I just read NASCARMAN's post and just knew that I had to tell my tale.... Here goes.
I was selected as the 4th alternate to hunt period 2 Likely Tables. I then was notified that I made it. Problem was that Modoc county is a 9 hour drive up 395 for me. This would have made scouting very difficult. That is when I found this forum which has proved very helpful. Anyway, I read up on antelope, watched a bunch of Eastman videos, and talked to people who have hunted them. I thought I had it in the bag.
Friday - Woke up at 3:00 am and began my long drive to the tables. Stopped by X-9A at daybreak to scout my spot. Saw a nice 2X2 and 2X3 running together. I could have nailed em with my binoculars. Wishin I had an archery tag... Helped an archer drag his deer to his truck. Small forky. Continued my drive to Modoc county. When I arrived, I talked to some locals and picked up a map. There was no concensus on where exactly the Likely Tables were. Got 3 different answers. Not to worry, I was hunting the Rocky Prarie. Drove there in under an hour. Spent 3 hours lost and trying to find my way to some campground. I gave up and camped on the only 10 square feet within miles without a lava rock. I guess that is why they call it the Rocky Prarie. Scoped some nice herds that day. I would be sharing the valley with 2 other hunters. Turned in early.
Saturday (opening day) - Rode my motorcycle down the trail till I got to the prarie. Within minutes I spotted a herd of 7. No buck. Continued on foot. The miles were harsh. Every step was closely watched as there were so many rocks. Came to the conclusion that 1 Modoc mile = 3 regular miles. At 9:00 am I spotted a nice buck only 200 yards away and unaware of my presence, nice height and diggers above the ear. "Do I shoot?" Other hunters told me that I should scope out the scene first and not shoot the first buck I saw. Kinda like the old "never swing on a 3 and 0 count" in baseball. I passed, but I set up an intercept course anyways. On my way to where I thought he would appear I spotted a herd of 12 moving in the opposite direction only 100 yards from me! They were unaware (or unconcerned) of my presence too. Ohhhh, this was gonna be easy. There were 2 bucks in this herd. One small, the other about 14 inches but diggers not as nice as the very first one. I sat and watched as they ambled to the far south part of that section. I spent the rest of the morning scoping from afar with no pressing need to stalk. At noon I went and ate lunch. After lunch, I took a drive up to Big Sage reservoir. Not too impressed. Lots of land and I only saw one herd with an average buck. That evening I hunted a high bluff above some alfalfa fields (on a tip from a hunter). Didn't see a thing after walking for 3 miles. (Keep in mind that them's Modoc miles). That night, the other hunters drove out with my nice buck. 16+ inches and only a half inch of air between the tips. Note to self: Swing away on a 3-0 pitch if it is the Mac Daddy of all strikes!
Day 2 - Today I stalk and kill. Should be out of here by noon. Found the big herd. Put on the elbow and knee pads and began to crawl to the shallow ridge. Full camo. "What a pain in the ass these rocks are, not big enough to hide behind, but big enough to get in the way". When I finally got to the ridge, the antelope had other plans and slowly relocated way out of range. I'm sweaty and it ain't even 9 am. I pursued. 2 miles later I ran into them, but they were on private land. I waited, and waited. Then they vanished altogether. I later saw a dog or coyote running around in the fields. Damn coyote. Note to self: Shoot more coyotes. Rest of the day was uneventful except when I ran straight into the herd on my way back, no chance.
Day three (last day): Repeat day two, but crawl faster. I found the herd in roughly the same spot only closer. I went full camo (mask + glove - orange hat). Range was only 350 yards. Only problem was that they were just on the other side of that ridge, and to shoot them I would have to be standing up with no good surface to rest my gun. I'm a good shot, but not that good. I decided to make my way to higher ground only yard away. Mistake. The second I came into the sunlight they spotted me, even though I was behind some trees and moving like a DMV employee! They were gone in an instant. DAMN. Note to self - Those Eastman videos made this look way too easy.
It was early, and I had a backup plan that didn't include walking for miles... (My feet had blisters on my blisters) The herds moved through a narrow piece of land between a small forest and the Graven Reservoir. On the previous days this is where I saw them pass a bunch of times. I would ambush them there. When I arrived there the herd was already at the reservoir. They would come soon, so I set up and waited. They vanished.
Todays antelope movements were to be different. They did not move past my spot in the 7 hours that I waited. A couple of times I walked around in the cover of the forest and saw them off in the distance. I even had a 500 yard shot on the Buck at one time. I passed fearing that I couldn't be sure of a clean kill. There was just enough wind to keep me confident below about 400 yards.
There was still time, but now I feared that I may be one of the 16% of unsuccessful hunters in this zone. That fear became fact when darkness fell.
No wait, it ain't over. I think I feel a bit ill (with buck fever). Called in sick. Wife is pissed.
Day four - The rocky prarie antelope have scouted me enough. They win. I would try the Tables (or what I thought were the tables). Drove in after a nice stay in a hotel. No lava rocks in the back or dust in the coffee. Refreshed. I only have until noon until I had to begin the long trail home.
