Zombie ‘Lopes?

[Beignet]

Long story long. Had my second ever antelope tag this year and my first ever dead antelope buck.

I stalked in to about 175, did the old bang-flop. He had a little leg kick, then head down, and Bob’s your uncle, right?

Nope. We hung back so my wife could fill her tag as well. As I watched through the binos I see the “dead” buck running back into the frame. No corpse lay where he fell. My wife shot shot a doe as this was happening (who did indeed die right then and there), but the zombie buck was back on its feet. Seemed slightly woozy. But, I was still a little hesitant to shoot again. What if it wasn’t the one? I don’t want to shoot two of them. Then again, what if it was but then it got away to die elsewhere? After some quick mental math I went ahead and shot again (twice) and watched intently to make sure he was actually dead this time. He was. Hooray. Two down at the same time.

I mentioned the zombie factor to my neighbor who kills a ton of critters. Turns out this has happened to him as well with antelope. But neither of us had really seen it happen with deer or elk. So I ask, how many of you guys have seen antelope rise from the dead?

Not as they lay, or even a good photo.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Glad that you got yours.

I had it happen with a whitetail buck once. Bang flop. Then started raising its head and “flopped” out of the shooting lane. I still thought it was going just die, but had a very obscured shot through the brush that I did not take. Regretted that later when I got to it and it ran off giving me NO shot. Tracked it to private land and couldn’t pursue it further. Who knows if it lived or not

 

[BuzzH]

I get nervous when any animal drops at the shot...

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Where did you hit it the first time?
I've had it happen once with an antelope. Had it happen to a buddy too. He put gun away and then walked up to it only to have it jump up and run off, looking fine.

 

[mtmuley]

I get nervous when any animal drops at the shot...

You need a RUM. mtmuley

 

[BuzzH]

Shot lots of animals with better.

 

[mtmuley]

Shot lots of animals with better.

You know I'm kidding. My .243 is a wicked antelope and deer killer. Elk too when conditions are right. And with a copper bullet. mtmuley

 

[Beignet]

Where did you hit it the first time?
I've had it happen once with an antelope. Had it happen to a buddy too. He put gun away and then walked up to it only to have it jump up and run off, looking fine.

It started getting dark when we really got busy taking them apart. Best I could tell is maybe a low chest shot for the first, in front of the shoulder. Looked like a pin prick. Second wound was a big one. Wonder if I had a rare expansion issue on the first. Was using Barnes in 7-08, 120 grain.

Then again, I could’ve stone cold missed on the first and he flopped from fear alone. Like a goat playing dead when startled. Hahaha.

 

[MTLabrador]

Sounds a lot like a high hit to me, shocks the spine and drops them, but unless you actually hit the spine they can and will get right back up. It’s easy to do on antelope and especially easy to do if you’re not careful with the old 3” high at 100 zero if you get a shot in that 150-175 range. Seen it happen many times and I’ve done it myself.

 

[Bob-WY]

In front of shoulder? Could be minimal damage but shocked front legs so it fell.

Strange things happen. Last fall i shot a bedded buck in the neck. Bang flop. 15 seconds late he stumbled up on his fett and very slowly walked. Quatering away in ribs and down for good.

First shot hit spine and almos severed it. No clue how he got up

 

[Mule Kick]

I’ve had this happen with a loper. Shot and he ran a bit before dropping, head down. I walked up to him (300ish yds) and he never moved until I was less than 10’ away when suddenly he yanks his head up and lays there breathing hard for a moment before bolting up and running flat out. By the time I collected my wits and got my gun up he was at 150. I got a lucky shot off and dropped him!
It’s been a few years so not super clear in my mind but I just remember how bright his eyes looked at 10’ I can’t remember exactly where the 1st shot was but I’m thinking high.

Here’s his photo

 

[Bhoesl]

Again, not antelope, but I had a friend in high school, shot a whitetail buck with a shotgun slug. Deer dropped right there. We both walked right up to it, looked at it then went back to get his 4-wheeler. Came back 5 minutes later, deer was gone. Followed blood 1/4 mile, never found him.

 

[WildWill]

Never had a problem with antelope they've always folded easy for me. Now deer I've had a few rodeos.


The most memorable happened years ago when I was 17. A buck steps out one November morning I shoot him with my 30-30 and he goes straight down. Climb out of the stand and walk over to him and was freaking out. It was by far the biggest buck I'd ever killed (153in) up to that point. I immediately walked rhe roughly 500 yards to my dads stand to get him. He was a bit annoyed I ruined his hunt but climbed down to come see my buck. As we get to about 30-40 yards away dad can finally see him and says something along the lines of "you weren’t kidding he's a good one". That's when the deer picks it's head up and starts to stand up and run towards the pine thicket he came from. I yanked that 30-30 up and made John Wayne proud. Hit him in the liver then two up the pooper, and a coupe de grace to the heart lungs as he lay there finally. Poor guy was shot to pieces worse gut/butchering job I've ever done.