Tag Archives: Oregon Hunts – Pronghorn

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2004 Grizzly Unit – Antelope & Pronghorn Hunt

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Frank Jr.’s Oregon Grizzly Unit  Not a guaranteed kill!

Horse Heaven Area Antelope 2004

This particular hunt came about with wanting to hunt Antelope sooner than later again with a rifle, plus not waiting until we had 12 or more points for hunting old haunts from the past in S.E. Oregon.  My son Frank Jr. and I had 9 points saved up each.  This would be his first Antelope hunt as a shooter!  Getting very impatience with waiting for more points and looking out 4-6 years longer to hunt for Antelope maybe in the Wagontire, we decided since we had a couple of places to hunt in the Grizzly Unit in Oregon, that we would put in for the Grizzly Unit.  Past and present I have sent many hunters into the unit with very good success!

Permission to hunt Earl Smith’s Ranch was given to us by Earl for hunting on the properties that laid in the Grizzly Unit, one piece being the “Old Gomes Ranch” and the other land lay south of the Cold Camp of Hwy 218, which included the Maupin and Hasting Buttes.

We had found a great buck on the “Old Gomes Ranch” prior to the season and he would be our first choice to chase.  “Chase” Strange word with Pronghorn, as most of the time we like to ambush Lopes at water or crossings.  In the Grizzly Unit you will not find the waterholes that one would find in the S.E. part of Oregon, so spotting and working in on them is the normal in the Grizzly Unit.  We did not get to hunt the opener of the hunt coming in on Sunday late.  Little did we know that Earl forgot about us (this happened a lot) and he let a guide come onto the land and hunt the place with his client.  Having talked with the ranch foreman an old friend from the past, that particular hunt was very interesting to say the less.  The client had a number of buddies with him at the time.  It is hard to say who harvested the buck after all the shots that were taken with multiple rifles.  Scuttlebutt was that the guide finally had to finish the buck off as it was leaving the property boundary, but then again it is only scuttlebutt!  It did piss me off a lot on this one!

A little dog hunting with the Glock at Earl's

So the hunt had changed for the both us now.  This hunt was about Frankie getting his first Pronghorn in Oregon.   We would have to work old deer and elk haunts in the Grizzly Unit that carried a population of Antelope and put Earl’s places on the back burner.  We would work the area around Hay Creek as I had found a good buck over in B.L.M. area during another earlier scouting trip for deer.  There were the areas around Ashwood and the National Grasslands that we could concentrated on for Lopes also.  None of this worked out, even with all the glassing from observation points.   Water was scarce in these areas; the Lopes were not working the areas as expected.  We would work another area of the Grasslands later in the hunt!

A run into the Horse Heaven and Donnybrook area was warranted.   We found a couple of decent bucks that would be shooters for Frankie during the first day of the hunt, but light was fading.  The 2nd day of the hunt, Frankie got on a pretty good buck near Horse Heaven.  The wind was really blowing hard on the hill and the shot was at about 300 yards.  That was one lucky Antelope at that particular moment of the hunt in the Horse Heaven area outside of Donnybrook.

Later a number of good herds of Antelope were located in the Grasslands near Hwy 97, but all the bucks were small.  No mature bucks were hanging away from the herds that we spotted.  A little dishearten for me as I truly wanted to see a Big Buck. The Grizzly Unit had gone through a major poaching epidemic of Antelope, Deer and Elk some years back along the Hay Creek Ranch, Ashwood & Grizzly Mountain area.  The culprits (youth) were caught from what I understand (local rancher gossip) and given just punishment.

We finally took a run down into Clarno which is B.L.M., the Northeast boundary of the Grizzly Unit and were about to drop in on quads to get back into the basin about 3 miles were I knew some good bucks would be.  Just as we are unloading a lone hunter comes up to the road off of the well warn trail.  He told us he had not seen any Antelope and he had been in their whole day.  Hmm!  Here we have a long hunter that is working hard and walking in, who knows if he was getting into the area of the Lopes.  I did not want to just head off down the trail and over the knobs with him there.  He then told us he would be hunting back in there once he got some food, new socks and a little rest.  Disturbing his hunt was not in my nature!

