FrankenMauser
New member
What started out as a seemingly disappointing experiment went completely the other way in the blink of an eye.
New unit (near Thermopolis, WY). New area. First late-season antelope hunt for two of the hunters. First antelope hunt in snow for any of us. First time dealing with the landowner. Difficulty meeting and talking to said landowner. Less access than expected. Fewer roads than expected. Bad roads with any moisture, whatsoever. Bad weather. Too early for the migration. Too early for the rut.
No legal animals on ANY of the land we had permission to hunt, or BLM. Few animals anywhere near where we could hunt.
Things were looking pretty bleak.
Completely snowed-in for an entire day of the hunt. That didn't help.
And then Sunday morning happened. We expected a fairly crappy hunting day, considering the previous weather, snow falling, temperature, and weather forecast; but figured we'd burn some gas and give it a shot, anyway (15 mile drive to the ranch, from our RV park cabin).
Boy, were we wrong. The migration had been kicked off by the big storm the day before. As the landowner had told us on Saturday morning we'd be able to if things were 'right', we "took our pick" of the does, as the groups strung out and worked their way across the valley.
Five were down within 30 minutes after sunrise - two for Cornbush, one for Crankylove, and two for me. (All of us on foot.)
It took another 4 hours to get them dressed, drug out to a road, and loaded in the truck.
My father dropped his first at about 3 pm. (On foot.)
Then my father and Crankylove each dropped one more at about 4:30 pm. (Drove the truck close, and got out for the shots.)
The last two were dressed and in the truck by 5 pm.
8 goats. 9 hours.
It was a very busy day.
Although all four of us took a .243 Win and intended to each take at least one animal with them; all four of us also ended up using whatever our other rifle was for the actual dirty work. Such is life, sometimes. Whatchu gonna do?..
For those curious:
(Near to far in first photo.)
Winchester M70 Featherweight, .270 Win.
Remington 700 Long Range, .300 WM.
Winchester M70 (in Super Grade stock), .270 Win.
Ruger M77 Mk II, .270 Win. (SilencerCo Harvester .300 suppressor)
Don't worry about the fact that it looks warm in these photos. It was only about 50 degrees, and the goats were still frozen from spending a night in WY.
I love the way that this part of the country just gets even more beautiful with snow...
New unit (near Thermopolis, WY). New area. First late-season antelope hunt for two of the hunters. First antelope hunt in snow for any of us. First time dealing with the landowner. Difficulty meeting and talking to said landowner. Less access than expected. Fewer roads than expected. Bad roads with any moisture, whatsoever. Bad weather. Too early for the migration. Too early for the rut.
No legal animals on ANY of the land we had permission to hunt, or BLM. Few animals anywhere near where we could hunt.
Things were looking pretty bleak.
Completely snowed-in for an entire day of the hunt. That didn't help.
And then Sunday morning happened. We expected a fairly crappy hunting day, considering the previous weather, snow falling, temperature, and weather forecast; but figured we'd burn some gas and give it a shot, anyway (15 mile drive to the ranch, from our RV park cabin).
Boy, were we wrong. The migration had been kicked off by the big storm the day before. As the landowner had told us on Saturday morning we'd be able to if things were 'right', we "took our pick" of the does, as the groups strung out and worked their way across the valley.
Five were down within 30 minutes after sunrise - two for Cornbush, one for Crankylove, and two for me. (All of us on foot.)
It took another 4 hours to get them dressed, drug out to a road, and loaded in the truck.
My father dropped his first at about 3 pm. (On foot.)
Then my father and Crankylove each dropped one more at about 4:30 pm. (Drove the truck close, and got out for the shots.)
The last two were dressed and in the truck by 5 pm.
8 goats. 9 hours.
It was a very busy day.
Although all four of us took a .243 Win and intended to each take at least one animal with them; all four of us also ended up using whatever our other rifle was for the actual dirty work. Such is life, sometimes. Whatchu gonna do?..
For those curious:
(Near to far in first photo.)
Winchester M70 Featherweight, .270 Win.
Remington 700 Long Range, .300 WM.
Winchester M70 (in Super Grade stock), .270 Win.
Ruger M77 Mk II, .270 Win. (SilencerCo Harvester .300 suppressor)
Don't worry about the fact that it looks warm in these photos. It was only about 50 degrees, and the goats were still frozen from spending a night in WY.
I love the way that this part of the country just gets even more beautiful with snow...