land for outfitting and attempting to evict rightful hunters.

DIY

Madgoat,

I honestly have no argument with your point of view and in your position I might feel the same. I know it is easy to blame the outfitters for limiting your access but the truth is the ranchers also need the money and antelope have become a valuable commodity. You don't have to like but it is a matter of simple economics.

I do think you are wrong on the management point. Game management is maintaining habitat, limiting access and off take of game. That is what a responsible outfitter does.

In the case of the outfitter I represent he hunts on coal company land near Gillette and on a family ranch near Kaycee. The coal company just does not want the public on the land and that is their perogative. On the family ranch it use to be open to public hunting for a trespass fee. What the owner discover though was he could double his income from hunting by selling just a few guided hunts each year. How could he refuse when not only did he make more money but the land got far less use, the game calmed down and became more plentiful, there was no trash to pick up, he didn't have to worry about gates being left open and if there was a problem there is only one guy to be held responsible. This guided hunting is a win win for him all around.

BTW for you non DIY guys we still have some openings on both ranches for '07. Contact me anytime for further details.

Mark

quote:

I do think you are wrong on the management point. Game management is maintaining habitat, limiting access and off take of game. That is what a responsible outfitter does.

I guess that depends on what your definition of game management is. For a state, I see it as managing numbers based upon the amount of wildlife a particular piece of countryside can hold aligned with the public's, landowners, and biological needs/expectations. On the types of operations you're talking about Mark, I am sure they don't manage for biological or the public's needs, but the need to grow larger horns/antlers to atract more clientele to generate more $$$. There is no biological consideration other than having more critters on the place, which if left unchecked actually damages not only the range conditions, but the quality of the critters as well. Do most outfitters realize this? Heck no...they see everything in a shade of green$$$$$.

I will admit that hunters (mostly locals) have shot themselves in the foot when it comes to some of the litter, open gates, and driving everywhere you mentioned, but outfitters provide no actual wildlife manage "service" to anyone. Killing 10 to 15 buck antelope on 40000 acres doesn't do a lick of good. You should at least take your doe hunters for free, as they are providing you, the landowner, and the land a service....back to the greed again....

Unfortunately for the public who owns the wildlife, if they don't have the $$ to play, they get left out in the cold.

MG

Madgoat,

I certainly don't want to argue with you, and I in no way want to offend you, so please don't take what I say as any kind of offense meant.

I was thinking that these land owners see a business opportunity to increase profits on their land. To me this is simply good business. I don't think there are many industries in our capitalist society that would not like to make as much profit with their assets as they can. Land to the rancher, farmer or coal company is an asset, so maximize the profit! Isn't Microsoft, Exxon or Toyota run the same way?

Mark would tell you that I have never made anything other than DIY hunting trips in the States, so like you I hate to see land locked up. By the same token, I'm sure not going to tell a landowner he or she shouldn't be able to maximize the profits from their property.

I agree with you Scott, however, when you take a look and see how much of taxpayer money is going to assist these landowners with progams to keep them in business (powdered milk program, drought relief, etc) or to enhance their private land, the least they could do is pass it on to a few hunters/anglers. The public is who owns the wildlife, and allows these same landowners a incredible discount when it comes to grazing on OUR public land.

Then you get some outfitter who claims to be doing everyone a great public service and "managing" the resource...that's just plain bullshit. No offence to you Mark, because I know you make a living doing what you do, but in the long run there are a lot of folks who can't afford these exotic hunts (the majority of folks) who get left out in the cold.

MG

Thanks much for the well thought out reply Madgoat!