Wyoming G'eeee for Meeee!

ForkWest

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So I drew a G tag, first time ever! I know its not as good as it's been in the past, or so they say, true? But I'm pretty excited anyway. I live close enough (2 hours away) that I can get some good scouting in and need to get the horses in shape anyway. I've hunted elk in areas of G and H and am fairly familiar with the area and know what to expect terrain wise. I know it's a pretty popular unit and know several of you have hunted it. I've kinda got a game plan but thought I'd ask for any info anyway on where to get started and what to expect, can never have enough info ya know. If you prefer, PM or e-mail [email protected]
Big thanks
 
Good luck I have heard of some nice deer in there. I have never hunted there, but these guys will see the post sooner or later and help you out. Maybe they just need a reminder so I'll bump it to the top. Come on guys, give a little help!
a3dhunter
 
Go to the Grey's River and climb to the top, better get in shape. Same for the Salt river range too, this is on the west side of Grey's River that runs through the middle of these two ranges.

Brian
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-08-06 AT 09:35AM (MST)[p]have four backup plans, or maybe five!

unless you have a spot that you know is secure and tight, expect people, no matter where youre at, and expect even more people if youre near a trail, or a high mountain waterhole.

be willing to change your plans

be willing to do what other's wont - that's getting harder and harder by the year

be willing to hunt the timber and mid elevation after the opening day or two, or, after the circus of shooting has begun,

be ready to see disgusting hunting antics and things that you never would believe hunters will do to get a buck. . .

It's getting ridiculous down there! Lots of country but it's getting tough to find places where you can "hunt." I know they are out there but it's getting tougher and tougher to find them. . . Most of the time your strategies will include anticipating what other's are going to do, and then plan appropriately.

some guys say find a buck that you have a chance at on opening day, then hunt him, then, skip a few days, and hunt the mid to end of the season just because the pressure is so high for the opening few days and the deer get pushed down and scatterd. I dont like missing the opener anywhere, but I think they may be on to something (hunting the later part of the season), especially if you dont have your deer located come opening day, and even then, there's on guarantees!

Good luck, just focus and be willing to modify your approach and tactics based on hunting pressure, weather, and deer movement. .




"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." (B&C Professor, Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase, Fall 2005, p.10).
 
I've heard similar about the mid-elevation stuff. I plan on hunting with my bow earliy on, if nothing else for the scouting, but with the pressure I'm doubting that even if I located one, come opening morning he isn't already on the fritz.

Generally is the north end or south end any better than another?
 
I hunted it last year and that was my 3rd time over the last 13 years. I won't go back until F&G cuts the tags to residents. It's the best area that has declined the most in the west! The advice to find one before the season starts and camp on him is the best! The end of the season is the next best especially if the weather changes. Good Luck! You've got a chance living so close.
 
When your talking pressure are you talking 20 guy is every creek drainage. I'm I going to be able to find any solitude? As far as pressure, what kind of an affect does it have on opening morning?

Thanks for the responses so far. Like I said before EVERY bit of info helps. Thanks again.
 
I hunted it last year, it was tough going. Had spotted several shooter bucks (175+ BC)in the summer. However, when the opener arrived the local archery hunts had pushed them off the tops in the thick shiz. As a result, nothing worth shooting that far in was available. You may want hunt with archery tackle, before all or the resident yahoo's get in there and stir it up some, you will definitely see many more quality bucks, if you use your optics.
 
I agree because there are so many more hunters taking advantage of the archery option. Now you need to scout before and kill opening day of archery. At least you'll have quality time in great country! The rifle opener is a joke. People show up everywhere. Mostly the day before the opener.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-10-06 AT 01:23PM (MST)[p]unless youre in a off the beaten path location, plan to shoot first, you'll have plenty of back up guning for that buck. I'd say in some spots 20 is conservative, in othere's it's high, but unless you have a good spot to go, one that people dont go to for whatever reason, I'd say youre in for an amazing spectical.

Maybe it's best that all the good bucks are getting shot out over the past few years as wyoming moves to destroy it's once abundant and winter range with roads and drill rigs and gass piplines and houses. . .

The day before the opener is a complete circus!!!!!!!!!

Good luck, there are nice deer out there and there are places where few people make it. . .

I'd try to hunt and area that you know has good bucks, and then let the masses drive them down to you. Look in the nasty thick chit, it's where the bucks will be come 7 pm on the day before the opener. . . If youre lucky or in the right spot, you will get a chance at one running by at 100 miles an houre come opening morning!



"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." (B&C Professor, Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase, Fall 2005, p.10).
 
The G & F doesn't usually believe in managing for quality. Their stats indicate over 3000 resident hunters hunted those area's in 2004. I can't believe you'd waste yer hard earned coin fighting crowds like that...
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-11-06 AT 09:05AM (MST)[p]I agree, I pulled the tag last year and had a fair hunt, due to the lack of quality game management from the Wyo Game and Fish, I have since put in for other units, however there still are some dandy bucks in the unit I see them every summer! Good Luck Fork West!!
 
Gave up on G 3 years ago. Had some good times and fun hunts up there, but like they say it aint what it use to be.

There's still some great deer up there, you're just gonna have to work extra hard to get one.

I actually just walked in from the lower country. I CAN NOT believe the amount of development in that country. It's amazing.
Every where I went had been surveyed for new pads, roads, etc...

It's gonna be sad to see what it looks like when Haliburton has had its way with it. Looks like they're getting ready to clobber the country south of Dempsey Basin now. Sad, sad, sad.....
 
I hunted a drainage in G on the opener in 2000 (?) I had scouted a huge buck during the summer. Opening day comes and I am not exaggerating when I say there were 35 or more vehicles parked at the trailhead. The campground was full and the 4 wheelers woke me up at 3 am heading up the "horse" trail. Hunters on every ridge. I did jump a deer that I assume was a buck due to track size and where it was but never saw it. It was in some cliffy nasty stuff.

I hunted the same drainage in 2002 only it was the third weekend of the season. There was 6-8" of snow at the trailhead and there were 0 other hunters. None. This trailhead is for 2 different trails going in different direction. No hunters on either trail. We didn't see any hogs but shot a respectable 27" buck.

In 2003 I hunted G again on the third weekend. The first day we went up a trail and there was only 1 vehicle there, we didn't see the hunters. I don't remember how many bucks we saw but there were several. Around 10:30 am I glassed up 3 bucks across the ridge while we were sneaking on another buck. ONe of the bucks was a 180 class 4 point and he was good enough for me.

These bucks were almost on top, out on a bare ridge in a bachelor herd.

In the 90's I hunted H and couldn't believe the bucks. Stopped counting at 25 and only saw 3 other hunters. It certainly isn't that way anymore.

My advice, wait until the second or third week and you should have much better hunting weather and less competition. Also, there is some good advice in hunting the thick, mid area's of the mountain. Finally, I think there are bucks down low that no one bothers as everyone heads to 10000' to hunt.

Good luck. I wish I had pulled the tag this year.
 

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