new to out of state hunting

What is a good out of state hunt for someone who has never done it before. Im looking for what animal to chase (muley elk or anelope) and what state would be easiest to get a tag in and suggestions on areas. Im up to anything but not looking to break the bank.

thanks

If you are looking to go this year you need to get moving on your applications! The due dates for most are coming up. If you don't have points built up in any state then I would pick one of the three animals you listed and make that the priority. No state out there will have Over the Counter or easy to draw tags for all three in one area.

Antelope- Wyoming-- just expect to have company on public land. There are plenty of units that you can draw with 0 points. Invest in OnX Maps. Apps are due in early May I believe.
Mule Deer- Montana or Wyoming-- Montana has OTC licenses I believe or large general season allotments. Wyoming does as well but you may need to get into the special draw (more $$) to get a tag with zero points.
Elk-- Colorado, without a doubt- You can buy a rifle tag over the counter and there is tons of land available to hunt. Success rates aren't high but you can have a damn good time esp with some buddies.

I've never done Montana but I can give you some help with the others.

Easiest non resident Elk tag is CO and Idaho, the easier Mulie deer is Idaho. With that said NM and CO have some good draw odds if your aren’t as weapon dependent, with that said you can find units in CO that are easy draws for mulies.

Hunting out west is some what of a strategy, they higher success rates units are draw units. So you apply and if you don’t draw you build points, and you can still hunt OTC areas.

Pm me and I can help you come up with a plan. Still a few states with open draws.

New Mexico and colorado are closest so I will start researching their dept of wildlife sites for info. Im guessing colorado is first to research just because I keep hearing the word "easiest"

thanks

Your too late for New Mexico this year. Colorado deadline is coming up quick.

Wyoming has more antelope than people and pretty good mule deer also.
I would purchase a PP this coming summer and plan a hunt next year. This year is still possible but deadline is coming. Doe tags are cheap and random draw so it's possible to put some meat in the freezer and scout for next year.
Additional tags can be had in the leftover drawing also.

Wyoming antelope is a great first western hunt. I would definitely do that for my first one. Go this year instead of trying to research it too much. No faster way to learn than getting out there and doing it.

I like to hunt, don’t really care what. The best, most liberal, and on the cheap hunting is to get on a lease, buy some land, or get a six month lease on a apartment next to some public land in Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana.

Happy Hunting

As a native Texan living in Wyoming. Wyoming antelope. If you can draw a tag. Do not get a leftover in the northeast part of the state unless you have a ranch to hunt.

But in a good area with public land, its a blast.

Or mule deer. Glass, glass, hike, hike. I would suggest applying for public texas hunts. They are similar to western public hunts if you can draw them.

I do the Texas drawn hunts and I am trying to expand. Looks like this is going ti take a lot of planning and dedication so looks like next year. Mule deer or antelope really excite me so lots of reading and looking to do in the meantime. thanks

Get you a PP for antelope and deer next summer for a better draw chance in Wyoming.
The deadline for applications is May 31 for deer and antelope so you can still get in on it. Some deer areas can be drawn with 0 PP and they are not bad. Antelope need a PP or two for better access. Cow elk tags can be had next year and they are reduced price additional also, random draw.
I would look at Southern Wyo and central for a decent shot at a tag and hunt.

really good info . thank you!!

You do have a chance in the random part of the draw this year for a tag in an great area. Odds are long but someone has to draw them.
Doe tags are random draw too and maybe get in some fishing or grouse hunting on a doe hunt this fall. Sept is a great time to be in Wyoming: bugling elk, spawning trout, grouse hunting seasons and changing aspen leaves. Makes for a nice scouting type trip for a later buck hunt.

Hey all, still time to apply for deer and antelope hunts in Wyoming. We're getting a little rain and things are greening up nicely. Antelope bucks are showing great promise, prongs look good. Our mulie areas are also looking great.
Elk numbers are up so some leftover cow tags may pan out.

Wytex, I'm going to build one more point for antelope. My son and I will have 5.5 average which, with point creep hopefully will be enough for a unit with decent public access.

jnd59 that sounds like a good plan. 5+ gets you into some very good areas.

Thanks Wytex. I'll probably want some pointers on combining low point mule deer with pronghorn. And birds. And trout.

We've got 'em. Most folks don't realize we have some great deer hunting on public land all over the state, not just the famed west side.
You'll need the days to get it done but it's doable.

My buddies and I will be going on our first out of state Pronghorn hunt in late september. I didn't know anything about western hunting or the draw process either. So I hit up the google machine and got after it. After all was said and done I was able to find several other forums largely dedicated to western hunting as well as numerous shows and websites. If you haven't already done so I would go to www.onyourownadventures.com and watch or read everything you can from Randy Newberg. He pretty much lays it all out on the table in an easy to follow way. I followed some of his advice and by some major stroke of luck drew a top unit with NO points. www.onxmaps.com is a great tool for dealing with the public/private land boundry issues you might run into out there. Also dig into the state game and fish websites. Many of them have hunt planners that help you deal with the mind numbing tag draw process. Each state is different and have different points systems...What it boils down to is they have lots of easy to access public land with lots of game. However that leads to lots of hunters so they have to control access and herd counts in a fairly creative fashion.