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I Actually Drew Some Tags This Year

July 1, 2010.

Wyoming draw results for deer and antelope came out on Tuesday, June 29, and I was surprised to learn that I actually drew ... both.

For deer, I faced modest draw odds (with maximum preference points) of 1 in 3 for my Unit 90 buck tag. This is a central Wyoming tag that is supposed to offer a fun hunt for decent bucks -- a good, solid Wyoming deer tag.

For antelope, I faced slightly more challenging draw odds (with maximum preference points) of 1 in 8 for Unit 61, one of the Red Desert units. This is probably the 2nd best tag in the state.

I wasn't too surprised to hear that I had drawn something, but I definitely didn't expect to draw both!

Then on Wednesday, June 30, I got confirmation that my Colorado Unit 39 landowner voucher for elk was on its way to me. This should be a good, solid elk hunt with a chance at a nice bull.

Adding all this to the excellent New Mexico antelope tag I had previously drawn, and the reasonably good Colorado antelope tag I had drawn, and my calendar starts to look pretty full.

AND, you may recall that I've also been working on plans to build a new house for my family, something which will require quite a bit of my time over the next year. We closed on the construction loan on Friday, June 25, so that will be kicking in to gear in a big way throughout the fall.

Drawing two tags in Wyoming will almost certainly bump my previously-planned South Dakota Black Hills hunt until next year. If I drop that hunt, and cross my fingers that I don't draw an antelope tag in Montana (50-50 odds), my 2010 schedule is looking like this:

Considering how busy I'm going to be with the new house, that's a hell of a good schedule for me.

My .257 Weatherby and 7mm-08 are likely to get the call for antelope hunting; my .300 WinMag will go to Wyoming for deer; and my new .358 Norma will hopefully take its first elk this October (more on that rifle soon).

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