bowhunter1
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Just wanted to let all you individuals in on a finally realized secret of bowhunting for antelope.... called persistence.
I was fortunate this past week to be able to hunt for antelope with my compound bow. On Saturday Sept. 21st 2002 I finally got a dandy measuring over 14 ". I will post a photo when the film is developed.
I was hunting in eastern Montana . On the drive near the area I wanted to hunt I started noticing small groups of does with one buck in each group. This was telling me that the rut was starting. I also realized that the larger the group of does the buck had larger horns. So I concentrated in searching for large heards of antelope.
In my persistant driving and looking I noticed a large band of antelope feeding about midday in this relatively moist creek flat. The actual creek channel was dry but there was a few green sprouts that the antelope seemed to feed on. So I continued to drive past them without stoping and decided to park away from them and try crawling up on the herd for a possible bow shot.
I hiked about 500 yards keeping several low ridges between me and them. The wind was blowing about 20 mph directly out of the west and I was headed to intersect them from the north. I worked my way down this dry drainage towards the dry creek channel very slowly; knowing if one animal heard me the herd would spook. I eased up close to the green flat crawling through the prickly pear and sage. I used my range finder to determine some predetermined sites for range estimation. I decided to stay seculuded in this bit of grassy area, nock an arrow and wait.
About an hour later with one leg asleep and the other being punctured with prickly thorns I saw an antelope feeding; then another and another, all does (Funny thing then you forget about the discomfort you are going through). I knew their had to be a buck nearby but where??
Then I saw this dandy buck antelope slowly walking and feeding angling towards my direction. I crouched lower slowly and made like a statue of cold stone granite. I knew the wind was favorable for me and if I did not move he might feed within range.
He slowly approached my direction He pass the 60 yard reference point and slowly walk and paused feeding so slowly; Taking what seemed like hours to walk a couple feet. He neared the 50 yard point and started angeling further away then shifting his direction. I decided this was as good as it was going to get. With his head down feeding and the other does all looking away I eased the 68 lb mathews compound bow into place and came to full draw. With the wind blowing at 20 mph, I place the 50 yard pin right on his rear quarter to compensate for the wind drift. With his head still down feeding, I released the carbon arrow with razorsharp muzzy broadhead. I watch the arrow fly toward the antelope and the wind gradually drifter the arrow. Then the arrow struck directly behind the shoulder directly into the lung area. The huge buck ran about 50 yards then looked back in my direction trying to figure out what happened. As I remained like a statue he laid down for the final count. That is were I found him.
The horns measured 14 1/2" on the right and 14 1/4" on the left. I was elated!!!!!!!
So prayers,practice, persistence, discomfort and dreams do pay off !!!!!!!!
I was fortunate this past week to be able to hunt for antelope with my compound bow. On Saturday Sept. 21st 2002 I finally got a dandy measuring over 14 ". I will post a photo when the film is developed.
I was hunting in eastern Montana . On the drive near the area I wanted to hunt I started noticing small groups of does with one buck in each group. This was telling me that the rut was starting. I also realized that the larger the group of does the buck had larger horns. So I concentrated in searching for large heards of antelope.
In my persistant driving and looking I noticed a large band of antelope feeding about midday in this relatively moist creek flat. The actual creek channel was dry but there was a few green sprouts that the antelope seemed to feed on. So I continued to drive past them without stoping and decided to park away from them and try crawling up on the herd for a possible bow shot.
I hiked about 500 yards keeping several low ridges between me and them. The wind was blowing about 20 mph directly out of the west and I was headed to intersect them from the north. I worked my way down this dry drainage towards the dry creek channel very slowly; knowing if one animal heard me the herd would spook. I eased up close to the green flat crawling through the prickly pear and sage. I used my range finder to determine some predetermined sites for range estimation. I decided to stay seculuded in this bit of grassy area, nock an arrow and wait.
About an hour later with one leg asleep and the other being punctured with prickly thorns I saw an antelope feeding; then another and another, all does (Funny thing then you forget about the discomfort you are going through). I knew their had to be a buck nearby but where??
Then I saw this dandy buck antelope slowly walking and feeding angling towards my direction. I crouched lower slowly and made like a statue of cold stone granite. I knew the wind was favorable for me and if I did not move he might feed within range.
He slowly approached my direction He pass the 60 yard reference point and slowly walk and paused feeding so slowly; Taking what seemed like hours to walk a couple feet. He neared the 50 yard point and started angeling further away then shifting his direction. I decided this was as good as it was going to get. With his head down feeding and the other does all looking away I eased the 68 lb mathews compound bow into place and came to full draw. With the wind blowing at 20 mph, I place the 50 yard pin right on his rear quarter to compensate for the wind drift. With his head still down feeding, I released the carbon arrow with razorsharp muzzy broadhead. I watch the arrow fly toward the antelope and the wind gradually drifter the arrow. Then the arrow struck directly behind the shoulder directly into the lung area. The huge buck ran about 50 yards then looked back in my direction trying to figure out what happened. As I remained like a statue he laid down for the final count. That is were I found him.
The horns measured 14 1/2" on the right and 14 1/4" on the left. I was elated!!!!!!!
So prayers,practice, persistence, discomfort and dreams do pay off !!!!!!!!