Drove through a bunch of fences. Cross-checked my GPS coordinates. Yup, dead center of BLM land. Still, a lot of fences. (Note to self - Tell Modocer that he is wrong about all fenced land being private.) Set out on foot after spotting a Buck cross over a ridge. Spotted him down in the valley about 1/2 mile away. No way I was gonna crawl. I wrote that one off and proceeded into the valley. I walked for several miles and spotted several antelope far away. Do I go for the Hail Mary? Loft rounds like mortar shells? Nah. Tried getting closer, but luck was against me and they always went the other way. It was 11:00am. Game is up. Gotta make it back to the truck or the wife would have the divorce papers waiting. (Hmmm, if I could just hunt this area one more day...) Nah, I gotta go mule deer hunting in a couple of weeks. I don't need to lose any points now. I'll wait till then.
Just as I cleared a bunch of trees about a mile from the truck some movement caught my attention. 200 yards to my right there was an antelope paralleling my course. I was starin at it, and it was a starin at me. It was good ol mexican showdown. It moved first. I unslung my gun, dropped the bipods and went prone. I couldn't see him! Oh yeah, lens covers. Still at 200 yards as he was moving diagonal to my position, I brough him into my sights. My thought process: "Estimated 250 yards 3 in drop (.270), its a small buck. Do I take him? Horns above the ears? Yes, barely. It's just a youngin. Do I take him? 300 yards, 6.8 inch drop. I just spent 100s of dollars and I have blisters all over my @#$%^ feet... Sorry, it just ain't your day Junior. Two body lengths lead, just below the nose, squeeze." BOOM. pause. THA WAAP. He's hit and running like he has blisters all over HIS feet. 40 yards later, down he goes in a garden of lava rocks.
Well, that was exhilerating. Now how the hell am I gonna skin and quarter this thing before noon? Note to self - Buy the wife some flowers.
After I pulled the pacifier out of its mouth, I field dressed him and dragged him to the road. I had him cut up and in the cooler by 1 pm. I was home by 1000 pm, and that was after I re-scouted X9A again. Hehe. Saw a small forky!
I have to say that that was the hardest hunting I have ever done. I could have shot one of those nice ones on day one. Maybe I should have, but then I don't think I would have experienced a true antelope hunt. Hindsight is 20/20.
By the way, (maybe because of its youth), that antelope is the tenderest, best tasting meat I have ever brought home in my cooler, and I haven't even broken into the tenderloin. Tastes like Veal!
Keep putting in for those tags. It is worth it. By the way, there is a nice buck running around the Rocky Prarie (tell him I said "hey" and according to NASCARMAN, there is at least one in the Tables (wherever the hell they are).
I was selected as the 4th alternate to hunt period 2 Likely Tables. I then was notified that I made it. Problem was that Modoc county is a 9 hour drive up 395 for me. This would have made scouting very difficult. That is when I found this forum which has proved very helpful. Anyway, I read up on antelope, watched a bunch of Eastman videos, and talked to people who have hunted them. I thought I had it in the bag.
Friday - Woke up at 3:00 am and began my long drive to the tables. Stopped by X-9A at daybreak to scout my spot. Saw a nice 2X2 and 2X3 running together. I could have nailed em with my binoculars. Wishin I had an archery tag... Helped an archer drag his deer to his truck. Small forky. Continued my drive to Modoc county. When I arrived, I talked to some locals and picked up a map. There was no concensus on where exactly the Likely Tables were. Got 3 different answers. Not to worry, I was hunting the Rocky Prarie. Drove there in under an hour. Spent 3 hours lost and trying to find my way to some campground. I gave up and camped on the only 10 square feet within miles without a lava rock. I guess that is why they call it the Rocky Prarie. Scoped some nice herds that day. I would be sharing the valley with 2 other hunters. Turned in early.
Saturday (opening day) - Rode my motorcycle down the trail till I got to the prarie. Within minutes I spotted a herd of 7. No buck. Continued on foot. The miles were harsh. Every step was closely watched as there were so many rocks. Came to the conclusion that 1 Modoc mile = 3 regular miles. At 9:00 am I spotted a nice buck only 200 yards away and unaware of my presence, nice height and diggers above the ear. "Do I shoot?" Other hunters told me that I should scope out the scene first and not shoot the first buck I saw. Kinda like the old "never swing on a 3 and 0 count" in baseball. I passed, but I set up an intercept course anyways. On my way to where I thought he would appear I spotted a herd of 12 moving in the opposite direction only 100 yards from me! They were unaware (or unconcerned) of my presence too. Ohhhh, this was gonna be easy. There were 2 bucks in this herd. One small, the other about 14 inches but diggers not as nice as the very first one. I sat and watched as they ambled to the far south part of that section. I spent the rest of the morning scoping from afar with no pressing need to stalk. At noon I went and ate lunch. After lunch, I took a drive up to Big Sage reservoir. Not too impressed. Lots of land and I only saw one herd with an average buck. That evening I hunted a high bluff above some alfalfa fields (on a tip from a hunter). Didn't see a thing after walking for 3 miles. (Keep in mind that them's Modoc miles). That night, the other hunters drove out with my nice buck. 16+ inches and only a half inch of air between the tips. Note to self: Swing away on a 3-0 pitch if it is the Mac Daddy of all strikes!
