Brett's Lope back from the Taxidermist Oct-2011 - Love the Turn!
Brett and I have been emailing back and forth since the spring of 2009 and the Silvies Unit in Oregon. He had enough points to get drawn in 2009 I thought but he did not get drawn. So expecting him to draw in 2010 and forgot. Anyway in 2011 after hearing he got his tag and learning about the mapping software, which Brett bought, the hunt was on. Great they he took this hunt so serious and spent the time in the field. Brett wrote a great story that all of you are now reading!
Brett's 2011 Silvies Lope - 250 Yard Shot
In June 2011, I finally drew mySilvies #2 Antelope tag. I thought I was going to get it in 2009, and forgot to put in for it in 2010. Now the work begins. I took my first scouting trip the last weekend in June. I saw several billies, ones that I would’ve shot, had it been in season. There was lots of water this spring, and the creeks were high. When the dry lakes aren’t dry it seems like it keeps the antelope further out in the desert, and not as close to agricultural lands.
On July 17th, I got back out to do some more scouting. This time I was able to get into the areas that Frank sent me, and there were antelope exactly where Frank’s way points were. I ended up spraining my ankle pretty badly on this trip and had to cut short, but I saw several antelope and a couple more shooters. Unfortunately, I was unable to do any more scouting before the season started.
Brett is one proud Lope Hunter!
On August 24th , I set up camp on Nicoll creek. Once I was situated, I headed out on the desert to hunt. I only had the chance to scout one of the areas Frank gave me for about an hour. That afternoon, I decided to go check out the area where I saw the big billie in June. There was one billie there, but not big enough, so I decided to pass on it.
On August 25th, I decided to head north to the Paulina area. I was surprised that I didn’t see anything ,not even on the GI road. In the afternoon, I headed more towards Burns. I found another billie. It would’ve been an easy shot, however, it didn’t strike my fancy, so I passed.
His daughter likes his Lope also!
On the morning of August 26th, I decided to go back and really work the areas Frank gave me. I got up to the Dry Lake around 8:30 and was glad to see no tracks up there other than mine from 2 days before. As I came out onto a big flat, I spotted some antelope about 400 to 500 yards out. I got out my binoculars and I saw a billie and some nannies. They were definitely watching me. There was a small rise ahead of me, so I got on my hands and knees and crawled far enough where I could get a better look. I saw he wasn’t a monster but I liked his curl and width. He satisfied me and that’s what mattered. I was still 350 plus yards out and had no rest, so I had to belly crawl another 100 or so yards across the desert, to a couple of trees which gave me a make shift rest and a good view. I was resting against the tree, watching the billie. He was out about 250 yards but had nannies all around him. I had to wait for what seemed like eternity (but in reality, was probably 10 to 15 minutes) until he was finally clear. He didn’t give me the best angle. I made the shot, and hit him. He ran about 100 yards and went down.
The Lope Country that Brett found his buck!
Frank was right on the money with his locations. He really helped make my hunt a success. When I went to the places I was thinking of going on my own, I had very little success but every time I went where Frank said the animals were, they were there!
Ray contacted me around June 30th after searching the internet for information on the Oregon Malheur Antelope Unit. What I liked about Ray, was that he was prepared for hunting, having the right equiptment. He also had a Garmin GPS with mapping and he did buy the www.huntinggpsmaps.com Maps for the hunt!
Frank, I used my Remington 700 – .270 with the Winchester Ballistic 150gr (I think, could be 130gr). We ended up camping off of Warm Springs Rd just a few miles north of the Res. (we were the only camp I saw all week). We covered a lot of ground in this area from camp towards Riverside and S.W. towards Crane before deciding to hit the hills east of Shumway south out of Juntura. As you had mentioned, most water holes were full so jumping pond to pond wasn’t giving us any results. On the hot afternoons saw a herd bedded in the timber. Jumped a nice herd of 10-12 lopes with a huge Buck in the rear but we were crossing through private land at that point. We ended up trying to stalk that herd once they ducked the fence to BLM but it only took a few minutes for them to cover a few miles. After hiking to where we thought they might have slowed down they were nowhere to be seen (It took us a few hours to get there). They were bedded down in the sage on a hillside maybe 80 yds off of the road. Saw a nice shooter again on private right along the highway one morning also.
