The good news for hunters is that Wyoming has lots of public land, much of it huntable with over-the-counter general tags for deer, elk and antelope. The not-so-good news is, all that opportunity draws crowds.
Opening day in many hunt areas can be a mob scene, with pickups and ATVs roaring every which way, and the hillsides dotted with orange-vested multitudes.
Still, there is hope, some experienced Wyoming hunters told Cowboy State Daily.
In crowded areas, successful hunting boils down to a willingness to put in the work, and to put some miles on one’s hunting boots.
Buzz Hettick of Laramie has killed dozens of elk over his long hunting career, nearly all of them on public land.
One of his favorite strategies is to start by paying attention to other hunters.
“Look and see where everybody else is going and look and see where nobody else in hunting. Then go there,” he said.
Jess Johnson of Lander said this mule deer, which she shot on public land mother, is “the most meaningful deer I’ve ever taken,” and inspired her mother to go hunting with her. (Courtesy Jess Johnson) 
Even on crowded public land, pronghorn bucks and other game animals are there, for those willing to put in the work. (Courtesy Jess Johnson) 
Jess Johnson of Lander said this mule deer, which she shot on public land mother, is “the most meaningful deer I’ve ever taken,” and inspired her mother to go hunting with her. (Courtesy Jess Johnson) 
Buzz Hettick of Laramie says that his key to success for elk hunting on crowded public land is to find the spots where “nobody else is going.” (Courtesy Buzz Hettick)
Avoiding ‘Weekend Warriors’
One way to escape the hunting mob is to follow the rule of hiking at least a mile, said Jess Johnson of Lander.
“I’m a hiker. I’m someone who is always going to get at least a mile off a road or trail, she said.
She added that it’s helpful to look for gnarly places, where few others are willing to go.
“If it looks like a sh*thole and it looks hard to get into, there’s probably going to be elk down in there,” she said.
Hettick said it’s helpful to perhaps skip opening day, and the first few days afterward. That gives the crowds time to thin out.
It’s also advantageous to hunt during the weekdays, whenever one’s work schedule allows for that, he added.
“There’s a lot of weekend warriors out there. They just go hunting on the weekends, and that’s it,” Hettick said.
Johnson also noted the advantage of going out on weekdays and said she feels blessed to have a flexible work schedule.
Let The Glass Work For You
Johnson and Hettick recommend being patient and mastering the art of “glassing” – or looking for game through binoculars and/or spotting scopes.
Finding a vantage point from which to glass is more efficient than aimlessly poking about a vast section of land, Johnson said.
Hettick agreed that glass can shrink the miles and help hunters focus their efforts.
“I tell people, use your glass. You cover a hell of a lot more ground with your glass than you can with your feet,” he said.
Johnson also noted that “going out in bad weather” can produce results, so long as hunters have the proper knowledge, gear and clothing for it.
“And don’t do it (go out in bad weather) alone,” she said.
Draw Tags Have Their Advantages
While general hunting tags are easily accessible, they might not always produce the best results, said Kyle Wendtland, who has hunted elk for many years in areas southeast of Gillette in Campbell and Weston counties.
He prefers instead to put in for draw tags in limited quota areas. That means hunters must put in for tags in certain areas months in advance, usually in May. And there’s no guarantee of drawing those tags.
“If I am hunting public land, I look for limited quota areas with very large blocks of public land and I will wait until I can draw a tag rather than hunt a general season and deal with hunter saturation areas,” Wendtland said.
“Even some limited quota areas have such small blocks of public land or such limited access they become unattractive to me, because you can wind up again with hunter saturation issues, so I avoid those types of areas,” he added.
Jess Johnson says going into gnarly areas where others might not be willing to go is one of the keys to success when hunting on crowded public land. (Courtesy Jess Johnson) 
Experienced hunters say that a willingness to hike long distances is one of the keys to success when hunting on crowded public land. (Courtesy Jess Johnson) 
Buzz Hettick of Laramie says that his key to success for elk hunting on crowded public land is to find the spots where “nobody else is going.” (Courtesy Buzz Hettick)
Afraid Of The Dark
Going in early and staying out all day can also give hunters an edge, Hettick said.
But that means hiking to and from the hunt area in the dark.
“A lot of people are scared of the dark. I hate to sound negative about that, but that’s just the truth,” he said.
Typically, the best times to hunt are right after dawn, and then in the evening, when animals are the most active.
Hettick said he’s also killed plenty of elk during the middle of the day. He has tactics for that but wasn’t willing to share details.
Successful hunting comes down to a willingness to learn from trial and error, he said.
“When something works, figure out why that worked,” he said.
“You should learn from every single thing you do out there, whether you get one, or don’t get one,” he added.
He also recommends learning about game animals and their behavior.
“Elk don’t do anything by accident. There’s a reason they’re doing what they’re doing,” he said.
Learn Cooperation
Johnson said that even when hunting grounds get crowded, it’s best to look at things in a positive way.
When encountering other hunters, talk and “try to come up with a plan” for sharing the area, rather than trying to out-compete or crowd each other out, Johnson said.
She also stressed “good sportsmanship” and good behavior.
“Don’t be driving in on muddy roads and rutting them out. Don’t be that person,” she said.
And be mindful of annoying other hunters and stressing out wildlife.
“Don’t be bumping loud music in camp, if you’re in a crowded basin,” Johnson said.
Bear in mind that the more people hunt on public lands, the more advocates there are for keeping public lands open, Johnson added.
“When we see another hunter on public land, we have another person who is invested in this public land spot, and will want to maintain it for our children, grandchildren and future generations,” she said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