Day 2 - Today I stalk and kill. Should be out of here by noon. Found the big herd. Put on the elbow and knee pads and began to crawl to the shallow ridge. Full camo. "What a pain in the ass these rocks are, not big enough to hide behind, but big enough to get in the way". When I finally got to the ridge, the antelope had other plans and slowly relocated way out of range. I'm sweaty and it ain't even 9 am. I pursued. 2 miles later I ran into them, but they were on private land. I waited, and waited. Then they vanished altogether. I later saw a dog or coyote running around in the fields. Damn coyote. Note to self: Shoot more coyotes. Rest of the day was uneventful except when I ran straight into the herd on my way back, no chance.
Day three (last day): Repeat day two, but crawl faster. I found the herd in roughly the same spot only closer. I went full camo (mask + glove - orange hat). Range was only 350 yards. Only problem was that they were just on the other side of that ridge, and to shoot them I would have to be standing up with no good surface to rest my gun. I'm a good shot, but not that good. I decided to make my way to higher ground only yard away. Mistake. The second I came into the sunlight they spotted me, even though I was behind some trees and moving like a DMV employee! They were gone in an instant. DAMN. Note to self - Those Eastman videos made this look way too easy.
It was early, and I had a backup plan that didn't include walking for miles... (My feet had blisters on my blisters) The herds moved through a narrow piece of land between a small forest and the Graven Reservoir. On the previous days this is where I saw them pass a bunch of times. I would ambush them there. When I arrived there the herd was already at the reservoir. They would come soon, so I set up and waited. They vanished.
Todays antelope movements were to be different. They did not move past my spot in the 7 hours that I waited. A couple of times I walked around in the cover of the forest and saw them off in the distance. I even had a 500 yard shot on the Buck at one time. I passed fearing that I couldn't be sure of a clean kill. There was just enough wind to keep me confident below about 400 yards.
There was still time, but now I feared that I may be one of the 16% of unsuccessful hunters in this zone. That fear became fact when darkness fell.
No wait, it ain't over. I think I feel a bit ill (with buck fever). Called in sick. Wife is pissed.
Day four - The rocky prarie antelope have scouted me enough. They win. I would try the Tables (or what I thought were the tables). Drove in after a nice stay in a hotel. No lava rocks in the back or dust in the coffee. Refreshed. I only have until noon until I had to begin the long trail home.
Drove through a bunch of fences. Cross-checked my GPS coordinates. Yup, dead center of BLM land. Still, a lot of fences. (Note to self - Tell Modocer that he is wrong about all fenced land being private.) Set out on foot after spotting a Buck cross over a ridge. Spotted him down in the valley about 1/2 mile away. No way I was gonna crawl. I wrote that one off and proceeded into the valley. I walked for several miles and spotted several antelope far away. Do I go for the Hail Mary? Loft rounds like mortar shells? Nah. Tried getting closer, but luck was against me and they always went the other way. It was 11:00am. Game is up. Gotta make it back to the truck or the wife would have the divorce papers waiting. (Hmmm, if I could just hunt this area one more day...) Nah, I gotta go mule deer hunting in a couple of weeks. I don't need to lose any points now. I'll wait till then.
Just as I cleared a bunch of trees about a mile from the truck some movement caught my attention. 200 yards to my right there was an antelope paralleling my course. I was starin at it, and it was a starin at me. It was good ol mexican showdown. It moved first. I unslung my gun, dropped the bipods and went prone. I couldn't see him! Oh yeah, lens covers. Still at 200 yards as he was moving diagonal to my position, I brough him into my sights. My thought process: "Estimated 250 yards 3 in drop (.270), its a small buck. Do I take him? Horns above the ears? Yes, barely. It's just a youngin. Do I take him? 300 yards, 6.8 inch drop. I just spent 100s of dollars and I have blisters all over my @#$%^ feet... Sorry, it just ain't your day Junior. Two body lengths lead, just below the nose, squeeze." BOOM. pause. THA WAAP. He's hit and running like he has blisters all over HIS feet. 40 yards later, down he goes in a garden of lava rocks.
Well, that was exhilerating. Now how the hell am I gonna skin and quarter this thing before noon? Note to self - Buy the wife some flowers.
After I pulled the pacifier out of its mouth, I field dressed him and dragged him to the road. I had him cut up and in the cooler by 1 pm. I was home by 1000 pm, and that was after I re-scouted X9A again. Hehe. Saw a small forky!
I have to say that that was the hardest hunting I have ever done. I could have shot one of those nice ones on day one. Maybe I should have, but then I don't think I would have experienced a true antelope hunt. Hindsight is 20/20.
By the way, (maybe because of its youth), that antelope is the tenderest, best tasting meat I have ever brought home in my cooler, and I haven't even broken into the tenderloin. Tastes like Veal!
Keep putting in for those tags. It is worth it. By the way, there is a nice buck running around the Rocky Prarie (tell him I said "hey" and according to NASCARMAN, there is at least one in the Tables (wherever the hell they are).