A very good hunt for Frankie! Grizzly Unit Lope

Finally Mike T., the ranch foreman for Earl Smith is located out in the hay fields on a tractor, see what glassing gets you. Mike says go ahead and hit it hard in the two ranch sections in the Grizzly Unit, I saw a number of bucks earlier in the morning on those sections.  The hunts know starts to get pretty exciting for both of us. This hunt was for Frankie and I wanted to make sure he got his Lope.  Since I do most of the glassing in the field and Frankie can spot them with the naked eye on the road, I was able to find a buck up on top of a draw along a fence-line at about 1000 yards.  Since I could only see the horns of the Lope, I told Frankie he was about to do some hiking to move in on the buck.  It was now very hot in the late afternoon, so this hike was a bit laboring!

We are able to close the distance to about 150 yards with little cover at this time. The buck was not a monster or even a big buck, but Frankie said he still wanted to harvest the buck and get one under his belt (youth and the wait).  The buck started to move out, but Frankie now had a rest on a fence post on the side of the hill.  He made the shot from his Browning BLR 270 loaded with 130gr. Nolser Ballistic Tips. The shot hit the buck in the chest cavity, a bit high in the lung at an angle, I would see later on.  The buck staggers and drops, but then all of a sudden he is up and heading out full tilt through the sagebrush and not stopping until he was a more than about 1/2 mile out in the rocks and sage.  I forgot to tell Frankie to shot if they move!  Now the chase was on for us without actually chasing the buck.  Using cover and moving quickly we were able to get within about 275 yards.  To my surprise Frankie stands up without any cover or rest and shots offhand at the buck as he starts to run again.  The buck drops and never moves a lick after that.  I was quite happy that Frankie got a Lope on this hunt and he made the final shot that counted.

Frankie really liked the 270 BLR, now he has to shoot the 257 Weatherby in the future!

I never did see a buck that I would take on the rest of the hunt.  The Grizzly Unit is not an easy hunt, as most areas of the Grizzly Unit are walk in area.  Now if one can hunt some of the private lands that hold Lopes, it could be a much easier hunt. Would I hunt the Grizzly Unit again, yes I would.  Though I want to go back to another haunt with Lopes that is going to take 12 points or better to draw.  There is something about hunting the S.E. part of the state, that only one that has hunted it would realize what draws you to it!

 

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Oregon Archery Pronghorn Successful Hunt

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Russ & Doug’s 2011 Pronghorn Hunt

I would love to tell you where this buck was taken, but I promised that I would not give out the exact location.  For two (2) years a couple of the fellows in the circle have taken dandy Antelopes from this area in S.E. Oregon.   It is a Pronghorn Archery Hunt Unit that takes about 5-7 preference points to get draw.   As my biologist that I have known for more years than I can remember told me recently that Oregon has monster Lopes in every unit, “it is just a matter of having the time and patience to find them”.
I myself have hunted a number of units with the arrow and have been fortunate to harvest some big Antelope Bucks!  So I know from scouting in almost all of the units that there dandy bucks everywhere.
Pictures from the 2011 Oregon Archery Antelope – Pronghorn Hunt:
A little different profile! Great buck taken by Russ!

This is a dandy archery Antelope Buck taken by Russ in 2011

This buck was one that got away, but not before Doug took his picture. Definitely a candidate of a buck for Boone & Crockett in 2012!

Enjoy the shots by Russ & Doug!

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Pronghorn & Coyote in Oregon

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The predator and the victim in Oregon and every other Western State!

Coyotes don’t always jump and mouse!

This dog was looking for rodents!

This post is going to be a two (2) information on the Coyote and the Pronghorn or better known to most as an Antelope!

Recently I got off with an old friend from the days of the Burns Bros. Sportsmen Center that was located on S.E. Union Ave in Portland.  The big yellow building with lots of big painted logo’s on the building, it was a meeting place in the old days!

He is now one of the top Biologist in the State of Oregon.   It has been great to rekindle the past on hunting and what he does for the ODFW. 

Does he make book or not is the question of the day!

