Lassen Antelope Success!

[MattS]

Well i got my Antelope. I scouted hard and found the Antelope very scattered due to the amount of water in the area. There were springs everywhere, also they had a Helicopter round-up of the wild vermin horses, which scattered the Antelope even more.

Saturday my Dad shot one around 11 1/2 inches behind Shinn Ranch. Not a bad buck and the first one he saw. He was very pleased with it, it has a nice rack and is a pretty buck.

I passed up several smaller bucks and saw one monster, I simply could not get on in Painter's Flat. With all the road hunters the Antelope became very secluded and acted more like mule deer. I took to foot and began covering small flats on the topo map to find isolated animals. I covered 6 1/2 miles on foot Saturday but didn't see anything I wanted. Sunday afternoon payed off however. I was about a mile from the jeep trail, and ran into a nice buck. I shot once offhand at around 300 yards and missed. He headed for a flat and I ran around the bench and put my bipod down. He stopped in the flat at around 400 yards and I put a good shot on him.

He is just shy of 15" and has some small sticker points off the sides. We were laughing that he has small droppers like a mule deer, they add a little character. Here are some pictures. I guess I should have taken some before gutting him!

 

[Kentuck]

Nice. Congrats and enjoy eating that goat. Some of the best meat I've ever eaten.

 

[muskeg]

sweet !!!!!!!!

 

[rodngun]

Congratulations! Beautiful buck....and you earned him by hunting hard which makes it that much more enjoyable...Way to go....

 

[.257magman]

GREAT JOB

A little differant than deer hunting huh?
what you shooting?
I leave in a week from friday for Alturas I want to try with my bow 1st in the trees just off the Table...
I hope it gets cooler and cloudy for that will help me pull a sneak!(really because I let my self go and am outta shape

)
.257magman

 

[CalHunter]

Congrats!!

 

[Gutpile Jim]

Nice buck, Matt. Was that a 422 on the horns?

Bring some pics when you come back from your safari. Glad you and pops were successful.

Jim

 

[MattS]

422, real funny Jim! I will be sure to bring in a set of pictures.

.257magman, I was shooting my .300 win mag. I thought about taking my 243, but the longer ranges and wind made me decide on the larger bore. I was glad I had it, as my 243 isn't a long range round in my opinion (past 300 yards). The 180 grain bullet put him down fast, with little damage.

 

[bighog]

Great job MattS

Nice buck

I will be heading up for period 2 lassen. I read you post with much interest and would appreciate you answering a couple questions, as it would really help to hopefully make my hunt as successful as yours.

I take it Shinn ranch is private property?

Painters flat had many road hunters do you know if any were successful? I too have let myself go like .257magnum and your talk of a 6.5 mile hike really scares me. I can maybe do 3 miles tops and only if I can stop at burger king midway.

Would you recommend a bipod or will shooting sticks or backpack rest suffice?

I plan on shooting the first average buck I see, similiar to your father. Did you see bucks everyday and how hard was it to get within range?

I know you said you passed several smaller bucks, what would have been your closest shot had you decided to pull the trigger on them?

Any other areas you tried, but did not see bucks?

Lastly, How realistic an expectation is it to set up somewhere and let the lopes work themselves to me?

Thanks in advance for your time and hard earned knowledge.

 

[bighog]

sorry somehow posted twice..loser..lol

 

[84toyota]

BigHog - it has been a number of years since I was out near Shinn Ranch... but I believe it is private... BUT, it's only a few square miles of private ground... and the antelope are often off of the private in the surrounding BLM land... There are some HUGE antelope out there, but they are scattered in isolated ravines and valleys... But understand that these are not nice roads to be driving on... Many of those remote roads will destroy trucks... and are not easily road hunted... if you are looking for an easier hunt, near nicer roads, I'd look around the town of Madeline. And talk to the ranchers. Many of them will give you access if you talk nicely!

Ken

 

[.257magman]

I was only kinda kidding about my shape!
I plan on hIking and leaving my quad at home and indian pack out the stinky!
its not like your in the alps.....
I would think you could get any buck you have set sight on fairly easy ..I mean first avg buck you see from the road,
.257

 

[bighog]

Thanks guys for your help and suggestions. I will look into Madeline. I wish I could say I was kidding about my shape, but as you can see from the pic, I'm not built for speed and endurance like antelope, just good looks.

