Mule Deer and/or Pronghorn Hunt in 2006

[Graybeard]

I'd like to begin the process now of selecting where to go in 2006 for a mule deer or pronghorn or perhaps a combination hunt for both.

I'm in lousy physical shape and not the greatest of health. Realistically speaking I might improve my physical conditioning some but can't do anything about my health and am unlikely to greatly improve physical conditioning. I have serious problems with my feet and walking several miles per day is not and never again will be possible for me. I also have arthritis in both knees pretty badly and the left is far worse than the right.

So I figure a public land hunt on my own is not really a very smart option. That leaves ranch hunts and most likely guided ones.

So I'm looking for suggestions. Will listen to possibilities for an unguided hunt if you know from experience the area is pretty easy to get around in and doesn't require long hikes. But as I said being realistic I think a guided hunt is a more wise move for me. I might or might not have anyone hunting with me on the hunt.

I'm not looking for a monster trophy to go in any kinda book. But I would like a 4x4 muley with a rack over 20" wide and I'd like a pronghorn of around 14" or better. While I hope it isn't this might be my only hunt for both. So I really have no interest in a low percentage shot at them. I'd rather it be an area and guide/outfitter with a proven record of producing opportunities for clients.

Let me hear about folks you've hunted with you think might fulfill my needs.

[HogFan]

Graybeard,

  PM me, and I will let you in on a little known fact.

HogFan

[mmwb]

Hey hogfan, let the rest of us in on the little known fact!   GB you might check into some outfitters from around Douglas, Wyoming and up toward the Kaycee area. I'm on the other side of the state, but these areas repeatedly come up as great areas for goats and deer.  I'm pretty sure you good line up a combo hunt.  You won't have any problems on a guided hunt getting a nice antelope.  If it is a ranch hunt, the deer shouldn't be to difficult either. Best of luck to ya!

[Dan Hinds]

I don't know why you are waiting on 2006 to go hunting.  I am leaving Monday to go to hunting in the Buffalo, Wyoming area.  It sounds like what you want.  This is my 4th year to the same ranch.  The head man will take you hunting and depending on you wishes make it as easy or hard as you like.  It is scheduled as a 3 day hunt but my first year I shot out (mule deer, buck antelope and doe antelope) in the first afternoon while he was showing me around the ranch the day before we were to go hunting.  Since then I've tried to hunt at least one full day or even day and a half.  Last year 2 deer and 3 antelope in a day and half.  He has bigger whitetail than mule deer however.  Permits are not a problem for either.  Doe tags can be bought over the counter. He charges for buck animals and lets you shoot all the does you want for the same price.  If you can walk from the parking lot to the mall you are in good enough physical condition.  You stay in the motel in Buffalo and start hunting about 7:00 or so after he puts the kids on the school bus.  At noon knock off for lunch in town and a break.  Hunt the afternoon and back in town for supper and shower.  I have had 5 other hunters from my town go out since the first year and they all loved it.  Most shots are 2-300 yards.  I use a .270 but friends of mine used .243, .257, 308, 300 Win Mag and everyone shot out.  Interested  E mail me I'll get you his number and best places to stay, eat , etc. I'm retired so if I can do it so can you.  Don't wait until 06 get going now for 05 or better yet hope in the car and go this year.

[Graybeard]

Don't own a car. But got a truck.  :eek:

Since permits in WY are draw only for both buck deer and antelope this year is not even a possibility unless you already have permits in hand. No way I'd drive from Alabama to WY for a doe anything.

And 2005 doesn't fit into my plans. I'm already pretty full up for that year with trips I'll be making. Nope 2006 is as early as I can make it happen.

But I am interested and will e-mail you for more info.

[lilabner]

GB: I'm in good shape for a man 70 years old (which means I'm still above room temperature) but I recognize my limitations. I think a Wyoming hunt, either pronghorns only or a combination hunt with mulies, is a good one for folks who aren't ready for an iron man triathalon. The good hunting areas with public access (mostly BLM land) are hard to get into because so many people apply for tags there. Also, trophy quality animals are scarce there. The good hunting areas with private ranch lands are easy to draw permits for but you'll pay for access.  Except for deer/elk hunts in the national forests, the technique is pretty much the same everywhere - you drive a 4X4 around on back roads, glassing for a trophy. If a good head shows, you stalk it (and usually crawl on your belly a fair distance so you aren't skylined.)  I've shot three pronghorns on public land in Wyoming and the best was 14 inches. On private ranches, you can count on seeing bigger ones and more of them. One other thing - the prairies in Wyo. start at about 4.000 feet and go up to 6-7 thousand feet elevation. Anything you can do to prepare for thin air would be helpful. If you can spend a week at altitude before the hunt your body will work much better there.

