Im home from Wright WY area 23 and I scored my first Antelope. It was a great hunt and enjoyable time.
After recieving all the good advice from you gentlemen I stopped at Cabelas in Mitchell SD on my drive out. I spent about a half hour to 45 minutes looking at the Antelope mounts from evey angle just to give me a better idea of what to look for in the field. I actually paced off the distance the best I could in the store ( got some strange looks doing that) and looked at the horns over my outstreched hand. I left with the additude that I could now do a better job than going out cold.
I arrived in camp and was in my blind by about 12:30pm. I got the range finder out, ranged some land marks then began glassing the area.
I watch a small herd of does and fawns at 300 plus yards slowly work toward me than disappear in a gully. There was activity insight all afternoon at some range.
I had several does with fawns come in, a few small bucks and one nice buck, I figured was a Poe and Ypung class animal at about 44 yards. While I was attempting to position myself for the shot two doe with fawns stepped up within 10 feet of the blind. I could see them through a 1/4 openning in one of the closed blind windows. The on bigger doe watched the blind continually. She was the closes. The buck moved into the 44 yard spot but I was a little to far left in the blind to get a clear shot out the portal. I colud not move the seat because it would spook the doe so I just twisted my hips and butt until I believed my arrow would clear the rigth edge of the window cleanly. I placed mu 40 yard sight pin spine high just behind the shoulder and released.
The arrow did not clear the edge of the portal but it would not have made any difference. The does and fawns all bolted on the release of the string and the buck was gone in a flash. The arrow wobbling from the fletching contact got there a little left and to late. The buck was gone. I'll get back to him later. This all happened about 4:30 pm. I was disappointed with the results but happy I had a clean miss.
I was not discouraged and nocked another arrow and returned to watching, glassing and ranging Antleope as they came into view.
Around 6:30pm the Antelope activity picked up dramatically. At any given time there were 30 Antelope within 100 yards of me and several small bucks and various doe/fawn groups within shooting range. At 7pm three bucks move into my vision from the right. The closes is right on the edge of being what I figure is a keeper. The second one out is definitely a nice buck and the furthest one is a lot taller in length but has no mass and the horns are absolutely striaght.
I range the secound one at thirty two yards and he is about 20 ft above me on the slope of a hill. Im better prepared now , I've folded up the chair earlier and Im on my knees. As they move left I slide over to the center portal sit back on my right heel, come to full draw and place my 35yard pin just under the lungs and above the heart. As the closer, smaller buck clears the shooting lane I release. The arrow flys true and finds it's mark, entering the left side behind about the third rib, paccing through an striking the right shoulder. The Buck is knocked forward an almost off his feet, stubble and make a run of no more than 50 yards, dying on his feet then crashes.
After my heart stopped pounding and all the work was done the buck score about 68 1/2 green. He was scored by ine of the guides and another hunter in camp and these are the measurements starting at the base ...6" 5.5" 3" 2.75" prong 4.25" and horn lenght 12 2/8" with one ivory tip.
For my first Antelope with a bow Im thrilled. I watched the bigger one that I missed the following day with one of the guides and several of the hunters who were regulars in the camp. They figure he is a Poe and Young animal with at least 15" horns and 7 to 8" base at the least. If I would have score that animal I'd have no reason to go back and do this agian. So all things worked out well.
The rest of my time there was spent with the guides and camp crew who were great, friendly hard working people. I will certianly be doing this agian.
Thank you fellows who gave me guidence on the ways to estimate horn size.

As soon as I can I will get photos posted.

Work hard and be true to yourself.

Edited by - logs on 09/05/2002 09:59:39