Greetings,
Well, wednesday a week ago I drove to area 700 of MT where I drew an antelope tag to hunt for a few days and to do some scouting for elk (which tag I also drew) never been antelope huntin' before. Used a full tank of gas everyday (had to keep goin back to town) gained some useful elk info and looked at a lot of country. After being pointed in the right direction for antelope (2nd day) drove and glassed for about 4 hours until I saw some--but they were on posted land-saw another group--same thing --posted--and the posted places were surrounded by block management. Talked to a couple of ranchers-they said the goats had been pressured heavily already--one nice ranching matriarch I talked to said the hunters had been just awful--which simply means--she had seen a lot of hunters, at least on her place I guess--she reminded me of my grandmother, then she told me she had seen some go over the hill on the adjoining ranch, which was block management as well. It was about an hour before the end of legal light when I pulled in, signed in at the box, walked behind this abandoned homestead and watched until dark--nothing (actually saw some whitetail in this stubble field which was cool--puttin the crosshairs on em and thinkin bang!--decided to camp (sleep in my 4 runner and eat sandwiches) right there-hoping no one would care--read the Davinci Code for 2-3 hours--just like the night before. Got up the third day before sunrise and walked about halfmile and sat in these hay bales for a couple of hours--saw a fox-nothing else-didn't shoot the fox (thought about it). went back and started driving a new route of country road peppered with Block management (collected about 2 dozen BMA maps). I definately wanted to spot and stalk a buck antelope but after spotting a couple of groups from the truck at long range and still watching them run as the truck slowed or, god forbid, stop, until they were past the edge of vision (with 12X binocs). I just laughed, as I could see the white dots that represented their speeding asses across the landsape. I had run into some succesful hunters the day before as I crossed a hill in the road, which made me want just the opportunity to get geared up and try to put the sneak (WV style) on a spotted target but I was decided no matter what --it was great to be out here. still driving and signing BMA boxes by around 3pm (third day). I knew I was coming to and intersection in a couple of miles and was looking at maps to decide where to go and thinking about where I eventually wanted to sleep tonite (which "camping" spot). I passed a ranchhouse on the left as I headed up this hill ( I could see forever) looked over to the left to see 5 antelope at about 5-6oo yds from the road laying down. I could see one was a buck--I knew that if I even slowed down let alone stop and turn around (because this land was not marked and I knew I had to go back and talk to somebody about permission) that they would bolt. Turned around. They bolted--but not out of sight. When I pulled in to the ranch house--Then I watched them bolt out of sight. Talked to the rancher--nice kid. He said sure, that's fine. He pointed out his property boundaries--I figured the antelope were in some other boundaries by now any way. I thanked him and drove back on the county road headed uphill again. When I got to the top I stopped as this was a great vantage point and the edge of his property. I glassed only moments before I spotted them--slowing walking at a distance I guessed was right at or over a mile. I couldn't see anything with the naked eye and they were tiny tan and white spots with binoculars but they were staying put. After watching for a few more seconds, I decided that they had either laid down or went down over the hill--I thought I could still barely see something. As I sat there, I momentarily contemplated if I was goin after these antelope that I was not 100% sure were there, or gonna drive along and scare others with the same success without getting out of the truck. I decided that it's nut-cuttin time, put a chew in, got all my **** together. Stood there a minute to plan how. There were these drainage ditches (miniature canyons) which when I looked I could stay in them and navigate to the top of the first hill cross a little grassy valley and then crawl to the top of the next hill and there should be the shot, if any, from slightly above them and didn't know how close. As I started I crawled to the edge of the ditch even though I could not see them w/o magnification. Got in and plotted my way thru jumping about 10 mule deer in all along the way--that was cool-snuck up on the first one at about 30 yds--she was looking the other way. Got to the top of the ditch and crawled to the top of the first hill. didn't see anything. started across the open spot and was crawling up the second hill when I looked out to my left and saw something--it was them--they were feeding around the side about 200 yds. I could barely move as I was in the open ( occasioanl 1ft scrubrush). I got my steady sticks set up,gun rested, and waited. I watched them for about 5 min before I took the right shot. He dropped instantly when the gun went off. The rest of them still did not know what happened. I got up as they were starting to run off. got down to him and was ecstatic--yeah boy. he was beautiful. I took some pictures. field dressed him and used binoculars to locate the truck. I decided that it would be easier to see if the rancher would let me drive in to get him and walked to the house. They were nice people, even took me back to my vehicle then let me drive to within about 50 yds of him. After thanking them, I drove about an hour back to town, had one celebratory beer at the local establishment and made it back to helena by 1:30 am with my antelope strapped on the carrier. He is also delicious and he is getting mounted-for the memory of a great hunt--I still have no idea how big he is--not very big probably 10-12'', awesome though.. sorry that this thread is so long--that's what happens when your by yourself--you go crazy.
__________________
Looney tunes deductive reasoning:
--Me smell Mohican burning
--Me last Mohican
--Must be me!!!
--EEEOOOWWW!!!!!
Great story hillbilly. I had much the same expierence last year, however, I didn't draw a tag this year. Prarie goats are the most fun one can possibly have hunting. Congrats!
Sounds like you had an excellent time out in the field and have some meat on the table. Thanx for sharing the story. I'll be heading out that way on Nov 10th. Good luck on your elk hunt!!
Wow!!!! And to think I am going to try and take my 10 yr old next year. I love the thought of heading out west but I dont know if he's up to that and guides are usually out of my price range. What to do? What to do?????????
awesome first antelope hunt--MT
