antelope unit 72

rifleman · Jul 13, 2011

got the tags in the mail. i'm already studing maps of blm and state land and the walk in areas. i know the rattlesnake mountains are in the southern part of the unit so i would assume the northern part would be the better antelope habitat. any pointers or suggestions? this will be my dad's first ever western hunt. we plan on getting a doe tag as well. thanks

HiMtnHntr · Jul 13, 2011

South of the Rattlesnakes is the most blm land and decent antelope country. The southern walk-in as well.

rifleman · Jul 13, 2011

from the boundary designations i've read, the southern boundary of the unit runs along the top of the rattlesnake mts, making the blm below the rattlesnake mts another unit. i plan on looking at it all while i'm there. kind of using the trip as a future mule deer scouting trip.

HiMtnHntr · Jul 13, 2011

You are correct, my bad! There are some walk-in's to the north by hells half acre and a smattering of smaller blm holdings throughout the area.

chadderbox · Jul 13, 2011

Most of the land owners will let you hunt... Some have small fees though... Skyline is one that use to let people hunt with no charge, just leave a land owners tag if you are successful...

rifleman · Jul 14, 2011

thanks. where abouts is skyline, i assume skyline ranch?

HiMtnHntr · Jul 15, 2011

The Casper Game and Fish should have a list of landowners who have historically helped hunters out . . . Some of their ideas of "help" are a bit skewed though, as you will find when you make the calls. I ran into one old codger in another area that wanted $150 for a week of antelope hunting on 1 section of land (640 acres). I could barely end the conversation with the guy I was laughing so hard . . . If you luck into someone who will let you hunt for free, you should do all you can to preserve that privilige, as most have realized that hunters are willing to pay for a "range maggot".

oneaway · Jul 17, 2011

Congrats rifleman on your tags! Awesome hunt! Just hit the walk-in areas, tons of antelope. Hit me with a pm, and I'll give you what I have!

rifleman · Jul 17, 2011

pm sent

nick · Jul 26, 2011

Drew this tag also. Is it better to be there for the opener or wait until later in the season?

ruttinbull · Jul 27, 2011

I killed a nice 15" critter in a unit 72 walk in area a few years back. Another member of the party took a 14 3/4" critter on another walk-in area. Two other members killed 12 and 13" critters on the scattered BLM ground in the unit.

A year later a larger group went back and couldnt locate anything larger than 13". Perhaps a poor water year or something.

Someday I ought to score that goat. I'm guessing mid to upper 70's.

It is a fun hunt. Dont start on opening day or the first weekend. Wait a few days and then go. There are plenty of critters to shoot at. We called it shopping for goats and that is exactly what it was like. Take a day or two to look a bunch of different critters over to get a feel for what a good one might look like. Most of all enjoy your time there.

PS. We found several rattlesnakes while we were there. They didnt bother me, but just seeing them freaks some folks out (like my old man).