Ray's first big game animal!
Hunting Buddy - JACK!
Ultimately I took my buck on our evening hunt last Wednesday. After a late lunch and a few cold drinks (we had been out since 5AM and had covered over 100miles on our quads and several miles on foot) we headed out of camp around 5:30PM on our quads headed North on Warm Springs Rd. Our plan was to try to glass the hills south of Hwy 20 where we had seen that nice buck off the highway that hit the hills toward camp once we pulled over to see him. We turned on to a road about 5-6 miles south of the highway (spotting scopes in hand) thought we would ride in to look for a good vantage point to sit out the sunset and hope to see him.
Green Antelope Country in August!
It wasn’t a few miles in when I creped around a blind corner and saw an antelope moving through the meadow (about 200-225 yds away) I grabbed my rifle and jumped off my quad. I put my sights on him and realized right then that this was my chance. The sun had dropped below the next ridge and things happened so fast that I quickly but softly asked my buddy who had just ran up with binos in hand “that’s my buck, right?” without hesitation he replied “YES! TAKE THE SHOT!” By this time he had us pinned and had adjusted his walk to a gallop and was broadside planning on getting up over that ridge. I squeezed the trigger and heard a whack! The adrenaline at that point I felt had never been stronger!
Ray's other hunting partner Neil! Find them Lopes!
But he didn’t drop, I hit him a bit low and he ducked around a lone tree at about 225yds . I almost began to panic wondering if I only imagined that whack since I had been dreaming about it every night since I drew the tag. Just then he popped out the other side and stopped broadside looking right at me, I squeezed off another round and he dropped in his tracks! After a few minutes of high-fives, hugs, and holy —-‘s I went up to claim my trophy! Not the biggest one out there but a solid buck with ivory tips and a broken kicker tells me he could have been a little bruiser!
Not the biggest one out there but a solid buck with ivory tips and a broken kicker tells me he could have been a little bruiser! I can’t wait until Christmas time when I get him back and have years to tell the story of my lifetime. Incredible hunt, and an incredible animal…
Antelope Country of Malheur Hunt Unit
We saw a large herd of Big Horn Sheep and more coyotes then I have ever seen in one place. Lot of deer too, and one really nice buck (wish I would have gotten a picture of).
This is a great story about making new friends in the hunting world. DAK was a local hunter that contacted me and met with me at the local Burger King for lunch in 2010. David (DAK) wrote a great story about his hunt, which probably should have been in a magazine or real time public land hunting. Since that time DAK contacted me that he would love to go back over to South Wagontire, if I had a hunter that would like another set of eyes and field work. DAK definitely is a man that is analytic in the field and how he hunts. Mike contacted me and I thought about DAK. The rest is history now and once again there is a successful hunt in South Wagontire.
Frank, Once again, thank you for assisting me on my Antelope hunt. It was a great success! As agreed upon, I am providing a story, and photos. I must add that it’s an honor to do so. I don’t consider myself a journalist in any way, shape or form, but here it goes!
After fourteen years of applying for a South Wagontire Rifle Antelope tag, I was finally successful in drawing! The excitement level was off the chart! My wife Cristine and I immediately planned a scouting trip for the long Fourth of July weekend. I gathered all the maps that I had, and acquired some more from the local BLM office. After studying the maps, we decided on starting in the southern end of the unit. We were on the road early the morning we left to scout. It was about a four hour drive from Grants Pass to the small town of Paisley. We started seeing Antelope after we headed north on Hwy. 395 out of Lakeview. Our first stop was at the Hot Springs RV Park that’s about six miles west of Paisley to see if we wanted to park our trailer while we were there to hunt. What a rustic, but neat little park with full hook-ups, and mineral pools to soak in after a long days hunt! Cristine was really excited about that perk!
