You need to buy only one archery license in addition to your deer and elk license to hunt during the special archery season. You do not need to buy separate archery licenses for elk, deer, antelope or whatever other big or trophy game you may be hunting with bow and arrow. The archery license is required of all archers who have a regular, not "archery only" license. Holders of archery only licenses do not need the separate archery permit.

Season extensions are very rare. If an extension occurs, the G&F will inform newspapers and radio and TV stations. Extensions usually occur when low harvest during the regular season is likely to result in later damage to winter range or private property. Extensions also are almost always for antlerless elk only. But just because the harvest in an area is less than desired does not mean the season will be extended.

"Checkerboard" is the term given to alternating sections of private and BLM lands stretching for some 300 miles along the Union Pacific Railroad in southern Wyoming. Even though this area is approximately 50 percent public, the same requirements apply as with accessing any public lands, namely, you must have public access to public lands to be able to hunt there. If the access to public lands is on a private road, landowner permission must be obtained. A person can hunt on the BLM lands provided there is public access to those sections.

Many of the G&F regional offices have listings of some of the landowners for their area, however these lists are by no means comprehensive. G&F headquarters in Cheyenne also has listings of landowners for some portions of the state. A few chambers of commerce also have names of local landowners. Local G&F wardens and biologists may also have names of landowners. You may also check out the Hunter-Landowner Assistance Program in the public access tab to find landowners looking for hunters to allow on their property.

There are no restrictions to using a blind to hunt antelope, or for that matter anything else. It is permissible to build a temporary blind on public land and the structure must be removed after the season. Any blind construction on private land is an agreement between the hunter and landowner. There really aren't any regulations specifying a starting date for blind construction.

Bucks average 75-80 pounds field dressed and does 65-70 pounds. The amount of packaged meat depends on how the animal is processed. Some hunters leave a substantial amount of bone, while others bone everything. If you bone the carcass you can expect about 30 pounds for does and 35-40 pounds for bucks. These weights can be affected substantially if the carcass has dried out due to excessive aging or if there is gunshot loss.

We get this question every hunting season, usually from hunters who have had their animal processed commercially and don't think they've gotten all their meat back. The average mule deer buck has a live weight of 150-250 pounds. Dressed weights will normally range from 120-190 pounds. When the carcass is further reduced (skinned, head removed and boned) the weight is reduced again. If the animal was shot in a major meaty area such as the hindquarters, or if a lot of trimming is involved due to dirt or a dried crust on the meat, there is more loss.

You can transport game for another person if the game is properly tagged with the carcass coupon detached from the license of the person who harvested the animal. If the game is to be transported out of state by someone other than the license holder, an interstate game tag must be obtained. Interstate game tags cost $8 and are available from game wardens, Game and Fish regional offices and some taxidermists and meat processors.

Wyoming regulations require evidence of sex must accompany the carcass taken in a hunt area where the taking of either sex is either controlled or prohibited. The evidence can be either the visible sex organs or the head.

Large animals like elk are frequently packed out in quarters or pieces. If this procedure becomes necessary, the carcass coupon or tag should remain with the person packing out the animal. Remember that whenever a kill is made under any circumstances, the normal tagging procedure as outlined on your license must be followed. Simply detach the tag from the license, cut out the entire wedge or square for the day and month and sign the coupon. If you need to leave your animal to get help to pack it out the tag must be left attached to the carcass.