 

Last year I talked with him a while about a few of the units that I had sent hunters into for Pronghorn and of course the Coyote came up in conversation.  There areas that the Coyote has caused havic on the Pronghorn in Oregon was an issue!

Today while talking with him, I came up with the non science simple cause of areas that the Coyote is reducing the Antelope fawns.  “So the Jackrabbits are down in population and the Coyote is going to take an Antelope fawn during the fawning season?” “Yep! That is the simple cause, but more complex than that Frank.”

There is one unit that comes into play a great deal with fewer fawns than any other unit and that is the Wagontire Unit, especially the South Wagontire unit south of Christmas Valley.   Last year there was on a ratio of 11 fawns to 100 Does, whereas in a unit further south the ratio of 43 fawn to 100 Does.

There is a great deal of B.L.M. to hunt in all of the units and the Wagontire Unit has more than most.  I would suggest getting your mapping and GPS, so you know where you are.

This is what we want to see in numbers!

So anyone that is just wanting to get out and hunt for Coyotes, it is a place to travel to with a great deal of roads to work from in the unit.   We can never stop the Coyote, as they are one of the most resourceful animals, that knows how to survive the elements and man.  Just whittle down the numbers so we have more Antelope fawn survive the first part of their life, once up and going they seem to keep from the Coy Dog!

I am under the understanding that the desert rodent population is making a comeback in the Oregon desert!

Now lets talk a little about Antelope hunting for those that going to hunt Antelope – Pronghorn this year.   I know many feel they are going to get drawn in 2012.  For those that have not applied, you have to decide what you are really looking for a Boone & Crockett or a good Lope to put on the wall.  There are Boone & Crockett Lopes in every hunt unit in Oregon, but some units fewer of course.  Sometimes hunters are overwhelm, as in most cases you get to see a great deal of Antelope bucks while hunting.  I have been told many times how a hunter shoots a good buck they feel and then be walking back to the truck and see the grand daddy.  It is important to know what you are looking at and know how to do a visual measurement.  Then you decide if that is one your going to pull the trigger or release an arrow on.

Sometimes they may just stand there waiting on you!

Oregon does have one hunt unit that the big boys die of old age.   Limited amount of tags for the hunt unit and it takes from 18 to probably 25 points to get drawn.   The problem with the unit is that there is a great deal of “Village Idiots” and they get harvested!  “Village Idiots” is a new word to me representing the youth in the Pronghorn kingdom…

So all of the Coyote hunters & Pro-Staffers for RD Game Calls, get your fannies out there and help the future Pronghorn hunters by taking out some dogs.

Cobra

Hunting Equipment, Uncategorized, United States - Military, Youth Hunts & Stories

Commander Rod Briece U.S. Navy Retired now serving in GOD’s Navy!

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Commander Rod Briece U.S. Navy Retired was a Believer, a Father, a Husband, a Leader, an Educator, and a Friend. Plus hunting and fishing was a passion for him in his off time.   In the later years Rod, found his grandson to be his new partner in the field.   That will surely be missed forever, but not forgotten for his grandson!

My name is Frank Biggs aka Frank Trumble when I first met Mr. Briece in 1969 at the Naval Security Group Activity in Imperial Beach, California.   He was a young Lt. Jg. Line Officer attached to Admin at the Naval Security Group Activity in Imperial Beach, California.   I was a young enlisted Petty Officer attached to a different Division in COMSEC.  I had heard that we had someone from Portland, Oregon at the site and I just had to meet him.   I was able to see Mr. Briece one day and found out that he love to duck hunt.  Well I knew all of the places to hunt ducks outside of San Diego, plus along the Mexican border.   I quickly invited him to duck hunt on my 80 hours off.   The hunt as an outing was great but no ducks, yet the day before I had jumped more than 500 ducks and geese in the marsh land between the Mexican and U.S. border.

I did not have much time left at that base, as I was going overseas.  I met Rod & Cheryl one day near Ream Field, Imperial Beach.   They had their two twin daughters Janel and Anne with them.  For some reason, that I can’t remember,  I was able to hold both of the girls, one in each arm. In reference to the above sentence, some years later like about 10 years I took my daughter Rebecca to the reserve center and Rod held her, she was about the same age in reference to the time I head Janel and Anne.   Ironic the circle of life and happenings.