We started to see game immediately, but all the property that they were on was ZX Ranch land. No hunting there! We headed north out Red House Rd. and headed out into open country. I had no idea that this unit was so vast, and we were just seeing a small portion of it! After five hours of driving back roads and jeep trails, we had glassed some Antelope, but not the numbers that I had expected. We did see animals in most of the spots that looked “gamey” too me, but putting a stalk on them would be difficult at best, and sitting on a spot and waiting would be an inefficient use of hunting time. After hitting pavement on Hwy. 395 north of Abert Lake, we found a place to stay for the night and talked about what we had seen that day.
Cristine & Mike 2011 Near Lake Abert
Sunday morning we started at the northeast corner of the unit and went west to Christmas Valley. We did see one small herd of three does between Hwy. 395 and Christmas Valley. Antelope do have a way of disappearing on the landscape, and then reappearing again, but we just weren’t seeing them. After doing a complete loop of the entire unit, we were back in Paisley, and seeing some game again. After a scouting until early in the afternoon, we started on our drive home.
I was at a conundrum as to how to approach this hunt, and this is where I found Frank (AKA Cobra). After going online and googling South Wagontire Antelope, his sight came up and I made contact via an email. Cobra seemed excited to finally hear from a hunter that was lucky enough to have drawn this tag! The rules of engagement where made clear and that’s where this success story started. First of all was to get a gps unit that would support the information that Cobra was going to provide, and best of all he mentioned that he had a friend that had a successful hunt in 2010, and he might be interested in meeting up with us to show us how to really hunt this unit.
Mike (LF) & David (RT) Success is so sweet!
Cobra made contact with his friend DAK and explained the situation, and DAK made contact with us, and an instant connection was made. After a few weeks of communication and going over GPS way-points on the map, it was time to hunt! Cristine and I pulled out of Grants Pass at 3:00 am with the trailer in tow Thursday before the hunt so we would have time to set up camp and get some more scouting in. The drive over was awesome like always, and the excitement level was high. After camp was set up, we changed into hiking boots and Camo to go out and scout some of the new way-points that we had acquired. Some of the waterholes we went into had very little traffic coming in, but there were a couple that had lots of fresh tracks surrounding their entire perimeters. BINGO. We planned how we would set up a hide depending on the wind direction at each spot. We were also seeing lots of game, including some really nice bucks. After running around all day we headed back to camp to bib some steaks, and to enjoy a cold drink.
"view of the water hole from our blind."
DAK pulled into camp around 9:30 Thursday evening and introductions were made. What an outstanding man with allot of knowledge of the quarry we were to pursue. After enjoying dinner, it was time to get down to business and discuss what Cristine and I had seen earlier in the day and which areas that where left to scout the next day. We all hit the sack around 11:00 pm Thursday night and were up at 5:00 am Friday morning to get out and cover some more ground. Cristine planned on staying back at camp and soaking in the mineral pools and hiking around camp for the day. DAK and I started on a marathon day that would bring us back to camp at 8:30 Friday evening! We started to see animals immediately as soon as we left the pavement on ZX Ranch property. After checking out one water hole that had some light traffic, we proceeded on to the next spot and glassed a couple does with a nice buck in tow. I was great for me to get DAK’s opinion of all the bucks we glassed that day to help in making an informed decision on what kind of buck to look for. The day scouting was most productive and several bucks were seen. When we arrived back at camp, there was one happy rested and relaxed wife that had amazing fajitas waiting for us! What a great day and the anticipation were high!
We were up at 3:00 am Saturday morning. I don’t think I hardly slept a wink! It was about an hour drive to the spot that we decided to try first so we were rolling down the road by 3:30. That would give us plenty of time to hike in and get our hide set up before the sunrise. We pulled onto the trail that leads to our parking spot, and what did we see? A rig with a tent pitched had come in Friday night and had the same spot picked out! -No trouble. We had covered enough ground the day prior to have a “plan B” up our sleeve. So off we went with about seven miles to cover and an easy half-mile hike in to our hide. We were still in and on our spot with a make shift blind set up against the rimrock before the sun came up. The nearest cover to the water hole was 244 yards to the near side, and 298 to the far side but that was okay! I had been practicing shooting from field positions and had sighted my 257 Weatherby in at 300 yards. The outcropping that we chose also had a perfect rock “bench rest” to shoot from I had humorously pointed out to DAK the day before while scouting.
