Wyoming unit 102

[bruce]

just curious what the roades are like in this unit? I have an atv but do not know if I should take it or not. Are the roades decent enough for a truck or would a atv be recommended? Has anyone had this tag before? How was your experience? I have done allot of research and am fairley prepared any advice would be appreciated, Thanks.

 

[driftersifter]

I have hunted it before and you can get around in a truck but a wheeler is a lot better for me. I like the feel of the wind in my face plus you can see a lot more country quicker in a wheeler. If that truck is your transportation home a wheeler is then by far the best choice. Make sure that you have plenty of water and other supplies with you as you can get yourself lost pretty easily as you check out whats over the next hill.
Driftersifter

 

[nontypical]

Take the wheeler!The roads are good until you get precip.I was puckered up a couple times last year out there.102 is my back yard.Hunt from the truck unless the roads get wet.Deer can hear the 4-wheelers from a mile away.They know what they are,and act accordingly.I use mine very sparingly;usually for retrieval only.I am a part-time guide for Red Desert Outfitters,and all the guides got stuck at least once last season,which seemed wetter than normal.Still,I did not use the wheeler until it was game retrieval time.

 

[NvrEnuf]

I agree 100% with what Nontypical said. I hunted 102 last year and when the roads are wet they are VERY SLIMEY! I am sure some guy in a jeep wrangler wishes he had a wheeler last year. On my way out one day I saw his ride all upside down in the middle of the road. If things are similar to last year it will most likely be cold enough in the morning to freeze the roads so the trip in will be a piece of cake. Just keep in mind that when things thaw the ride out will be a mess if things are wet/snowy!

Good luck with your hunt and have fun!

NvrEnuf

 

[nontypical250]

Nontypical,
How did your hunt go last year. I went with my uncle who had a 102 tag the second weekend?

 

[bruce]

NvrEnuf i would love to hear about your hunt how did you do send me a pm. Thanks bruce

 

[nontypical]

Sorry didn't get back to you sooner,250.We went 8 for 9;the guy who didn't kill was probably the one who deserved a big buck the most-he hunted the hardest,and knew what he wanted.Just didn't work out for him.The guy that killed the biggest buck was probably the one that LEAST deserved it.It was a heavy,deep-forked brute with a couple cheaters(26" with the cheaters)that scored over 198". He was spotted from the truck.None of the other bucks went over 170".A couple of better ones were missed,but nothing huge.How'd you do?

 

[nontypical250]

My uncle just wanted to get something with his boys there. Me and my dad and other uncle tried to get him to hold out as we were seeing lots and lots of small bucks. He ended up shooting a thick three point about 22 inches wide with his boys. To each their own. My uncles friend got a real nice 4x5 with eye guards about 28 inches wide. Big old Roman nose old deer. Huge body. Too bad there isn't more calibers of that buck around. How did you do opening weekend? We were north of you chasing elk with my cousin. She got her first elk. A decent 6 point, but she was estatic about it. It was alot of fun.

 

[nontypical]

How old was the 3-pt?I'm more concerned with the age class being killed than I am the antler quality as far as take goes.Too many people would rather take a 2-yr old 20" 4x4 than a 5-yr old 3x4 that's 29" wide and heavy.That 2 yr old would probably grow a 180"+ rack if allowed to grow to potential.There are lots of those bucks that get whacked every year out there.So that gene in the 28"er you guys killed doesn't get a chance to age.He was the 20" 4x4 three or four yrs ago(or whatever age)that everyone thinks they need to kill in 102 nowdays.Not saying that's bad at all,JMO on why you don't see more of that quality buck out there.There used to be lots of that type deer out there,before everyone had to get the "Big One".Definitions of what the "Big One" is vary from person to person,obviously.Congrats on a couple nice buck,though.That 28"er is a good buck from 102 these days.We don't start hunting until the 20th or so(as far as guiding),so I wasn't out on the opener.We like to let about 1/3-1/2 the hunters get out of there before we begin hunting.Hunted the "Sands" for elk,huh?Kudos to your uncle for showing the kids how it"s done.Later.