It was some time later in 1972 that I was able to reconnect with Rod at the Naval Security Group Activity in Portland, OR.  It was a Reserve U.S. Naval Security Communications site at the reserve center doing active military work.   Rod later became my Commanding Officer for the unit I was attached to.   Great Leader of men and women!  I would have to say Commander Briece was hands on Officer.  At this point, I always refer him when on duty as Commander Briece!

Over the years I feel that Rod and I became great friends, nice thing about the reserves you can fraternize in civilian life.   While Rod was teaching Political Science at Mt Hood Community College, Rod helped me with projects with career at Burns Bros., Inc.

There is a great deal that I can tell you about Rod & my relationship over 40 years! I do have to mention that whenever I called Rod, Cheryl normally answer the phone with a great voice and always say I will get Rod for you and “how are you doing”!

During the summer months when Rod wasn’t having to do an Reserve Active Duty Training and the college was close you could find him working at Norm Thompson Outfitters, where he would be working fly fishing or gun section.   In those days Norm Thompson was the place for the best in hunting and fishing.   It is during that time frame that Rod met Jack O’ Connor, the legendary hunter who traveled the world was known as that man that shot the Winchester 270 for everything.   Rod acquired a Winchester Model 70 in the 338 Win. Mag caliber from Jack.   I was fortunate enough to see the rifle on an elk hunt with Rod.  That was Rod’s elk hunting rifle!

He guided me on my first Antelope hunt in Oregon, which was hunt of a lifetime and the meeting of new people. Later Rod introduced me to Wild Bill Campbell on a deer hunt outside of Pilot Rock, Oregon.  Wild Bill Campbell and I would become great friends over the passing years.

This was a great trip with Rod, my GMC truck working the hills and having 3 game plans. Boone & Crockett Pronghorn

Rod was always working on us Navy boys to come closer to God and he introduced me to Good Shepherd Church and the men’s group for early Morning Prayer on Tuesdays.

Then there was the summer that I was invited to the Good Shepherd Camp out at the Fairgrounds (Hunt Park) in Tgyh Valley, Oregon, bringing along my son and his buddy.  The boys camped outside in a tent and I had the luxury of Rod’s Camper.   The boys were able to fish and later we all went on an Exotic Sheep hunt with success.   That was the talk around the campfire that evening after the hunt!

I would have to put the biggest deal in my life when I was invited to the Sportsman’s Dinner at Good Shepherd.   It happen to be the time when Dennis Agajanian came and gave testimonial to all us that were there.   I was very enlightened and when Dennis Agajanian asks of those in the audience who was ready to come to the Lord. Stand and be known, touching Rod on the shoulder and doing so was of great feeling and the great feel of the chill when you touch the Lord.

I thank Rod for everything that he gave out to everyone he touched.   I am sure that Rod will continue on this new adventurer with Jesus! Rod you will be remembered by all of us in our Hearts my friend!   God Bless!

Successful Hunters 2011

Joshua’s Interrupted Silvies Antelope Hunt

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When a planned trip does not go the way it was expected after 11 years of waiting!

The following story was sent to me by a young man that had drawn a Pronghorn Tag for the Silvies #2 hunt for 2011.   I like that way Joshua hunts and his thoughts about his hunt.   As you can see from the pictures he is dedicated hunter and from the Blacktail buck pictured in this story, he likes to trophy hunt!

Dear Mr. Biggs,
Thank you for your patience regarding the timely delivery of the story of my Silvies Lope hunt. Unfortunately, it is a disappointing story to due circumstances out of my control but there is always something to be learned every time I go out and with that in mind, no trip has ever been a waste.
First of all, let me say that this was the first antelope tag I have ever drawn in Oregon. I have hunted them one other time in Wyoming, where the herds can be seen spotting every rolling hillside and public and private is virtually the same thing. I did not know what to expect on this hunt which is what caused me to begin researching on the internet and eventually stumble on your website which was the most amazing resource I have come across. Everyone’s story updates are pretty cool too. 🙂 Your website allowed an under-prepared outdoorsman feel like he had done a little bit of scouting. You gave me a point of reference to start from and also, I believe, an edge psychologically to know that I was not wandering around in vain.

