2015 Wyoming Antelope Hunt (Pic Heavy)

As promised, here is the write-up and pictures from my Trip.

We have been trying to get drawn for this hunt the past 4 or 5 years, both my hunting partners had been twice with one of them taking a B&C antelope each time. Sounded like a lot of fun and these guys are a blast to hunt with so I kept putting in, as luck would have it, we got drawn.

As time got near, we prepared and prepped and planned. Got everything lined out and planned to leave wed. at noon to catch the Saturday opener.

We left town a little late Wed. but not too bad, drove thru the night and got to the hunting area about 2 pm on Thursday after buying licenses and a few last min. supplies. We scouted a bit and set up camp.

Wyoming is a lot like areas in south and west texas.....lots of dirt/gravel roads. This particular unit was really chopped up, the properties are surveyed in sections (640 acres each) but not all of it was public....you would have a 5 mile stretch of road where you could only hunt one side of it for 300-500 yards, then both sides for a mile, then no sides for a good stretch then the opposite for 1/2 mile, etc. Very confusing and you had to have a grid map and a GPS tracking you to make 100% sure you were legal at all times.

A few years back they had a die off (winterkill/disease) and the numbers of antelope were cut in half. The prairie was littered with the bones of antelope. Still, we started seeing goats right off the bat Thursday and Friday:


Camp





There is some oil production in this region and they animals were used to seeing trucks driving. they were not really all that wild with most staying about 50-75 yards off the roads. In fact we saw more antelope close to the roads than we did out in the middle of no where.


Saturday morning came and we hit the road. Hunting consists of hunting over water holes (BORING!!!) or driving around, spotting one in legal country (touch and frustrating because of the way the public land is set up in that unit) and getting out and stalking one.







cont.....

they must have sent out a group text the night before because on Saturday the animals had a completely different attitude. We were pretty much the only hunters in the unit as well, The entire 7 days we only saw two other hunters, both on opening day. then after that, nothing.

Sat. morning I stalked up on a buck but a gauger checking a well ran my buck and his herd off. I was told to come prepared to take long shots (for a bow) and that was absolutely correct. its hard to get within 50 yards of them while on foot.







At the end of Saturday or Sunday, I can't remember which, I got really close to a smaller mature buck and the shot was too close to pass up. I snuck up over a knoll and him and his herd of bachelor bucks were grazing on a ridge...he was ranged 3 times showing 40 each time. Dead calm, I draw back, put my 40 yard pin behind his shoulder and touch the release trigger. I don't know what happened, the shot felt good, but I watched the arrow sail just under his armpit. mad at myself for missing a 40 yard shot at a totally oblivious antelope made me more than a little upset.

then next day we went to an area with a lot hillier terrain

Cool pics!

How tuff to get within 300 yards of one on foot?

the buck in the bottom picture became somewhat of a bane to me.

he was always in the same place, we saw him every day but he was unstalkable.

I stalked him on 3 different occasions and took a shot at him at 100 yards but it fell a tad short.






I missed another antelope at 90 (shot under it) then wed. evening I shot at a booner. I was on one hill and he was on another with a deep valley in between. I ranged him at 85, kneeled down and drew back. when I released the arrow I could hear it sizzling across the canyon. if I could hear it I know it must have sounded like a rocket coming at him....he took two steps and I watched in disbelief as the arrow stuck in the side of the hill right where he was standing. he trotted a few more feet them turned and looked at me. I shot him the bird and we both turned our backs to each other and walked off. We ended up seeing that buck a few more times as well.

easy if they don't see you. There are wide expanses of open country with no goats so its not a leave camp on foot kinda deal....its a drive till you see one then get out and stalk kinda deal.

they can spot you at ridiculous long ranges but if you use the terrain its not hard to get within 200 yards of them.

it got cooler wed/thurday, both mornings we woke up to ice on our tents.

both days during the slow mid day time we went to the platte river and fly fished. pretty fun and a great time killer






Thursday we had enough of the river then started back to camp. We were leaving Friday and I had pretty much made up my mind to shoot at every legal goat I could.

we spotted a group of young males and I decided to try my luck, with about 30 min remaining.

after a short stalk they busted me at a distance, I ranged a buck 4 times at 86 yards and I decided to let another one fly. I drew back, got the sights where they needed to be and hit the release. after a second of arrow flight, I heard the "whomp" of the arrow hitting home, a dark spot appear where there should have been all white and a antelope take off and then fall after about 50-60 yards.

I did not have my camera so all I had is the selfie in the other thread.


Only me and one other guy tagged out, in reality we all should have gotten goats. both missed a few shots at 50-60 yards, which is really considered close.

We missed antelope at ranges from 40-140 yards with most shots at 80-100 yards....if you come out here with archery tackle then you better practice shooting distance. We would rarely move inside the 50 yard mark when we were putting in our range time.