[attachment=32431:attachment]

I am not much of a trophy hunter. I really just want average horns and to try some of the meat. But if a monster walks out...oh well.

My partner and I have contacted some friends living in or near Susanville and they have promised us some much welcome help locating animals.

I really do not mind putting in some leg work and sweat, it makes the hunt just that much more successful, But I am nervous about not having the stamina to close the deal, hence all the questions.

Also nervous cause this may be my only chance to hunt lopes in CA. Anyway thanks to both of you for your help and MattS if your out there in cyberspace listening I would love to here from you as well.

 

[hntnnut]

Nice lope, congrats.


Richard

 

[MattS]

Hi Big Hog, sorry I didn't respond sooner. I have been salmon fishing quite a bit.

I sent you a PM a while back, it may not have gone through though.

Shinn Ranch is private, but like 84toyota said, it is a small patch as many of the parcels up there. I think keeping some of the land has to do with water rights as they center over springs.

I saw a lot of Antelope around the back side of Shinn Ranch. They like the small pasture and water at the ranch, but live in the hills surrounding it (all BLM). There is a road which connects Smoke Creek Road and Shinn Ranch Road, I saw an average of 5-10 buck goats a day, my dad's being the largest in that group (but probably not the only mature buck). Road hunting I saw 9-11" bucks around 70-200 yards which were more currious about me then anything. They were my last day bucks in case I didn't get anything good.

Painters flat had a lot road hunters but no one left their quad's or trucks! The Antelope averaged about 17 animals, with 3 nice bucks. They simply ran in circles around the flat to get away. You could easily walk into the flat and sit in the short sage (easy walk, all flat). Then wait for someone to drive the perimeter and push them to you. I have seen up to 40 animals in years past, but they cross back and forth between Nevada.

I like the bi-pod myself to get up above the grasses and sage that are everywhere. You can use a backpack most the time, but I have used a bi-pod for some time and like it. It extends so i can shoot sitting. My Dad got one before the hunt but didn't use it, and didn't like it. It makes the gun heavier, but I love always having a steady rest with me. I have seen some nice shooting sticks you can use as a walking stick. Do you need one, probably not. Do they help, yes.

The smaller bucks are easier to get onto, like anything age = experience. They settle down pretty quick, and the first few days of the hunt a lot of animals will be moving around do to the pressure. After the first weekend things quite down as most guys head home. If you travel around a lot I bet you can see a 100-200 yards shot. one fellow i talked to was walking around Smoke Creek and has a 14" buck walk to within 70 yards of him to see what he was. He passed it up looking for something bigger, but my Dad saw the buck after it finally spooked. A nice animal, and one I wouldn't have passed up.

I saw Antelope almost everywhere, but I had to cover around 70 miles a day on the quad to run into anything I would deem decent, but I did see many smaller bucks. Right place, right time sort of a deal. I saw more on foot, as it opened more country which I couldn't see from the road. There are several places you can stop, walk 100 yards and see a whole new valley. There are so many little dips and swailes the Antelope can hide in, where it looks completely flat.

I recommend a BLM map from the Eagle Lake post (behind Walmart in Susanville).

I do recommend at least 2 spare tires if using your truck to drive around. Easy to blow a side wall on the lava rocks. If using a truck DO NOT take Wagon tire spring road to painters flat, go through big spring. The former is rated as a jeep trail, and that is being generous. It is terrible, and was difficult even on the quad for large portions of it. Most the other roads were not bad for a typical 4x4, just go slow. My old toyota ate that country up, but my new GMC gets taken care of better. Not too many places I wouldn't have taken it, but a 5000 dollar quads does save the wear and tear on a 40,000 dollar truck.

