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If you’re like many hunters, we’ve watched the jump rope swing a couple times this year and unfortunately still haven’t drawn a tag for this fall. Most of the applications still pending are either point-only states for us, or tags with odds similar to winning the Powerball.
So what do you do if you still want to hunt this fall, but want something better than an overcrowded OTC hunt?
In my opinion, a couple of the most overlooked deadlines in the game are coming at the end of this month: Wyoming Deer and Antelope, along with Montana Antelope. These are some of the last real opportunities to secure a hunt worth losing sleep over. Whether you’re stacked with points or haven’t played the game at all, there are options for everyone.
We’ll start with Wyoming.
The first thing to understand as a nonresident applying in Wyoming is that there are essentially two price tags attached to the exact same tag. Same species, same unit, same season dates — the only difference is cost.
If you’re willing to spend roughly $1,200 for the Special license, there are now a surprising number of deer and antelope hunts that can be drawn with 0 points, including units that took several points not very long ago. If you’d rather save the money, the Regular licenses currently run about $326 for antelope and $389 for deer.
Wyoming allocates 40% of nonresident permits to the Special draw. With fewer applicants willing to spend the higher price tag, opportunities have opened up dramatically in recent years. Whether you’re looking for a DIY hunt or a fully outfitted experience, there are more realistic options available today than many hunters realize.
So where’s the wrinkle? Where are the areas with strong trophy potential and high success rates that still don’t require a mountain of points?
As mature as point systems have become, there’s still a misconception that the best animals live in the hardest units to draw. In states like Wyoming, Montana, and Colorado, that simply isn’t always true.
Some of the best-managed areas in these states actually require fewer points because access is difficult for DIY hunters. In many of these units, if someone draws without a plan in place, they may not have much ground to hunt at all due to private land and access limitations. Because of that, demand stays lower than people would expect.
Whether you’re simply looking for an excuse to get away this fall or planning a more serious, goal-oriented hunt, Wyoming deer and antelope are backup plans worth considering regardless of how many points you currently have.
Montana antelope requires a little more unpacking.
At face value, Montana offers several antelope areas where hunters have a legitimate shot at 80-inch-plus bucks. Some units have abundant public access, while others are largely private. Montana also does not have a max point pool, meaning every applicant has at least some chance to draw, even in their first year applying.
If archery is your preferred flavor, odds improve dramatically with even 1–2 points. Rifle hunts vary more depending on unit and expectations.
But here’s the part that rarely gets talked about openly.
Maybe antelope isn’t high on your bucket list. Maybe it doesn’t fire you up the way elk or mule deer do. However, if you’ve ever tried booking with one of Montana’s top outfitters for elk or deer, you may have noticed something frustrating: they’re always full.
There’s a reason for that.
The best operations operate under strict harvest management plans and only allow a limited number of elk and deer hunters each year. Antelope, however, are often more abundant on the properties they manage, meaning many outfitters can host significantly more antelope hunters annually.
When coveted deer or elk openings finally become available, who gets the first phone call?
Usually the hunters who have already been there before — especially the ones the outfitter enjoyed having in camp.
More often than not, someone who previously hunted antelope with that outfitter says yes to the deer or elk hunt before a brand-new client ever gets the opportunity.
So maybe antelope isn’t exactly what you were hoping to hunt this fall. But maybe an antelope hunt is the move that positions you for the deer or elk hunt you’ve really wanted down the road.
Jordan Christensen
575-222-1295 office
435-757-1452 cell
