Wyoming Sage Rat Hunt

[cohoho]

Well myself and Ray made it back alittle bit ago.  Great hunt and huge amounts of fun chasing those buggers around.  We arrived in the general area of where we wanted to hunt the next day at about 1630hrs. Pulled into the property we had permission to hunt to see what it was all about and BINGO, Sage Rats right in front of us.  I got out unpacked the rifle, dug down for my rounds and put on the orange vest.  Walked up the side of a dirt road about 100 yards, got to the fence as about fifteen Pronghorns were grazing just 150-175 yards out past us to the left.  Oh-no, busted by a little buck, so I dropped down out of sight and moved to an intersection of the cow fencing.  Peaked up, there they were, just mingling around, not nervous- nothing.  Took a couple moments, three bucks in the group, found what appeared to be the biggest, took a steady rest and bam, Pronghorn Down.  All this in less than 7 minutes...  On the very first day... Tagged it, took some pictures and butchered it up, we were heading to see where the rest of our hunting areas were by 1730hrs....  Next day we traveled around looking for an animal for Ray on public property.  Not much going on in regards to shooters in that area, but numerous ones off on distance private lands.  Anyhow on the way back to check another area, Ray spots a buck up on a hillside laying down taking it easy, thinking he was safe as it gets.  I stop, Ray gets his stuff ready - "Longbow" and heads up the hill about 100 yards while I waited below.  Literally five minutes later, Ray shot one at about ten yards.  I'll let him tell his story but a way too freaking funny noise coming from the Goat as it came in front of me, aaaaagggghhhh, aaaaaagggghhhh, about plowing into my truck head first...    Took some pictures, butchered it up and  back to the truck for another one.  Back over to the lands I had permission to hunt, a bunch way off in the distance so off we go, we head out about a mile from the truck.  Get up on a ridge, they were out at about 450yards.  Couldn't get comfy right there so I move out another 50 yards, while Ray decided to play with a small rattler....  And me I decided to see how sharp cactus's really were.  Anyhow a doe finally separated from the group, I am prone and steady as it could possibly get, squeeze the trigger, down she goes.  Hike out and pace it off at about 375 yards.  A couple more pictures, another butchering session, put everything into my pack and head back to the truck, whew, time for dinner....  Third morning we head to see about getting Ray a second one, again right off the bat, we spot one he puts on a small stalk, 200 yard shot our fourth is down.  Repeat butchering process and back to where I decided I'd get another doe tag for some more meat.  Head over to again the place I had permission.  Spot some way off in the distance and decide to go ahead and head out after them.  Twenty minutes later I am on a ridge looking out at the Antelope grazing along, somehow they alerted on me, thinking I was busted I slowly inched forward to  a better shooting spot.  They stopped, again another long shot, but I felt very comfortable and steady as I could get in the prone.  Pull the trigger, my third goat down and our fifth.  Another butchering job and a pack to the truck.  It was at this point we decided that we probably didn't need any more meat.  If you ever get the opportunity to hunt Speed Goats do it...  We literally had a blast.  They have such unbelievable eye sight and are extremely weary of any and every thing within a 1000yards.   I will be back next year... We estimated we saw 450-500 speed goats over the course of our travels, 400 deer, and 50 or so Turkeys.  Awesome trip...  And extremely reasonable priced.  DYI the only way to go...  A big thanks to someone on this site that gave me some great information on areas...

[Hornseeker]

Sweet...thanks for the great account of your trip!

[tmike]

That's Awesome! Sounds like a fun trip. A long bow speed goat what a trophy!

[DOUBLELUNG]

Looks like a great time was had!  Congrats!

[nw_bowhunter]

Very cool..congrats guys. Sounds like it was a lot of fun.

[hogsniper]

Congrats on the great hunt!  You guys knocked the crap out of em and filled the truck!!!   Someday ill have to do that!!!

[carpsniperg2]

congrats

[EastWaViking]

Looks like you guys are hooked!  Congrats on the hunt!!!

[BLKBEARKLR]

Holy crap, congrats and I hoped you saved some for me for next year.

[klikboom]

That is ridiculous! Sounds like a lot of fun.

[buckhorn2]

You guys sure made that trip into a great one it sure makes it nice when a plan comes together it makes you want next year to get here sooner.

[Ray]

pics. more to come later...

[Ray]

..

[Ray]

youtube -major loss of video quality..

[EastWaViking]

Ray, that's how hoof and mouth disease gets started.