Wyoming Antelope

[hunting4sanity]

We went 3 for 4 on Wyoming antelope this year - I was the one who didn't get one.  We started off with the tags my sons had drawn.  Spencer won the coin toss and was first up, after a couple of warm up stalks we spotted a group of antelope, but some other hunters were already watching them, so we hung back and watched.  After they tried a very long shot with hard cross winds they just drove away (they did at least get out of the truck for the shot).  The antelope moved further up the basin and went back to feeding, so we came up with a different plan - get out and walk!  The antelope moved on us a couple of times, but after changing the plan Spencer got across and above them less than 200 yards away.  Spencer filled his first ever antelope tag, plus got his first animal with his 6.5 Creedmore that he "had to have" for antelope.

After a few more long stalks, some of which we blew and others that ended in smaller or broken horned antelope, we spotted two prospective bucks.  With not much daylight left I doubted we could get close enough, then both bucks fed down into a small draw and we just went straight at them.  Luckily they stayed in that small draw and we were able to get right on top of them.  I stayed back a little not wanting to blow their stalk, the boys got to about 230 yards.  Derrick picked the one he liked the most and had his first ever antelope.

My brother, Rob, bought a leftover tag for a unit about three hours from where my sons hunted.  The boys headed home and we met Rob on the freeway.  The unit he was hunting still had leftover tags so I bought my very first antelope tag.  Our first day and first time ever having seen this unit we headed down a road into some public ground we found on the map and found a group of antelope headed right at us, after a short stalk and a 160 yard shot Rob got his first antelope.

I mistakenly thought 'this is going to be easy.'  After lots of glassing, lots of hiking and checking other public pockets we hadn't even seen another antelope buck on public ground.  Time was running out, but we decided to try one last area.  Light was fading fast when we spotted 3 does and a good buck, unfortunately we had also been spotted and they were moving out fast.   After a painful climb over a couple of knobs and ridges we spotted the does and then the buck - just under 400 yards and broadside.  Could this be like the TV shows, last light of the last day and things come together?  I settled the crosshairs and started to pull the trigger and the buck spun straight away from me, paused just a second and then disappeared over the ridge.  I hurried over that ridge as fast as I could (some would say at glacial speed) but never saw the buck again.  On the walk out in the dark I went over that scenario a thousand times; why wasn't I faster on the trigger? why didn't I get in better shape? should I have tried the ol' Texas heart shot?  As we drove away in the dark I was frustrated beyond words, but at the same time what a great hunt it had been being with my sons and brother when they got their first antelope.

I'll throw on a couple of pictures of the scenery we enjoyed on our hunt.  Per my GPS this Grandpa logged just under 24 miles out there, not much for some guys, but for me that's a fair bit o walkin'.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Nice!

[denali]

Well done

[steeleywhopper]

Sounds like a great hunt! I can't wait to get back there next year and do it myself.

[DaveBTS]

Nice goats. It's very addicting. I can't wait until next year.

[Ridgerunner]

Antelope hunting is a blast looks like fun times had by all.

[JohnVH]

nice animals! We have not gotten drawn in the last two years, cant wait to go back for more tasty lopers!

[hunting4sanity]

nice animals! We have not gotten drawn in the last two years, cant wait to go back for more tasty lopers!

I heard so many contradicting opinions on how they taste, but so far the roast and steaks we've had have been excellent tasting.

[Bob33]

Congratulations. Wonderful story and photos.

As for pronghorn meat: I have eaten meat from 62 different animals and have yet to have a bad experience. I have no idea what people do to make them taste bad.

[JohnVH]

Im pretty sure what makes or breaks the meat tasting good, is the prep.  After we kill em we gut and skin them. Let them air out and cool down, common sense.

[runningboard]

maybe gutshooting from 600 yards then chasing em all over the county, then putting them on the hood and driving around for 2 days 
congrats to the OP and his family, looks like you had a great time. I'm still in Wyoming on a leftover deer tag, weather has been uncooperative in our area but we still at it.

[carpsniperg2]

Still some great goats!

[cohoho]

Great job, do love the speed goat hunts for sure.....  In regards to taste, awesome is my response...  Treat them like Salmon, get them cooled and de-boned quickly and on ice, they are fabulous for sure.....  I like them - well better than darn near anything else.... Well ok, elk wins hand down, but they are a close 2nd for sure...

[Idahocougar]

Congrats  Welcome to your latest addiction. I went antelope hunting for the 1st time 11 years ago and have been every year since except for 1 year. Its a blast! And the meat is great if properly cared for.