[Graybeard]

Thanks. Got your PM also. The place Dan clued me to looks real good. I like the prices too. Even got a couple or three possible hunting pardners for the trip. All much younger than me and in better shape to help carry my fat butt if I croak on them.  :-D

[spispeza]

check out standing rock indian reservation.both deer,antelope tags are 280.00 apiece.theve had a 4point or better restriction on muledeer for the past 4 years?and whitetail this past year.good chance for a 20inch 4x4,or better.the antelope season was closed for a while from a bad winter(1997)opened in 2000?good chance of a 12 incher or better.14incher or better is a good one for this area.they antelope are easier to find.due to them on the flat areas.but are usally on privet land. there is guides available but not required.phone number is 701-854 -7236.reservation is located in sd,nd.talk to one of the game wardens.hope this helps.

[Spyro Andes]

GB,

A couple of quick questions...

Would you have a problem sitting your caboose on a horse for 5-days or would you prefer the cab or a truck?

There are 4 basic types of hunts for Mule Deer in Wyoming.

1) An Early Season Timberline Hunt.  This would be out of the question for you.  Camps are generally at 10K feet.  Hunt up to 11.5K feet.  Straight up and down rugged country.

2) A Mountain Mule Deer Hunt.  This would be out of the question as well.  Not quite the elevation but still rugged as can be found.

3) A Eastern Ranch Hunt.  You could do this hunt.  They generally occur in the NE corner of the state.  They can be combo'd with an Antelope.  Generally, the quality of the deer is not the same as hunts 1, 2 & 4.  However outstanding deer can be found on these hunts.  They can be pricey but since the "numbers" are not really that important, I can hook you up with a guide that can provide good representatives of the each species.  This would be you combo hunt.

4) A Migration Hunt.  You could do this hunt.  Most of them are based out of the Cody area and are hunting deer that are migrating out of the Park.  Most of the hunts are based out of Town and offer a nice bed and warm shower.  Every morning, the day starts with a short drive to the trailhead and riding a horse into the foothills.  Generally, the guys that are in poorer condition get to sit the major migration routes.  It is not unusual to have 100-250 deer pass with rifle range.  The cost is about HALF of a ranch hunt BUT is highly weather dependent.

Lastly as for antelope, I think that a person has alot better options than Wyoming.  As far as I am concerned, New Mexico is the best state in the country for kill antelope.  Any of the other states that have similar quality (Arizona, Nevada & Oregon) are extremely limited in tags.  New Mexico has the landowner permit system.  There are many options for a very affordible antelope hunt that is a top quality experience.

I hope this isn't too personal of a question...  Are you classified as Disabled or could you get classified as disabled?

If so, there are alot of interesting opportunities that would be availible to you.

Let me know if I could help you out,

SA

PS.  I am not an outfitter  :grin:

[Graybeard]

I hope this isn't too personal of a question... Are you classified as Disabled or could you get classified as disabled?

Not at this time. But who knows what might be when the doctors decide just what is wrong with me and what if any thing can be done to fix me. I know I have several minor blockages and one 20% blockage of arteries feeding the heart. I have thickened wall of the heart from long time high blood pressure but am told none of these is the cause of my shortness of breath. I do have moderate Hypoxemia and that will be addressed on Friday when I see the lung specialist. What the outcome will be I do not yet know.

I've never sat a saddle before so dunno how I'd take to riding a horse that much.

At this time a low elevation ranch hunt really seems about all I'm up to. I do good to walk 50 yards before I have to stop and rest and get my breath. It takes me longer to recover than it does to walk 50 yards. Going uphill is really not do able at this time.

[bobcat66]

Good Morning,  I live in north central nevada.  I have lived here all of my life.  If you were to draw a tag for antelope or deer in my area I would gladly take you out. I have permission to hunt on some very good ground. Last year I killed a 23" buck at 20 yards with a bow, in 1999 I killed a buck that scored 189 7/8 I have two antelope on the wall one will go 76 B&C the other 78 I took my brother in law, he killed one antelope with 17 inch horns that scored 81, all of these were killed less than 100 yards away from the road, so very minimal walking. I would not let you kill one unless it was over 16 inches tall. that is the quality antelope we have here.

[Spyro Andes]

GB,

You wouldn't happen to be taking any medication for your stomach?

A kid I know, a college basketball player, was having real stamina issues.  Shortness or breath and his heart rate would max out at 150.  They ran test after test on him and after 3 months or so...  They told him to stop taking some medicine for his stomach, he was back to normal within 48 hours.

The avenue that I would persue at this point, HUNTING WISE, until they figure out more about your condition, is to find you a "handicapped hunt".

Unfortunately, unless you get classified as legally disabled, many of the western handicapped hunting tags are not availible to you.  Several states offer amazing opportunities for "handicapped hunters".

Actually, many of new mexico's monster antelope as shot during the handicapped hunting season.

