Wyoming Unit 34 Questions

P

Pajay

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My 16 year old son and I are heading to Wyoming Unit 34 (just west of Casper) for mule deer, rifle in October. Anyone have any suggestions on areas to concentrate on? What is a reasonable size expectation for that unit? Is earlier in the rifle season better or should we concentrate on the tail end of the rifle season (ends Octber 31st)? Can anyone suggest decent spots to camp that would have us close to the action?

Thanks for ANY help that anyone can provide.

Jay
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-23-11 AT 02:30PM (MST)[p]If it rains or snows during your hunt out there you better have good tires and CHAINS. And that is still not a good thing if it really hammers that area.
Hunted in there back in 09 and never seen any deer but not saying there wasn't any, we were after Antelope then. Never seen an camps either except way over on the west side of unit but it too might have been Private did not bother to check maps when we went through that area. Outfitters have a lot of the west side tied up.

Brian
http://i25.tinypic.com/fxbjgy.jpg[/IMG]
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-23-11 AT 02:58PM (MST)[p]Get very good maps of the unit and you will probably want to concentrate on the northcentral and northwest areas that have large contiguous tracts of BLM and state lands where you won't have to worry about trespass issues. As kilowatt mentioned, have a good 4x4 with chains (preferably all 4 wheels)and watch the weather because out there you can get stranded pretty easy the way the land gets with any decent moisture. I would shoot any decent 4x4 you see because there probably aren't many monsters in that unit and I would skip the first few days of the season to let the crowds thin out. It will be more of a quality hunt with your boy if you aren't looking at a sea of orange. Have fun with your son, be safe, and good luck!!!
 
I will also be rifle hunting 34 this year. The wyoming G&F shows like a 80% success rate with an average of 4.5 days of hunting. So there must be some deer in the unit, I hope so anyway.
 
Lot's of deer in 34. Not a lot of big deer in 34 which is why the resident draw odds are better than any of the surrounding limited quota areas. I took a stab at one of the whitetail tags. My buddy has quite a few of them running around his ranch...
 
We're not looking for trophies (even though I'm on the Monster Muley website!), just looking to hunt, see deer, and hopefully take something respectable. So it seems like the north central, northwest areas of the unit? Would that mean camping, or is there somewhere that might have motels within reasonable distance from the hunting area? From what you guys have seen in this unit, what was the terrain like where you were finding the deer?
 
It's basically what would be considered rolling high desert country sagebrush with some green juniper/cedar cover in the parts I've seen. Unless you want to be driving more than hunting, you should be prepared to camp out in a decent tent or camper so you are comfortable with whatever the weatherman doles out. Be prepared for single digits on into the 70s and everything in between. Most of the time in October that part of the state will be enjoyable for your hunt, but just be prepared for anything. Casper is way down in the southeast corner of the unit and the towns of Edgerton & Midwest are close to each other on the northeastern border and all are along the freeway. The further you go west into the unit where you will be hunting the more remote it gets, so you will need a full tank of gas when you leave the freeway and it's smart to have extra in some carry cans. Also, have all the food you will need for a few days more than you plan to hunt out in the hunting area just in case weather hits and you have to stay out longer than planned. You should be able to get a decent weather report on your vehicle radio from a station out of Casper where you'll be, so listen every morning and evening at a minimum so you have a heads up on what's coming your way. The remoteness of even an area like you will hunt is neat compared to what you are probably used to, so go prepared with everything for a worst case scenario and you'll be okay. You should be able to take a couple of what you are calling decent or respectable bucks in a week of hunting if you can shoot a decent distance. Just don't expect to see a bunch of 20"+ racks all over the place or you will be disappointed. It's best to zero your rifle for 200 yards and then get some decent prcatice out that far or further and if you don't have bipods on your rifles I would suggest at least taking shooting sticks. I shoot off a lightweight camera tripod and that extra leg makes it almost like shooting off a range bench. The main thing is to have some type of rest to shoot at an animal out there at any distance. If you can't aim in the upper to middle part of a buck's chest with a 200 yard zero, then IMHO he's too far and you shouldn't shoot. I've seen people flinging lead at deer and antelope that were hundreds of yards away without a rest and it's just luck to hit one and not fair to the animals due to more crippling shots than humane kills shooting like that.
 
