Archery speed goats in SE Idaho

[520backyard]

Well been scouting the last two days here in SE Idaho. First day I saw 9 bucks and about 30 does. First one I saw I did a half ass creep on and got to within about 70 yards before he busted. Second day I saw about 10 bucks 35 does. A couple of those bucks were pretty big I estimate they were 14-16" tall and pretty thick, their cutters were well above the ear. Talked to a local farmer and secured permission to hunt the area next to his field on his property. The desert bumps right up to one of his fields and those goats like to come in and water and eat. So I set up a blind and covered it with vegitation about 40 yards from the road and 40 yards from the field where a bunch of trails come in off the desert. The road was covered with lop tracks at that place so it's well used and the prevailing winds come off the desert. It's about 90 plus here and supposed to be getting hotter. It's like hunting on the moon when you are used to hunting western Washington. But I'm adapting to the conditions and just waiting for the season to open on wed the 15th. Going back out this afternoon to check out some new areas. If I can figure out how to post pics I will of the lops I am seeing.

[520backyard]

Well just got back in from the desert. I saw 9 bucks again today 30 plus does. Saw one buck three days in a row in the exact same area within a hundred yards. He's about average sized. I call him lonesome George because I have never seen him with any other lops. I think they may be entering the rut maybe because I saw a couple bucks with 4 or 5 does each. And a couple smaller bucks all alone. I have seen three bucks that look to be above average two of which were in a group of 15 or so does. Little windy today and hot. I'm seeing mostly the same bucks day after day. I know the area has good water and feed, plenty of does and those buck lops are not going anywhere until rifle season I bet. Might have a glitch in the ground blind pretty sure that irrigation pivot power head will hose my blind partially but should be all dried out by Wed the start of season. But the location is as good as it gets for that area and I'm not moving it.

Going out scouting again tommorow.

[MLBowhunting]

good luck

[HornHoarder]

Getting an antelope with a bow isnt an easy task. Sounds like your setup is pretty good. Shoot straight.

[deleted BGS]

When does the season start, I am thinking of doing that next year with a bow. I have a WY rifle tag this year, but really wanna hunt earlier and with my bow.

[520backyard]

When does the season start, I am thinking of doing that next year with a bow. I have a WY rifle tag this year, but really wanna hunt earlier and with my bow.

The season starts in another day on the 15th

[520backyard]

Went back out today and sure enough the average buck I call lonesome George was back in around the same area within 1/4 mile. Thats 4 days in a row I have seen him. Besides him I saw 10 other bucks today. One of which is slightly above average and is running with 4 does and I have seen him in the same area within 3/4 mile three days in a row.

As I was working up on my blind, I pulled up to glass it from about 400 yards or so off and saw that a pretty large group of antelope of about 25 to 30 were close to and around it. I was glassing it watching a rather large mature buck who was only about 30 yards from my blind with several other bucks further out from it . It was about that time I noticed a truck behind me and pulled out of the dirt road. Three guys were in it and as they passed I gave them a nod. I continued glassing and watched as the antelope busted and took off for the desert brush. I watched as they pulled up and got out of their rig and walked over to my blind and looked at it. They never once looked in the direction of my rig. I'm pretty sure they saw the out of state Washington plates on my truck and probably put two and two together. So I guess I'll go out tomorrow and see if my blind is still up. I don't plan on changing my plan, since it seems from what I saw today the antelope were all around it and it seemed to work.
I'm not sure how those fellas planned on hunting those lops. There is NO WAY to approach a group of lops like that on foot in this country. The bucks by themselves don't seem to get too spooked but the does bust very easy and from afar and thats a lot of very good eyes, it's tougher than working up on an elk herd I know that. There were no other blinds in the area so opening morning should be rather interesting if they show up. I plan on being in the blind at least an hour and a half before sunrise. I have plan B and a plan C but until plan A is a cluster flock I'm going with it. Hope for the best prepare for the worst.

I did go scout another area after that and did see 2 other bucks and 4 does so I'll keep that in mind.
There was a pretty big desert fire about a month ago and some lops are comming out of the desert area they got pushed out of due to the fire. My father in law says that the amount of bucks I'm seeing isn't normal but that the same thing happened 10 years ago after a big desert fire and a lot of bucks started showing up. There is also another fire currently burning north-NE of here about 120 miles or so away so there is a bit of smoke in the area which kinda filters the sun so it was only about 92 today.

[bearpaw]

sounds like you are dialed in, good luck... 

[520backyard]

sounds like you are dialed in, good luck... 

Thanks having never hunted lops I'd like to think I have all the bases covered. Time will tell.

[bearpaw]

Be thinking of a backup plan now and as you are hunting. If you have another blind, set it up in a good spot too, or make a blind out of onsite materials.

[520backyard]

So today I saw 9 bucks and about 35 does. My blind was still up and doing well and as I glassed it from 400 yards off I saw a pretty large buck by himself about 80 yards from it. The main group of lops of about 25 to 30 with 5 bucks( three of those bucks are shootable with cutters high above their ears one is a real hog) were about 200 yards away down the hill.

So tomorrow in the morning I'll slip into my blind about an hour and a half before sun up and see how it goes. Time now for one last gear check and one beer cause it's about 95 degrees. Patience patience patience will be the order of the day tomorrow and every day till one of those shooters gets into range and a shootable postion.

[rasbo]

where abouts are you in se idaho,any water holes where your at???I lived in minidoka county for several yrs seen quite a few speed goats north of norland,east of split butte

[520backyard]

where abouts are you in se idaho,any water holes where your at???I lived in minidoka county for several yrs seen quite a few speed goats north of norland,east of split butte

North of Aberdeen towards coffe point. These lops are comming in to drink out of the irrigation pivots wheel ruts and puddles and eat alfalfa. No other water holes that I have seen in my scouting of the desert. Also going out deeper into the desert scouting the last 5 days I have seen very few lops. And I think that would be out of my unit.

[520backyard]

It seems archery road hunting is tried on antelope here in Idaho also. Had a herd of about 30 I was watching work their way straight towards my blind from about 500 yards out. They were about 120 yards away when a rig drives down the road the antelope looked at him and high tailed it. As they busted I stood up and gave him the finger. Not sure how and the hell anyone would think they are gonna drive up on an antelope herd and get close enough for a shot. Had another rig drive by as a group of lops were about 80 yards away. But I had a smaller buck 60 yards away first thing this morning. Had a doe fawn and another small buck about 50 yards away, the doe winded me and off they went. The blind location is in a good spot they come off that desert on the high ground and thats just were I put my blind and there is a pivot track that has a deep rut and holds water all the time about 30 yards away and those lops know where that water is. I guess I can put up with a few road hunters, they actually might even increase my odds. Those lops like 2 spots in that 160 acre field and I'm in one of them and I can't see the other spot but those road hunters make those lops bust into the desert and they then come to my spot some of the time. But I had pretty good action and you can see those lops out there with binos most of the day. They sure pop up quick it seems and you never see them running in from the desert, just out to it.

Its a long ass day when you slip into the blind and hour before daylight and leave at dark after about 14 hours. The wind and the sun beat the hell out of you and I feel like I was busting my ass all day, but it was planted mostly in a chair. The wind in the afternoon makes any long shot impossible and was blowing pretty good. I saw horse flies as big as a damn dog out there too. Well tomorrows another day out on the desert and I know those lops will be there, and so will I.

[HornHoarder]

Thanks for the update. Are you trophy hunting, or just trying to fill your tag?