Another Antelope story
10-01-2012, 04:29 PM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Posts: 3,732
The truck was used to close the distance some by using a two track trail. Then i set out on foot even though i little clue where the goat could be. The country didn't seem right for what i was glassing off the county road, but i needed a hike anyway. As i walked things didn't seem right, but i continued. After about a mile hike, of a sudden i stumbled right onto that goat bedded. Sure enough he was a buck; he wasn't a trophy. I glassed and glassed all around, but saw no other critter. He saw me and stood; i ranged him at 402 yard. After standing there facing each other for perhaps 2 minute, i walked toward him, until it seemed close enough for a shot. He ranged at 333 yard; i pulled the primer, and set the rifle on the bipod for a 'coup' shot. Three, then four times i pulled the trigger on him. I wasn't able to hold the cross hair steady on him. A standing shot at 333 yard using a bipod is not something i can do.
I decided to walk toward where i hoped there might be a herd with doe, hoping this would make him run the opposite direction. That didn't work; he ran exactly where i didn't want him to. A very brief time later i stopped, and glassed where he ran off to. He was by now out 1/2 mile. I was astounded once again, at how quickly them pronghorn can cover ground when only at a lope. At least i now knew there were no other goats in the area. For some silly reason i walked about 3/4 mile to the ridge he crossed, and glassed looking for more critter. Nothing did i see.
I came back to the truck; the gps say i walked 4 1/2 mile. That was enough. I am home now.
10-02-2012, 07:30 AM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
The draw gave me second choice, which was 2 doe tag, so you will not see a photo of a buck this year. This morning i spotted a lone goat out about 2 mile off the county road. It seemed to me it would be a buck. Too far away to tell with binocular. It was the only critter i saw, so i thought even though it probably was a buck, i maybe could luck out and have it lead me to a herd.
The truck was used to close the distance some by using a two track trail. Then i set out on foot even though i little clue where the goat could be. The country didn't seem right for what i was glassing off the county road, but i needed a hike anyway. As i walked things didn't seem right, but i continued. After about a mile hike, of a sudden i stumbled right onto that goat bedded. Sure enough he was a buck; he wasn't a trophy. I glassed and glassed all around, but saw no other critter. He saw me and stood; i ranged him at 402 yard. After standing there facing each other for perhaps 2 minute, i walked toward him, until it seemed close enough for a shot. He ranged at 333 yard; i pulled the primer, and set the rifle on the bipod for a 'coup' shot. Three, then four times i pulled the trigger on him. I wasn't able to hold the cross hair steady on him. A standing shot at 333 yard using a bipod is not something i can do.
I decided to walk toward where i hoped there might be a herd with doe, hoping this would make him run the opposite direction. That didn't work; he ran exactly where i didn't want him to. A very brief time later i stopped, and glassed where he ran off to. He was by now out 1/2 mile. I was astounded once again, at how quickly them pronghorn can cover ground when only at a lope. At least i now knew there were no other goats in the area. For some silly reason i walked about 3/4 mile to the ridge he crossed, and glassed looking for more critter. Nothing did i see.
I came back to the truck; the gps say i walked 4 1/2 mile. That was enough. I am home now.
The truck was used to close the distance some by using a two track trail. Then i set out on foot even though i little clue where the goat could be. The country didn't seem right for what i was glassing off the county road, but i needed a hike anyway. As i walked things didn't seem right, but i continued. After about a mile hike, of a sudden i stumbled right onto that goat bedded. Sure enough he was a buck; he wasn't a trophy. I glassed and glassed all around, but saw no other critter. He saw me and stood; i ranged him at 402 yard. After standing there facing each other for perhaps 2 minute, i walked toward him, until it seemed close enough for a shot. He ranged at 333 yard; i pulled the primer, and set the rifle on the bipod for a 'coup' shot. Three, then four times i pulled the trigger on him. I wasn't able to hold the cross hair steady on him. A standing shot at 333 yard using a bipod is not something i can do.
I decided to walk toward where i hoped there might be a herd with doe, hoping this would make him run the opposite direction. That didn't work; he ran exactly where i didn't want him to. A very brief time later i stopped, and glassed where he ran off to. He was by now out 1/2 mile. I was astounded once again, at how quickly them pronghorn can cover ground when only at a lope. At least i now knew there were no other goats in the area. For some silly reason i walked about 3/4 mile to the ridge he crossed, and glassed looking for more critter. Nothing did i see.
I came back to the truck; the gps say i walked 4 1/2 mile. That was enough. I am home now.
10-02-2012, 07:41 AM
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Oh yeah, I wasn't thinking about the fact that you might have tags for a different area, duh!! Well good luck then in Fall River . And for the first time in 6 years I didn't draw a refuge tag so i won't be hunting the refuge except with bow. No muzzleloader this year there for me.