Tag Archives: Oregon Hunts – Pronghorn

Chris & Lucas’s 2023 Steens Antelope Hunt…

September 1, 2023 Frank Biggs Leave a comment

Prolog:

As promised, Frank…here’s the story. The big buck we missed was in the same basin you and I each had a waypoint in. The one we ended up taking was about a mile from one of your other waypoints, and way further off the road. I had some waypoints scattered around the area, too.
You never quite know what the landscape really is until you’re there and put your own eyes on it.

I appreciate your help and affirmation on some of the spots. I kind of wish we’d had time to explore all of them…but we weren’t going to leave bucks to find bucks, everything in this story was within about 3-4 mile stretch. We didn’t stray too far out of it except when weather was too bad to drive the dirt. Had we needed more than a day and half, I’m sure we would have extended out further.

Story:

June 10th I was going through my normal routine early in the morning, scrolling through FB as I sat on the throne. I saw a friend had posted they had drawn a coveted elk tag and realized results were up! I immediately opened my ODFW account to see if I had drawn my 600 series tag, not even considering I would draw my Steens antelope tag with only 11 points. There it was, “Successful” for antlerless deer. Wait, what? Successful for Steens antelope? I had to do a double take, close out and sign back in to make sure it wasn’t a mistake. Well shoot, I wasn’t planning for that. But I immediately knew I was taking my 13 year old, Lucas, to fill this tag. He has busted his rear end since he was 8 hunting with me, trying to get him to shoot a deer since he was 9 with no luck. Within a week I had reserved a camp site and was knee deep into E-scouting on OnX. Within a month my map looked like a Christmas tree with waypoints. I reached out to some people I know more familiar with the area than me, even though I had been there before. I had the tag previously in 2011 and my dad had the tag in 2010. So I had a general knowledge and knew where I wanted to focus. One I reached out to was a fellow by the name of Frank with Bwana Bubba Adventures who runs the Oregon Pronghorn – Antelope Hunters FB page. He was always posting about offering info and waypoints so i reached out to him through email. He provided a few areas I had not looked into, but more importantly further confirmed some of the areas I had already focused on, one of which ended up being spot on. Calls to the local bio reaffirmed some of my waypoints.
There was only so much more I could do with no time to take a scouting trip before season, so I spent the following weeks dreaming and talking with Lucas about what to expect, looking at pictures for visual aids, where to aim, etc. Talking over plans and areas with my BIL and my wife’s cousin who had wanted to tag along and camp up on the mountain to scout and glass for us. This would end up being a game changer having them along. With rifles zeroed 2 weeks before season, it was almost time to head over and have a day of scouting before opening day. As the trip loomed closer, my wife decided to extend a stay with her sister and the kids at Sunriver another day, meaning Lucas would come home Wednesday and we’d turn around and drive 6.5 hours to camp the following morning. Being the kind to jump at an opportunity for more time in the field, I changed our camp plans to start on Wednesday so we’d have a full 2 + days of scouting. You know, to save the kid a few hours of driving time.

Wednesday morning rolled around and I hit the road to meet the family in LaPine and get over to camp. That evening we took a drive up the mountain to enjoy the views with the plan to hit the scouting hard in the morning. With the glassers planned to arrive Friday morning, my goal Thursday was to find a camp up on the mountain for them to get to that would allow them short access on their E-bikes to glass and scout nearby in the areas I had wanted to hunt. On the way up to find a camp we pulled off to the side to get out and glass a large basin. A short hike to a vantage point and soon had a group of antelope in my binos. They looked to be 1500 yards or more away, but could clearly see a buck with the group. From that distance, I thought this may be a good one. I quickly got back to the truck to get the spotting scope, returned to Lucas and got it set up. As soon as I found them I knew this buck was as good as we would possibly find. I told Lucas to take a look so I could sit back and watch his reaction. It was nothing short of spectacular to see his face when he looked back at me. Opening day goal was set. We would end up checking back on this basin twice the next day confirming he was still in the area and undisturbed. This area happened to be one I had marked on OnX and was very near a waypoint Frank had sent me for affirmation.

