I got a call last night from a friend in NY, asking if I wanted go to Wyoming to hunt Antilope this fall. If we draw tags, We will be hunting in the Casper area. Can anyone tell me what the legal calibers are for a handgun [rifle cartridge]? What is a reasonable horn length to expect for that area? How about land access? Any and all info would be appreiated. Thanks, Lone Hunter

Lone Hunter,

I am a Colorado resident who hunts Wyoming every year. I have hunted antelope, mule deer and whitetail deer. As a result, I have a Wyoming Nonresident Hunting Information and Application booklet which they send to me each year. It contains all the regulations, fees and application forms. You can obtain one of these booklets by one of the following means:

Wyo Fish and Game web site: http://gf.state.wy.us

Snail mail address:
Wyo Game and Fish Dept. Cust. Svcs.
5400 Bishop Blvd.
Cheyenne, WY 82006-0001

Telephone: (307)777-4600

About the legal firearms for antelope - They don't have a separate season for handgun, rather they allow use of a handgun during the regular rifle season. The cartridge specifications are
1) at least 23 caliber. 2) Center fire 3) not less than 2 inches overal length including a soft or expanding bullet. There are some additional requirements for black powder handguns, but I'm assuming you would use a modern handgun.

My hunting for antelope has been in the area south of Shoshonie which is about 100 miles west of Casper, so I don't have any direct information about the Casper area. However, when one hunts antelope in Wyoming, it isn't whether you will get an antelope or not, it is which antelope you will get. The deadline for application is March 15 and the draw results are available July 1.

A tag is for any antelope, doe or buck. A credible buck will have horns 10" to 12" tall. A good buck will be 13". A nice trophy will be 14 to 15" and a whopper will be 15"+. The biggest I've seen is 16 1/2".

If you should need a guide, I can put you in touch with a guide who is a personal friend and who knows the whole state for whatever you want to hunt.

Good luck,

Don Shearer

Don,
Read your reply and wondered if you'd share the name of your guide friend with me. I finally realized you can't draw a decent tag in Colorado in this lifetime and will make the pilgrimage to Wyoming to chase the pronghorn.

Lone Hunter, I don't believe you will need to hire a guide unless you are just short on time. Thier are plenty of Antelope in that area and most ranchers are more than happy to let you hunt free or for a minimal fee. Your best bet is to call Game and Fish ((307) 777-4600) and get the name of the local Game Warden for that area. He will get you in contact with ranchers who allow hunters and/or having problems with Antelope. Most ranchers view Antelope as pests and are more than happy to let you on their property. I live in Cheyenne and everyone who I've handgun hunted with always gets their Antelope. You also might want to check and see if that area is allowing doe tags. Usually you can get a second tag (doe) at a discount.

They are definately fun to hunt with a handgun.

Thanks for the replies every one. The guys I would be going with have hunted in the area before. Just trying to get more info. It will be my 2nd Antilope hunt. My dad took me when I was a teenager. Had a great time. Thanks, Lone Hunter

TomS,

I sent an email to you with the reference to my friend who does big game guiding in Wyoming. Othere who might be interested, either send me a PM or an email

Don Shearer

I have now lived in WY for 28 years and hunted several differant areas areas. Most have good hunting but Area 107 type 8 is the only hand gun permit in WY. I have huted this area for the last 4 years with my 358 win. It has lots of public land and the chance to kill a very good antilope. You do not have to have a guide but if $$$ is not an issue then go with a pro and it will increase your odds. olefish

olefish, I don't undertand your last post. Are you saying area 107 type 8 is the only place handguns can be used to hunt Antilope?
I was looking in the regulations last night and it said handguns could be used for Antilope. It did not cover non-resident handgun hunters. Do you need permit as a non-resident to carry a handgun in Wyoming? What are the state laws? Lone Hunter

Sorry for the misunderstanding::: It is a special area for handgun/muzzle lodaders. Any area that is a rifle area you can take a hand gun if it meets the state rules of either fpe/fps or 41 cal. WY g&F http://gf.state.wy.us/
CHAPTER 32 - Regulation Governing Firearm Calibers
Section 4. Firearms and cartridges that are legal for the taking of big or trophy game animals.

(a) Wyoming statutes authorize the use of a firearm which has a barrel bore diameter of at least twenty-three-hundredths (23/100) of an inch and is chambered to fire a center-fire cartridge not less than two (2) inches in overall length, including a soft or expanding point bullet seated to a normal depth, or a muzzle-loading rifle which has a barrel bore diameter of at least forty-hundredths (40/100) of an inch and a charge of at least fifty (50) grains of black powder or equivalent, or a muzzle-loading specialty single shot handgun which has a barrel length of not less than ten (10) inches, a bore diameter of at least forty-five-hundredths (45/100) of an inch and which propels a projectile of two hundred forty (240) grains at not less than five hundred (500) foot pounds at one hundred (100) yards.



(b) In addition, the Commission authorizes any other cartridge fired from a firearm that has a barrel bore diameter of at least thirty-five hundredths (35/100) of an inch and the cartridge generally delivers at least five hundred (500) ft-pounds of impact at one hundred (100) yards and cartridges used are loaded with a soft, or expanding point bullet.
email me for more info. olefish