Suggestions for Wyoming Outfitters/places to hunt

[Bobaru]

The pressure is on.  My son insists on Wyoming for hunting in 2019.  We believe we want to hunt Mule deer.  Would I be better going after Elk?  I dropped an elk hunt in CO a couple years ago because I couldn't figure out how, at my age, to get one out of the back country.  So, I didn't go hunting.  But, with my son, that all changes.

My problem is that I know next to nothing about where or how to hunt in Wyoming.  Trad Gang is the first place I can think for advise.

Any suggestions would be appreciated because we'll need to make decisions pretty quickly if I'm going to make this happen.

[Garman]

Triple three outfitters, the problem is you may need preference points for most places. Gary

[John Cholin]

Friend,

If you change your mind and decide to look into Montana then you might want to check out Absaroka-Beartooth Outfitters in Big Timber, MT.  I have been hunting with them last year, went back this year and have made reservations for next.  I didn't get an elk this year but it was MY FAULT.  Had an awesome good time trying, though.

JMC

[Bobaru]

Thanks Gary.  We do have a bunch of Preference Points, but I can't remember how many..  Maybe 5 or 6.

[Bobaru]

John,  Thanks.  I will keep that in mind.  I don't have any Preference Points for Montana.  Still, I will likely contact the outfitter to see what they have.  I'm always so reluctant to get with outfitters without some sort of good reference.

[sneakybow]

Thanks Gary.  We do have a bunch of Preference Points, but I can't remember how many..  Maybe 5 or 6.

5 or 6, depending on the area you want in Wyoming,  might not be considered a bunch.  Region G you wouldn't even be close to drawing for deer.  Elk general tags can be drawn with 2 points,  although it's trending upwards towards 3 slowly but surely.  I'd narrow down an area of the state you want to hunt first, then look at points needed for those units, then narrow down outfitters in that area.
      Montana you can buy a point at the time of application in the spring,  if you decide on Montana I would highly suggest buying the $50 point.  I drew in Montana this year for elk/ deer combo and purchased the point.  85% of tags go to those with points.  Everyone I know who didn't draw, did NOT buy the point when they applied. Montana used to have leftover tags, those are gone now.  Demand has caught back up with supply.

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[John Cholin]

Bob,

I got hooked up with Absaroka-Beartooth via BSC (Bowhunting Safari Consultants).  Jay at BSC suggested ABO after we talked and he got to know some about my capabilities (at 67 now 69).  In 2017 my arthritic knees held me back.  So, I spent 2018 getting new knees.  Four and a half months after the second knee got done I was on the plane to Bozeman.   I was able to keep up with my guide except for the up-hills.

The ABO guides are great, their lodge is comfortable, their food is better than I get at home.  I had three close calls - one I screwed-up, one the elk decided they had had enough chit-chat and headed off and the third got messed-up by a guy who shouldn't have presumed to "help" my guide.  Oh well.  I had a good time and am headed back.

If you want more info send me a PM.

JMC

[Bobaru]

John,

Thank you.  That's good information. 

I'm 68.  Will be 69 next year.  Fortunately, I'm still in really good health.  But, getting my heart rate to the max is so much easier than it was 10 or 20 years back.  I'm especially impressed that you mentioned Bowhunting Safari Consultants has recommended ABO. 

I'm going to give them a call.

[John Cholin]

Bob,

I'll be 70 next year.

I did not have any preference points. 

We were hunting on private ranches where ABO has an exclusive lease in the northern foot-hills of the Absaroka Range.  We rode pick-up trucks to the ranch and then these little 4-wheel side-by-side buggies up the mountain a ways and then the rest was boot leather.

I had a great time.  As Gene Wensel said in the video Essential Encounters once you experience a bull elk coming in bugling you are changed for ever, and are for ever richer for the experience and the memory.

DO IT!

Best Regards,

JMC