A most unusual Antelope hunt THE END!

[steadman]

Thanks for the comments guys. Twitch I could pm you the unit if you want. Hey Pat. I don't think I will be able to make it over this year. I was hoping to. Shane was going to try to make it out bu t he won't as well,  I think Ryan will be up. Have fun. Look for more pics in a couple weeks. Man I sure hope these bucks put on some more size!

[twitchstick]

It would be nice if you would pm me just to know thanxs and good luck.

[steadman]

It was going to be a great weekend to head down and work on the blinds. Funny how this "unusual" antelope hunt is shaping to become a regular one.
So Dad and I head to the waterholes we found last time. they both still have a lot of track around them, and we were still encouraged even though the unit has gotten rain since then.

We started digging where Dads blind is going to be, and luckily the ground was very soft. This pond sits right next to a two track road, and although gets a little traffic, we are a little worried that it will get vandalized or destroyed, but that's something we will have to deal with, and I'm not that worried, and I will explain why later.

We are going to put up mock blinds in an effort to get the antelope used to something being there, we are going to use outr DB blind to hunt out of.
 

We were able to clear out a spot in short order for Dad's blind. We set up the DB and Dad shot a few practice arrows to make sure all was well.
 

We then set up the mock blind, put dirt around it and headed to my water hole, which is only a few hundred yards up the little swell.

[steadman]

The picture above is the DB but you will see the mock blind in one coming up.

Our plan is to get down the day before the hunt, take the mock blinds down and put the DB's up to hunt out of.

We loaded everything then headed up to my pond. We drove about 100 yards and out pops this guy.


This is one of the best bucks we have seen on the unit and he was bedded 100 yards from my Dad's pond. That got us a little pumped.


We got to the pond I will be sitting, dug out a spot (this ground was a tad bit harder!), and did the same routine. Setting up the DB, making adjustments, and shooting a few practice arrows.


This is the pond where my blind will be, and this is a pic of the mock blind. My Dads will be to the left of this pic. We then headed to the other unit to set a trail camera and look for more water.

[Guru]

Very cool thread Ryan...very cool!

[steadman]

Thanks Curt. So Dad and I head over to the other side of the unit. I wanted to put a trail camera on the trail I found last time. So we go over, and head out. We set the camera, then decide to drive around. We headed up the same little valley we always see goats in, and sure enough we run into these guys.


Now at first glance there was nothing real special about them. One shooter and three sqibs (small ones). But as we are driving away, something catches my eye and I tell the old man to stop. Throw up my glasses and see this guy.




What an unusual buck. If you look close you will see 3 horns growing off this bucks head. Now there are 2 shooters in the bunch. This little guy is very cool!

[steadman]

We decide to spend the rest of the evening looking at mulies and mabey some elk.
Now a little about the 2 units I can hunt antelope in. The one on the north, I can hunt antelope, deer, and spike elk and cow elk. In the unit to the south, I can only hunt antelope and elk. The mule deer on this unit are limited entry.
But there is no law against looking. So we set off looking, and found a few good bucks. Sorry for the blur, it was getting a little late.
 

[Tom Phillips]

That hunt looks like a blast.  Good Luck

[steadman]

Thanks Tom. Talk about an awesome hunt, one day I will make it to a Bear Quest!

SO after a short night, Dad and I head to check the trail camera, nothing. The camera must not have a fast speed because there was fresh antelope track and elk track. So I will probably be putting a tree stand there.
We then headed to a vantage point to check out the blinds and watch for a while. I was very curiuos to see the antelope reaction. After about 30 min we watch a group of 5 or so goats, with two shooters head righ tinto Dad's pond! They didn't even slow down. We watch another buck head into mine, the two more groups hit Dad's. This is really looking good even if the mock blinds get destroyed. This was the first morning the antelope had seen the blinds, and they didn't seem to care at all.
So, 6 more weeks til I'm sitting in my DB overlooking the water. With longbow in hand and sharp broadheads in the quiver. Until then...




And my favorite

[Guru]

Dang Ryan...I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I was you    

[fatman]

great pics, Ryan, I'll be watchin' this one....

that's some nice bone growin' on some of those mulies!  :D

[LA Trapper]

Great pictures and stories Ryan, keep 'em coming.  We don't have those lightning bolts in LA and it is great following you guys that chase them.

Hey fatman, how did you get that handle?   :confused:  

Billy

[Mike Yancey]

Great looking area and pictures! Wish I was going with you, I will be in Wyoming the 15th of August but there aint no trees. Keep the great pictures coming.
Mike

[James Wrenn]

Great pictures!     Just being able to scout around and take pictures of that many animals would be as much fun as hunting them to me.    Good luck when the time comes.

[paleFace]

a few hang on stands might be in order as well as the DB. great pics, nice mule deer and that last goat with the straw hanging out his mouth is classic. looking forward to the rest of this thread.  

[Big Ed]

Ryan great hunt along and pics. Can't wait until the next chapter. Big Ed------------->

[Tim Fishell]

Man that is sweet!!  3 of us is headed for Wyoming in September for our first ever Antelope hunt.  I wish I could get out there and do some scouting but that is not going to happen.  Good luck on your hunt Ryan and I look forward to following along with you and your dad!!

Tim

[Tique]

Great pictures Ryan. Hunting goats in the trees has got to be exciting. Good luck to you and your dad.

[steadman]

Thanks for all the comments guys. Hope to have one more update before the hunt starts.
We probably will be sitting treestands as well.

[Wiley Coyote]

Good Luck!!!