LAST EDITED ON Aug-28-15 AT 00:44AM (MST)[p]What and eventful and tough hunt!
My dad got it done this last weekend on his best antelope to date! Super tough hunt with lots of little bucks running around and an equal amount of hunters! Definitely fewer big boys than we have seen in the past!
I wont be doing a long detailed story like normal due to Im a little pressed for time because we're getting ready to head out on another antelope hunt. I will write one up a bigger more detailed story later with more pics and post it in my HAC if you guys want to check it out but it wont be for a little while. But for the mean time here is the short version.
Pretty crazy how it all happened! We first saw this buck getting chased around by other hunters opening morning. We had a close call on getting him a couple hours into the hunt but he kept his distance and got away. We named him "Mr.Y" due to the shape of his frame. All you could see was 2 long black horns sticking out in a "Y" shape. We figured we saw the last of him as he disappeared into the mirage of that hot day. My dad passed up a few smaller bucks that morning and kind of got messed up on his stalk by some other hunters on 2 other decent bigger bucks. Oh well... What are you going to do? Its public land hunting...
That evening we were glassing a small herd of little bucks and a bunch of does feeding. That's when my dad suddenly says "BIG BUCK! BIG BUCK!" We quickly put the spotting scope on the buck to see what we were looking at more clearly and its "Mr.Y"! My dad grabs his gear and sets out on the long solo stalk. A couple miles and 3-4 hours later, the elusive buck outwits my dad and so begins his long hike back to the truck. This is the 2nd time this buck has gotten away from my dad.
The next day we hunted near where we last saw the elusive "Mr.Y" the evening before and it didn't take us long to find him. He covered a lot of ground from the night before and it looked like he was slowly feeding our way... Very Slowly.
We decided to stay put and let him close the distance between us. Slowly but surely he was headed our way. About 15-20 minutes pass by and we see a few does and a small buck headed his way. We thought for sure that they were going to take him away when all of a sudden about the time the group of antelope met him, we spot another hunter stalking the group from the opposite side. The group was on high alert and they were very aware of the other hunter's presence. It didn't take long for them to get moving. The question would be.. Which way would they go???
The group was confused on which way to run. We must of had some luck on our side that day because the lead doe was headed right for us with "Mr.Y" right behind her! We couldn't believe it! We set up for a shot and as soon as the group came to a stop I gave my dad a range of 179 yards. The next sound was a Big BOOM followed by a loud WHACK! The buck hunches up and begins to run full speed. He runs about 70-100 yards before flipping over with his feet straight up in the air.
We couldn't believe the events we just witnessed! Soon after my dad was greeted with congratulatory hugs and high 5s! It really was something out of a dream. His biggest buck to date and he has some dandies under his belt! This buck was definitely meant for my dad... His Destiny Buck! (Mr.Y)
ElkSniper
My dad got it done this last weekend on his best antelope to date! Super tough hunt with lots of little bucks running around and an equal amount of hunters! Definitely fewer big boys than we have seen in the past!
I wont be doing a long detailed story like normal due to Im a little pressed for time because we're getting ready to head out on another antelope hunt. I will write one up a bigger more detailed story later with more pics and post it in my HAC if you guys want to check it out but it wont be for a little while. But for the mean time here is the short version.
Pretty crazy how it all happened! We first saw this buck getting chased around by other hunters opening morning. We had a close call on getting him a couple hours into the hunt but he kept his distance and got away. We named him "Mr.Y" due to the shape of his frame. All you could see was 2 long black horns sticking out in a "Y" shape. We figured we saw the last of him as he disappeared into the mirage of that hot day. My dad passed up a few smaller bucks that morning and kind of got messed up on his stalk by some other hunters on 2 other decent bigger bucks. Oh well... What are you going to do? Its public land hunting...
That evening we were glassing a small herd of little bucks and a bunch of does feeding. That's when my dad suddenly says "BIG BUCK! BIG BUCK!" We quickly put the spotting scope on the buck to see what we were looking at more clearly and its "Mr.Y"! My dad grabs his gear and sets out on the long solo stalk. A couple miles and 3-4 hours later, the elusive buck outwits my dad and so begins his long hike back to the truck. This is the 2nd time this buck has gotten away from my dad.
The next day we hunted near where we last saw the elusive "Mr.Y" the evening before and it didn't take us long to find him. He covered a lot of ground from the night before and it looked like he was slowly feeding our way... Very Slowly.
We decided to stay put and let him close the distance between us. Slowly but surely he was headed our way. About 15-20 minutes pass by and we see a few does and a small buck headed his way. We thought for sure that they were going to take him away when all of a sudden about the time the group of antelope met him, we spot another hunter stalking the group from the opposite side. The group was on high alert and they were very aware of the other hunter's presence. It didn't take long for them to get moving. The question would be.. Which way would they go???
The group was confused on which way to run. We must of had some luck on our side that day because the lead doe was headed right for us with "Mr.Y" right behind her! We couldn't believe it! We set up for a shot and as soon as the group came to a stop I gave my dad a range of 179 yards. The next sound was a Big BOOM followed by a loud WHACK! The buck hunches up and begins to run full speed. He runs about 70-100 yards before flipping over with his feet straight up in the air.
We couldn't believe the events we just witnessed! Soon after my dad was greeted with congratulatory hugs and high 5s! It really was something out of a dream. His biggest buck to date and he has some dandies under his belt! This buck was definitely meant for my dad... His Destiny Buck! (Mr.Y)
ElkSniper
