BradCa
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2002
- Messages
- 349
- Reaction score
- 3
http://www.hometown.aol.com/bradatspf/myho...page/index.html
Hi everyone!
I've been wanting to post the story of my antelope hunt for a couple of weeks, but I had lots of problems with posting the picture and then I had to have surgery on my knee. With that behind me, I'd love to tell you how it all worked out. I'm still a little loopy from the painkillers for my knee, so bare with me.
As many of you know, about a week before opening day of period 2 antelope season for Zone 3 (Likely Tables), I tore the cartilage in my right knee. My doctor informed me that it would require surgery to repair, but I decided to tough it out and have the surgery after I got back from hunting. After all, it took me twelve years to draw this tag so there was no way I was going to miss out now. I was pretty discouraged as I tried to figure out how I was going to be able to hunt in that rocky terrain while hobling around on crutches. Fortunately for me, my two new friends, Reed and Julie Gardner invited me to hunt on their ranch near Davis Creek. The Gardner's hospitality, generosity, and hard work turned what was shaping up to be a miserable hunting trip into a wonderful experience that I will remember fondly for the rest of my life.
By the time I arrived for my hunt, I no longer needed crutches to get around and just walked with a limp. The day before the season opened Reed and I scouted their 5,400 acre ranch and found several antelope bucks that I would have been happy with. It was a thrill to be hunting at the peak of the rut and I was amazed at the show that the bucks put on as they postured themselves as king of their harems. Several times we witnessed smaller bucks being driven off by dominant bucks who had zero tolerance for the lesser bucks presence. Although I would have been happy with any of the bucks that we saw, Reed knew that there had been one buck on the ranch that stood out above the rest. As we continued to search for him into the day, our hard work finally paid off. We found him with a group of about eight does towards the south end of the ranch and decided to try for him the next day.
At 6 am the following morning we met at Reed's place and began looking for our buck. We soon found him pinning his does against a fence. As does would try to move away, he would herd them back to the bunch. He was completely dominating and they were not allowed to move until he allowed them to. Soon the herd was on the move, running to the south east corner of the ranch. At one point, the buck saw four does about a thousand yards off, left his does, and herded these four back to his herd which now totalled thirteen, including the buck. When they finally stopped, we saw our opportunity. We circled around the antelope and used the trees of the Warner Mountains to close the distance. By sneeking through the trees, we were able to get completely around and on top of the antelope without being detected. As we came to the edge of the trees, we found the antelope bedded down about 336 yards ahead of us. Although I had been practicing with my 30-06 about every other day for the last month, I still wanted to get a little closer. Directly between us and the goats was a juniper tree about thirty yards ahead. I walked slowly and quitely to the juniper and then sat down and took off my jacket and pack. By lying on my back, I was able to lay my rifle across my legs and using my elbows and feet, gradually creep closer. At about 285 yards the buck jumped up and I thought they had seen me. He just walked around though, and then went back and layed down again (whew!). I continued to creep forward inch by inch and after a while I was lying in a spring about 264 yards away from my buck. For whatever reason, he decided it was time to leave so he got up and walked to each doe, nudged her to get up, and then went to the next one. When he had them all up, they gradually began to move away. I knew that it was now or never, so I eased into a sitting position, aimed, and squezed the trigger.
I knew immediately that the buck was hit. He whirled around and ran off only able to use three legs. I didn't know it at the time, but the bullet had struck a little too low in the front leg, breaking the leg, but not fataly wounding the animal. At 400 yards away the buck stopped (it only took him a couple of seconds to run this far on three legs). He still didn't know where I was and was standing broadside to me looking the other direction. I couldn't figure out why he hadn't gone down, but I knew he should have by now, so I aimed again and fired. This time the bullet center punched the bucks lungs and he went down. If you heard some hooting and hollering on September 7th, it was me!
I guess my only regret about the entire trip was that I didn't make that first shot count. Buck feaver I guess. Wouldn't you be excited if you were looking through your scope at your first antelope?
For those of you, like me, who like such info., I was shooting a Browning A-Bolt Gold Medallion in 30-06 with a Leupold 3X9 scope. I shoot 150 grain Federal Premium Nosler Ballistic Tips. For those who say a 30-06 isn't any good at long distances, I've got a great 14" antelope who was bullseyed at 400 yards who will disagree with you. In reality, like a wise man I recently met told me, it's not the gun that matters; it's the man behind the gun that matters. I think my first and second shots prove that out.
I can't thank enough the entire Gardner family for all of your hard work and effort over the last month. It really allowed me to have the hunt of a lifetime and I hope to have a chance to repay your kindness some day.
Thanks also to everone at JHP who have helped me over the last two months to prepare for such a neat hunt. Special thanks to Modocer, Ranchwife, and Kentuck. I couldn't have done it without you.