The rest of Thursday was spent glassing other areas and driving quite a bit, only to see one small buck. Friday morning came around and we were up early again to recheck the buck. A quick hike and glass confirmed they were still there, so we were off to meet the others and guide them to their camp site. A slow drive with a camper on the truck, we got them all settled in and hung out for a bit talking about the upcoming hunt. They took a ride up the road a ways to do a quick glass and get a lay of the land. They came back with no news, not a big deal. Evening came around and we were headed back to our camp with one last stop to look again. Still there. We got back to camp to get an early sleep, 3:30 was going to show up quick with the anticipation of opening morning.

Opening morning and we were on the road from camp by 4:15. I’ve been surprised too many times by unexpected hunters beating me to my spot. We made it to our planned parking spot and waited a few minutes to get a little closer to sunup. We couldn’t see anything anyways, I wanted to at least have some visibility as we hiked in so I could see if we busted them out. We waited on a small ridge as the landscape began to lighten up. We spent the first 20 minutes of daylight glassing everything we could see and couldn’t turn up any antelope. Shoot, maybe somebody stopped in after us Friday night and busted them out. There was still a lot of ground we couldn’t see behind the contours of the basin, we just needed to get up on the plateau and start our progression around the rim with a higher vantage point. As we crested the first ridge I was stopping every couple of steps to glass through the sage brush in front of me to the basin below. Third stop to glass and there they were, tucked back into an arm of the basin, about 600 yards, staring right at me. Dangit, they were a lot closer than the night before in a totally different area. We slowly got down on the ground and took packs off to come up with a plan. We were clearly spotted, but they didn’t seem to concerned with us. Up on my knees to look again and evaluate, some were still looking right at me while others had started walking to the left. The rocky ground wasn’t going to work for belly crawling, we only made it about 10′ before we had to get up. Glass again, still there, still looking our way. I decide to get the big red cow off my pack, it had worked before in a much wider open area than this. We made it about 20′ with the cow when we got to the next spot to see them and they were trotting up the hill away from us. Well, that didn’t work. We kneel down and watch as the crest the ridge and stop. Some are looking back at us, some are looking over the ridge. I just want to see what their next move is so I can decide our next play. Soon they all turn to look away from us so we take advantage of the moment to get out of sight, get our packs back on and decide what to do next. After regrouping we get uphill a short distance to get glass on them again. We got up just in time to see them going out of site to the right along the top of the basin. We have 3 options at this point, discussing as we watch to make sure they don’t get out into the basin below us. We can get to the bottom and hope they went back down over the next ridge. We can cut straight across this bottom of this arm of the basin and come up right behind where they disappeared. Or we can continue working our way up onto the plateau and hope to meet up with out in the open. We decide to go the high route as it would give us the greater view and we could already see most of the basin from our current location and they weren’t out there. If we got high, we could come back down to the basin from out of site and hopefully get above them. If they were still out, we would be able to spot them from a long distance and come with a plan from there. In hindsight, we probably should have taken that plan of attack as soon as we saw them. Live and learn, I guess. They weren’t in a hurry, so maybe they’re just over the next ridge.

We back out the way we came, get out of site of the basin and begin working our way up to the top. As we approach the crest of the first ridge and turn to start moving along the top a coyote runs right in front of us at about 30 yards. As we watch him bounce away through the sage in the direction we were aiming for, we smile at each other as we see only his head “boing-boing-boing” disappear over the hill. I’m hoping he doesn’t spook the antelope we are supposedly headed for, but thankful Lucas got to see a coyote up so close to us. We take 3 steps and hear “PPPHHHHFFFFFF” behind and to our left. I turn to see the buck standing at 7 o’clock, guessing 250 yards from us. What the…how the heck did he get behind us? Suddenly it’s a rush to get set up: tripod deployed, can’t kneel down he’d be out of view…can’t get the rifle set properly, need to take the backpack off…backpack off…there he goes running…disappears over the ridge…turn right, get reset, he’s going to come up in front of that knob…there he is….300 yards, aim upper third of body, right behind the shoulder…breath, don’t squeeze until you’re holding steady…whenever you’re ready and feel steady, don’t rush…BANG!…right over his back, dust flies just behind him…takes off running quartering away…reload, adjust your angle….buck stops, turns quartering away….aim straight on, you went right over him on the last one…BANG!…shot in front…takes off running right, same distance….reload, reset, wait for him to stop….stops, stays broadside this time….aim straight on, right where the brown meets the white…BANG!…shot is in front of him again. Buck take off quartering away again. He stops again at I’m guessing is no less than 400 yards. I tell Lucas no shot, we’re too far. Just watch him and let’s see where he goes. After a few seconds he takes off on a trot to our right toward the basin and out of site as he moves behind the next hump of the ridge.

