Rollin out! OR Antelope! (story and pics added!)

[MuleySniper]

Won't be on for awhile after tomorrow night. Headed down to Oregon along with my dad for his antelope hunt. He's been applying for 13 years so hopefully he'll put a good one on the ground. Taking a video camera and will be taking lots of pics. I'll be bringing my Itouch along so hopefully I'll find some wi-fi somewhere to throw up an update or two but won't be counting on it!
MS

[Wea300mag]

We will be waiting for the updates sniper, it will be good to see more real hunting stories/pics.

[carpsniperg2]

sounds good! good luck to him! what unit did he draw? i know you said it but can't remember.

[MuleySniper]

He drew Beulah. Not the greatest lope unit in the state, but he did want to draw in a lifetime. Last year the success rate was in the high sixties. We have lots of good glass and will be definitely be making the best of it. There are some big boys in the unit, just like any other hunting its a matter of finding them. Either way, I'm ready for some hunting.
MS

[carpsniperg2]

yeah should still be a good hunt! r u guys hunting just public or private?

[MuleySniper]

The unit is majority public. We'll see, if were not seeing the numbers on public land, we might find ourselves bangin on some doors.
MS

[tmike]

Good luck, that was my second choice this year with 10 points. I hope you score a nice one!

[MuleySniper]

Just made it back today. Long journey. Logged over 1800 miles. Success though. Story and pics later to come!
MS

[rasbo]

awesome cant wait

[bucklucky]

Right on!!

[MuleySniper]

Man this was a tough hunt. Physically and mentally. My dad had thirteen points built up for antelope in OR. He was ready to cash in guaranteeing a draw but giving up on one of the other top OR antelope units. This hunt we went on was the Beulah unit. Let me start by saying this unit is not at all your typical antelope country. It was steep, rocky, brushy and did I mention STEEP! After previously talking with the local bio for the area and making notes of the areas he suggested, obviously that is where we started when we arrived two days before the season. We glassed and glassed until dark and were not seeing a thing. Deer, antelope, elk, nothing. He started to get that regretful feeling for choosing a lesser unit with that many points earned. All we could do is put up with the long days of getting up at 4 and getting back to camp at 10 in search of a shooter. You'd think hunting in August would be great... It is but has just as many downfalls as hunting in November. First off you really don't prepare yourself for the LONG days. Light at 6, dark at 9, that makes for a long day. Eventually we scrapped any info from the Bio and went out on our own. Ended up stumbling on the only flat lopey looking area we could find within a 30 mile radius of our camp. That night before the opener we glassed a nice buck who had 15 does with him. This was exciting, first to actually finally see some lopes, but also to find a shooter for the next morning. Seemed too easy. That opening morning we were up at 4 and up in our area by 5:30. 6 it was light enough to glass and I spotted the heard about a mile away. Time for the stalk. Eventually after an hour of stalking cautiously, we ended at the last juniper cover on the edge of the flats where they were. I ranged the buck at 450 yds. My dad shoots a .270 wtby mag and has ethically killed game at those distances in the past. Just after I ranged him, he decided it was a good time to bed down. After building a makeshift bench rest out of rocks and a backpack, he got comfy and ready for him to stand. 45 minutes later he stood. I told my dad whenever you are ready. I watched through my Swaros and thirty seconds later BOOM! I watched as he shot literally two inches over the buck. End of that stalk. They were gone like lightning. Now since this is getting long, Im going to speed things up a bit. Over the next two days, we only saw lopes in that exclusive area. Sunday night we managed a perfect stalk from another mile plus away. Three bucks but when finally we were fifty yards from them, my dad decided to hold off, they were not all that great. Fun stalk none the less. Monday morning we slept in until 5:30, got a late start, hunting hard the last three or four days in 100 degree weather was starting to take a toll on us. We weren't seeing the quality bucks we were hoping for and the one that got away was exactly that. So that morning we weren't expecting much heading into our "area". Put up the spotters and within 5 minutes he spotted the buck he eventually ended up taking. We made another great stalk from over a mile away up to a rocky outlook just behind them. Once he found a good rest he set up for the shot. BOOM! I heard the "smack" and then there were smiles. My dads killed bigger lopes and was hoping for that magical 17 incher, but I don't think we would have found him. It made for a great end to a hunt with lots of ups and downs with my dad, but more importantly good memories. My wife is gonna kill me if I don't get off this puter since I just got home so I'll put up more pics of the area and our camp later!
MS

[jackelope]

 

way to go boys...

[BLKBEARKLR]

Nice goat, congrats

Myself and Ranger have 10 tags this year for Wyoming, so getting to see these pictures is getting my excitement up.


Joe

[bucklucky]

Nice story , thanks for sharing!

[bowhunterforever]

Nice goat, congrats to your dad