Thanks for the information Topgun. I'm sure we'll be fine as I have hunted other western states - MT and CO, and am comfortable to 300 yards using my bipod - definitely prefer lying on the ground to shoot any kind of long distance though. Do you have any suggestions in that area as for where to start looking? Certain drainages, roads, etc. that would help to send us in the right area instead of wasting a lot of time looking in the wrong area? Would hate to see the kid go home disappointed!
 
Okay, as I thought that maybe you were a novice out west. I would take hwy 20/26 west out of Casper and go about 8-9 miles past the airport. That's about where 125 goes north a long ways, so take it and then 110 will come into it on your right and then the road becomes 110 on to the northwest. Take that up towards the northern boundary of 34 and you can take 114 right off that up to the northeast and hunt all of that (it's about 5000'elevation in that general area and has some rougher country). The other area I would suggest is to stay on 110 and go on up to the northwest and it gets higher up into the 7,500' range. All that country up at about coordinant W -107 going east and west and south of the northern boundary should also be good. Both those areas will have you strictly in BLM and state land with no worry of trespass and what I think will keep you in deer on your hunt. Good luck and send me an email how you do as I will be on the road from Labor Day weekend until the third week of December!
 
Thanks again for the information. Looking at the map, I see what you mean about being isolated and needing to camp! I think we're going to have to see about packing the camping stuff AND CHAINS! They don't happen to rent out any units in Casper, do they?!

Wow, on the road during the fall? Doesn't help to fill the freezer with venison, does it?!
 
Pajay---That "on the road" comment is all deer and/or elk hunting starting in AZ, then WY, then NM, and ending with a week of bird hunting in ND with my pointer before coming back to MI for the last half of our deer season. Life as a retiree is good, LOL!!! Are you talking about renting chains or a vehicle? I've never heard of renting chains if that's what you meant. Casper is a big city and may have rental 4x4s, but it may already be too late to reserve one. Try a net search and see what you can come up with. Good luck to you and your boy!
 
Misunderstandings on both ends! Congrats on your retirement, I'm envious and hope to be able to do the same some day. I was talking about renting a camper, either a tow behind or a Winnebago type. You seem very familiar with that area - did you deer hunt it, or were you bird hunting it? You are having a lucky year if you drew an AZ elk tag. A friend of mine drew one this year after 10 years of applying.
 
Never hunted it. I just like to get out and explore different areas when I have time while I'm out there. I would think there would be a place for rentals like you're talking about in Casper. Put up a quick post in the Wyoming Forum asking if anybody out in that area can help you out on that. A camper would sure be a lot more comfortable and mobile than a tent, but I would stay away from the larger RVs on the roads you will be driving in the unit. I have a popup that goes up into an A Frame with all solid walls and ceiling that is ideal for cold weather camping. I can pop it up, have the heat on, and be in bed in 5 minutes.
 
Sonnys rents s rv s just do a search for sonnys rv onlime and you will find it also i believe stalkups rv does to if you want to comparitive shop i know when i looked into it it was about 200-250 a week depending on availability.

moseley middleton
 
Thanks again for the information, but just found out that we DID NOT draw tags! Now I'm trying to figure out something that would involve leftover tags. Back to square one.
 
You have got to be kidding me, right? Two full days after the draw and you're just now finding out and telling us you don't even have tags for the unit after asking all those questions and taking people's time to help you! Please don't ask where to go now as I might just tell you, LOL! Sorry, but this really hit me the wrong way and I always try to help everyone as much as possible BUT.....
 