Deer hunts are not that difficult to find, we just need to get you on a good ranch hunt that has plenty of deer coming into some fields or on a hunt using atvs.

I take it that your Hypoxemia gets aggrivated by altitude.  Believe it or not, find low altititude is the toughest part of this...  

I'll look around.

SA

[Graybeard]

Yes I take Prevacid for Acid Reflux. Stopping is NOT an option. I could prehaps get changed to the new one that replaced Prilosec when it went over the counter. But not taking a medication for the acid reflux is just not in the cards. I have it seriously bad.

I've not been to much different altitudes than around here in Bama in a long time. But when I was in CO yup it was really bad and that was before it got so bad here. Dunno about lower altitudes than here but here is under 500 ft. above sea level mostly.

[Spyro Andes]

Good Morning,  I live in north central nevada.  I have lived here all of my life.  If you were to draw a tag for antelope or deer in my area I would gladly take you out.

Brother, drawing a tag for non-residents is much easier said than done...

What units are you hunting for Mule Deer?

041? 042? 043? 044? 045? 046?  A non-resident is looking at draw odds of between 13-1 to 30-1 depending on the hunt.

Granted it is not as bad as 011-013 (77-1), 014 (140-1), 015 (290-1), 034 Late (288-1), 111-113 Late (117-1) or 241-245 (107-1).

What units are you hunting for antelope?  041 & 042?  Draw odds for a non-resident are 37-1.

Atleast it isn't as bad as units 012-014 (116-1) or 033 Late (499-1).

Let put this into a little perspective...  2 of Nevada's Nelson Bighorn hunts draw out at around 40-1 to 60-1 for Non-Residents.

Anyway, we should talk more...  I love hunting Nevada...  We should talk.

SA

PS.  Looks like Taulman (United States Outfitters) is going to screw you guys just like he did to Arizona.  From what I am hearing, he is likely to win his lawsuit against the State of Nevada.

[Spyro Andes]

GB,

Are you taking the 15mg or 30mg Prevacid?  One daily or Twice Daily?

Protonix is another good stomach medication.  Nexium is another option.  As is Aciphex.

A switch might be a good choice but I am not a doctor.  They are all protein pump inhibitors so I am not sure if they have the same active ingredients.

I just find it interesting that you have the same "unknown" medical conditon and you both were taking stomach meds.  

Same medication btw.

SA

PS.  Do you drink lots of water?  Lets say you weight 200 lbs, you should be drinking 100 ounces of water daily.  300 lbs should be 150 ounces.

[Graybeard]

30MG once a day for now at least. I have considered asking to be switched to Nexium as they say it heals the erosions and I have them badly (Barrett's esophagus). But for now the doctor seems to think what I'm on is correct for me. One problem is getting the insurance to pay for it. They do now but it was a real hassle to get them doing so. Only costs me $35 out of pocket each 90 days. If I switch we have to go thru the entire process all over again to get them to pay for the new one. It wasn't easy for my doctor to convince them.

Before changing meds again I'm gonna see what the lung doctor decides. He will likely go inside and look at my lungs to see if he can see the problem unless he can locate it on the CT Scan. If nothing is found to be the cause then I'll look into the possibility it's medications related. But I've had the problem longer than I've been taking the medication. It just keeps getting worse.

Never heard of those other two meds you mentioned. One problem my doctors have is balancing out all the different medications I'm on. I currently take 11 different prescription meds daily.

I'm sure I don't drink enough water. Weight is 260 at 5' 7". I don't really measure my daily intake but I'm sure it's not as much as is recommended. Now in the summer time I do but this time of year I usually don't.

[Spyro Andes]

GB,

I agree... go to the pulmonologist and see what he says.

As for what you can do now, I'd increase my water intake to a minimum of 130 ounces per day.

I'd struggled with a horrid stomach issue for 24 months.  I didn't go anywhere without my prevacid 15s, a bottle of rolaids, a bottle of mylanta and anti-spasmodic perscription.

Seriously, I had a stash that I'd even carry in my hunting pack.

My typical day was 2 prevacid 15s and a half dozen rolaids.  About once a month, I'd wake up with my stomach feeling like it was being torn apart.  That would call for a G.I. shot consisting of 30cc of mylanta and 15cc of the anti-spasmodic.

I haven't taken a darn thing in 18 months.

I cut out all caffiene, no decaf coffee, no fruit juices, no tea, no vinegars, no sodas and no alcohol.

I did drink 32oz of 'natural water', like carrot juice or a blend of carrot/beet/spinach/kale/parsley/cucumber/celery juice, and my 130 ounces of purified water.

I was off my meds within 6 weeks.

Anyway, I read a book called "Your body's many cries for water" and it opened my eyes.

The website is http://www.watercure.com/default2.htm

Anyway, I'll keep my eyes open for a hunt and best of news with the pulmonologist...

SA