Whew! That was some excitement! I talk him down from the excitement. I can tell he’s upset, but he’s not broken. That’s a lot to ask of a kid who has never had the crosshairs on a big game animal to suddenly go from 0 to 60 unexpectedly. Not a big deal, bud. We all miss, and a clean miss is better than a bad hit. I could tell after the first shot he was no longer steady, the misses were getting further away. We needed to regroup and catch our breath and see if we could catch up to him again. We were already heading that direction, I’m hoping he dropped down into the basin again and we’d be able to find him and just take our time and see if we can put another plan together. A mile and a half later we’ve looked over every inch of the basin and out over the plateau and neither the buck or his does are anywhere in site. Dang. Everything worked out but the shot, and I should have just told him to aim center elevation. Hopefully that isn’t the last opportunity we get at a buck. We hike our way back to the truck still constantly glassing everything we can see. By now it’s almost 2 miles back, so we have time to talk and discuss what we can do better, and just relive the excitement. We get back to the truck and head to the glasser’s camp to see if they’ve spotted anything. They arrive on their bikes shortly after we got there. They could see for miles in all directions and did not see a single antelope. Boy, at this point I’m wondering how many chances we’ll get. That group was really the only animals we had seen since Wednesday with the exception of the lone little buck Thursday afternoon. We eat lunch and rest for a bit since we had been up since 3:30 am. We decide to leave these guys and head back to our camp to rest some more and figure what our next venture will be. We make a run out to a higher vantage point to glass again where the morning festivities took place and still cannot find them anywhere, now with even more visibility. Glassers promise they’ll get down there that evening if we don’t come back and see if they can spot him up. Back to camp we go. Forecast calls for a thunder storm very soon…this could get interesting.

Saturday afternoon, the weather forecast is no lie. As dime and nickel size hail is pounding our trailer, I watch the runoff flooding the campground through the window. I fear this hail is going to crack the vents, it sounds like somebody throwing handfuls of gravel at us. Sunday is looking to be more of the same and even worse on Monday. We discuss our expectations and goals and agree that as much as we want that big buck, or another of similar stature, we need to think about taking the next shot we get no matter the size because there’s no telling how much we’ll be able to hunt with this incoming weather. We decide that we’ll keep looking for a big buck through the evening and starting Sunday morning we’re going to open up our expectations. We spend the evening on the maintained gravel roads, knowing I don’t want anything to do with the “dirt” roads after a rain like that. I get a text that the glassers have spotted a group about a mile away, tough stalk, but doable. Looks to be a decent buck in the group, maybe a second smaller buck. Not wanting to chance the road to get to them, we decide to play it safe that evening. First thing in the morning we’ll hike in to glass the big buck basin and if we can’t find him we’ll head to their camp and hike in to see if we spot their group from the night before. Just before dark they follow through with their promise and confirm that basin is clear of any antelope. Try to sleep and hit the ground running on Sunday as discussed.

Sunday morning comes later than expected. I set my alarm for 4:00…weekdays. Somehow I still awoke by 4:30, but we’re on the road a bit later than we wanted. It’s already getting light as we pull into our parking spot and make the walk to high ground to glass the basin. 20 minutes of full visibility and glassing every inch of the basin and plateau above we confirm that they still have not returned. Disappointed but far from discouraged we hike back to the truck and finish the drive to camp. It’s early enough the glassers are still in bed, so we get grab the spotting scope, rifle, and tripod, leaving our packs at the truck, to hike up the hill and see if we can spot the group of antelope from the night before. Less than a minute and we’ve got the spotted. A loooong ways away. We watch them for a few minutes and decide that buck is worth making a move on.

We walk back to camp as the glassers are pouring their coffee and come up with a game plan. We’re going to get higher up our ridge to a little better vantage point and watch a bit longer to see if they move or bed. We all make the trek up and get set up with spotting scope. From this point, we could see the entire canyon and the glassers could watch and guide us as we made our stalk. After about 10 minutes we have determined there are two bucks in the group, one is definitely bigger than other, and that one is our goal. 6 of the 8 antelope have now bedded down. We come up with the best route to get below them and stay concealed as we come up the mountain on the other side. This was key, as we had to drop down a rock ledge in the bottom and come up the rock ledge on the other side. There was really only one way to go that looked like this was even doable without completely skirting the bottom of the entire canyon to get around the rocks. I get my pack on and tell Lucas all he’s carrying is the tripod. I’ve got everything we need and all he needs to worry about is getting the tripod set and making the shot. We drop off the side of the mountain into the canyon and we’re soon out of site of the antelope. Now it’s up to us to stay on route and the glassers to let us know if the antelope get up and move. We were about to make the first stalk of Lucas’ life and the most exciting I’d ever been a part of.