The night before opening day, I made the 8 hour drive over to beautiful central Oregon from the towering pines of southern Oregon in an amazing heavenly lightening show as I passed through the vast alfalfa fields. Using the coordinates you gave me I was able to find a campsite quickly, near a waterhole southwest of the well. Pulling in the dark, right away on the other side of the oasis, a small black bear was stalking around. I watched it in the headlights for a while, excitement brewing for the hunt to come.

Calling in the dogs in the snow!

The next morning I headed out before daylight and hiked through some of the canyons that were noted on the map you gave as I tried to get my bearings and a feel for the land. Sure enough, around ten o’clock, I was sitting at the base of a canyon taking a breather as the sun had began to heat up past the 75 degree mark, and I saw a lone buck tearing across the plain about a mile off. I watched him as he passed behind a small ridgeline out of site. I decided I was going to sneak up and over the face of that ridge and hopefully pop up directly above him thinking he might have slowed his pace after reaching the safety of the canyon walls. I started putting the sneak on him down across the plain, crossing a deep creek bed and up and over the ridge. Just as I hoped, I crawled slowly over the ridgeline through the sage and there he was standing broadside not more than 75 yards away!!! Here is the complicated part of the story. As I climbed up the ridge and reached the higher elevation, a ranch house came into view a couple miles off to my left and 100 or so head of cattle a half mile off to my right. As, I stared at the small buck in my scope (but the biggest I’d ever seen) the thoughts and voices of my mentors over the years raced through my mind and even as the Lope began to sense my presence and EVEN COME CLOSER, I couldn’t find the peace to pull the trigger. I knew I’d get another chance with 10 days left and decided I needed to really make sure I knew the public land boundaries. Later that evening I received a telephone call from work stating that I was needed for an emergency and that I had to return by Sunday.

Dandy Blackbear, up close with the leveraction!

In the remaining time I had there, I only saw one other group of females as far as I could tell, as they were too far off even with the spotting scope. I was disappointed that I could not finish the hunt as I felt like things were heating up and I was enjoying the challenge of a new species and a different terrain. That’s how life rolls sometimes I guess and I’m thankful for all the memories I had anyway.

BTW, I saw the biggest Muley I’ve EVER seen just bedded in the shade next to the road, an easy 35in wide with velvet hanging.

I wonder if that is a 30-30 or 32 Win Special?

Thank you so much for your help. I am not one to use a gps but I am definitely reconsidering it as I could have found precise spots that you told me about quickly and accurately. I look forward to trading information in the future. Again, thank you for your wealth of knowledge and your willingness to share it and your patience as I finished out the hunting year. I had a chance to guide a hunt in Chesnimus and finished out the year in Grants Pass where I reside. Here are a few pictures of this year other hunts.    JOSH

Boxing the Tom in!

 

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Archery Pronghorn – Antelope Hunting Techniques

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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.

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.

For archery hunters in many of the Western States you have a chance to hunt every year for Antelope.  Where as with a rifle you might have to wait some 12-25 years to draw a tag, at least in the Oregon.  I have hunters in Oregon that are now hunting almost every year with the bow.   A  great challenge to hunt with the bow, but what a rush and accomplishment to harvest up close and personal.  You’ll find hunting with the bow for Antelope a great sport that you won’t be able to stop doing.   I have been told by my hunters that they have had the best experience hunting Antelope over anything else they have hunted in North America.  It could be that they see a lot of Antelope while hunting them.

Picture taken at 30 yards from a 500 yard stalk!

