Well here go's. At Joey's request I'll try to put together an account of our hunt.
I scouted 2 1/2 days early on without much action. Lots of miles on the truck before seeing much. Lots of cattle around with a few cowboys getting ready to move them elsewhere. The last morning scouting I ran into a bachelor herd of 10 bucks and soon 4 more bucks but no shooters. These were South and East of the lake as some of you MM'ers said to check out (thanks). There was plenty of water down that way, ponds, push-ups, and water in the creeks.
My son called to say we were drawn for the FWR region called the peninsular so we checked it out Thur. am before the season while the light was good. Although still early, the heat waves made glassing and spotting scope difficult. We did see antelope but very difficult to judge at such a long distance. Fri. we went South again and saw 1 small heard running and shortly 2 nice bucks ran close by the truck. These were disturbed by men on horse back I believe.
Sat. opening day we headed for the refuge and a mile out started seeing bucks, a couple which were shooters. Very unsettled weather, windy, thunder, lightning, rain. The animals very nervous, bedding, feeding, moving constantly, then bedding once again. My son got within 392 yds. of a nice buck but decided not to try with the wind blowing about 30 mph. We left to try an area North-East but came back to camp at dark without seeing an animal.
Sun. we were on the way to the refuge once again (open Sat and Sun. only) and I decided to hunt a little South where I knew of 2 water holes. My son dropped me off and continued on. Shortly after I spotted a nice buck watching me. I knew he had the length and when he turned I saw the mass and down he went. I was able to stop my son and he raced me back to camp to clean up the buck.
My son returned to the refuge and started seeing some bucks as soon as he was out a mile or so. Once again the wind was relentless and he had to circle time after time to keep down wind at the same time getting farther away from the road. The animals were on the move and as he worked his way up an incline to check the West side he has does passing close by. Unable to move until they passed he stayed where he was and shortly after a nice buck showed his head, then his neck, then the buck dropped in his tracks from a well placed shot to the base of the neck. 1pm in the afternoon and the work began, he drug the buck a mile or so, carried it for awhile, and then headed for the truck to get his old man to help. Back in camp, thunder, lightning and heavy rain once again. He yelled I got one, we gotta go! I jumped in the truck and we headed down the road with pack frames and rope. We loaded the animal on the frames and headed South at a brisk pace as the storm looked like it was coming our way. A very long haul to the truck, but rather easy going. Back in camp we finished cleaning up his animal just at dark. A long, fun, successful hunt day.
Once again I'd like to thank all of the fellows who offered help and encouragement. Great country to hunt antelope, lots of cover, ground broken up with ditch's, ridges, rock outcroppings, timber,juniper and sage flats. Only a few tags for the size of the unit but the quality of bucks was in my opinion, excellent.
Thanks again everyone........ Fred (sourkraut)
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