As we descend into the canyon I am checking glassing the antelope every few steps to A) make sure they haven’t busted out yet and B) know when we can pick up the pace. It doesn’t take long until we are out of view. We pause to gain our bearings and I tell Lucas we are out of view we’re going to speed up a bit to get to the bottom and find a crossing. I should have taken a picture of the bottom either on the way there or back. There was no easy crossing. We descended down a rock face, carefully choosing our steps and me waving the tripod in front of the ledges to try and make sure there were no snakes hiding out of view. Cross the creek by rock hopping in the very bottom, and back up the other side. The other side is a lot steeper as we pick out way up the ledge and finally crest the rocks. As we get out of the rim rock we sit down to catch our breath and drink some water, looking up hill to try and find the path we decided on from the top behind us. Everything looks different from the bottom, we already had to cross at a different point than we had anticipated once we finally put eyes on the terrain. As we rest and look around, we can’t see more than 100 yards up hill with the slope of the ridge. We are entirely at the mercy of the spotters behind us, and a fair amount of luck. After maybe 2 minutes of rest I check my phone: They are up and moving to your right…get up the mountain…500 yards away. Dang, let’s go bud, we gotta roll. We cut straight up, no side hilling. As we reach the base of the rim rock we had planned on coming up behind there is an old two-trac, now a cattle trail. I drop my pack there, knowing it will be easy to find when needed and I don’t want the extra bulk and weight going up the rest of this hill. We get under the rim rock and I text “Which way?”…”Keep angling up about 2 o’clock, they’re all up and moving toward your right, they’re heading for that glass strip”…Glass strip? What glass strip? All I see is hill. This was a key point because as far as the spotters could tell we could see everything they were telling me…That was not the case: this hill was much steeper than they could tell from behind us. This will come into play shortly.
We continue on our direction until we cut a cattle trail going up hill and the ridge levels out a little bit. I can now see close to 150 yards up hill and some sparse junipers spread out. We pick a nearby large tree and slowly aim straight at it. Now I’m getting real anxious, expecting to see horns and eyes above the grass above us at anytime staring us down and not ever having a chance at a shot. We make the first tree, check my phone: You’re on the right path…first one is less than 300 yards…they’re going to cross straight in front of you. Uhhh…I can’t see 200 yards so they’re going to cross out of view. We pick another tree and start heading that way, now angling toward them and really taking a gamble. Next tree, check my phone: they’re right up on that flat in front of you, can you see that flat?…Nope, can’t see anything flat…There is a lone juniper on the next ridge in front of you, behind that is a big dead tree with a black trunk, can you make it to that? I see a juniper, I don’t see a big dead tree anywhere. That tells us how much steeper the mountain is than they can tell: a 20′ plus tree is out of our sight and less than 100 yards from us. Lucas picks up the dead top of a tree in that direction, we figure that must be it. We cut toward it and slowly start to see more of that tree and know we’re headed in the right direction. We get to a lone juniper and stop to glass. No animals. I tell Lucas to get the tripod set to his elevation, we can’t kneel or we won’t see them, we have to stand. He gets the tripod set, takes the rifle and gets it set and tucked into his shoulder. I check my phone….They’re less than 100 yards, can you see them?…Nope…They’re going to come over the ridge to your right. We adjust our angle and shift to look to the right where we can actually see quite far. Check my phone…They’re feeding right in front of you, not far. Still can’t see them. I’m now looking through my binoculars even though I can’t see more than 75 yards up the hill. Then I see the first one, only it’s back. Then it sticks it’s head up. Small buck. I whisper to Lucas, turn your body, they’re right in front of us, keep still, keep your head behind the scope, finger off the trigger, just breath.
Now I can hear his broken staggering breathing, I just hope his jelly legs hold strong. He finally whispers “I see him”. Good, stay behind the scope and breath, we’re not shooting that one. Two, three, four, five start appearing through the grass and coming straight at us. All 5 are bucks, all very small. I know there’s a big one with them, we’re just trying to wait him out. At this point they are less than 50 yards and getting closer. I tell Lucas “Second buck from the left, he’s got wide horns, get the crosshairs on him and breath, don’t shoot, just hold on him as long as we can, finger off the trigger”. These bucks are all 6″ at most, but this one is different with horns going straight out to the side. We’re not leaving this stalk empty, if that big buck doesn’t come over the ridge we’re going to take this one. Lucas has worked too darn hard for the last 4 years without killing a deer, at this point getting a buck is the only option.
They continue to feed closer as I keep scanning the ridge hoping that big buck comes into view. I finally make out a 6th animal off the left that just appeared from behind a juniper, head down. I don’t say anything yet, I just watch. The buck picks his head up and I know instantly it’s the one. I whisper to Lucas…All the way to the left by that juniper, it’s the big buck, shift that way and hold where white meets brown…you on him?…yeah…ok, breath, hold, whenever you’re ready squeeze. The buck starts walking toward the others as I’m watching, waiting for the shot. Now I have 2 other bucks in my field of view and this one isn’t stopping. 8′ away from the next buck, 6′, 4’…Bud, if you’re ready you gotta shoot before he catches up to the others…nose is even with the next buck’s tail…

