First time anywhere Antelope Hunter, Just hunted and filled my first "Any Antelope Tag" yesterday Saturday, Oct. 5th. , opening day for 2nd. Draw, area is made up of lots of Private, Blm, and State Land, had written permission with one of the bigger ranches, here in Wyoming,
Bring lots of layers of clothing, yesterday temps were in the low 30's to 40's, winds were relentlessly insane all day, gusting to 40+mph. Yet Sunday's forecasted very low winds and warmer, go figure!, and Snow later this week!,
Used on-x maps app. to avoid tresspassing the many little pockets of private land,
Seen hundreds of antelope scouting the thursday before opening weekend, and only one hunter still trying to fill his 1st. Season draw tag which is good for both seasons,
The rut is in full swing, the fiesty scrapper bucks are wearing themselves ragged keeping their does together, and driving off challenger bucks, watched dominate bucks continuously chase down their does cutting in front of them steering them back to the group, seen them head buck other bucks and breeding does,
Passed up 27 bucks Sat. Morning before finding "The one" But Then later that day scouting out for my buddy's found out he has a twin, and even later found a really fiesty Tall guy, running around his large group of does but he was not quite fully mature,
Found out the bigger bucks are on the fringes acting solitary but sometimes joining up with small groups of does, but mostly staying far at the rear of them and keeping a distance, he doesn't let you walk within 500+yds if he sees you, but only goes a couple hundred yards to get away from you, and mine let me do this three times before he finally looked at his group of does as if to say "go ahead without me," "catch up with you later," " I'll make a 180 and lead this crazy hunter away from you"
He flicked his front left hoof forward as if he was shoving his does off, but after turning he would every so often flick that front left hoof as he lead me away, Acted like his hoof might have been wounded,
First time I wished I'd brought a heavier weighing rifle than my lightweight Ruger American .308win. very hard trying to settle your body, rifle/crosshairs, off tripod shooting sticks, kneeling in that much wind, Should have brought the Harris bi-pod and went prone, 165gr. Gmx. Handloads, shot was quartering away, slight down angle, walking left to right, shot high back of the ribs just under the spine, forward of diaphragm, took out top of the lungs, exited 1-1/2" hole rear side of left shoulder, tried to run, hindside dropped , 2 quick front leg hops then down, only small strip of lungs left, used the terrain to hide my approach, got the high ground at 213yds.
Walked up to him, Took picture, Tagged, checked out that front left hoof for damage only to find a small piece of sage branch wedged between the hoof! Gutted him out and dragged him to the nearest road, there are roads and trails literally everywhere, you cant walk in any direction and not hit a road or trail, left gear with the buck, got the truck , Hunt over for me.
Buddy got his buck 2 hours later, Other Buddy doesn't want the hunt over too soon, acting too picky, dammit!!!
