Deer Unit 117

My brother in law and I were able to draw deer tags for unit 117. I have hunted all over Wyoming but never in 117. We picked this unit because it looked like awesome high country that I love to hunt and with the points we had, we figured to have good odds. We also like the opening on September 15th. Anyone with any info on this unit, (access points, drainage to check, expectations, early vs. later in the season, hunting pressure, etc.) would be great.

I hope you're aware that at least half of that unit is wilderness area that you can't hunt without a guide or resident with the proper permit. Not that many permits are issued so you won't be seeing a lot of other hunters.

Actually about 45% of the unit is wilderness.
As much as it it posted and written about ,I can't see how some one could draw a tag in Wy and not no that a non resident can't hunt the wilderness without a guide.

That being said, I looked at that unit myself.
It has a decent buck to doe ratio, but the 39% success rate is a little low for a limited quota deer unit for my liking.
That low success could be terrain related. Might be most don't push high enough or hard enough.
Season date could be a little early some years too, to see good deer.

That unit does seem to produce some good bucks.
Might just need cold weather with snow to make it a good hunt for the non wilderness hunt.

Would love to hear how your hunt goes.
Wish I had more info to help you out.

>Actually about 45% of the unit
>is wilderness.
>As much as it it posted
>and written about ,I can't
>see how some one could
>draw a tag in Wy
>and not no that a
>non resident can't hunt the
>wilderness without a guide.
>
>That being said, I looked at
>that unit myself.
>It has a decent buck to
>doe ratio, but the 39%
>success rate is a little
>low for a limited quota
>deer unit for my liking.
>
>That low success could be terrain
>related. Might be most don't
>push high enough or hard
>enough.
>Season date could be a little
>early some years too, to
>see good deer.
>
>That unit does seem to produce
>some good bucks.
>Might just need cold weather with
>snow to make it a
>good hunt for the non
>wilderness hunt.
>
>Would love to hear how your
>hunt goes.
>Wish I had more info to
>help you out.

Geez, I missed by 5%, so sue me, LOL! You would be surprised how many people don't even know what a wilderness area is or where they are located, so I wouldn't jump to conclusions. May I ask how many times you've hunted out in Wyoming? I was out on my first trips in 1992, 1994, and 1997 and haven't missed a season out there since 1999. Most of the time I'm out there all of September and October since I retired in 2002, so I know quite a bit about a lot of the areas that people ask questions on. Since my wife passed three weeks ago I'm seriously thinking about getting a place out there and sharing more time between there and my home here in MI. Who knows, as I'm even considering moving out there permanently, but have a lot of thinking to do on that since they all say not to make major decisions quickly after something like this happens.

pm sent

Not trying to stabb at ya Top gun.
Just trying to help out and certainly wouldn't doubt experience of a person such as yourself.

I will say admittedly that I for one seem to have had the wilderness thing crammed down my throat too often.
I get it.

If I new more info to give I would.
When I do in the future, I will.
I think I should try to help if I can. I sure appreciate all info I've gotten here and elsewhere.

But we all will have to hunt and find our own game in our own way that suits us and our own abilities.

No post here will tie one to a tree for anybody.
And I don't expect anything in return for any advice I give.

Hope life treats all well this year.

Millworks---The comment I made above was really true. I don't know how many times I've seen guys that want to hunt in Wyoming gripe because they think that all of the NF land in the state falls under that wilderness rule when it's just a fraction of the total number of NF acres.

Thanks for the input. Yes, we are aware of the wilderness issue in 117 but there is a tremendous amount of non-wilderness in that unit that we look forward to hunting. I have hunted the high country of Region G many times since 2002 for both deer and elk. We are not afraid to backpack in to the high country but we are just looking for some pointers on different access points or basins to start with. With Wyoming's late draw results, it does not leave much time to plan so any help is appreciated.

LAST EDITED ON Jun-26-17 AT 02:17PM (MST)[p]Trails West outfitter hunts some of that country, probably just the wilderness section though. They take some decent bucks but nothing huge in my opinion, and they know the area well. It's better for elk and sheep overall. As mention it's low success for past tag holders. And is huge rugged country, even outside the wilderness. Probably part of the reason harvest is low. With that said the limited tags should make for a high quality hunt in terms of low pressure. You should have the place to yourself to see animals and if you have experience in other mountain hunts as mentioned you should have a great time. Best of luck with the tag and be careful of the griz in that area!