David's Shot at the waterhole!
A lone coyote came into the water hole at 7:30 am for a drink of water. He headed up into the sage brush on the opposite side of the canyon and started hunting for breakfast. What a treat to watch him through the binos! This was the second time that my wife Cris had been along on a hunt with me, and she was amazed at how fun it is to watch animals in their natural surroundings. I was busy watching the coyote and she whispered “here they come!” I first thought she meant more coyotes, but when I panned to the right through the Binos, ANTELOPE!
Seven does single filed up the edge of the canyon on the opposite side towards the water hole. About 50 yards out from the water hole, they all squatted and went pee at the exact same time. We both giggled about that. I knew that there should be a buck with them and when I glassed further down trail from them, there he was! I watched him walk the last 150 yards to the water hole and I could tell he was a nice buck. Possibly the “one”. He next strolled up on top of the berm to the right of the water hole like he was saying “look at me”. When he turned his head and quartered away slightly, I could see his deep hooks. I wasn’t going to settle on the first buck I saw, but this guy was really appealing to me. I whispered to Cris that I was going to take him when he gave me a shot. She asked me if I was sure about him, and I said once again I was going to take him. He dropped behind the berm and was out of sight. A few seconds passed and he walked around to the back side of the water hole, drank some water and then turned perfectly broadside to us. I made sure that the does were all clear of him and placed the crosshairs right behind his shoulder and squeezed the trigger. At the shot I heard that solid “whack” that you get when a bullet connects solid with an animal. He dropped at the shot and didn’t even kick. He was 298 yards according to the laser range finder. What an emotional moment for the both of us! Cristine now understands the feelings and emotions that we go through when an animal is taken. She wants to start to apply for the same hunt next year!
There’s a phenomenon known as “ground shrinkage” that is sometime experienced after taking a game animal. This buck looked bigger and bigger the closer we got to him. We were stoked! Once we got to him we must have spent at least 20 minutes looking at him before I took off to get the pickup. I managed to get a hold of DAK on his cell phone and told him what had transpired in the last half hour. He was busy watching another possible spot and took some great pictures of another herd at a waterhole. DAK double timed it out and made it to our location to join in the celebration. After caping, skinning, and quartering my buck out it was off to Paisley for ice to cool the meat down.
Cobra, what a great hunt for all of us thanks to you my friend. To all of you those are fortunate to draw this tag, have a great hunt!!! Mike & Cristine
David's Monster Buck in wrong unit!
Many waterholes that were dry last year had water this year. Wildcat waterhole, which was full up last year, was dry this year. Very strange! Had a blast! Mike and his wife are great folks and fun to hunt with. We glassed many Lopes Friday (8 different bucks and lots of does). While Mike shot his buck on waterhole _13, I was sitting on _7.2 with a camera (classified). Watched 13 does and a smallish buck come in, water and feed, and head out. They never knew I was there. I got some great pictures which Mike has. Here are two good ones from the waterhole. Last picture is a monster buck I saw by the highway coming in Thursday night but was not in the right unit for us to go after. Biggest lope I have ever seen by a long ways. If you have anybody in South Wagontire next year keep me in mind. DAK
First off hunting is about networking and in this case it surely is. Justin use to work with or my son worked with Justin in the days of Sportsman’s Warehouse in Portland. I had seen pictures of Bulls that Justin and his group had taken along the John Day River some years back… He knew what he was doing for sure when it came to hunting.
In the early part of 2010 once Justin knew his group had tags for Lopes in the Malheur he got a hold of me and asked if I knew any areas for the Malheur. I knew a few spots and shared the information with him.
As you can see his group was very successful with a couple of good bucks for that area.
2010 Malheur Lope - Justin's Group 100% Harvest
This year I had some other hunters in the unit for both deer, elk and lopes. Justin shared his information on his hunt, which I have past along to the new group of hunters. Those hunters last year got information from me on the Steens Mtns. for deer.