Sorry that you were offended, however, I found out this morning that the draw happened yesterday as it was not supposed to happen until the 30th of June. Based on the points needed to draw last year, we should have drawn and I was already planning the hunt. Apparently this year more people or less tags, whichever the case, put us into the group where 45% were successful - we were not one of those. Again, the information you had provided was nice of you and sorry for any misunderstanding.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-26-11 AT 04:43PM (MST)[p]

Conrad8899---That ain't gonna fly as the stats for 2008 through 2011 shows they issued 10 tags in the random draw each year and there were between 117 and 140 first choice choice applicants each year, so the odds were poor every year unless you were in the PP draw with at least 1 PP. Less than 1 PP has drawn a tag every year in the Regular PP drawing, so he obviously wasn't in that drawing and is why he didn't draw. You have to do a little bit of homework yourself on this stuff and if you don't know how you should ask for help way before you apply for a tag in a unit like that. I may be harder on the guy than I should be, but people have to do a little bit of work themselves and if they do plenty of people will normally help. I hope nonyamt doesn't read this thread because he will say: "I told ya so!" on people applying without doing their homework. I hope anybody new to western hunting that reads this thread will understand how to go about things. I apologize, but it takes time to do what I just did looking at the stats after you asked the questions. I don't mind doing that and helping anybody if they are at least helping themselves a little bit!

PS: It was also posted all over these Forums, including a big one that I put up, stating that the draw results were to be up at 8AM on 6/24 and from early that morning the OP was on this BB asking questions and getting answers on a unit he had a poor chance to draw unless he was in the one I mentioned. If he comes back here and said he had PPs when he applied, then he didn't apply properly or something!

*Edit for spelling!
 
I drew 34 with 2 points. Thanks for the all that info topgun, not many people are willing to share that much.

Can anyone tell me what the rules are for camping on BLM land. can you park your camper anyway?
 
LAST EDITED ON Jun-26-11 AT 05:33PM (MST)[p]
Congrats on the tag! Normally you can camp anywhere you can get to on BLM without going off an established road or marked side road where you would be damaging the landscape. Just watch for signs that might be posted telling you the area is off limits, use a little common sense, and you will be fine. Now go out there and shoot a big one with that tag in hand!!!

PS: I did a little more research based on the remark that he was in a 45% group that didn't draw. The only way I can come up with that stat would be if he put them in for the Special more expensive PP tag where ones with 1 PP had only a 53.33% chance. Again, why someone would do that when all the stats show that less than 1PP in the cheaper drawing drew a tag every year is a little puzzling. That is why I made the remark that if someone isn't sure how to go about things that they should ask questions BEFORE they apply. Maybe I'm making way too much of this because I've hunted out in WY for so long and know most of the ins and outs of the draw. For that I do apologize to the OP!!!
 
To set the record straight, we had an average of 2 preference points in a group application into the non-resident preference point regular drawing (not the special license). I went to the Wyoming Game and Fish Website and went to the section "Drawing Odds" for my information. Last year, those with 2 points all drew tags. This year, 45.15% of those with 2 points drew. In 2009, those with <2 points drew 100% of the tags. In 2008, 1 point drew 100% of the time. So, I would think that I had done my homework on the drawing odds, but was premature in planning the hunt and getting early information.

I wasn't looking to get anyone upset on this forum, nor was I asking anyone to go out and scout for us. I had asked if anyone could point us in the right direction, and a few people graciously did and I thank them for it.
 
Pajay---Please accept my humble apology because I absolutely had my head up my azz when I looked at the NR PP Draw. I went down a couple lines too far in the stats and read the statistic for whitetail deer in unit 34. You are absolutely correct in that persons with 2 PPs for type 1 that you put in for were 55% successful in this years draw. I appreciate how gracious you have been, and continue to be, the way I went on in this thread. You had the right to tell me to kiss your *** and I would have, LOL! To make it up to you, please email me and I'll get you and your son on a good hunt in the units I hunt every year. There are plenty of tags left because I haven't even bought mine yet! Again, I really apologize for what I posted!!! [email protected]
 
No problem Topgun. Everyone has a day where they react quick and things aren't 100% as they had appeared. But you too were open minded to continue reading and looking into it and I appreciate it ending this way. My boo-boo in this case was planning before having the tag in hand! I'll PM you.

Thanks
Jay
 
Sorry Mr Topgun. I am not up on the stats in Wyoming. I was just giving sum possible reasons. For why he didnt draw his tag. Good day........
 
No problem man and they were the correct reasons! I was the schmuck on this thread and readily admitted it, LOL!
 
