Is it too late? Recommendations?

scallop said:

Myself and 2 or three friends are kicking around an antelope hunt for this season. Is it too late to put one together? If not any recommendations for an outfitter/gude/lodge?

We are good with travel wherever, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah etc.

We are all from Ohio, and none have any experience with hunting out west. I have heard about preference points, draws etc but know nothing about them.

So, as the title says is it too late to put a hunt together for this season?

Anyone have a guide or outfitter, ranch that they can recommend?

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Too late to draw here, a couple units may have a tag or two left otc, you'll have to check for tag availability first and foremost.

I believe New Mexico changed it's regs last year so that ranchers had some access to tags and could be bought without having to be drawn. I'd assume they will be expensive. Used to be states like Wyoming had plenty of OTC tags for antelope, but even they have very few tags left fort OTC and those are mainly for private land access. Maybe consider an exotic hunt on a high fence ranch. Many of those probably wouldn't;t be any more expensive then trying to find a antelope tag at this time.

scallop said:

Here in Oh, if you want to hunt deer, you just go buy a tag. Turkey? Go buy a tag. Etc.

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Yep, it's the same way for deer and turkeys most places here in Idaho - if you want to hunt them, "go buy a tag." It's the same way for bear and even for elk in a few areas. But for hunting antelope (pronghorns), and for that matter, moose, big horned sheep and mountain goats, you need to draw a tag. And the drawings were over months ago - in early June for pronghorns.
I think it's been at least 5 years since either my wife or I drew a pronghorn tag, darn it! I'm really getting hungry for antelope stew again.
BTW, I'm not even sure you can still get an Idaho non-resident deer tag this late in the year. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game stopped the sale of non-resident deer tags long before deer season even opened last year. They stopped the sale of non-resident hunting and fishing licenses too for a while earlier this year. But that was due to the virus, and I think they have opened it back up now.
At any rate, you can learn a lot more about the Idaho rules and regulations for antelope (pronghorn) hunting by doing a Google search than I could ever post here on THR. Just go to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game site. And good luck!

During 2nd and 3rd rifle seasons you can get over the counter bull elk tags for over half of Colorado. I think 2nd season starts on Oct.24-Nov.1. Third season is Nov. 7-13. Applying for points every year will eventually get you a tag during 1st season and into some units where pressure is lower. But it would take 7-10 years to get enough points to get into a good area. As many as 15 for some areas.

But a non-resident elk tag is almost $700 and it's not something you need to go into blind.

scallop said:

Thanks for the info. Looks like it will be next year at best, and will take quite a bit more research, definitely not as simple and cut and dried as here at home!

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I'd suggest checking several states game and parks websites, most have a number of how many tags will be issued for the year/unit, late season doe tags can be otc, but in limited number, rifle season 1 should be a draw for just about everywhere that I'm aware of, pronghorn numbers are not as high as deer on a national scale so they're managed more like elk/black bear. Research where you want to hunt, make sure you can find a place to access, then start putting in for the draws in June.
@.308 Norma we might be able to work something out to get you some antelope stew......

Off topic: This thread reminded me of the great pheasant hunts I had around Platte, SD in the '90s. Thanks for rekindling my memories.

Several friends and I hunted antelope in Wyoming a few years ago. At least where we were there were BUNCHES of antelope; I would be surprised if you couldn't get tags somewhere. The four of us got four antelope each.

I have no recommendations on an outfitter. I wouldn't recommend the one we went with and I don't think he goes there any longer anyway. I would definitely want to be with someone who knew where the various land boundaries were as with endless grass and low hills one could easily trespass by mistake.

You might ask on accuratereloading.com or on 24hourcampfire.com.

Grumulkin said:

Several friends and I hunted antelope in Wyoming a few years ago. At least where we were there were BUNCHES of antelope; I would be surprised if you couldn't get tags somewhere. The four of us got four antelope each.
.

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I checked last week and the only leftover tags were for pronghorn does on private land in Northeast Wyoming.