Tikka06
Well-known member
We just wrapped up our Wyoming antelope hunt and were able to punch all 3 tags without too much trouble. Other than Kansas City being totally booked up on hotel rooms the trip out was uneventful. We started in Laramie and set out the first morning ready to hunt but more of a scouting day, or so we thought. We crossed into the unit and immediately started seeing nice bucks. While taking a break, my son saw a pretty nice buck with 3-4 does about 500 yards away and my oldest uncle decided he was good enough to try for. We got within 250 yards and he missed the first shot but connected with the second. So off to Casper we went to the processor and checked into our Airbnb. The second day started out with lots of driving and scouting, finding more places without antelope throughout the unit than places that did. After lunch we headed back to the section we had killed in the day before and immediately got back into nice bucks. After a long stalk and a missed shot, we backed up and reassessed our situation. The wind was brutal that day, 30-40mph. We found another group that afternoon and made another stalk, this time with success. The pack out was on myself and my son since my uncles are elderly and not in great shape. But we got him loaded up and back to town we went. The next day it was my turn. We did more driving, glassing, and scouting than the days before. I stalked a nice tall buck but decided to pass and ended up in the middle of 4 bucks chasing a couple of does, none of them got my heart pumping so off we went. After lunch my son spotted a nice buck with a group of does and I decided he needed a closer look. We took the long way around and got up on a plateau and snuck across the top cutting them off as they worked up the draw. He threw me a curve ball and spotted me by coming up in front of all the does but I guess he thought I was another buck and went back down and pushed the does back the way he came. We quickly repositioned and as I was setting up I caught a glimpse of of his horns coming up a lead from the bottom to check me out again. He stopped at 350yds broadside, and dropped at the shot. Not a huge buck, but my biggest and the taxidermist taped him out at 74”. I wanted a buck worth mounting and didn’t really know what the quality would be so I am happy. As far as my uncles go, their first and probably last antelope hunt due to their age and shape was a success. The altitude was consistently over 5500-6000ft and that took a toll on them but they made it work. Also, the North Platte treated us well with several nice fish. I owe a big thank you to everyone that offered up info and advice, you know who you are.