Brandon’s 2010 West Beatys Butte Antelope 40 yards!
Early on in 2010 after Brandon drew his Archery Antelope Tag for West Beatys Butte with one preference point, he contacted me via email about possilbe Lope hunting sights in the unit. He and his dad were willing to spend some time to scout the area. I worked up some waypoints from the old days and since he had a Garmin Mapping GPS, it made it easy for him to utilize the waypoints.
I thought I would share the pictures from his hunt and a short story about the hunt. The big thing he was successful on this bow hunt and harvested a very good Antelope.
Bwana,
In the above attachment you will find the 2010’ Archery Antelope that I got which you helped me on with the GPS coordinates. You will also see a picture of a really nice Lope that we saw during our scouting trip we did 1 month prior to opening day.
Scouting Lope at waterhole!
I got the smaller lope at the same hole as we saw the larger lope at. There was an average of 20 to 40 lopes using the water hole we found. I shot my lope at 40 yards out of a Primos double bull blind while he was drinking water from the hole. Last year was extremely dry and any hole that had water had antelope around.
The water hole that I hunted which I found while scouting is coordinates:
Top Secret Spot
Thanks again for all the help you were. Your help with the GPS let me find the above water hole which brought me success. There were a lot of antelope around this water hole.
I have attached a link that will give you some pictures to look at of bucks that I have taken pictures of from May 2008 until August 2010 for the most part. With the Blacktail deer I find that getting pictures is during this time frame.
Now as for hard horn bucks, one needs that staging area if they want to get pictures.
Now when the first full moon cycles in August it dries up a bit on finding the bigger bucks in the evening.
It seems the time will remain close on sighting the bucks and I find the bucks in the same area a great deal. There are few bucks that I never see again not matter how many times I work the area.
I thought I would do some updating on this post since I did write it in 2011. I am a firm believer in having the correct equipment and knowledge to keep legal while hunting. The other benefit of having the following tool, is that you might be able to find a landowner that let you hunt. Most farmers have great feeling about Lopes when they grow grasses…
Everyone should have @onxhunt in Mobile and or Garmin Colored GPS with the #onxhunt chip.
The tool know where you are at all times, boundaries are important to know…
In my time I have done a great deal of scouting and researching of Pronghorn or Antelope as most call this great animal from the past in Oregon and the rest of the Western States, where they roam in hunt-able numbers.
I have been fortunate to have harvest 2 Booners. Should have 2 more, but things happen. I have guide a few in the past and had them on Booners. One fellow that I was really upset was told me he could shoot out to a 1000 yards, no he did not shoot at 1000 yards, but has rested shot at 200 yards on the famous Rye Grass Buck. He missed him, hunt over and we parted ways…
2019 Thoughts: If you have time to scout even 1 day prior, get a game plan of glassing and glassing. Everyone should have at least an A, B and C plan. Glass from afar and if possible from a rise. Lopes are habit creatures and will work the same water holes and areas.
The best part of having a successful hunt is having experience with you. On my first Antelope hunt I was very fortunate to have my a Navy buddy guiding me in an area that I have never been in. My Navy buddy and I met when I was station at the Naval Security Activity in Imperial Beach, CA. I was a young enlisted guy and he came in as a LTJG from Portland, OR. I took him on his first duck hunt in the area of Imperial Beach and Tijuana. We later got reconnected when I got off active duty and joined the Naval Reserve. Rod retired as a CMDR from the Navy!
Grizzly Unit – Archery Lope
Cutting to the chase, my first Antelope hunt was a great learning experience for me. I became a quick learner and listen to everything Rod had to say and show me. He had a friend that worked for BLM in the area that knew the habits of the local Lopes. My First Lope Hunt
After that I became quite hooked on Antelope and spent the next 20 years plus scouting, chasing and free guiding on Antelope in Oregon and a little in Wyoming.
