LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-19 AT 09:40AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-19 AT 09:38?AM (MST)
>I don't know how to say
>it any plainer than I
>did in my previous post
>or what the Hunt Planner
>explains. Most of that
>20% of public land in
>103 IS NOT LEGALLY ACCESSIBLE
>because there are no public
>roads accessing any of it
>that you can legally drive
>on. Find another unit
>and forget 103!
There are very few good options of doing what he wants to do, doe tags and 2nd choice buck without the same access issues. Doe tags were 86% draw for non-residents so there is a chance you get the buck tag (I am guessing 2nd choice special), but not the doe tags. I think you are stuck wanting to have your cake and eating it to. It might be easier to pay and have them draw a buck tag versus hoping for a doe tag in an all public unit...
I would recommend keep trying to find info from others and talk to biologists about the public, maybe get a list of landowners to call about doe hunting in 103...there are a few small walk in areas in there and an HMA that you can apply for access, but you won't know until August 22nd about access. Typically it is easier or cheaper to get private access for doe tags than buck tags and it is also easier to find those doe groups on the little bit of public in there. Haven't hunted this specific unit, but have been in nearby units with the same issues and working little public, HMAs, walk in areas...it really depends if you want that type of hunt with your family or not (it sounds like you don't)...it is hard to plan what you want to do because doe tags are not as easy to draw in units with a lot of public as they once were...and if you want to try for one of those better mostly public units for does (less than 25% chance of draw) and go 2nd choice doe (your 2nd choice doe is likely a worse unit than 103!). I really wish there were preference points for antelope doe tags so you could plan this out in advance to do what you want to do...I am in the same boat. Heck I would pay the same price of a doe antelope tag for a preference point!
Maybe just try and find private access for your family for doe tags in an easy to draw unit...then go from there?