Sometimes you take what you can get...montana antelope

Montanawidower · August 21, 2011, 01:15:00 PM

For those who keep tabs on antelope up here, its been a tough couple of years. Region 7 where I hunt has been hammered with winter kill and then "blessed" with floods. The ranchers are having a tough time with all the wet fields and roads. However, the worst part is that there is water EVERYWHERE. That makes it tough to hunt antelope over ponds and tanks. I sat for three pleasant days and had only one antelope come in to drink... Very disheartening.

the highbank hole (a good producer in the past)

My typical set up

Montanawidower · August 21, 2011, 01:24:00 PM

However, luckily that one antelope was a shooter.

I scouted two huge bucks in the area and may have passed if it was better hunting. But.... you take what you can get.
I'm more than happy!

12 incher with a great heart curl

My first kill with the Toelke Lynx recurve

The Abowyer with modifications.

abbatoys · August 21, 2011, 01:26:00 PM

Nothing wrong with that hunt...Congrats...Scott

Jesse Minish · August 21, 2011, 01:28:00 PM

Nice congrats!

Charlie Lamb · August 21, 2011, 01:29:00 PM

You're going to have to tell me what the modification is, as I don't see anything unusual about it.

Charlie Lamb · August 21, 2011, 01:32:00 PM

By the way, congratulations. That's a beautiful antelope.

Tell us a little post mortem stuff about the broadhead.

Charlie Lamb · August 21, 2011, 01:34:00 PM

Maybe we should make a rule that you have to give the specs of your broadhead in these types of threads. We could all learn a lot (more).

swp · August 21, 2011, 01:39:00 PM

Nice goat, congrats! I'm with Charlie, give us some post mortem stuff.

wapiti · August 21, 2011, 01:50:00 PM

Well done!!!!!

wapiti · August 21, 2011, 01:51:00 PM

Well done!!!!!

Randy Morin · August 21, 2011, 01:52:00 PM

Hey Jeff...way to go man. I was wondering if you were gettin after them goats. I have 1 day under my belt near Willow Creek. Way too much water (creeks) to hunt it with confidence so I usually just bumble around hiding in the rocks and such hoping to find a deaf/dumb/blind one somewhere. Gonna try a few days this week hopefully.

Congrats on a pretty buck. He does have a nice curl to him. How you liking that bow?
I need to shoot that baby. Let me know if you want to shoot the "Buff Jump" some night.

Joe Subler · August 21, 2011, 01:59:00 PM

The modifications to the Abowyer may be the blood on it

Joe

Montanawidower · August 21, 2011, 02:12:00 PM

Post mortem.... I guess I'll start with specs. Thats a brown bear 175 with a 75 gr steel insert. The shaft is a GT 35-55. Total arrow weight is 540 ish. The bow is a 52# at 28 and I draw 28. The bow is a 58 inch recurve. I switched this year away from my 64 in long bow. WOW, is it easier to manuever inside the blind.

That same broadhead has zipped through two antelope now. The modifications are nothing major. I think the two weak points on that broadhead are the thin tip and the ferrule blade junction. I grind a flat bevel on the leading edge of the ferrule and file back the tip to slightly thicker steel. The ferrule adjustment is conjecture, however the tip is from seeing a couple curl ON impact with bone. I hope that helps.

As for post mortem, I shot that goat at 18 yards and he ran 50. I have learned to let them drink before I shoot. It seeems to relax them. However,this guy drank and started to leave immediately. I drew, stopped him and hit him quartering away taking out liver and opposite lung. Thankfully, he bled profusely and didn't make it far.

PS. YOU CAN SEE HIS RUMP ABOVE AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE BLIND, IN THE WATERHOLE PICTURE.

Dave Bowers · August 21, 2011, 02:14:00 PM

Heck I'd take that any day..congrats!

Coonbait · August 21, 2011, 02:25:00 PM

I think that is a beautiful goat! I'd be very proud to harvest him! Congratulations
Glenn

Mudd · August 21, 2011, 02:31:00 PM

PS: A bucket list hunt in my book.

Margly · August 21, 2011, 02:42:00 PM

Congratulations:)

Landshark160 · August 21, 2011, 02:47:00 PM

Congrats! I'd love to do that one day.

Tutanka · August 21, 2011, 03:12:00 PM

Congrats, that's a good prairie goat. It's good to see a lynx get a kill, yours is the first one that I have seen that does not have micarta in the riser, I like it.

Montanawidower · August 21, 2011, 03:14:00 PM

Randy,

Thanks man. I was hoping you'd see this. Yeah we need to shoot again. I'm putting on the longbow limbs for the lynx tonight and will start tuning for elk. Oh, also Buffalo jump is no longer. Get this, they sold it to some weed growers! Sad I know.

Jeff

PS I hunted solo this year because Marty bailed on me last minute. If he does that again I'll see if you can join me. You deserve a big goat more than anyone I know!