Hi folks,
Im still fairly new to the forum, and figured its only right if I post and share about my recent hunt, since many of you commented on my original posts and sent personal messages with me when planning and researching this trip (thanks again).
I originally started planning for the trip back in April (you can see my original thread here: http://forum.eastmans.com/showthread.php/13391-DIY-Deer-Antelope-Wyoming). We toyed with the idea of trying to pull a mule deer or whitetail tag as well, but ultimately settled on antelope only and glad we did. My father and his buddy were each able to harvest a buck on blue state land before I arrived. Once I got into town we were off to find one for me.
We were blessed with blue bird sunny skies and fairly warm temps. Highs in the low 70's and lows in the low 30s. One morning we had a small snow flurry come through but overall the weather was fantastic. The first morning I climbed up on a rocky outcropping and watched a buck chase a doe nearly right to me. I glassed and watched him mount her multiple times, and ranged him at 190 yards. It was literally the first morning of my hunt, and I decided to let him pass even though I had never killed an Antelope before. Everything I had read said "dont shoot the first buck you see!".
Fast forward, and I spent the next 3 days hunting my TAIL off from daylight until dark, driving, walking, glassing, and covering all different areas of my unit from flat land to ridge tops to the hills etc. I passed on multiple bucks that were just young- maybe right at the ears or so. Luckily on my last full day, after hiking out about a mile to a ridge top I spotted a group of does bedded on the end. I belly crawled up to them and saw a buck in the mix. I couldn't tell exactly how big, but saw he was above the ears and appeared to be the mature buck. He was bedded slightly away from the group of 6 does. I belly crawled up a little more, couldn't get the rangefinder to read but estimated him to be at 200 yards and took the shot. My first antelope!
My dad met me with the buggy and we field dressed him and headed for town. Overall it was a great trip. A few things I learned, that may be useful to anyone else planning a DIY hunt for the first time:
-- The antelope had a noticeable reaction to the pressure as the week progressed. Opening weekend they were curious and stayed much closer- by the end of week 1 they were much more cautious and stayed away from roads, etc.
-- You got to get out and walk walk walk. Most people were driving (and we did our fair share too) but if we saw an area that looks good I would walk up to a mile in glassing and looking. Ultimately thats how I found my buck.
-- The OnX map is well worth it- although my chip did now show the pink WIA areas- luckily I took the time to highlight all of them on the BLM map for my area.
-- In my experience, the antelope did not move much. Unless they were run off by hunters or something else- it wasn't like they were covering a lot of ground or moving from parcel to parcel. We would see the same groups laying on private ground day after day.
-- Distances are deceiving! In unit 9- there were some spots you could see clear across 2-3 MILES. What seems close- really may be 1/2 mile away.
Anyway, here is my buck (not a trophy, but I am satisfied with it as my first ever on public land draw with 0 points).
And here is the buck I passed on the first morning, first day! Had him bedded at 190 yards!
Thanks again to all those who commented on my threads and sent me a PM. Already thinking about going back next year and trying for a mule deer...
Im still fairly new to the forum, and figured its only right if I post and share about my recent hunt, since many of you commented on my original posts and sent personal messages with me when planning and researching this trip (thanks again).
I originally started planning for the trip back in April (you can see my original thread here: http://forum.eastmans.com/showthread.php/13391-DIY-Deer-Antelope-Wyoming). We toyed with the idea of trying to pull a mule deer or whitetail tag as well, but ultimately settled on antelope only and glad we did. My father and his buddy were each able to harvest a buck on blue state land before I arrived. Once I got into town we were off to find one for me.
We were blessed with blue bird sunny skies and fairly warm temps. Highs in the low 70's and lows in the low 30s. One morning we had a small snow flurry come through but overall the weather was fantastic. The first morning I climbed up on a rocky outcropping and watched a buck chase a doe nearly right to me. I glassed and watched him mount her multiple times, and ranged him at 190 yards. It was literally the first morning of my hunt, and I decided to let him pass even though I had never killed an Antelope before. Everything I had read said "dont shoot the first buck you see!".
Fast forward, and I spent the next 3 days hunting my TAIL off from daylight until dark, driving, walking, glassing, and covering all different areas of my unit from flat land to ridge tops to the hills etc. I passed on multiple bucks that were just young- maybe right at the ears or so. Luckily on my last full day, after hiking out about a mile to a ridge top I spotted a group of does bedded on the end. I belly crawled up to them and saw a buck in the mix. I couldn't tell exactly how big, but saw he was above the ears and appeared to be the mature buck. He was bedded slightly away from the group of 6 does. I belly crawled up a little more, couldn't get the rangefinder to read but estimated him to be at 200 yards and took the shot. My first antelope!
My dad met me with the buggy and we field dressed him and headed for town. Overall it was a great trip. A few things I learned, that may be useful to anyone else planning a DIY hunt for the first time:
-- The antelope had a noticeable reaction to the pressure as the week progressed. Opening weekend they were curious and stayed much closer- by the end of week 1 they were much more cautious and stayed away from roads, etc.
-- You got to get out and walk walk walk. Most people were driving (and we did our fair share too) but if we saw an area that looks good I would walk up to a mile in glassing and looking. Ultimately thats how I found my buck.
-- The OnX map is well worth it- although my chip did now show the pink WIA areas- luckily I took the time to highlight all of them on the BLM map for my area.
-- In my experience, the antelope did not move much. Unless they were run off by hunters or something else- it wasn't like they were covering a lot of ground or moving from parcel to parcel. We would see the same groups laying on private ground day after day.
-- Distances are deceiving! In unit 9- there were some spots you could see clear across 2-3 MILES. What seems close- really may be 1/2 mile away.
Anyway, here is my buck (not a trophy, but I am satisfied with it as my first ever on public land draw with 0 points).
And here is the buck I passed on the first morning, first day! Had him bedded at 190 yards!
Thanks again to all those who commented on my threads and sent me a PM. Already thinking about going back next year and trying for a mule deer...