It was a fun hunt, lots of wildlife and I cannot say enough good things about the people of Wyoming....they talk and dress funny but they are the nicest people I have ever came across.

would love to go back, the antelope was fun but I would rather chase mule deer and elk up in the high country, as well as get even with the trout on the Platte.

Cool story and great photos. Congrats.

my two favorite pics of the whole trip.

we were watching my buddy stalk an antelope. I started looking around and I look over to my left and this little guy is sitting watching my buddy stalk this antelope. he must have watched for about 15 min before he went in his den




This one just happened to get caught in the right light and really shows off the beauty of these animals. They are quite a bit stinkier than a deer but imo twice as pretty.

Great story and adventure! I'd love to do a DIY rifle hunt up there some day.

One thing I found strange/interesting......sorta on the subject of free range/high fence and fair chase.


I don't know how big this unit is....prolly 50x50 miles or so. Baiting is illegal in Wyoming and there are some fences but not many.

We would see these antelope on a daily basis and got to recognize a few of them. On several occasions we would spook/miss an antelope and watch him run off into the next county...I'm talking sometimes a mile or more. we would leave and the next day they would be within 500 yards of where we spooked them the day before.


These animals had room to roam but even after running like the devil was behind them, they always returned to the immediate area they were at the day before.


thought it was kinda odd.

Nice write up

They are a blast to hunt and the meat can be fantastic.

How is the meat? Did you have to shoot bow or was that by choice? I like to bow hunt, but for a place like that I think I would want a boom stick.

Haven't eaten any yet.

The people in town say it's not the best, but we will see

The tag is for either bow or gun, but we all wanted to bow hunt.

Congrats man. I've never taken a 86 yard shot. I'm too afraid I would loose an arrow.

Have not hunted them in several years and when I have it has been in Montana when there on elk hunts. Most years could pickup a doe tag from the ones leftover not sold for an additional $50. The does I took there were near grain and or alfalfa fields so might have improved the taste somewhat with less sage in their diet. Those were dang good eating

Hey Western, maybe we could do this next year as a group hunt. I know you are not going on the Elk hunt this year, but after reading this and doing some research I think I want to put one together for '16.

Congrats on a great trip

I'd be into that, but getting drawn might be hard. And I would need an area where you don't have to be a techy genius to confirm you're on public land, or else you younger guys would basically have to guide me. I've killed elk in MT in the "checkerboard" around Turner's ranch and that was not fun worrying if we were on Ted baby's land. Didn't know Western wasn't hunting elk this year, just not hunting with Sneaky's bunch I thought. He has his private, closely guarded, secret honey hole.

I've only shot one pronghorn, years ago, in NM on the ex's grandparents' place. We ate the meat. Wasn't awful, but it wasn't axis. I'd like to have a decent wall hanger.

Great story txtrophy85. Thanks for posting.

Looks like y'all had a blast. Good times.

Awesome pics and story, thanks for sharing.

Great story and pics-thank you for posting!

Pronghorn is numero uno on my list-if anybody wants to do NM next year as a group I'd certainly be interested in a rifle hunt.

I would also be interested, Draw may be a "process" IDK how theirs work, do they have a group app like Colorado?

I am going Elk this year, just the 1st season (draw)

Good luck old man.

nice write up and photos!

Thanks CR, but I'm only 23

Dang, exciting!

Well, I was gonna say, take me with you the next time you put in for a draw, but I don't camp with no liars.

"aint" no elk in Colorado anyhoo. Don't know if you'd enjoy it with me, I do a lot of sitting and watching, did my walking when I was younger

That is right down my alley.

Well pack your bags then, but you will have to sign a no compete/ discloser form

Mum's the word.

Sorry Western, that is what I meant that you are not going on the group hunt. I was looking at the draw for Wyoming on Cabela's TAGS and they say you can put up to 6 people on a draw. It is too later for this year (and I can't afford two big hunts) but I will start looking into a group hunt in WY for next year.

Thanks for sharing, been a couple of times, my favorite state, never been in the winter though, locals tell me it would change my mind.

Had some in Arizona years ago, fajita style, not bad really.

Great story and pictures TT85. Those guys are sure tame compared to TX & NM speed goats.

You didn't just "go there"...""Tame""....Now BOBO will be all riled up again

Sure ain't Texas up there, but sounds like a darn good time and some good hunting. Congrats again.

No I hate Pronghorns.... Pasture maggots!!!!!

Then you have no problem taking me to kill 1....10

Nope!!!!!

I'll warn you OK has BS law about having to get out of the truck

Well you have to get out of the truck if it's on fire, huh?

Lol!!!


TT8- awesome pics man!!!