CRACK!!!”…I see the buck fall and leg start kicking in the air…He’s down! Reload and watch him in case he gets back up! Lucas fumbles to reload but gets another round in the chamber, safety on…He’s watching through the scope but he can’t see because the buck’s behind the ridge, I see the leg stop moving. You got him bud! He’s down!…He’s down?!?…Yessir, he’s not going anywhere! Hugs and tears…I’m so proud of you, you did awesome! That’s the big one! We take a knee for a moment to catch our breath, and he checks his heart rate…160 BPM.
Now it’s time to move in. We start straight at him. As we get closer I tell him to move to the left and come up behind just in case he jumps up when we get there. We get closer and I know he’s done, there’s no way he’s getting back up. I stay back a few feet and watch him walk up to his buck with my phone on video to capture it. This has been the greatest stalk I’ve ever been a part of, and one of the greatest moments of my life. I give Lucas a couple of minutes to take it all in and look around the mountain we are on. As he takes the horns in his hands with tears in his eyes and the world’s biggest smile, I can’t be more proud of what he has accomplished and how hard he worked to get this buck. A few posed pictures and taking in the moment and the awe of what we just accomplished and now it’s time to get to work.

I take my time walking him through the dressing process, through every step, and show him what I’m doing, explain why I’m doing it this way, talk about being careful with the knife when you have to reach up into the chest and feel your way around everything and you can’t see anything inside. We get it dressed and dump the blood out. I have him take the rifle and tripod, both of our binoculars and sweatshirts that won’t be needed anymore, and tell him to get to my backpack and I’ll meet him there. I start the drag the 250 yards or so to my pack while the spotters get their gear together and start working their way to meet us. I get back to the pack where we can see the entire path we started from and start contemplating either cutting it in half or cape and quarter. As the rest of the team arrives we decide at this point with 3 adults, let’s cape and quarter and leave anything we don’t need. The guys jumped right in and started helping caping to the head and cutting quarters while Lucas and I stuffed the game bags. We made short work of cleaning and got the packs loaded. BIL took front quarters and backstraps, cousin took both hind quarters, I took the hide and head, Lucas took the rifle and tripod and extra gear. This was the hardest packout I’ve ever done with the terrain we had to cross, and by far the most rewarding. It’s difficult to put into words how something can be both the worst and best trek ever made. But it was. I both hated and loved every step of the way out of there.
I can say with all honesty that had those guys not been there I would most likely not have even attempted the stalk that we did. Pack out aside, there was no way we could have got to the point of having a shot the way we did without having them behind us directing us. Odds are we would have busted them out of there before ever getting a clear view with the terrain. The stalk, the shot, the packout would not have ever been possible without them there for us. And to be able to share that moment with my son and them, to experience the lows of a miss and the highest of highs with a long difficult stalk, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I still ask Lucas daily if he’s come down yet, and his response is always the same: Not much. The boy is hooked for life, as if he wasn’t already. And now he is more set than ever on getting the black tail buck we chased last year that he’s had nightmares of.

