Wyoming Unit 90 Deer Failure

prizes14

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I'm sure some will disagree with me on my opinion of Wyoming's unit 90 deer unit but some nonresidents may find this beneficial before applying. You have probably heard that it is a 90% success unit with the average hunt lasting around 3 days but this unit is way overrated for 15 points. We did our research, talked to the game warden and wildlife biologist and hunted all the areas we were told to go. There are very few deer here. The biologist said deer numbers in this unit have been declining ever since the 1980's and told us not to get our hopes up. This is more like hunting a general unit except without the hunting pressure. I have never been so disappointed or discouraged on a hunt.

We hunted the final two weeks of season and even had snow but it was very hard to find deer. We only saw a few deer in our 13 days and most of those were just does we saw at night between mile markers 12 and 14 on the Gas Hills Road east of Riverton. Most days we didn't even see anything.

We mostly glassed and walked tens of thousands of acres but you will only see thousands of antelope and hundreds of wild horses. We saw as many coyotes as bucks. The warden said most people just drive around (which he said makes it easy to check on people) and a local resident out hunting confirmed that the best way to find them is drive around with your ATV covering every trail you can, make lots of noise and scare stuff up. I can now see why.

This is maybe a 2 point unit at best but only because there was very limited pressure with about 75 tags. If you have 15 points to burn, either have a buck found or go elsewhere. We only saw a few other hunters which makes me wonder if everyone kills deer early when it is hot.

If the guy from Indiana or the ones from Washington happen to read this, send me a PM and let me know if your experience was the same.
 
So the biologist tells you deer numbers in this unit have been declining ever since the 1980's and told you not to get our hopes up. You then go hunt and don’t see much and get discouraged. Hmmmm………??????? I agree the area is way down as you found out but seems to me that’s what you should have expected. All of Wyoming is suffering, and declining mule deer herds are happening in every Western state. On the bright side there is tremendous elk hunting out there now, take advantage of over objective herds now and start building points again but don’t wait 15 years and apply in an area even the Biologist said is really struggling and expect things to turn out like Christmas.
 
So the biologist tells you deer numbers in this unit have been declining ever since the 1980's and told you not to get our hopes up. You then go hunt and don’t see much and get discouraged. Hmmmm………???????
I should clarify that we talked to the biologist after we drew the tag so we didn't realize it was such a bad unit until after the fact. Moral of the story is talk to them before you apply and don't believe what you read in hunting magazines.
 
I'm sure some will disagree with me on my opinion of Wyoming's unit 90 deer unit but some nonresidents may find this beneficial before applying. You have probably heard that it is a 90% success unit with the average hunt lasting around 3 days but this unit is way overrated for 15 points. We did our research, talked to the game warden and wildlife biologist and hunted all the areas we were told to go. There are very few deer here. The biologist said deer numbers in this unit have been declining ever since the 1980's and told us not to get our hopes up. This is more like hunting a general unit except without the hunting pressure. I have never been so disappointed or discouraged on a hunt.

We hunted the final two weeks of season and even had snow but it was very hard to find deer. We only saw a few deer in our 13 days and most of those were just does we saw at night between mile markers 12 and 14 on the Gas Hills Road east of Riverton. Most days we didn't even see anything.

We mostly glassed and walked tens of thousands of acres but you will only see thousands of antelope and hundreds of wild horses. We saw as many coyotes as bucks. The warden said most people just drive around (which he said makes it easy to check on people) and a local resident out hunting confirmed that the best way to find them is drive around with your ATV covering every trail you can, make lots of noise and scare stuff up. I can now see why.

This is maybe a 2 point unit at best but only because there was very limited pressure with about 75 tags. If you have 15 points to burn, either have a buck found or go elsewhere. We only saw a few other hunters which makes me wonder if everyone kills deer early when it is hot.

If the guy from Indiana or the ones from Washington happen to read this, send me a PM and let me know if your experience was the same.
How many coyotes did you shoot?
 
By the time a unit appears in a magazine its usually ruined as far as how many points it takes versus quality. 90 are desert deer, big ones are there...locals I know have taken several 190 to 200+ but they can hunt the whole season easier, multiple seasons with relatives and really get to know the area. The big ones get big by being mostly nocturnal and spend the day in tall sage flats. As I've said here multiple times great hunt for a 150 to 160 deer with a chance at a monster. But monsters are in every general unit in the State of Wyoming but you odds of getting on are very slim. I've hunted 90, really enjoyed it and took a nice buck. Deer herds run in cycles like antelope so it always pays to thoroughly vet a unit before apply.
 
I do not think there are monsters in every general unit in wyo haha probably most but I wouldn't say all
 
Hey, I'm the guy from Indiana. I didn't see anything that I wanted to shoot. The buck I told you about the first time we met was the biggest one I saw the hole time. It was nice to not compete with a lot of hunting pressure, but I too was a little disappointed in what I didn't see.
 
I do not understand how a person would spend 15 years building points to hunt a unit they have never stepped foot in? I just do not get that mentality... I know it is hard but the money invested in the points alone should warrant a pre-trip to see what a unit is like. A long weekend last November or December to look over the unit and see the deer would have easily convinced you not to spend your points.

Also you should make sure you really research the units. I can tell you that 2 winters ago the unit got hammered. I saw entire groups wintering animals stuck and starving.

Yes there are a couple big bucks in that country, but even in the peak of the rut you would be able to count them on one hand.

100% certain a lot of the general units have higher quantity and quality than 90. As mentioned though deer all across the state are down but winter before last really hammered the area...
 
I dont believe I would doom a unit due to the conditions this year. The weather and the drought this year surely affected deer activity. I cant speak for unit 90 but the places we hunted this year, a fellow sure needed to hunt his butt off to turn up the mature deer. I do know that finding mature, nocturnal deer in that sagebrush country is not an easy task.
 
Are you a big buck slayer? How much experience do you have hunting big mature mule deer? That matters more than which unit you pick out to use your points. If you don't consistently harvest mature animals how do you expect to do that on a unit you've never been to and likely will only hunt once? Guys that consistently kill big animals in limited quota units consistently kill big animals even without a premier/limited quota tag. Thats a fact.

No one can disagree with you about the deer numbers in 90 right now. But even if the numbers were better your odds of getting the buck you dreamed about are close to zero. Possible? Of course, happens every year.

I can totally understand why someone would use 15 points for a unit they never been in. I hope to be able to 20x over in my life. A trip to the unit in november or december can be very misleading. Mule deer and elk migrate. You'll likely get stuck in a snowdrift out there :D

A friend had a 90 tag last year and shot a very good buck. He ran across multiple hunters that were disappointed. He figured he saw the same % of mature bucks as any area he's hunted. He's also killed a pile of big deer. You give him a mule deer tag in Iowa and he will turn up a mature deer.

Limited quota + using a ton of points doesn't make up for knowledge on how to hunt that 1% of the mule deer population. And even on the best limited quota areas the majority of the hunters are not killing big animals.

The above is my opinion which I've determined is fact :D
 
The majority of limited quota areas in Wyoming are not managed for 'trophy' animals. Never have been. Ease of access within a hunt area, game populations, and an areas' relative position to populated areas has more bearing on its 'limited quota' status. Tags are limited because the amount of game is limited to harvest. It could be, perhaps, possible for a buck to get older in a LQ area just because the majority of hunters with that tag, hunting that year(s), have the mindset that it should be easier to find bucks because its an LQ area, and the buck lives another 1, 2, or 3 yrs laying in his sagebrush hole watching ATV's drive by 1/2 mile away. This argument/complaint about Wyoming's LQ areas happens every year.
 
A limited quota tag in ANY state does not equal success. I learned that lesson the hard way, many years ago.
I drew limited mule deer tags in both Nevada and Utah and I very quickly began making space on my wall for two 30" bucks. I'm sure there were good deer in both units, but like many, I assumed finding one wouldn't be so hard. Finite time off work and lack of unit knowledge/experience resulted in two meat bucks on the last day. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but ultimately my uninformed and unrealistic expectations were the problem.
I now know from trial and error that pretty much any tag, even limited tags, only give you a chance, and nothing more.
I'm sorry for your bad experience, but I also know you weren't the first disappointed hunter and you won't be the last.
 
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I’ve spent some time in 90 because I was thinking about trying to draw it. It has lower deer numbers than the other limited deer units in central Wyoming. If you know how and where to glass, you should still be able to look over multiple bucks each day but I agree it isn’t a unit worth dumping 15 points on. If you are not use to hunting mule deer in sage desert then it is an even worse idea to dump 15 points to draw unit 90. The problem in Wyoming is there are not enough quality tags worth more than 5 points so you have nonresidents dumping 10-15 points on units that provide worse opportunity for a big buck than units in Colorado that only take 2 points to draw. You could still find a big buck in unit 90 but the genetics/habitat prevent most of the bucks from growing as big of antlers as western Wyoming bucks.
There are research sources that pimp units like 90 in Wyoming but you still have to do your own research. Even Eastmans has said most guys that draw unit 90 won’t find a big buck.
Last time I was there I did see more coyotes than bucks but I was averaging about 10 coyotes per day. Only killed 4 on my best day. I thought the coyotes would be easy but they have been well educated but ranchers and hunters so I had a difficult time getting a shot at most of them.
 
