BuzzH
Well-known member
I decided to buy a leftover pronghorn when they bacame available in a unit that had 500 or so left. I'd never set foot in the unit until the late afternoon of October 9th.
I looked some maps over and noticed some sizeable, but tough to get to, public lands in the unit. I barely had time to drive in there, but did see some average bucks. I was tailed all evening by a local rancher even though I was on a county road...he was out partolling "his" property. In one interesting spot, after the county road ended the road continued for about a half mile on BLM. I noticed on the GPS that the road cut through about 75 feet of private before jumping back onto about 5-6 miles of BLM and State. Just at dark, I drove down there and was not surprised to see the 75 foot section posted with a 3 signs and a fence post driven into the middle of "his" road.
I also noticed quite a number of pronghorn on the public behind the sign, which a person with the desire to walk about 300 feet could legally access by walking around the sliver of private. I It was so late I couldnt really see how good some of the bucks were, but there were several.
I find great pleasure in hunting such places...for a few reasons. One being most hunters are not willing to walk, secondly I like to excercise my right to hunt public lands, and third after being tailed by Mr. Landowner all evening thought it would be good to make sure he knows that he doesnt own legally accessible BLM.
I drove into MY PUBLIC LAND before daylight and just as it was cracking light I found a herd of maybe 25 pronghorns including 2 solid bucks that appeared to be low 70's type bucks. I figured those would be good enough on an additional OTC tag. I watched them until they fed over a ridge and then hot-footed it on over. In my haste, I'd not noticed 2 stragglers and I thought for sure my stalk was blown. Sure enough they saw me and hauled over the ridge and I also noticed one of the stragglers was a handsome buck. I took a chance and continued on and sure enough, the entire herd was in a sage draw feeding at 225 yards. I quickly found the staggler and shot him through the heart with my 7mm RM.
I'm really starting to like leftover tags...
Put a tape on him when I got home today and he's 14 6/8 long and scores 77 2/8 gross.
On the ride home today I filled a doe tag with my wifes new rifle...first animal I've ever shot with a 7-08. Shot was 194 yards.
The setup:
The results:
I looked some maps over and noticed some sizeable, but tough to get to, public lands in the unit. I barely had time to drive in there, but did see some average bucks. I was tailed all evening by a local rancher even though I was on a county road...he was out partolling "his" property. In one interesting spot, after the county road ended the road continued for about a half mile on BLM. I noticed on the GPS that the road cut through about 75 feet of private before jumping back onto about 5-6 miles of BLM and State. Just at dark, I drove down there and was not surprised to see the 75 foot section posted with a 3 signs and a fence post driven into the middle of "his" road.
I also noticed quite a number of pronghorn on the public behind the sign, which a person with the desire to walk about 300 feet could legally access by walking around the sliver of private. I It was so late I couldnt really see how good some of the bucks were, but there were several.
I find great pleasure in hunting such places...for a few reasons. One being most hunters are not willing to walk, secondly I like to excercise my right to hunt public lands, and third after being tailed by Mr. Landowner all evening thought it would be good to make sure he knows that he doesnt own legally accessible BLM.
I drove into MY PUBLIC LAND before daylight and just as it was cracking light I found a herd of maybe 25 pronghorns including 2 solid bucks that appeared to be low 70's type bucks. I figured those would be good enough on an additional OTC tag. I watched them until they fed over a ridge and then hot-footed it on over. In my haste, I'd not noticed 2 stragglers and I thought for sure my stalk was blown. Sure enough they saw me and hauled over the ridge and I also noticed one of the stragglers was a handsome buck. I took a chance and continued on and sure enough, the entire herd was in a sage draw feeding at 225 yards. I quickly found the staggler and shot him through the heart with my 7mm RM.
I'm really starting to like leftover tags...
Put a tape on him when I got home today and he's 14 6/8 long and scores 77 2/8 gross.
On the ride home today I filled a doe tag with my wifes new rifle...first animal I've ever shot with a 7-08. Shot was 194 yards.
The setup:
The results:
