Well, I posted earlier asking about advice on hunting Antelope in Eastern Montana. I am back to share my success. I drove with my dad and grandfather over to Billings. I got a DIY map from Dale which was very helpful. His knowledge and advice helped immensely. The next day we headed to some BMA land near Forsyth and started looking for antelope. I had a doe tag and half expected it to be an easy hunt. Well I was wrong about that. I saw at least 10 coyotes before noon, some brave ones that came within 15yards of me. I didn't want fur though, I wanted meat. It was opening day for rifle and I saw quite a bit of other hunters. We had one whole day to hunt and then the following morning if needed.
The first herd I spotted around 10:00 a.m. down in a canyon over a mile away. I started hiking in to see if I could get close enough for a shot. I got within 460 yards when another hunter spooked the herd. They left quickly and my stalk was a bust. We drove around to some other areas, did a lot of hiking and glassing. Saw one nice buck all alone less than 200 yards away but I didn't have an either sex tag.
Around 4:00 p.m. we returned to the canyon where we saw the herd earlier. They were back out grazing but at least 2 miles away in a very open area without much cover to sneak up. We watched them from up on a cliff for a while until I decided, what does it hurt to try and sneak in on them. There was still plenty of daylight. I stayed up on the ridge and walked past where they were located before dropping down the steep canyon to try and get close. I walked slowly through a couple-hundred-yard long gully. Once I got to the edge and I spotted the antelope, they had moved further away and were over 1,000 yards away. They hadn't seen me though. I backtracked through the gully to a shaded shrub filled area to try and sneak ahead of them. I army crawled behind a knoll and ranged them in at 500 yards. I din't want to take that shot. The herd luckily continued behind another knoll that was closer to them and would hide me during my approach. I crawled to the next little hill and was poked by many a cactus. As I crested the hill while on my belly, I ranged a nice doe at 375 yards. I set up my tripod carefully and took the shot. The herd ran, but she quickly laid down. I gave her one more shot to seal the deal.
My grandpa and dad (neither are big hunters) were able to watch the whole thing with binoculars from the rim of the canyon 2 miles away. The stalk took 2 hours and I could tell they were as excited as I was when they met up with me at the doe. We took a few pictures before breaking her down and packing her out to the truck. Back to the truck by 8:00 pm and back to Billings by 10:00 pm. First day antelope hunting and we got it done.
