Got out today for a little antelope hunt. We covered a bunch of country that normally holds numerous antelope, but not today. My friend knew where one bunch had been hanging around, but it would require a long walk through some rough gumbo buttes- more like mule deer hunting, than antelope hunting. We spied the bunch from over a mile above them. My buddy agreed to drive around in case I got lucky- otherwise we were looking at long walk down (and a longer walk back up). I head into the rough country knowing roughly where I wanted to come out. Of course as soon as you get into that really broken country, everything looks a little different. I worked my way around numerous cuts/draws through this rough labyrinth until I found a little notch to get through. From this notch I could see the antelope, but they were still close to a mile way. I started working my way down when I jumped a really nice 4 point mule deer (the season opens tomorrow 
). Surprisingly he didn't seem to be too worked up by my presence and soon when back to feeding- less than 200 years a way!
I got to another high spot and it looked like the antelope were on the move, not what I was hoping to see. I skirted off to the north thinking I might be able to intercept them. The country was starting to get a little more open, so I had to be more careful about my movement. I worked my way up to another high butte and spotted them again, they hadn't moved too far and I was closing the distance. I found a deep dry creek bed that I got in and snaked my towards the herd. I watched a big coyote working some mice and like the deer, he didn't seem to pay me any mind. I was starting to think maybe I was unknowingly wearing a cloaking device! There was a small draw off the creek bed that led to a higher spot that just might put me into range of the antelope. I snuck my way up and crawled the last 50 yards to the edge. Right away I spotted a doe antelope- a mere 75 yards away- closer than I wanted to be. I couldn't raise up, but looked as best I could and could not see a single other antelope. Maybe they were bedded, maybe she split off the main herd. After five minutes or so I made decision that "a bird in hand is better than two in the bush"- made easier by the fact that I had both a buck tag and a doe tag. I shot and she dropped hard- good! I raised up on my knees knowing that if the rest of the herd was close I'd be seeing them now. I finally caught some movement to my right-there they were but moving behind the ridge I was on. I scrambled higher on the ridge and spotted them- they didn't know where the shot came from so they milled one way and then another. They were just a little over 200 yards off and I spotted a nice little buck. He was at the back of the herd with several antelope in front of him. They continued their milling- going one way, then another. He finally moved to the front and presented a shot. I took it, but didn't hear the telltale thwack. He ran (as did the rest of the herd) and I thought I must have missed- 30 yards of running and then he suddenly dropped like a stone!
A great end to a great hunt, truly blessed!
). Surprisingly he didn't seem to be too worked up by my presence and soon when back to feeding- less than 200 years a way!I got to another high spot and it looked like the antelope were on the move, not what I was hoping to see. I skirted off to the north thinking I might be able to intercept them. The country was starting to get a little more open, so I had to be more careful about my movement. I worked my way up to another high butte and spotted them again, they hadn't moved too far and I was closing the distance. I found a deep dry creek bed that I got in and snaked my towards the herd. I watched a big coyote working some mice and like the deer, he didn't seem to pay me any mind. I was starting to think maybe I was unknowingly wearing a cloaking device!
There was a small draw off the creek bed that led to a higher spot that just might put me into range of the antelope. I snuck my way up and crawled the last 50 yards to the edge. Right away I spotted a doe antelope- a mere 75 yards away- closer than I wanted to be. I couldn't raise up, but looked as best I could and could not see a single other antelope. Maybe they were bedded, maybe she split off the main herd. After five minutes or so I made decision that "a bird in hand is better than two in the bush"- made easier by the fact that I had both a buck tag and a doe tag. I shot and she dropped hard- good! I raised up on my knees knowing that if the rest of the herd was close I'd be seeing them now. I finally caught some movement to my right-there they were but moving behind the ridge I was on. I scrambled higher on the ridge and spotted them- they didn't know where the shot came from so they milled one way and then another. They were just a little over 200 yards off and I spotted a nice little buck. He was at the back of the herd with several antelope in front of him. They continued their milling- going one way, then another. He finally moved to the front and presented a shot. I took it, but didn't hear the telltale thwack. He ran (as did the rest of the herd) and I thought I must have missed- 30 yards of running and then he suddenly dropped like a stone! A great end to a great hunt, truly blessed!
Looks like you done GOOD!!:thumbup:
