Wyoming Antelope Hunt

Road trips are one of my favorite things to do! Especially when you’re with a group of good friends, the weather is great, and the final destination is “Trophy Ridge Outfitters” near Carlile, Wyoming. This was just the case for me in September of 2014. Our Pronghorn Antelope season at home in Saskatchewan has been closed the last few years due to low populations in some areas, so we haven’t been able to put in for the big game draw. However, we could hunt antelope in Wyoming with an outfitter tag. So we packed our bags, and made the 12 hour trek across the border.

We got to the cabins well after dark, so we had to shoot our practice arrows via the headlights of the truck (do what ya gotta do though!) An early morning followed and we were up and on our way out to find some antelope. Our guide dropped us all off at seperate locations, mine was at a blind which was set up in a clearing of cat tails, about 10 yards away from a slough with a 30 yard span across it. A few antelope came in during the day, but they were all does. Finally, around 4 PM ; after sitting in a blind that was comparable to a portable sauna all day; a buck came over the hill about 350 yards away. I watched him through my binoculars, and he was headed right to the water!

Watching antelope during their rut is enough to make you tired just trying to follow their hurried antics. If a group of females is all together, the buck is happy, if one doe so much as wanders 10 yards away, the buck instantly takes chase and herds her back with the group, which causes the others to scatter, thus creating himself a whole new job (in his mind anyway) Which is exactly what happened as the buck I was watching was about 3/4 of the way in from when I had first seen him. I had my bow ready, and my binoculars still on him. His need for water changed immediately when he spotted a doe 150 yards to his right, and he took off after her, leaving little dust clouds as he ran.

Day two seemed to be a bit more promising – we set up a new blind by a secluded water hole. By noon , there had already been much more activity than the day before, including a couple smaller bucks. I had my sights on one of them, but wanted to hold out for a bigger one as my guide’s words echoed in my ear “if the prong is level, or above their ear, those are the ones you want to shoot” The afternoon sun once again made for an uncomfortably warm sit, which brought in a few groups of does, with smaller bucks. Watching all the antelope within 25 – 30 yards of me, had me second guessing. “Should I take one of these bucks?” ” Maybe these are the biggest ones I’ll see” But, despite having a mental argument with myself, I decided to wait.

As the sun started it’s descent, another group of does came in, they were a bit hesitant of the blind, but still made their way down to the water. I was taking pictures of the does when their buck came into view, he was definitely the biggest buck I had seen in the last two days. I had already taken down my shooting sticks, so I tried to be quiet and quick at the same time, which isn’t the easiest thing to do. Once I was all set up, I put the cross hairs on him; just as he took off after a doe. He circled her around and brought her back in but he wouldn’t stand still enough for me to make a shot. I lost sight of the buck in my scope so I looked up – to see his tail going over a hill after the does.

I once again set my cross bow down, and settled back into my chair. I told myself that there was still a full day left to hunt and tried not to let frustration get the best of me.

Another twenty minutes passed when I heard a noise to my right, the whole group of does and the buck had circled around behing me and were coming in from the other side!

This time, the buck let a couple of the does down to the water to drink. He was standing 15 yards away from me broadside. I moved from the chair down on to one knee, and set up my shooting sticks. I lined up, and took the shot. At first I thought I missed!! He was still standing in the same spot! I started getting another arrow ready and re-cocked my bow, I looked out the window of the blind again, and he was gone!! I peeked out a gap in the door and there he was! 20 yards straight out, laying down! Shaking, I undid the blind door and went to check him out!

A successful kill zone shot had gotten me my first Pronghorn Antelope!