Haven't seen anything other than the draw results thread so here we go!
I probably could have gone on this hunt twice now but alas the first was fun. I had a 16 year priority and the build up was awesome. I drew my tag in 102/118…
For anyone hesitant to get out there and try this hunt, holding the tag cause you don't know how to do it - draw it an go. That being said, I think this would be an awesome hunt if you had two people with tags and go together as after the first one is down, it leaves you wanting to go find another one. (possibly bigger) I however went solo as hunting goes sometimes.
I took my fifth wheel down for this trip. Was not sure about hotels and the cvid bs so camping I went. (would do it again)
Foremost campground was awesome. Able to emt the town for payment of the site. They have full water and sewer hook ups. The grocery store where I got ice and a sandwich(grilled ham and cheese) were great people. The lady who drove the school bus had been keeping her eye on a couple big goats and was giving directions to them! She was also the cashier - gotta love small towns. When I grabbed the ice and sandwich she wanted to come see the goat - I got her approval that it was a nice one. Elkwater also had campgrounds that are open. They have an awesome general store, where they cook a mean chicken bacon wrap! The people that run the store are awesome to chat with and are excited for your success.
As daunting as it seemed, I had a few people talk about how crazy it is down there for the hunt. People driving around blasting, flying down the roads just truck hunting, landowners not giving permissions, land owners hiding and not answering phones, all around difficult... Blah... Blah... Blah... I found the opposite. Land owners were great people and genuinely wanted to see you succeed. The lease holders were fine, one grumpy lady but she had what it looked like 200 quarters down there to hunt on. She said there's a line up for them antelope and good luck to me... I said with the 200 quarters I'm sure I'll find something. And then I signed the book and the next guy behind me started the process with her as well.
Scouted Sunday all day. Drove the two zones and walked a bunch of the lease land and milk river. I found goats and deer and grouse and Huns, and coyotes and badgers and foxes, eagle's. Saw about 10 different hunting groups and the same people 4 times. I gotta say it was a massive area with plenty of game to chase! After finding several speed goats and got permission to pursue them, I had my heart set on a really nice looking "classic" Antelope. He wasn't the biggest but for my first one, I was hoping he would be close the next morning.
The next morning was exciting, watching the vehicles filter out to the area they wanted to get to, a small sense of panic sets in and you wonder if anyone is going after the same animal you are? Then as they all turn different directions into different zones a calmness comes over and you just think, there's plenty of animals for everyone and if this one doesn't work out, I'll find another one.
Locating my buck at day break was a challenge, he wasn't where I left him. In fact he was 3 quarters away, and then losing him in a massive field was mind blowing! With a few dips and rolls in the field they definitely have that in their favor. I thought there was no way he could slip passed me. Sure enough, 25 min later, I circled around and found him another quarter and a half away, where I first found him, heading to water the day before. After a 10 min walk in I got between a rock pile and him. Waiting was the hardest - knowing he was on his trail to me, 431 yards, then 380, then 260, then disappeared down a dip in the field and then cresting a hill at 80 yards. All that practice at 500 paid off that's for sure. The 270 barked and just like that - 16 years of waiting was done. I'm no antelope hunter, but to me, he's a beauty! I could have done more research and tried to find a bigger one, but for the first time, I'm super pumped and this ones coming home with me.
Measurements so far are 71 inch Antelope.
I took the pics myself, sometimes that's the hardest part of solo hunting. If you are trying to find a way to take the pics and have no one with you - I set up my phone on my pack and then use the video function and then pose with the animal. After I stop the recording, I then take screen shots of the video.
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Antelope 2021
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