That is okay TopGun. I am glad to see U helping this person out. Not every one has the time to scout. And sum one like U helps people out. It is really appreciated
 
Thanks for the info on the unit and the roads. We drew 73 goats which is pretty much the same unit as 34 deer I believe. this will be my 1st goat hunt along with my dads 1st so we are excited. I have been to busy at work to even begin my research but plan on hunting some of these walk in areas.
 
No, we just put in for the regular draw, and purchased the PP on the Application.Never expected to be drawn.Had region D as second choice. I've hunted it since 1980.Here in Georgia we say shithouse luck trumps planning on a daily basis.Hey, next time your in Casper look up Lewis Ray at Ray's Taxidermy.He's been a local Icon since 1957. And my cousin since I was born.
 
Hey Topgun, My dad and I also drew unit 34 for deer, and this is our first time in this particular unit. We drew as nonresidents with 1 bonus point. We also drew AZ bull elk so maybe we'll see you on the road! Thanks for the info.
 
ksdeadeye - Did you put in for the special license that you drew deer tags with one PP?
 
No, actually we just put in for the regular preference point draw. I thought that the chance of drawing was about 7% with one point, so we did not expect a tag. I actually had 2 points, and my dad had zero so I think that put us at 1 for the group. We were really thinking that we would get our general region tag that is 100% with our second choice, and bank another point for next year. Turns out we got drawn for Wyoming deer and antelope, and AZ elk this year. After terrible luck the last few years this was a surprise. When it rains it pours! Had 11 bonus points in AZ to draw that tag, so I have to make it count. I hope you find a good hunt for you and the boy, I'm sure you can with a little leg work.
 
Pajay---Something is rotten in Denmark if they drew with 1 PP and you didn't with 2 PPs!!! All the 2 PPs would draw before the computer went to ones with 1PP if it was done properly!
 
It looks like ghooterman drew with 1 preference point as well. I don't know what to tell you, maybe there was an inadvertant error made on your application that kicked yours out or something. Did you apply online, or are they still doing the paper apps?
 
ghooterman would not have even been in the PP draw because he said he bought the PP when he applied for the draw. That PP would not be good until next year and he should be getting that PP money back because you can't buy a PP and draw a first choice license in the same calendar year. That means he went into the Regular Draw where nobody has PPs and was lucky enough to draw a license. If it were me, I would be vehemently complaining to the F&G to give me a license for the area because it looks like it was their computer screwup that resulted in them not drawing a license with 2 PPs. I have also been talking with a member who applied for a LE deer tag as a party with 4 PPs and his buddy drew the tag and he didn't! He contacted the F&G and they said they lost his original ID stuff and had to issue him another one and then he bought a Regional tag. However, when he called again they now tell him that they have recovered the record showing he has 4 PPs, so I said what the **** is going on up there!!! He ssid the lady in licensing stated that once in a while there is a computer problem and he will have to live with it. I told him to call her back and go up the ladder all the way to the Director if he has too because he has proof through his bank that he paid for both their tags with his credit card!
 
By the way it's ghoterman, and you are correct about those PP's.Me and my buddy bought the PP when we applied for the deer tags.We had Area 34 as first choice and Region D as second choice, because we knew we could draw Region D and then use the PP next year.We also planned to buy another PP during the July thru September time frame and have 2 PP's for next year.But they did apply the PP we purchased this year towards the draw this year, because as it now stands, I have zero PP's and an area 34 tag in the mail
 
This whole licensing systems seems whacked! We didn't draw with 2PP, and according to the website, 45% with 2PP drew tags, those with less than 2PP didn't draw at all. So I have no idea how people are getting tags with less PP than we have. I'll be calling the state tomorrow to find out what in the H*LL is going on there with the licensing system.
 
Payjay, your post got me thinking about the whole last year and all the drawings and bonus points that we applied for. I had 2 pp because I had bought them w/o applying for the last 2 years as I was banking them for a day when I wanted to do a limmited quota hunt. I thought that my dad had only bought elk points in wyoming the last 2 years, but I guess it is possible that he bought one last year in addition to his elk point. If that were the case I had 2 pp and he would of had 1, would that have rounded up to 2 pp for our party of 2 hunters? I set up the hunt as the hunt coordinator on the web, and he joined my party so I guess that its possible he had a point, and I assumed he had none when we applied. We added this application at the last minute right at the deadline, and I really didn't think that we would be drawn anyway. I will call him and find out if he remembers if he bought a deer point last year to help clear this up. With all the different states and points that we have going on here, it can get confusing and it is possible that I overlooked a point my dad bought, and didn't tell me about. If he does remember that, I'll post it and let you know. Sorry about the confusion that I caused, I didn't mean to stir things up.
 
