My hunting partner and I were fortunate enough to draw antelope tags for area 47. We have had a very difficult time reaching the game and fish biologist for that area and I usually rely heavily on those folks as a source of information. We are looking to camp out on BLM land but would like to get off the beaten track a little bit to keep away from the crowds (if thats possible on opening weekend). We had good luck camping out in Thunder Basin 2 years ago. Can anyone recommend any regions of area 47 that might fit our criteria? Any help you can provide is appreciated. Thanks. Mike

Howdy Mike, first off if I were you, I would buy a Shirley Basin BLM map. If you really want to hunt without the crowds, I would wait until AFTER the initial weekend of the hunt. Generally speaking, it is a rat race the first weekend of antelope season, then it tails off nicely and most of that country you will probably have to yourself. Heck, I am waiting until the last weekend of the season before I will head out this year.

I know that there are some pretty large pieces of federal land out there, I would caution you about setting up in the middle of the basin however. I went to college in Laramie, and that place can be one of the most miserable when the wind wants to blow...it will make your car shake! I would find a BLM piece with a little topography to keep yourself out of the prevailing winds and have at it.

Good luck on your hunt!

MG

There is a lot of activety in 47, mainly because there is a lot of roads. And close proximety to Casper. The area that lays between highway 77 and highway 487 is alomost 100% BLM. Other than that, unit 47 is checker boarded, private/public. Like MG said get a BLM map for that area. You might be able to order a map from the BLM website. Other wise call the Casper office.

Thanks for the responses guys. We do have the BLM map for that area. My partner and I are meeting on Thursday to look it over and make some final preparations for the trip. We have to go the opening weekend because my hunting partner will be leaving on another hunting trip to Idaho just a few days after we return to Michigan. We had heard that the terrain was a little more rugged west of highway 77. Maybe that would be worth looking at?? Thanks. Mike