Another year of gathering preference points in Wyoming this year. 2024 is the year for us to try and draw again.

cupofjoe04 said:

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I'm not trying to discourage you in the least. Just trying to paint a realistic picture of what I have seen in 76. It's tough country, to say the least. And that is precisely why I'm saving points specifically to hunt 76.

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Thanks a bunch! Id much rather know the negatives before burning a bunch of resources.

Im also coming up with unit 40 muzzleloader or 40, 2nd rifle as another option. Seems the downside to it is a lot of private land. I assume paying a guide would get you access to a lot of that land? If Im going to be paying a guide anyways, maybe it would be a better option?

We arent wrapped up on elk size but I would like to at least have a chance of getting him into the 300-320 range. He killed a 5x5 on a DIY hunt, so Id like to at least try for more.

first time hunting out of state and I am willing to pay to play. where should I go and what should I hunt (for either rifle or archery)? interested in the following in order:
- bull elk
- mountain lion
- mule deer
- pronghorn
- black bear
- wolf
- bison

suburban cowboy said:

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first time hunting out of state and I am willing to pay to play. where should I go and what should I hunt (for either rifle or archery)? interested in the following in order:
- bull elk
- mountain lion
- mule deer
- pronghorn
- black bear
- wolf
- bison

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You need to look up Wes Armenta with bull valley. If you've can get drawn in New Mexico he is consistently on big bulls year after year !! He also guides the top 5 hunts you just listed. Tell 'em Derek and Joey sent ya

lazuras_dc said:

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suburban cowboy said:

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first time hunting out of state and I am willing to pay to play. where should I go and what should I hunt (for either rifle or archery)? interested in the following in order:
- bull elk
- mountain lion
- mule deer
- pronghorn
- black bear
- wolf
- bison

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You need to look up Wes Armenta with bull valley. If you've can get drawn in New Mexico he is consistently on big bulls year after year !! He also guides the top 5 hunts you just listed. Tell 'em Derek and Joey sent ya

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Wes is a good guy, who can help you out for sure. But NM is not a guaranteed tag on public land. Wes also has some private land tags in NM, and I know others in CO that do as well for elk.

If you are looking for a great first hunt, and can swing the cash, I would reccomend you look at a private land guided hunt. The learning curve is steep out west.

I would target an elk or mule deer for your first experiment. But pronghorn are a TON of fun too!!!

suburban cowboy said:

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first time hunting out of state and I am willing to pay to play. where should I go and what should I hunt (for either rifle or archery)? interested in the following in order:
- bull elk
- mountain lion
- mule deer
- pronghorn
- black bear
- wolf
- bison

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Without knowing your level of fitness and/or willingness to suffer. I'd probably go:

1) Rifle Pronghorn
2) Rifle Elk
3) Mule Deer Rifle

After that, I'd probably go bow hunt for Elk, which is truly amazing. That was my first western hunt and it kicked my ass… it still did the other times too.

I'd also think you'd be able to pair a wolf tag with an Idaho elk hunt but am not familiar with where you can get tags. I know nothing about hunting bears or buffalo.

Good luck!

thanks, and to your point I am early 30s, was born to suffer and am incredibly fit.

Perfect! I was 30 for my first archery elk hunt and in really good shape and it still kicked my ass. If you're mentally tough it makes it much easier to cope with the pain.

If I were you I'd put a deposit in with Wes for archery elk and if you don't get drawn roll deposit over to pronghorn in august or late season archery mule deer which he does on land owner voucher tags in January.

Then come back another year for lions or bears. He runs dogs for those.

Hopefully wyoming this year

Had planned to go last year but audibled to Colorado but that got canceled after the wyoming draws so I got nothing. Went to Nebraska since I didn't go anywhere and the weather was dry amd habitat was burnt. Bad year all around out of state. Killed it in Texas though

Going to northwestern Montana 2nd week of November for whitetail /elk/ wolf

AggieMPH2005 said:

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Going to northwestern Montana 2nd week of November for whitetail /elk/ wolf

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What unit?

Need to get my MT resident stuff sorted. Might put in for a swan tag for the hell of it.

Considering putting in for something out of state as well.

Unit 100 I believe it's the Kootenai / Yaak area north of Libby. It's the third time my dad and I have hunted the unit with Linehan Outfitting.

suburban cowboy said:

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first time hunting out of state and I am willing to pay to play. where should I go and what should I hunt (for either rifle or archery)? interested in the following in order:
- bull elk
- mountain lion
- mule deer
- pronghorn
- black bear
- wolf
- bison

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If you find a mountain lion guy that isn't 2 years out to book, might be a pretty tough hunt. Aka, you'll ride around with the dogs for a week and not find anything.