I agree 100% with everything in BrianID post above. Similar to what I've seen in 89, 90 has poor 3x3 frame genetics. There are a few decent 4x4 framed bucks but not many. Yes.... there may be an exception but not many for units that take so many points to draw! If you spend a great deal of time and days upon days searching country with relatively low deer numbers you may get lucky? What's sad is the over-whelming proportion of 3x3 framed bucks in these limited units.

As BrianID pointed out, there are night and day differences between genetics of Wyo vs mediocre Colo buck units. Take a look at all the gorgeous 4x4 framed bucks coming out of Colo this year. Mature buck numbers may not last in Colo with the later rifle season dates but at least Colo has fantastic genetics.
 
I agree 100% with everything in BrianID post above. Similar to what I've seen in 89, 90 has poor 3x3 frame genetics. There are a few decent 4x4 framed bucks but not many. Yes.... there may be an exception but not many for units that take so many points to draw! If you spend a great deal of time and days upon days searching country with relatively low deer numbers you may get lucky? What's sad is the over-whelming proportion of 3x3 framed bucks in these limited units.

As BrianID pointed out, there are night and day differences between genetics of Wyo vs mediocre Colo buck units. Take a look at all the gorgeous 4x4 framed bucks coming out of Colo this year. Mature buck numbers may not last in Colo with the later rifle season dates but at least Colo has fantastic genetics.

I think one of the reasons for older bucks with poor genetics in central Wyoming is that the bucks with good 4X4 genetics or nontypical genetics rarely get to live past 5 years of age. Almost all of the old bucks in central Wyoming limited units have poor genetics because many hunters would rather not shoot an old troll 3 point. We as hunters are just too effective at finding the best quality bucks and the relatively open terrain in central Wyoming makes it hard for the bucks to hide. Many Colorado units have better feed, higher percentage of bucks with good genetics and more cover for bucks to hide in. Colorado also has so many good units and tags each year it is able to spread the hunters with points out more than Wyoming does. The central Wyoming units just can't compete with the average Colorado unit in points required to draw or number of 180"+ bucks.

I did talk to the biologist in Casper a few years ago about making a management hunts for 3 points or less for the central Wyoming units. He said it had been considered but it wasn't something that was likely to happen.
 
Lower the over-whelming density of the old age class 3X framed bucks by a management hunt that replaces some of the tags that the 4x4 framed bucks are getting shot year after year! Slightly or aggressively cut the any buck tag allotments and switch those to 3x depending upon the ratio of 3x to 4xs. More 4x4 framed bucks would live longer! I’ve seen a lot of whopper 3x bucks over the years in these units and it would be a lot easier tag to draw.

If wyo really wants to make an impact, switch every other year back and forth between 3x buck only tags one year and any buck tags the next. I bet a lot more 4x framed older age class bucks would be available in a relatively short time.
 
Lower the over-whelming density of the old age class 3X framed bucks by a management hunt that replaces some of the tags that the 4x4 framed bucks are getting shot year after year! Slightly or aggressively cut the any buck tag allotments and switch those to 3x depending upon the ratio of 3x to 4xs. More 4x4 framed bucks would live longer! I’ve seen a lot of whopper 3x bucks over the years in these units and it would be a lot easier tag to draw.

If wyo really wants to make an impact, switch every other year back and forth between 3x buck only tags one year and any buck tags the next. I bet a lot more 4x framed older age class bucks would be available in a relatively short time.
One side with three-points or better on even years.

odd years would be one side with 3-point or less!
 
One side with three-points or better on even years.

odd years would be one side with 3-point or less!
This makes absolutely no sense. Every other year you are annihilating the young bucks. Many trophy hunters hunt these areas and never harvest a buck unless it’s a mature buck and would rather eat tag soup than harvest a small buck. The meat hunters would show up in full force and harvest the young bucks in droves at a 90% harvest rate or better. You need to plan and think out very carefully what your objective is. Annihilating all the young bucks every other year at a super high harvest rate won’t produce more mature bucks, it would produce far less.
 
I’m pretty sure BeDawg means limited units only where 3x ratios are high with only a few select 3x tags available to harvest 3xs and allow 4xs not to get shot in those years. Cut or eliminate 4x tags in those years. Could switch back and forth which limited units this is done each year until ratios meet objectives. It make sense to me that if fewer 4xs are shot the ratio will increase.

There is currently extremely high 3x ratios in all of the limited central wyo units! I’d go as far to say that it currently is 20 to 30:1!
 

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