Only 45 % drew with 2 pts I think 31 people put in for 14 tags that were left in the 2 pt pool. The other 55% and people with less than 2pts went to the random draw where points don't matter. So if you drew with less than 2pts came from the random draw tags which had 10 tags and 140 applicants.
 
Okay guys, here is the scoop:

ghoterman---You bought a PP with your application and drew the license in the no PP draw with everyone else that had no PPs. You can't buy another point during the summer as a person can only buy one per animal per calendar year. You are showing O PPs in your account because they haven't even updated their PP records yet. It will stay at zero and they will be refunding your $40 for the PP because you can't buy one and draw a first choice in the same year. Please trust me on this as I know what I'm talking about.

Ksdeadeye---If your Dad didn't have a PP and you applied as a party, you guys would have gone in the draw with 1 PP as they divide the total PPs of the party by the party number and do not round up or down. If he had 1 PP, then you would have been in the draw as a party with 1.5 PPs. All you need to do is go into his account and click on the proper PP link to see what it shows. If you do that in your account, it will probably still show you have 2 PPs until they get around to updating those records in the next few weeks and return it to 0.

Pajay---You got screwed and I would definitely press the issue with F&G as far as you have to go with it to get it rectified! What good is the friggin PP system if they don't run it properly!!!
 
Topgun,
I checked our pp status online an hour ago and it is already updated showing 0 for both of us. And I did recieve my $40 bonus point refund today as well. Dad can't remember what he did last year(or last week since he's getting up there). So he's looking in his records to see if he can find his pp reciept. I'll keep you updated, but at most we would have had the 1.5 average between the two of us. I normally do all the application stuff, but he bought his own pp's in Sept last year with out supervision so who knows what he bought. He may have a unicorn pp for all I know. :)
 
>Okay guys, here is the scoop:
>
>
>ghoterman---You bought a PP with your
>application and drew the license
>in the no PP draw
>with everyone else that had
>no PPs. You can't
>buy another point during the
>summer as a person can
>only buy one per animal
>per calendar year. You
>are showing O PPs in
>your account because they haven't
>even updated their PP records
>yet. It will stay
>at zero and they will
>be refunding your $40 for
>the PP because you can't
>buy one and draw a
>first choice in the same
>year. Please trust me
>on this as I know
>what I'm talking about.
>
>Ksdeadeye---If your Dad didn't have a
>PP and you applied as
>a party, you guys would
>have gone in the draw
>with 1 PP as they
>divide the total PPs of
>the party by the party
>number and do not round
>up or down. If
>he had 1 PP, then
>you would have been in
>the draw as a party
>with 1.5 PPs. All
>you need to do is
>go into his account and
>click on the proper PP
>link to see what it
>shows. If you do
>that in your account, it
>will probably still show you
>have 2 PPs until they
>get around to updating those
>records in the next few
>weeks and return it to
>0.
>
>Pajay---You got screwed and I would
>definitely press the issue with
>F&G as far as you
>have to go with it
>to get it rectified!
>What good is the friggin
>PP system if they don't
>run it properly!!!


See post # 41
 
>This whole licensing systems seems whacked!
> We didn't draw with
>2PP, and according to the
>website, 45% with 2PP drew
>tags, those with less than
>2PP didn't draw at all.
> So I have no
>idea how people are getting
>tags with less PP than
>we have. I'll be
>calling the state tomorrow to
>find out what in the
>H*LL is going on there
>with the licensing system.


Couldn't some people with less points have gotten real lucky and drew in the random draw? Also I don't see how you are upset if you had 2 points and only 45% drew.
 
Sounds like you guys are getting it sorted out. With 2 points, you had about a 45% chance of drawing in the PP draw. If you drew with less than 2 points, you drew from the random draw.