AggieMPH2005 said:

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Unit 100 I believe it's the Kootenai / Yaak area north of Libby. It's the third time my dad and I have hunted the unit with Linehan Outfitting.

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Nice. That's way the heck up there. I live in 121 which is south of Troy.

I mentioned it before, but a good app to have is Windy (has a red icon). Very useful understanding wind patterns in your area when making a stalk or setting up for an area.

Hoyt Ag said:

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Worst comes to worse, get an otc tag in Colorado and just go. You learn most by jumping in head first to gain experience. Lots of us to lean on for gear insights, techniques and where to go.

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I did this in 2020. Go with the idea that you are going to see some amazing country, work hard, and you might find some elk and get a hunt. Each time I have been, we have only seen elk a few times and have yet to put a true stalk on an elk. And I'm hooked. Best way to learn is just go do it

Question - recommendations on OTC and/or lotteries that take little to no accrual of points?

My western hunting has been muzzleloader in a unit near Strawberry reservoir near SLC Utah that fits the latter category.

I don't really care to play the points game too much - I'd just assume pay the money to an outfitter that can provide access to a high quality place if/when I feel the need to do so.

Well there are a ton of OTC units in CO and I would encourage you to take advantage of them before they are gone in a few years, just use those years to accrue points. You can hunt mule deer in a lot of units with no points too. Go Hunt has a promo PODCAST100 code for Insider. Gets you maps and all the point data to find a unit for you.

Hoyt Ag said:

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If I do not draw my unit tag for archery, I may be looking to put a group together for OTC. They lowered the tags by 100 last year in my units, and I am told it will go down again by 50 in 2023.

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CorpsAg12 and I are planning on doing 2nd rifle for OTC elk.

Did yall text me this week.?

Did this hunt with a bow this year…super cool unique hunt but get yourself in shape walking on the tundra is no joke!!

Would love to hear details on that trip if you have the time!

Anyone have any recommendations for a pronghorn outfitter in New Mexico? Preferably one with landowner permits (not holding my breath on drawing a tag, but will put in for it anyway).

Not necessarily looking for a high-end hunt for B&C class animals, just a reputable outfit with ample access to private land as well as game. Willing to do a self-guided hunt on private if that's available.

I have family that lives/hunts in Alaska so that made it a lot easier to be shown the ropes and already have all the camping gear/food/etc up there. Flew up there for a week in early august to meet my family member that went with us (flew into Fairbanks and drove north from there). Lots of time spent glassing, walking, and hiking ridges. I would definitely recommend a good pair of leg gaiters and a bug head net when there's no wind. Temps ranged from 30-75 with one day sleeting on us. Out of the 4 of us we all had opportunities with a bow, but only one of us got it done on a decent bull. Super cool to hunt a place that seemingly never gets dark and is nothing like the lower 48. If anyone has specific questions about diy Alaska caribou feel free to pm me!

That's awesome. Thanks for the response! Having a local show you the ropes sounds like a great asset. Our group has discussed a similar trip, but logistics always get complicated. Maybe one day!

I may have missed it so I apologize, but fees went up in CO for everyone.

CO Big Game Fees

Bumping this thread for another poster and because I'm going back to CO for archery elk in September.

Anybody else starting to train for their hunt now? I'm about to start…

I do mtntough year round. Good work outs that change enough to keep me interested

I considered shooting my bow today in the frozen weather. You know, "practice like you play", but then convinced myself the weather would be much better in September.

What about for cardio? I'm fully aware I'm going to get my ass kicked again (like always at that altitude) but I'm trying to figure what goal in training I should have. I've not had issues with lower body strength during the hunts so far, thank goodness.

What's a good goal you guys have had that you think helps with cardio?

I'm trying to figure out if it's a keep an X pace for 3-5 miles, be able to run 5-6 miles (or more) without stopping, hit the stair climber for X amount of time without stopping…

Just curious what you guys have done and hoping I can change my approach this time.

I hope it's not this cold in September but you never know at 12,000'

Shooting my bow earlier and more frequent is a good one. I'm honestly waiting for time to change and get a few more hours in my day first.

Woke up to temps in the 20s and ice in my nalgene on a late September hunting trip near Aspen. We were very glad to have a wood stove in the tent.