I have found that Antelope are very habit forming in their movement. I have seen the same buck or bucks working an area even after pressure. I know that most people do not realize that Antelope any other animal that marks their territory. One may not notice other animals doing so, but with Lopes the area that they live is a bit more arid and their marks show up. I always found it particular that they would mark a dirt road. I would catch them squatting in the middle of a road on scouting trips.
Many times I hear that a hunter hasn’t seen an Antelope at all on a scouting trip or hunting trip. I often ask them how much glassing had they done. Glassing you will find the the sage brush moves and the colors aren’t green. One has to have an eye when driving in or just looking for game. If what you think you see is not rock, dirt, junipers, or sage brush, it is usually some sort of game.
Spotted from 1/2 mile away during rifle season!
Over the many years of chasing Lopes, I have found the same buck in an area from year to year, which includes the same feeding areas. Years ago I chased the same buck for more than three (3) years in the same 5 X 5 square miles that I would locate him. I do believe that he lived to be a ripe old age.
Don’t ever overlook the fringe area of timber in an arid location, especially in Oregon. We have many units that the Antelope use the timber as would a Mule Deer buck. We have areas like the Maury, Gerber Res, Paulina and many more that the successful hunters have found big bucks in the timber.
If you want to find the big boys you need to take out the Coy Dogs!
My words are to those that hunt for Pronghorn is to carry a great pair of Bino’s, water, Mapping GPS (Garmin), a rifle cartridge that can carry the distance in wind, and maybe someone that can spot game.
Max's First Elk at 14 years old in the Grizzly Unit of Oregon
As I have said before many people come into our lives. In the outdoor world of hunting and fishing, I feel that we connect with the land and those that are part of the land…
For me there have been many Ranchers that I have come in contact in regards to hunting, especially in the state of Oregon…
In the 80’s. 90’s, 2000’s, much of my time was spent in Central Oregon mostly on the west side of the John Day River in pursuit of deer, elk and free ranging exotics. Through the years one might become infamous or notorious in relationship of the owners of the rimrock, sage and junipers. This past summer my son and I visited one of the ranchers that I have known through others, as well as how he knew me, yet we have never sat down and had a fireside chat… During the 4 or so hours we spent in a tent on his property, setting life straight and becoming friends of the mind, a common bond was made. Life is not easy for Ranchers, especially in the hostile land of the John Day River.
So the following was able to happen because of the gathering of the past summer!
Hi Frank-
“I found your website after sending you a private message on Ifish after you responded to my post about my son needing a place to hunt for cow elk in the North Grizzly Unit. If you have any contacts that would be great the season ends on November 30 and I am running out of options. Any help you could provide for a 14 year old kid would be greatly appreciated!” Jeff
Being able to come up with an area and the Rancher’s phone number, Jeff was able to get permission to hunt on this land.
Hey Frank-“Look at what we found! Ha-Ha….
Great hunting experience for my son we put in a long stalk in on Saturday morning after putting the elk to bed Friday night. We ended up walking the rim rock all the way to the end. We crawled to the edge where my son touched one off from the top clear down to the bottom. He hit her in the back leg with a stiff wind coming from left to right, very tough shot!
The Wind always blows in the area!
They took off running she was hurt yet still ran for an extended period. We caught up to her a couple of times but she ran off before he could settle in to shoot. I finally spotted her bed down in front of a tree at a high vantage point. This time we cut a limb off a tree after he missed twice so he could get a good shot. He connected while she was laying down right in the neck and died immediately… Took us all day to finally get her out with the use of a 4 wheeler but we were both still beat after coming in and out of that Canyon a couple of times! Finished skinning her out then cut her in half and headed for home about 6PM last night.”
Great experience!
Hey Frank-Happy Black Friday!
We ended up on Dave’s property….he really took to the “kid” as he called him…..Ha-Ha.
He let us use his 4 wheeler to haul that thing out which really helped the cause!
He also enjoyed the whiskey, salmon, beer and tuna that I brought to him as Thanks.
Hell of a memory for a 14 yr old kid, made it even more special that we were able to do it together….
Thanks again for the connection, Max is very thankful and wanted me to say Thanks as well….
