Our 2010 Pronghorn Hunt, 3 bucks down!

[rcrosby]

Just got back from a great Wyoming hunt, processed all my meat, my smoker is rolling smoking our jerky and snack sticks. Joined by Scrosby and Atwater for a very fun hunt among good friends. I posted up the whole story and some pictures on my blog, 2010 Wyoming Antelope Hunt Our Great Idaho Adventure


I will save Atwaters very nice buck story and pictures for him!

Now I can focus on my mule deer controlled hunt starting next week in Idaho.

 

[Z-man]

Nice Read and congrats on filling those tags!

 

[Atwater]

Had backstraps last night that were tender enough to cut with a fork, and damned tasty.

The story of my buck? Hmmm...not sure how to tell that story...well, here goes nothing...


Ryan and Scotty headed out before first light the first morning, I slept in. I figured I couldn't see'em in the dark, so why not wait for first light? Five minutes after heading out, I was making my first stalk of the day. Had him within 50 yards, but decided to pass...it was just too soon...

I saw quite a few bucks that morning, and made a couple more successful stalks. I took a shot at a decent buck, but mis-judged the wind. He walked off. No blood, but I followed him around for a couple of hours until he found his does.

I found a draw with three nice bucks, and an easy sneak, but it was around noon, and hot, so I decided to wait until evening. I was 100% certain that I would kill a buck that day if I opted too.

I hopped in the truck, and headed in the direction I knew the boys had gone, when I got the call. "Buck Down!" Ryan and Scotty were heading my way, about 12 miles out. Halfway between us was a road we were familiar with, that held the only possibility of finding shade for butchering, and it was much closer than camp.

We met up there and began searching. Just as it started to look like we'd be working in the sun, we got a break. A patch of Cedars just high enough to shade my tailgate, and crane. It was nice and cool, and the skinning and butchering went quickly and smoothly...

We were standing around the tailgate, talking and planning the next hunt, when something caught my eye. A buck Antelope was casually walking by...the hood of my truck.

"Holy $hit Boys!" I stammered. Everyone looked, and stopped talking. The buck stopped and looked as us. He was 15 yards away. I turned to the boys and said just as loudly as before, "Well fellas, It seems that as long as we're talking, he's cool, so let's just keep talking so Scotty can get his gun, Ok? Ok!" and I just kept babbling. This calmed the buck right down, and he continued walking slowly. "My guns too far", Scotty said, "you take'em if you can!"

Sooo, the walk to my open door and rifle went something like this:

"Ok boys, you just keep talking over there while I walk over here, put in my earplugs, sunglasses, grab my rifle, chamber a round, turn around, and shoot this Antelope!" Bang. He hit the ground hard, got up, and ran 20 yards. I stepped out to where he'd passed us, and watched him pile up dead...

In a way, it was kind of anticlimactic....but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. My friends know me as someone who loves to tell stories...who'd a guessed those stories are Antelope attractors?!

Couldn't have asked for a better trip, or better company. Let's do it again next year boys!:toast-yellow:

 

[rcrosby]

Scott those pics are awesome. What lense is that? I have basically the same camera but am in need of some more zoom.

Lets see... I had jerky and snack sticks yesterday. This morning for breakfast we had lope breakfast sausage and eggs. It was awesome with fresh sage from the garden and a few other seasonings. I froze about 5 pounds of that.

I spent literally all day yesterday and Thursday trimming and caring for the meat. My wife who is pretty much an expert at detecting anything "gamey" is impressed.

Lets do it again!

 

[Atwater]

I just finished processing this morning, and was blown away by how fresh smelling and tender ALL of the meat was! I think shooting a relaxed buck right next to butcher camp might have helped...

Kim said the backstraps were as good as the deer and elk straps she'd had, and I agree. We've got a nice roast in the crockpot right now...gonna add a beer in about an hour...it smells wonderful!

Ryan, it's a Canon image stabilizer efs 55-250 f/4-5.6 IS. It's a lot better equipment than I know how use well!

 

[Atwater]

Here's a few more pics...Including the crowd in camp...

and more bucks...

 

[Atwater]

Good grief, my picture sizing skills are pitiful.

 

[Z-man]

Nice job Atwater! Nice pics and story to add to Mr. Crosby's words.