As some of you know, I spent the end of last week and the weekend around Gillette, Wyoming. I was there for one of my good friend's wedding and happened to find a little time to get out and do a little bowhunting. It is rifle season right now, which makes things a little more difficult. Anyway, there were no left over buck mule deer tags so I purchased a doe/fawn and set out. After an extremely long and steep day of hunting, we had seen 18 different bucks and no does. The recent snow had pushed the does/fawn down to the bottoms and the bucks were still up high. With about an hour of daylight left, we spot 6 does that are about 3/4 of a mile away, and across the canyon. We only had slightly over an hour of daylight left as I began my stalk. I hiked all the way down one ridge staying on the back side so as not to be seen, crossed the creek and went back up the back side of the ridge where we had seen the deer. Walking quietly up some ridiculously steep stuff, I made it almost to the peak when I saw 3 does that were about 100 yards up the ridge. This was somewhat disheartening because I would have to drop back down go up the creek bottom and climb back up to the top of the ridge without being seen. While I'm comtemplating what to do, I see ears come up over the top of the ridge to the left. I had an arrow nocked and was kneeling in the sage brush... my range finder was in my pocket. I began counting the yardages... 20, 30, 40, 50... 54 was my final estimate. The deer looked back at another that was coming over the top and I came to full draw. Shooting uphill, I put my 50 pin on her heart and let the Allegiance sing. My GrizzTrick created an instantly visible hole as she bounded off. I gave it a couple minutes and went to check the arrow, even though I had seen it hit... it was perfect. The blood trail was incredible and as I peaked the ridge I could see her kicking about 70 yards down the hill. She's not the biggest doe, but it was a fun hunt. Sunday I had some issues with my flights returning home and it caused me to stay an extra day. So at 4:30pm on Sunday we went and I bought a doe/fawn antelope tag. I put a great stalk on two goats that were beddded down in the sage brush, I ranged them at 50 yards and contemplated the shot but heavy crosswind made the shot unethical in my book. So I belly crawled another 13 yards, came to my knees and drew back. After what seemed like forever the antelope stood up and I let the arrow go. The GrizzTrick again made quick work of the animal and he fell over in just a couple steps. By 5:45 the antelope was cleaned and headed back to the house. I saw about 200 antelope in my 1 hour hunt and it brought back so many memories of hunting antelope with my dad and friends.
Now that is how you make use of a cross country trip:d Congrats brother. Like I said before, that is some awesome shooting. Even though it just seems flat and grassy that is some beautiful country. You can see forever! I think I can see my house in the first antelope pic
Great job of making the most of your free time Dub. Always nice to attend weddings in good hunting grounds.:d Gongrats on harvesting a couple of nannies.
Dude! That's freakin awesome!! Please oh please oh please tell me you shot them with the pink arras!!
Fantastic story my friend. Wish I was there too. That's really cool that you got to do both the wedding & hunt. That grizz trick sure did put a heck of hole in em. I'm envious of you going out west, I have to wait till next yr. Nice pics too.
