BIGOLMULEY
Active Member
- Messages
- 525
Well I just got back from my hunt on the Sheldon in NV for antelope with my bow. All I can say is they are tough to hunt!
It all started with the scouting trip in July with my buddy Juston. We saw antelope but not in the numbers I had thought we would. Found some cool places though.
Did find a lot of these around. They were everywhere and ran off every goat they saw it seemed.
This is one antelope we were interested in. He has a big hook on top, but not great prongs. Not the greatest pic. The goats were really spooky. You drive by and they would bolt.
We left feeling like we knew where I wanted to be. Found a lot of water around and two bucks I felt would be opening day shooters.
I returned 2 days before the season and found 2 other camps where I was planning on staying. I was alone so I figure I might as well camp with them. They were great guys out of Elko each with tags of their own. Unfortunately one of them had his blind already built where I was planning on sitting. So I spent the next few hours checking out other areas. Found a hole with 80+ goats watering on it with 12 nice bucks and 2 that really stood out. I was wary about setting up my blind there as there is no cover at all, but I figured I might get lucky.
This happened on the way back to camp. I actually blew two tires on the trip. Lots of obsidian on the roads.
Here is what showed up the day before opener.
Tons of antelope came in including some dandys, but only 4 watered, they saw my blind and stopped dead. Some bolted others stared, but I realized I would have to get really lucky.
Opening day produced one buck about 10" that I could have shot in the morning easy. Saw tons of others that would not come in. Then one good buck that didn't quite water, but I could have shot. I passed being the first day. I figured mid 70's.
That is how it went for the next 4 days. Lot of goats, not many come in. I tried other spots and could have shot a small buck I stalked on at another water hole, but passed. Then came the rain. Rain is no good for antelope hunting with a bow. I had 3 days left and it rained all but the last.
I stalked goat all the time. It was all I could do. It was tough with no cover around.
I had decided I would shoot the first decent buck I had a chance to. I stalked 27 bucks in 3 days. 9 on my last day. After a 2 hours stalk that included 200 yards on my belly and a 10 min. stare down through the only sagebrush around, this is what I found after the shot.
Then this
And this
And finally this
Shot was 46 yards and he bolted as I shot. I caught him behind the shoulder, and it blew through the front of his chest taking out the heart. I say him run about 50 yards and he pitched backwards and it was all over.
Entrance
Exit
Heart
Shot him with the new EPEK mechanical. Very impressed with it. Also a new AM32 for me this year.
All in all a great time. He ended up scoring just over 67. I am very happy with him. I found out I hate sitting at waterholes and it is very frustrating stalking these buggers, but I did it. I almost gave up.
If any of you have a rifle tag there coming up, send me a PM and I will tell you where a couple pushing and exceeding 80 are living.
Sorry so long, I am still excited,
Jason "The Big Ol' Muley"
It all started with the scouting trip in July with my buddy Juston. We saw antelope but not in the numbers I had thought we would. Found some cool places though.
Did find a lot of these around. They were everywhere and ran off every goat they saw it seemed.
This is one antelope we were interested in. He has a big hook on top, but not great prongs. Not the greatest pic. The goats were really spooky. You drive by and they would bolt.
We left feeling like we knew where I wanted to be. Found a lot of water around and two bucks I felt would be opening day shooters.
I returned 2 days before the season and found 2 other camps where I was planning on staying. I was alone so I figure I might as well camp with them. They were great guys out of Elko each with tags of their own. Unfortunately one of them had his blind already built where I was planning on sitting. So I spent the next few hours checking out other areas. Found a hole with 80+ goats watering on it with 12 nice bucks and 2 that really stood out. I was wary about setting up my blind there as there is no cover at all, but I figured I might get lucky.
This happened on the way back to camp. I actually blew two tires on the trip. Lots of obsidian on the roads.
Here is what showed up the day before opener.
Tons of antelope came in including some dandys, but only 4 watered, they saw my blind and stopped dead. Some bolted others stared, but I realized I would have to get really lucky.
Opening day produced one buck about 10" that I could have shot in the morning easy. Saw tons of others that would not come in. Then one good buck that didn't quite water, but I could have shot. I passed being the first day. I figured mid 70's.
That is how it went for the next 4 days. Lot of goats, not many come in. I tried other spots and could have shot a small buck I stalked on at another water hole, but passed. Then came the rain. Rain is no good for antelope hunting with a bow. I had 3 days left and it rained all but the last.
I stalked goat all the time. It was all I could do. It was tough with no cover around.
I had decided I would shoot the first decent buck I had a chance to. I stalked 27 bucks in 3 days. 9 on my last day. After a 2 hours stalk that included 200 yards on my belly and a 10 min. stare down through the only sagebrush around, this is what I found after the shot.
Then this
And this
And finally this
Shot was 46 yards and he bolted as I shot. I caught him behind the shoulder, and it blew through the front of his chest taking out the heart. I say him run about 50 yards and he pitched backwards and it was all over.
Entrance
Exit
Heart
Shot him with the new EPEK mechanical. Very impressed with it. Also a new AM32 for me this year.
All in all a great time. He ended up scoring just over 67. I am very happy with him. I found out I hate sitting at waterholes and it is very frustrating stalking these buggers, but I did it. I almost gave up.
If any of you have a rifle tag there coming up, send me a PM and I will tell you where a couple pushing and exceeding 80 are living.
Sorry so long, I am still excited,
Jason "The Big Ol' Muley"
