A most unusual Antelope hunt THE END!

Steve O · August 19, 2009, 08:28:00 PM

AWESOME MAN!

There is a very old saying that I think holds true in EVERY situation:

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistance"

Way to stick in there thru adversity guys

slivrslingr · August 19, 2009, 08:33:00 PM

Congrats to your dad! Great story, good luck next weekend! Your photos are great, I never get tired of seeing big bucks.

Shinken · August 19, 2009, 08:42:00 PM

AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME!

That is simply great that your dad had a successful goat hunt Ryan - even with all the challenges - that makes for an even better story when it is surrounded by adversity and OVERCOME!

Thank you for sharin', congrats to your dad, and good luck on your next outing!

PICK A SPOT!

:~)

Shoot straight, Shinken

just_a_hunter · August 19, 2009, 08:46:00 PM

Keep it up, bud! Love the thread. Great going for the old man!

Todd

Nate Fikkert · August 19, 2009, 09:19:00 PM

Very nice Ryan. Congrats to your Dad.

Nathan

Coonbait · August 19, 2009, 09:32:00 PM

Congratulations!! Nice antelope.
GLENN

Over&Under · August 19, 2009, 09:39:00 PM

Ryan

I sure do envy you bud! But very happy for you at the same time!!! Tell your Dad congrats from us at the Gang, and best of luck to you this weekend!

Terry Green · August 19, 2009, 10:01:00 PM

Tree Killer · August 19, 2009, 10:09:00 PM

Outstanding pronghorn, congrats to your dad!

Looks like there's no shortage of mule bucks in the area.

steadman · August 19, 2009, 10:34:00 PM

Thanks guys. Nathan I'll try to call you in the next day or two. Ron if you have a bunch of points down here, I'll put you on one of those :D

Thanks for all the good lucks as well, I need all the help I can get!

fatman · August 19, 2009, 11:04:00 PM

keep it goin', Ryan

Coonbait · August 21, 2009, 06:56:00 PM

Those are some beautiful mulies! How close did you get to them for the photos?
GLENN

straitera · August 21, 2009, 07:09:00 PM

Picture perfect! Great story. Nicely done with Pops giving him the shot.

LITTLEBIGMAN · August 22, 2009, 09:29:00 AM

Steadman fantastic story, great photos, those UTAH bucks are amazing, some day..................

Toecutter · August 22, 2009, 10:21:00 AM

BEAUTIFUL!!! Thanks for sharing.

Whip · August 22, 2009, 10:55:00 AM

Great thread Ryan! Congrats to your Dad, and good luck to you!

steadman · August 23, 2009, 04:02:00 PM

I'm back from another crazy day of antelope hunting. In the morning I decide to sit the water hole. At first light some sage grouse came in, they are sure big birds. Just after them, some does followed by a nice buck skirted the blind by about 100 yards. They surely didn't like it, the buck however, hung out at 60 yrds trying to decide between ladies and water. All of us guys know which urge overtook the buck, as he followed his ladies out of sight.

Now the sun came up and a funny(although not funny at the time) thing started happening. The roof on my DB would, without warning, collapse. The first time it scared the crap out of me!

Then it was annoying, then I was getting a td upset. So after a coulple hours, I said the heck with it and went to spot and stalk. More to follow later tonight...

gregg dudley · August 23, 2009, 05:03:00 PM

I tell you what, Ryan, you have had a great season already. The photograghy alone is worth every drop of effort that you have exhausted. I have rarely enjoyed a thread as much as I am enjoying this one. Antelope are moving way up on my list. Thanks for sharing.

Gregg

kbetts · August 23, 2009, 06:23:00 PM

Sounds like Double Bull might owe you at least one replacement.

steadman · August 23, 2009, 07:01:00 PM

Thanks Greg, there are more to come. So I head out from the blind, always on the look out for goats. I go across a river bed and there, down in the bottom is this guy

This is the number one buck on my list if I had a choice. he is not the biggest, but rel unique and I love his horn structure. So I head up the road, and make a circle to get in position. There is a small rivine that leads to the riverbed, and straight to the buck. I sneak on down, get 20 yards from the edge and nock an arrow. Not 20 seconds later the buck steps out, puts his head down and offers me a 25 yard broadside. I then calmly send an arrow right over his back!! MAN!! I missed my buck, at point blank(for s&s antelope). HE also jumped the string, which amazed me, but I flat out missed. The miss hurt bad, and I've replayed it a lot. I have a real hard time picking a spot on animals at the moment of truth. If someone could come up with an execise to improve that, I'd be the first in line.

Here's a pic from earlier in the thread. But that's him.