WY unit 101 deer

wildwilderness · Jul 2, 2015

I drew a WY 101 deer tag this year even though they cut tags to only 25. Hopefully with the spring moisture there will be good growth this year.

If anyone has experience there, or pics of any buck that have come off that unit in the past it would be appreciated. Will be heading out for a scouting trip in a couple weeks. I plan to hunt he archery season, then the rifle depending on how it goes. Thanks

idhunters · Jul 14, 2015

Lots of deer, great big elk and really crappy roads when they get wet. And it doesn't take much water. That mud is some of the worst I have ever seen. Its also really windy. I would look around pine mountain and I think its blacks mountain (on the north end near the mine). Kinny rim has lots of draws. Don't overlook the low sage draws they hold more than you think. I have heard of big deer but most of the bucks are 160-170.

wyobackcountry · Jul 14, 2015

Most deer will fall closer to 140 than 160-170.
I hunted elk out there last year and I put in a good amount of time scouting and running cameras. Best 2 bucks I saw were a 170 and a low 180 type.
It's a fun hunt for older bucks but the genetics just aren't there. Lots of 2x3, 3x3, 3x4, type deer.

nontypical · Jul 14, 2015

I would also add that there are NOT lots of deer. I run cameras annually out there, and last year was the worst I've ever seen. 101 has never been overrun with deer, but it continues to get worse year after year. 125 tags less than 10 years ago, and 25 now? That speaks volumes about the unit.

I'm sure the genetics are still there, but they've been hiding really well for the past few years. I would agree with wyobackcountry on everything else he said, though.

Decent bucks can still be taken, but total numbers have taken such a hit over the past 10 years that big bucks are very hard to come by.

Conditions have been very good for antler growth this year, so you could find something good, however. Good luck on your hunt.

wildwilderness · Jul 16, 2015

Thanks for the info. I am going out this weekend and scout around. I plan to hunt archery season and would be happy with a mature buck.

If you turn up anything on the annual trail cams I would love to hear about it!

Thanks

[email protected]

nk84 · Jul 16, 2015

wyobackcountry when did you see the 180

wyobackcountry · Jul 16, 2015

October 16th, the day I filled my elk tag.
I had a few cameras in the area but he never showed up on them, I did however get to watch him for about 15 minutes through the spotter at about 500 yards...sweet buck and the best I've seen out there in the two years I've held tags for the area (1deer, 1elk). I passed on the sighting a fellow MMer that worked with a tag holder, but to the best of my recollection that buck was not spotted or harvested.

I did get a few bucks on camera but overall I was almost shocked at the lack of deer and quality.

Unfortunately the deer are struggling out there but don't get discouraged if you've got a tag! As long as you're not dead set on a book buck and take it for what it is you should have a good time. There's some neat country to look at as well as some nice elk, antelope, horses, ect...it's amazing how much wildlife that dessert holds. It's a great hunt to take a child or an older parent, it's just not a "trophy" unit.

wyobackcountry · Jul 16, 2015

This was the 3rd best buck I saw last year. A neat buck but not very big. I enjoyed watching him throughout the summer/fall and he never ventured very far from where I first spotted him. He was also taken by a fellow MMer not far from his little spot in the sage.

Packout · Jul 16, 2015

You've received some good advice so far. I had the tag in 2013. It was tough. Spent 7 days scouting in Aug-Oct and 2 days hunting. Saw 7 small/average bucks and maybe 20 doe/fawns and the buck I killed. Went 3 days without seeing a buck. We glassed hard and spent time. Some neat looking country, just not many deer. I found the opener of the hunt was a little crowded with other deer/elk/antelope hunters. Had a good time, shot a nice 6 yo buck, would like to do it again-- but I think there is better quality in general season units.

marburg · Jul 16, 2015

Why this unit requires max points still is absolutely mind boggling.....

Forkhorn · Jul 17, 2015

I would say the same for 102 blows my mind how its a max point unit. but i would agree their fun units to watch all the wildlife. biggest problem is there's a road every 50 yards

wildwilderness · Jul 17, 2015

Thanks for all the input so far. I figured this year would be as good as any with all the spring moisture to use my NR points on 101. I like how there are only 25 tags this year so less chance of too many hunters. Then I could hunt general units that take way less points. Also a nice old lady gave me a voucher for helping her, for CO unit 3, 3rd season right across the border so I can scout them both out at the same time.

I don't need a "trophy" buck, I don't even have a 4 point on the wall! I have killed one nice buck- 29" 4x4 with eye guards and mass with my bow, but it died on private land. UDWR picked it up so I got to hold it but not keep it. That was over 10 yrs ago.

I have killed my share of 2-3pointers and blown my chances on some monsters. Of course I would like to get a big one, but I will be happy with a fun hunt, low pressure and a mature buck.

BeDawg · Jul 17, 2015

Keep us posted on how you do!

idhunters · Jul 21, 2015

I had the tag 4 years ago. I harvested a 6.5 year old deer (per the Wyoming fish and game tooth aging). It would have been a 170 buck if his one side wasn't a 3 point and a little messed up. I'm sure things have changed since I was there but finding deer/bucks wasn't a problem, although they were somewhat concentrated around good habitat. I agree big buck genetics aren't common there. The biggest buck I saw (180 class) was right on the CO border. Couldn't turn him up during season, I think he moved across the road to 102.

wildwilderness · Jul 27, 2015

Got back from a quick scouting trip. The deer sightings were few and far between. I saw 3 does total and 2 fawns. Its going to be a challenge to find a mature buck! lots of glassing

Way too many feral horses! can't be good for the deer herd with that much competition. They are aggressive as well. tons of antelope, but didn't notice any monsters. Saw a good bachelor group of bulls and another herd of cows/spikes.

Oil/gas roads everywhere! the BLM roads were mostly washed out and rough with all the rain this year.

nontypical · Jul 27, 2015

And that's after they rounded up several hundred!

eelgrass · Jul 27, 2015

I hunted it the last 8 days of the 2010 season. For the most part everything went wrong for me. Rain, snow, more rain, wind, more rain. And then the wind got serious. I didn't know what wind was until then. I saw about 20 deer total, only one buck I would shoot but he was out on Kinney Rim headed to Colorado last I saw him. I saw a nice 170ish buck that another hunter took.

Pine Mountain looked the best to me.

I would hunt it again, but only if it took 2 or 3 points to draw.

Eel

Guns are like parachutes. If you need one and don't have one you probably will never need one again.

wildwilderness · Oct 11, 2015

With all my other hunts I was only able to make it out to 101 for one weekend during the archery seasons.

Luckily my hunting season has gone well so far. I was able to shoot a beautiful buck during the Utah archery season on a general tag. I then was able to shoot an OTC elk in CO, a nice 5pt bull, and then a quick trip to see my folks in Australia and tagged a free range Sambar deer. Then last weekend take my son out to shoot a couple antelope!

I did see a few deer in WY 101. I found one group of bucks that consisted of 5 forkies, 2 small 3x3, a small 3x4 and a 4x4 that might hit 130"

wildwilderness · Oct 11, 2015

Here is a picture of my Utah buck. The small 4x4 I saw in WY 101 walked by me at 30yds, but was not what I am looking for.

I would love to find a buck like this UT general tag buck.

I believe what most have said about the deer being few and far between there. However If anyone may have been elk/antelope hunting there that may know of a decent buck any information would be appreciated.

BowHuntr · Oct 11, 2015

I would focus my time in the lower country of that unit if your after an older age class buck. I hunted it a few years back. Bowhunted it early and saw a few good ones up higher around Pine/Sand mountains. Those bucks all moved off of those tops as soon as people started showing up. Roads on every ridge in Wyoming and those mature deer will move into some of that lower country and hideout. My experience anyway.

cmbbulldog · Oct 11, 2015

Nice Utah buck! Hope you find what you are looking for in WY.

wildwilderness · Oct 22, 2015

LAST EDITED ON Oct-22-15 AT 10:07AM (MST)[p]Was able to go out a couple days opening weekend. Saw a number of elk hunters about. I found a few groups of small bucks. One was the same group where I passed on the 130" 4x4, however he was gone- maybe shot opening day?