Wyoming Deer 89

pheasantphan · Aug 2, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Aug-02-17 AT 07:56PM (MST)[p]I have been on the site for a while, but had to reset my password and username so just as background, I am from Arkansas and mainly hunt deer and duck here while I also travel north and west for birds, deer and antelope.
We drew unit 89 deer tags this year and are excited to get the opportunity to hunt. We hunted that area for antelope a few years back and looking forward to getting back out there. I have maps for most of the unit and have been looking over them and hope to have a starting point but I have a couple of questions. Is all the land designated as BLM open to public if it can be accessed without crossing private? Also, I would assume all marked as state land is open as well? It looks like it will take a little effort to insure not trespassing so I just want to be sure what we are doing.
Also, I am used to whitetails which we gut and then drag - do you typically quarter or even debone the animal where it falls? I took a mule deer in CO two years ago but there were several of us and we were able to get it to the truck and to a processor without too much trouble. Hopefully we will get at least one, but we cannot bring any bone back to Arkansas due to CWD rules so it will have to be deboned or processed before we head back.
Any advice anyone has would be appreciated. Our family really liked the mule deer meat so we are just hoping to fill our tags with a decent buck so we are not too worried about antler size.
Looking forward to getting out there !!

TOPGUN · Aug 2, 2017

All the BLM and state land is open unless otherwise marked. Just make sure you have the county map showing all the public roads and stay on them to access the public lands you intend to hunt. It depends on how far you are from your vehicle when you down a deer, but IMHO I would have a suitable pack to bone the sucker out and bring it out that way, especially if there is more than one person to split it up with. Most states require that the spinal column and brain be left in the state where it was taken prior to taking it home, so it's cheaper and faster to do it yourself whether you leave the bone in and debone it at camp or debone it where it lays.

jm77 · Aug 3, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Aug-03-17 AT 08:09PM (MST)[p]There used to be a walkin area in 89. If it's still there don't overlook it. You will have no problem filling your tags in 89, especially if your main goal is meat hunting, but bucks 150-160 are fairly common if you can hunt well.

pheasantphan · Aug 3, 2017

As I look at maps it seems there are only about 3 to 4 main roads in area and nothing indicates any of those are closed. With the Google Earth images though there are numerous little roads/trails that lead off - if these cross public are they drivable or are they private ranch roads that just happen to cross public.

When we were there antelope hunting we stuck to the main roads but often saw other hunters take off down a random dim road. I have to be sure of where I am so I do not want to make a mistake so I a little cautious of where we go.

Thanks,

Chuck

TOPGUN · Aug 3, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Aug-03-17 AT 08:58PM (MST)[p]There really are few, if any, county maintained roads in unit 89. US Hwy. 20 is the northern border going west to Waltman, but there are very few public roads going south down into unit 89. The main roads that are legal to drive on are BLM 201, 209, 210, 211, 212, 320, and 321. Those give access to quite a bit of public land to hunt, but you don't want to stray off of them on two tracks unless you make sure and stay within the BLM land because many continue on into private ranches. You definitely need a good GPS with a land owner chip to know exactly where you are on your map to keep from trespassing.

jm77 · Aug 3, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Aug-03-17 AT 10:44PM (MST)[p]I'm not sure what Topgun means that there are few if any county roads in 89. There are quite a few and most all are maintained roads.(Check Natrona County Road & Bridge for map)You can drive them all and ANY established two tracks on public land, either BLM or state, as long as there are no CLOSED ROAD signs in them. Lots of two tracks in 89. I would stick to the south/west side of the Rattlesnakes and/or hunt the walkin area in the southeast corner, #11 I believe.
Do not overlook the sagebrush draws up high, because most everyone else does.

Largebull · Aug 3, 2017

Better tip yet, Stay back east in Your deer stand over the food plot...LOL......BULL!

pheasantphan · Aug 3, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Aug-04-17 AT 06:14AM (MST)[p]>Better tip yet, Stay back east
>in Your deer stand over
>the food plot...LOL......BULL!

I will get my time in over the food plot both before and after we come out that way. Bow season starts Sept 23 - Feb 28 and we can kill up to six deer so we will have plenty of time!!! I hunt quite a bit on our public ground as well (no food plots but some nice oak trees), great hunting opportunities here. You are welcome to come join me, we need more deer killed in Arkansas!

Thanks for the tips on the roads, I have maps but will probably get me a new gps as well and load maps on there. Really looking forward to getting out there.

TOPGUN · Aug 4, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Aug-04-17 AT 08:57AM (MST)[p]>I'm not sure what Topgun means
>that there are few if
>any county roads in 89.
>There are quite a few
>and most all are maintained
>roads.(Check Natrona County Road &
>Bridge for map)You can drive
>them all and ANY established
>two tracks on public land,
>either BLM or state, as
>long as there are no
>CLOSED ROAD signs in them.
>Lots of two tracks in
>89. I would stick to
>the south/west side of the
>Rattlesnakes and/or hunt the walkin
>area in the southeast corner,
>#11 I believe.
> Do not overlook the sagebrush
>draws up high, because most
>everyone else does.

My mistake Jeff! I called those road numbers that I named in my post as BLM. I was watching the ball game while posting on MM and today after reading your post I blew the map up on the computer and see those road numbers are inside rectangular county insignias, NOT BLM insignias! Mea culpa!

Tknez · Aug 4, 2017

Tknez · Aug 4, 2017

Pheasant

I have no idea about the area you will be hunting, but I do know this.

I will give you some great advice. Do with it what you will...

Look no further then JM advice on here and disregard any others. He gave you some great advice in his post I don't know if you picked up on it or not but it is there.

TOPGUN · Aug 4, 2017

>Smh

I probably shouldn't even ask, but what the haydes does Smh mean? And yes, your other post regarding advice from Jeff was spot on!

jm77 · Aug 4, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Aug-04-17 AT 05:25PM (MST)[p]>>Smh
>
>I probably shouldn't even ask, but
>what the haydes does Smh
>mean? And yes, your
>other post regarding advice from
>Jeff was spot on!

I think it means "shaking my head"