Arrived Friday afternoon in the zone. Camped just south of the town of Likely. Went to see what was up on the Tables the evening before opener. Was dispointed to see a couple of hunters camping next to one of the few watering holes. Anyway, drove around the Tables and spotted a few nice bucks in the fifteen inch range. Couldn't get within a thousand yards in the truck. Back to camp with so much excitement that I didn't get much sleep that night.
Opening day arrives!!! Went out to the Tables only to find four quads running all over the Tables. That got the animals really nervous. I know there's other areas to hunt but I'm determined to stick with the Tables. By the way, I noticed that that herds I saw during scouting weeks early had broken up into small groups with only one dominent buck. The rut was on. I saw some very nice bucks the first day but not within shooting range.
Day two. Decided to sit on a 100ft cliff and watch the other hunters push the animals around and try to come up with a plan. While sitting there my buddy (no tag) and I spotted a nice 15in buck chasing two smaller bucks away from his does. Decided to try a stalk. They were 1500yds away. Put on my knee pads and when I got to within a 1000yds on my knees I went. The whole time my buddy was keeping me posted on the radio. I crawled to within about 500yds (boy was that hard with volcanic rock everywhere). I'm thinking this is it when all of a sudden a quad comes over the hill and spooks them. I think the antelope ran all the way to Nevada(LOL).
Day three. We decided to try the same thing on the cliff. No quads yet. We spotted what we think was the same buck still chasing those small bucks around. We noticed that they were working toward one of the only chutes that goes up the cliff. All right, ambush time! I set up in a spot under the only tree for miles (so it seems) and wait for them to come up the chute. A buck, nice buck! Only 100yds. Got him in my crosshairs, safety off, finger on the trigger. Wait, its not the big one. Let him pass. Still waiting for what seemed an eternity (five or ten minutes). Nothing. Got up and looked around and never did see that fifteen inch buck the rest of the hunt.
Day four. Things seem eerily quite on the Tables. Very few hunters and very few antelope. Decided to hunt the tree line at the very back of the Tables where the Warners come down. Walking through the trees a spotted a doe 200yds away laying in the shade. I figured where theres does theres a buck not far way. On go the knee pads and the stalk in on. Two does, three does, four does. I'm getting excited. One hundred fifty yards and I decide to wait there for fear of spooking them. Too late, I here a snort (just like a deer) and off into the Tables runs a herd of nineteen does and one 14in buck. They didn't stop until they were 1000yds away. DAMN! All 20 pairs of eyes looking my direction. They couldn't spot me and decided they had better take off. Oh well.
Day five. Same thing. Tree line. After walking about three hours, I came around a thick bunch of junipers and there stands a buck and two does. Only 100yds away. Hes only about 11 or 12ins, but had perfect curls up top and cutters above his ears. I decide to take him and down on my ass I go. I don't have a clear shot because of all the junipers and the antelope know somethings there. I scoot out in the open on my knees and they spot me. They only run 100yds because they can't figure what the heck I am. He turns broad side. Crosshairs behind his shoulder, safety off, and just as I'm squeezing the trigger, he moves. Down he goes but still has his head up. After a couple of minutes he gets up and I notice that the bullet went in his left gut and out his right hind quarter. His leg was all busted up. He only went two steps and down he goes again, never to get up again. Had to walk up on him and finish him with my .357.
He was about 110lbs and his horns measured to just over 12in and his cutters measure to just over 3in. He must have been an old fart because he only had one tooth. So thats all DFGs gonna get.
Even though he's not a "trophy", he's a trophy to me and one of the best adventures I have ever been on.
Hope you guys enjoyed my adventure with me.
Opening day arrives!!! Went out to the Tables only to find four quads running all over the Tables. That got the animals really nervous. I know there's other areas to hunt but I'm determined to stick with the Tables. By the way, I noticed that that herds I saw during scouting weeks early had broken up into small groups with only one dominent buck. The rut was on. I saw some very nice bucks the first day but not within shooting range.
Day two. Decided to sit on a 100ft cliff and watch the other hunters push the animals around and try to come up with a plan. While sitting there my buddy (no tag) and I spotted a nice 15in buck chasing two smaller bucks away from his does. Decided to try a stalk. They were 1500yds away. Put on my knee pads and when I got to within a 1000yds on my knees I went. The whole time my buddy was keeping me posted on the radio. I crawled to within about 500yds (boy was that hard with volcanic rock everywhere). I'm thinking this is it when all of a sudden a quad comes over the hill and spooks them. I think the antelope ran all the way to Nevada(LOL).
Day three. We decided to try the same thing on the cliff. No quads yet. We spotted what we think was the same buck still chasing those small bucks around. We noticed that they were working toward one of the only chutes that goes up the cliff. All right, ambush time! I set up in a spot under the only tree for miles (so it seems) and wait for them to come up the chute. A buck, nice buck! Only 100yds. Got him in my crosshairs, safety off, finger on the trigger. Wait, its not the big one. Let him pass. Still waiting for what seemed an eternity (five or ten minutes). Nothing. Got up and looked around and never did see that fifteen inch buck the rest of the hunt.
Day four. Things seem eerily quite on the Tables. Very few hunters and very few antelope. Decided to hunt the tree line at the very back of the Tables where the Warners come down. Walking through the trees a spotted a doe 200yds away laying in the shade. I figured where theres does theres a buck not far way. On go the knee pads and the stalk in on. Two does, three does, four does. I'm getting excited. One hundred fifty yards and I decide to wait there for fear of spooking them. Too late, I here a snort (just like a deer) and off into the Tables runs a herd of nineteen does and one 14in buck. They didn't stop until they were 1000yds away. DAMN! All 20 pairs of eyes looking my direction. They couldn't spot me and decided they had better take off. Oh well.
Day five. Same thing. Tree line. After walking about three hours, I came around a thick bunch of junipers and there stands a buck and two does. Only 100yds away. Hes only about 11 or 12ins, but had perfect curls up top and cutters above his ears. I decide to take him and down on my ass I go. I don't have a clear shot because of all the junipers and the antelope know somethings there. I scoot out in the open on my knees and they spot me. They only run 100yds because they can't figure what the heck I am. He turns broad side. Crosshairs behind his shoulder, safety off, and just as I'm squeezing the trigger, he moves. Down he goes but still has his head up. After a couple of minutes he gets up and I notice that the bullet went in his left gut and out his right hind quarter. His leg was all busted up. He only went two steps and down he goes again, never to get up again. Had to walk up on him and finish him with my .357.
He was about 110lbs and his horns measured to just over 12in and his cutters measure to just over 3in. He must have been an old fart because he only had one tooth. So thats all DFGs gonna get.
Even though he's not a "trophy", he's a trophy to me and one of the best adventures I have ever been on.
Hope you guys enjoyed my adventure with me.