Hunting X5A in years past, I have seen some nice goats around Grasshopper Flats off of Termo Road. Most of it is PLM, but there are some good sized BLM tracks in there as well. Also there are a lot of animals around Dodge Res., Smoke Creek Res, and along Smoke Creek itself in the flats. I aslo talked to a rancher running his cattle on the BLM. He said he has seen two nice heards on Shinn Ranch Road in between 395 and Shinn Ranch to the south. Expect to take some time, as the road is a slow drive but takes you through some nice country (if you like the desert). You might want to take a shot gun or .22 for a few cottontail as well.

I would cover ground looking for them (other than Painter's Flat). They do come down the the lakes to water, but they don't use trails too much, and can walk out from anywhere.

Don't worry, you will find animals and if you are not trophy hunting (17-18" bucks) I am betting you will get one. They will be starting to rut more when you are there. i saw several bucks trying to breed each other, so it is starting. The mature bucks will begin to cover ground looking for their does soon, and that is where you come in! Most bucks I saw were batchelor groups or single, with just a couple with does. I saw one nice buck several days on the road to Painter's flat from Big Spring. He was just south east of Observation Peak prior to crossing the private land (called the shearing corrals) on the map. He was a nice 12 1/2 -13" buck with nice symetry. Might be something to look for if he didn't get taken. I didn't see to many folks beside myself hunting that, so may be good. Also don't overlook the Juniper Hills, not all of them will be in the flats. Some of them act more like deer in that country. Don't rule out the hills and especially the flats surrounded by the small hills. Make sure you take pictures for us!

Good luck, and hope this helps. Matt

 

[jvle95]

Hey Big Hog,

If that area doesnt work out for you and you are looking for another spot , I have a spot. Last year I hunted Lassen Period 1 and I hunted the Pine Creek Valley area which is west of Susanville. The valley has roads on both sides that you can use for access for glassing and then set up your stock on foot. There is a creek that runs through the valley which was dry when I went but there was a nice large watering hole that the Antelope and cattle used. The valley looks flat but once you get out there on foot there are many little peaks and valleys that the lope hide in. They seemed to stick to there game trails and escape routes when I was there. There is a pic of my lope somewhere in this forum. If your interested and/or want more info let me know. Good luck and enjoy. This was a very fun hunt. You will have not problem finding the lope, the hard part is getting close for that shot!

 

[bighog]

MattS, I love you man.

You are so kind to give me all your hard earned info. If we have a chance to meet I owe you a brew and thick steak. I plan on printing out your response and taking it with me.

We will be up there scouting 2 days before the hunt starts on Sept 2nd. The second day is Sept 1st and one of the friends I spoke about in earlier posts said bring a shotgun because he knows a place where we can scout lopes then blast doves. Rabbits also sound like alot of fun.

If you ever get over on the central coast shoot me an email, call 411 or just look up my name in the phone book. I'm not hiding from anybody. I would love to shake your hand and tell you thanks personally.

I have a quad, but as it stands now, the plan is to drive up in my buddies excursion 4x4 and use it to get us around (so wear and tear is not an issue)

. I will make sure he knows about the spare tires.

I will also get the map you suggested.

From the way you describe it, it sounds as if locating lopes is not a huge problem if your not very picky about the rack. The info about the rut starting and the bucks moving is also very reassuring. You have given me so much more confidence.

I thank you again and I will take lots of pictures and let y'all know how it goes.

 

[bighog]

jvle95,
Thank you as well.

I will add pine creek valley to my list of possibles. I know I shouldnt count chickens , but I'm going to start clearing some wall space for my mount

jk

Oh yea, if you want to read a funny story about this last week at my work, go to the waterfowl forum.

 

[baboltin]

nice lopes.

 

[Huntr Pat]

Hey guys I have been reading all your lopes hunts. Its all good tips and looking for more. Not sure if it will be Likely table or lassen. I will most likely be with another person if I draw next year. I'm taking the time now to do all my research so when next april come I will be more confident on what area to hunt. I would prefer bow hunt even its during rifle/general season. I sure would like a much info as possible on both areas. Shooting with a rifle is challenging and I have taken my 1st antelope with a bow already. But open to suggestions if lassen would carry the bigger bucks then Likely tables. My 1st buck made P&Y and dont really care if this california buck is a booner but rather a great representation of a mature buck. If the horns is non typical thats even better. Thanks