I one thing I do know after all these years and not even being in some of my old haunts for many years, is that Pronghorn are animals of habit from generation to generation.   They cover the same ground and do the same things from one generation to another.  Most of the land in which they live never changes.   There was one buck that my friends & hunters chased for about three years and never got.  I really wanted him for myself is what all thought.  He would be located in the same spot within a 1/4 mile and escape basically the same way.  His escape route was not one you could cover and he knew it.  Now if we ambushed him in his normal spot he could have been taken.  He was one of the biggest Antelope I ever hunted.  I did get one hunter on him at very close range with a standing broadside at 40 yards.  He missed the buck and the hunt was over for him!   He had told me that he was the greatest shot with bow and arrow!  A few years back I went back to a spot which I hunted and guided about 20 years ago.  The only thing that had changed is the B.L.M. put a solar power water pump on a water hole in one of my favorite spots.   Even the old ranchers sign was still there and he had been gone for a long time.  The sign had stated in so many words that you were crossing into his lands.  This happen to be B.L.M. that he leased, but did not own.  I have that sign now in my loft.

I once heard on a hunting program on cable that Pronghorn don’t jump through barbwire fences!  Well I have to tell you that they do got through the middle at times and not always under the bottom wire.   I have a blurred picture in of a buck Antelope jumping over a five strand fence!  YES I DO!

Ah! They do jump fences with ease!

I have seen mature bucks standing in the middle of a back country road in B.L.M., marking the road.  No, not by scratching but by urinating in the middle of road.   Once someone knows some of the peculiar habits of Antelope, you can use it to your advantage.   Such is the case a couple of years ago when I spot a group of Antelope in a 5 tag unit.  I wanted the picture of the buck and just knew he would go around the mountain and want to get back into the hole.  He did just that and my son asked how did you know?

I ambushed this buck as he came around the mountain!

I have taken a great deal of Antelope with the bow and all but a rifle kill has been from stalking.   A great deal of the bow hunters I know do wait on water, but you have to have patience.  One of my GPS Hunters sat for two (2) for more than 12 hours.  He as been successful two (2) years in a row.   I do love to stalk them and arrow them before they know I am there.  

This was stalked while at a waterhole and taken at 50 yards.

Antelope do lay in the sagebrush flats and with a lot of glassing from a vantage point you can find them and stalk within bow range easily.

I followed these bucks for some time and close the distance, wind to my face!

Many of friends think I am off the wall with some of my mannerisms when it comes to all types of hunting.  First off I would never relieve myself in an area that I hunt and I am going to have a wide stance so none of my scent is getting on my boots or pants. Then there is the issue with sunglasses, I will always wear sunglasses (favorite are Ray-Ban Wayfarer-easy to lift with bino’s with no bind) during the day and “Photo Grays” for the evening hunts.  I felt if the game, especially Antelope can’t see my eyes or movement then I could close the gap on them even easier once spotted.  I always wore a hat and a backpack with the spotting scope & tripod sticking out of the top.  It is what it is with habits and wearing the same pants on every hunt!  Terrible that it may be I wore blue jeans as my basic pants! Once in a while I will go full Camo, but that is on my son’s request.  It has never been about hiding from animals!

Good thing I had Top Secret Clearance on this shot! This picture was taken on a military missle site. This white buck was later taken out by a car as he crossed a highway.

Most experience hunters have there ways to hunt game, whether it is from stalking, waiting, ambush or just being lucky and walking into a shoot-able animal.  It is whatever works for you that makes the hunt!

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Cobra’s Grizzly Unit Archery Pronghorn Hunt

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Grizzly Mountain Antelope Buck

Most of my friends that have hunted with me over the years, know that I have little patience to sit and wait, though in more recent years I have found that I have grown to be more patient. Thus they know that I love to glass, find and stalk the Mulies and Lopes.

This story is about chasing Antelope in the Grizzly Hunt Unit in Oregon during Archery Antelope Season some years back. In the past one would put in for the premier rifle areas for Antelope and make the second choice for archery, knowing you would get an archery tag. I drew the Gerber Reservoir tag for many years and had a blast chasing and harvesting Lopes in the Sycan area.

Then the Grizzly Hunt Unit became a choice for Archery Antelope and the first couple of years it was easy to get the tag as a second choice. Having hunted for elk and deer in the Grizzly Unit since the early eights and seeing pretty good numbers of Antelope – Pronghorns, it was a great choice to hunt.