"Dad can't remember what he did last year(or last week since he's getting up there)." That's my problem also. :)
 
Some people with 2 PPs or less than 2 PPs like Ksdeadeye could have drawn the tag when they were put over into the random draw after not drawing their tag in the PP draw because everyone is treated the same in that last draw. However, if that was the case and how Ksdeadeye drew their tags, I don't believe they should have lost their PPs, but I'm not positive on that. My understanding was that the only way you would lose them is if you drew your first choice in the actual PP drawing, and not when you are put over into the other. I may be wrong and whoever calls F&G should ask that question because that is where I have a big question mark. If they say you lose the PPs regardless of which draw you get the tags in because it was still your first choice, then that is why their accounts now show 0. The way the draws are set up, some with no PPs will get licenses and ones with a bunch of PPs won't if there aren't enough tags to go around in the PP drawing. To me there should be a straight PP drawing until all the tags are gone before going to people with none. However, Wyoming has a percentage set aside for those with no PPs and I'm sure it's to get more money into their system because a person with no PPs always has a chance of drawing the way they do the deer, elk, and antelope draws for nonresidents.
 
From reading all the posts, I didn't realize that if you don't draw in the PP drawing, that your application is put into the no PP drawing and you still have a chance. That is weird, but I'll be calling them today to find out what happened. Topgun is definitely on top of it when he explained that the one person had 2PP and his dad had 1 = average is 1.5. I know that if the party application had >2PP, that 100% drew. Hopefully I'll get through today to find out.
 
I do have to apologize because I initially forgot that one possibility of them drawing the license regardless of their point status in the random draw. I don't think it happens that often, but I think this is a good example that it can happen and the person with no PPs draws and a guy with a bunch that didn't draw in the PP drawing is also unlucky a second time in the random draw. If you draw a tag when the PP draw is less than 100% at a certain PP level like in this particular instance, you then really don't know which draw you got lucky in. Evidentally the PPs are taken away even when you draw on your second chance in the random because it was still your first choice and that's when you go back to zero like was done on the guys that applied and drew as a party. It's getting so you need a friggin college degree with plenty of spare time to figure out all the angles in these application and draw processes in the various states!
 
I know that I got a tag so it's easy to say, but there is something to be said for a system where you can still draw without any points. It gives you a small chance to luck out in any given year. So next year I go back to 0 but it is nice to know that you can still get lucky and draw a good tag, otherwise why put in at all? You would either have to put in for a lesser unit, or buy a leftover tag and then buy a bonus point. Lets not forget that wyoming offers excelent opportunity in the leftover tags, and there are very good bucks in all units. Dad and I have been living strictly on leftover tags in wyoming for the last 2 years, and we have had some of our most enjoyable hunts that way. We have been taking advantage of the opportunity to get 2 buck antelope tags per person in select units, and have been having a ball. Most people don't know thats an option, but it can be done with a leftover tag. There is also a lot of really decent general deer tags that offer good action, which is what a younger hunter wants anyway.
 
Congrats on the tags guys. This is what I assume from the info given.
ks drew in the random. Since it was his first choice he loses his points.
Pajay just didn't draw because he wasn't in the 45% that pulled a tag with 2 points and didn't get pulled in the random. Next year you should get a tag. Good Luck to everyone. Hope you have a great season guys. I didn't draw either but will be hunting leftovers and will have a blast as usual.
 
I agree with you ksdeadeye in that it is nice knowing that you have a chance with 0 points to draw a tag. That must have been what happened with us not drawing - you were just luckier than us.

I just looked at the moose preference points needed, and while I have 6, I see I am quite a few years away from being in the group that had a 100% chance to draw a Wyoming moose tag. Hopefully the wolves won't get them all before I draw a tag!
 
BTW thanx for the new sig,PRICELESS!

"I absolutely had my head up my azz "
TOPGUN

"I actually agree with NONYA on this."
MTMuley
 
Hey there stalker! How you doing? Did you get it out yet or is it still up in your throat? You are the one that's Priceless, LOL!
 
You must be referring to one of the male on male past times the root is well known for?What happens in the root stays in the root,right?

"I absolutely had my head up my azz "
TOPGUN
 

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