Brad
Hi everyone!
I've been wanting to post the story of my antelope hunt for a couple of weeks, but I had lots of problems with posting the picture and then I had to have surgery on my knee. With that behind me, I'd love to tell you how it all worked out. I'm still a little loopy from the painkillers for my knee, so bare with me.
As many of you know, about a week before opening day of period 2 antelope season for Zone 3 (Likely Tables), I tore the cartilage in my right knee. My doctor informed me that it would require surgery to repair, but I decided to tough it out and have the surgery after I got back from hunting. After all, it took me twelve years to draw this tag so there was no way I was going to miss out now. I was pretty discouraged as I tried to figure out how I was going to be able to hunt in that rocky terrain while hobling around on crutches. Fortunately for me, my two new friends, Reed and Julie Gardner invited me to hunt on their ranch near Davis Creek. The Gardner's hospitality, generosity, and hard work turned what was shaping up to be a miserable hunting trip into a wonderful experience that I will remember fondly for the rest of my life.
By the time I arrived for my hunt, I no longer needed crutches to get around and just walked with a limp. The day before the season opened Reed and I scouted their 5,400 acre ranch and found several antelope bucks that I would have been happy with. It was a thrill to be hunting at the peak of the rut and I was amazed at the show that the bucks put on as they postured themselves as king of their harems. Several times we witnessed smaller bucks being driven off by dominant bucks who had zero tolerance for the lesser bucks presence. Although I would have been happy with any of the bucks that we saw, Reed knew that there had been one buck on the ranch that stood out above the rest. As we continued to search for him into the day, our hard work finally paid off. We found him with a group of about eight does towards the south end of the ranch and decided to try for him the next day.
At 6 am the following morning we met at Reed's place and began looking for our buck. We soon found him pinning his does against a fence. As does would try to move away, he would herd them back to the bunch. He was completely dominating and they were not allowed to move until he allowed them to. Soon the herd was on the move, running to the south east corner of the ranch. At one point, the buck saw four does about a thousand yards off, left his does, and herded these four back to his herd which now totalled thirteen, including the buck. When they finally stopped, we saw our opportunity. We circled around the antelope and used the trees of the Warner Mountains to close the distance. By sneeking through the trees, we were able to get completely around and on top of the antelope without being detected. As we came to the edge of the trees, we found the antelope bedded down about 336 yards ahead of us. Although I had been practicing with my 30-06 about every other day for the last month, I still wanted to get a little closer. Directly between us and the goats was a juniper tree about thirty yards ahead. I walked slowly and quitely to the juniper and then sat down and took off my jacket and pack. By lying on my back, I was able to lay my rifle across my legs and using my elbows and feet, gradually creep closer. At about 285 yards the buck jumped up and I thought they had seen me. He just walked around though, and then went back and layed down again (whew!). I continued to creep forward inch by inch and after a while I was lying in a spring about 264 yards away from my buck. For whatever reason, he decided it was time to leave so he got up and walked to each doe, nudged her to get up, and then went to the next one. When he had them all up, they gradually began to move away. I knew that it was now or never, so I eased into a sitting position, aimed, and squezed the trigger.
I knew immediately that the buck was hit. He whirled around and ran off only able to use three legs. I didn't know it at the time, but the bullet had struck a little too low in the front leg, breaking the leg, but not fataly wounding the animal. At 400 yards away the buck stopped (it only took him a couple of seconds to run this far on three legs). He still didn't know where I was and was standing broadside to me looking the other direction. I couldn't figure out why he hadn't gone down, but I knew he should have by now, so I aimed again and fired. This time the bullet center punched the bucks lungs and he went down. If you heard some hooting and hollering on September 7th, it was me!
I guess my only regret about the entire trip was that I didn't make that first shot count. Buck feaver I guess. Wouldn't you be excited if you were looking through your scope at your first antelope?
For those of you, like me, who like such info., I was shooting a Browning A-Bolt Gold Medallion in 30-06 with a Leupold 3X9 scope. I shoot 150 grain Federal Premium Nosler Ballistic Tips. For those who say a 30-06 isn't any good at long distances, I've got a great 14" antelope who was bullseyed at 400 yards who will disagree with you. In reality, like a wise man I recently met told me, it's not the gun that matters; it's the man behind the gun that matters. I think my first and second shots prove that out.
I can't thank enough the entire Gardner family for all of your hard work and effort over the last month. It really allowed me to have the hunt of a lifetime and I hope to have a chance to repay your kindness some day.
Thanks also to everone at JHP who have helped me over the last two months to prepare for such a neat hunt. Special thanks to Modocer, Ranchwife, and Kentuck. I couldn't have done it without you.
Brad