There were a great number of areas to hunt Lopes in the Grizzly Unit for public lands in the Grizzly Unit carried Lopes with some numbers. The National Grasslands was a great place, along with the BLM both in the Northern Sector and near Ashwood, Oregon.

Many of friends think I am off the wall with some of my mannerisms when it comes to hunting. First off I would never relieve myself in an area that I hunt and I am going to have a wide stance so none of my sense is getting on my boots or pants.

4x Globe Sight Target Style

Then there is the issue with sunglasses, I would always wear sunglasses during the day and “Photo Grays” for the evening hunts. I felt if the game, especially Antelope can’t see my eyes or movement then I could close the gap on them. I always wore a hat and a backpack with the spotting scope & tripod sticking out of the top. It is what it is with habits and wearing the same pants on every hunt! Terrible that it may be I wore blue jeans as my basic pants! It has never been about hiding from animals, only other humans.

Let’s get onto the Antelope hunt in the Grizzly Unit this time frame in my life! Realizing that story is based on a hunt in the 80’s, things have not changed other than I might hunt more waterholes now as I grow older.

My equipment in those years was P.S.E. Mach Flite 4 Bow 70# 29″ Draw, Easton Arrows, P.S.E. Brute 3 125gr. Broadhead, Stanislawski Sight (Globe), Stanislawski Overdraw Rest (Mel Built for me) and Stanislawski Superb Rest (attached to the overdraw). The length of the arrows are 25 ½’ with a speed of 340 fps!

Couple more years he would have been a dandy buck!

The weather was great and was able to find Antelope in the numbers in the area around Haystack Reservoir and Grays Butte. This was going to be a usual weekend hunt only as I could be make it their in about 1 ½ hours from my home in east Portland. On Saturday I made a number of stalks after spotting lone bucks to within 100 yards. Funny how that distance is workable with Antelope. There were not many does around to mess up my stalks. What I needed was to find Bucks that would be in areas with more cover. The area that I hunted had little water and the Lopes would range into the private for water. Saturday ended with no success, but I would make the most of the following day.

The following day I would work the area on just south of Grizzly Mountain, which was always a great area to find Antelope and Mule deer. It was a time that the road in was not gated off and one could work a lot of area. Now it is gated off, yet it is only because about 100 yards of the road touches private. If one wants to hunt it present day they will have to come around from the west and do a great deal of walking.

I found a lone buck at about 1000 yards while glassing an area that I could find Antelope at any given time. The stalk was on and I was able to move quickly, even run as there were bulldozer cuts in the land for fire lines. Settling down I was within 80 yards of the buck, which I figured to be about 14″ with decent mass making him a shooter on this weekend hunt. The wind was blowing off the mountain as it was getting late into the day. His attention was to the direction of the mountain and with the wind (heavy) I was able to move in on him to 45 yards. It was still a time that I used fingers and as I came up from the crotch position I was a full draw. I aim at this chest and released the shaft, he made no movement as the wind was making a lot of noise and his head was turned away from me. I missed the mark and hit him in the shoulder and the arrow did not pass through him, but yet looked deep enough that he would not go far.

Pretty good mass and cutters
After waiting for about 30 minutes I went to the place of impact and followed a small blood trail, he had gone about 500 yards and laid down in the trees. The area of made up of Junipers, Sagebrush and rocks.
Great way to end a weekend of hunting for Antelope and take a buck that would score around 69″!
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Antelope – Pronghorn Hunting Biggs Hunt Unit – Oregon

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It is funny that I don’t get many people inquiring about the West Biggs Antelope Hunt in Oregon!

I have spent much time over in the unit, which has a great deal of private land, yet there are a lot of Antelope in the Public Areas that are open, mostly to foot traffic with vantage point drive to points.  The Antelope or Pronghorn love to move from some of the neigbhor units.

I have attached a link to a buck that would work both sides, plus a few pictures of a buck that I took pictures of while bow hunting for deer in the unit in August.

I knew where this guy was heading and could have waited!
There was a bigger buck working the area!

LINK:     Back and Forth Lope  

This video is a buck that I took this footage of a few days past the season!

Great spot to camp not to far away! B.L.M. Hunting