Author: Chris Schnider

Co Author: Lucas Schnider

Hunting Equipment

Bwana Bubba’s Thoughts – Oregon Coyotes in numbers

February 16, 2017 Frank Biggs 2 Comments

Let us not forget about the resilient Coyote that roams all of North American. Ever thought about asking a chicken or duck farmer to hunt the Coy Dogs that will lay in wait free roaming egg layers…

Having recently talked with a ODFW Bio, the news is out that the Coyotes are eating well! There is an over abundance of Rodents and Rabbits in S.E. Oregon. Time for hunters to get out reduce the Coyote numbers if they want Pronghorn and Deer fawn survival in the future!
Keeping this short with an ending comment!
“If you can’t call in a Coy Dog, you don’t know how to call” (CF)

If you want to find the big boys you need to take out the Coy Dogs!

Archery Talk - Posts, Hunting Equipment

Bwana Bubba’s Thoughts – You just have to ask!

January 3, 2017 Frank Biggs 2 Comments

Just asking you might gain access…

Getting permission to hunt a parcel of land is just like being a salesperson. If you don’t ask for the sale, most customers don’t think you care… You won’t get the Sale!

2017 is know ahead for all of us to hunt. The 2nd Amendment is safe. Most states have the 2017 Hunting Regulations out. Doing your research early, before having to put your applications can lead to success. Scouting prior to application deadline and or long before your chosen hunt unit is critical for success. I write and talk about onXmaps HUNT all the time about being one of the great keys to un-lock hunting success. It is all true! To be one of the 10% that take 90% of the game, then you have to absorb the positive and proven tips that are given to to by the successful 10%…

I want you to think about this scenario, you have been driving by a ranch, vineyard, farm, tree farm or just some private harvested timber land. There are No Trespassing Signs and No Hunting posted on fence posts and trees, with game animals abounding and you notice a number of Coyotes working the area. The signs have no phone numbers or names. What to do you ask yourself, there is no way I am gaining access to hunt…

There are many ways to get it done and as great salesperson you can make it happen in many cases. First off I would purchased onXmaps HUNT and have it on your Smart phone, I suggest to have a Garmin GPS (colored screen-micro SD chip slot) also.

Working the different parcels of privately own properties your interested in, you will know the land owner’s name/names and in some cases the Trustee because you have onXmaps HUNT. Now via Whitepages, and other public knowledge websites, you can get the phone number. Relax, take a breath and be sure you have a smile on your face when talk on the phone…

Getting out early to scout prior to the season, you can find the game, such is the case with Rocky Mtn bull that was sleeping.

So many times over the course of life, I meet people while in the field, so asking who owns the land when you see a neighbor, should be no big deal. Even going so far asking the neighbor how can I get a hold of the landowner is not out of the question. Many times in the remote area, there might b an old cafe or gas station. Another great way to gather information.

This Willamette Valley Blacktail buck was on private property that I gained access to. He was harvested the following year from this picture. 3X3 w/eye guards are fairly typical in Blacktail deer.

For many years I drove by a large piece of rural land that was growing wild radishes. I thought they were weeds. I would see a couple of B&C and many P&Y Willamette Blacktails. Finally when I got my first sample of HUNTINGGPSMAPS (onXmaps HUNT) from the company, I was able to dial in the future vineyard owner’s name. I did a little background on the owner to make sure I had the correct person. I called and told the owner that I drove by his place almost everyday. That I would love to be able to take pictures of the deer on the property. I asked permission to be able to photograph first. It was early May, within couple of months noticing the Coyotes and that he had chickens and geese free ranging, I called him again, I told him I could help reduce the Coyote population. Finally in early August I asked for permission to bow for the deer. I was informed by Michael (owner) that he intended to raise grapes. In the State of Oregon to have venue events, you need a vineyard… The following year with a rifle tag and bow tag, I asked if I could hunt deer with a rifle. That privilege was also granted. It also help to have a common bond. Micheal was a Combat Engineer in Nam and I was a Navy Spook attached to the Marines in Nam. Brothers…

You have to remember that not all ranchers, farmers, and landowners are in it monetary when it comes to hunting. I would bet that if a landowner is approached in the proper mindset, permission would be granted more times than rejected.

This Oregon Mule Deer buck worked both B.L.M. and private land.

Over the years, hunters that I have met and talked to about the subject, give me back positive feedback. Yes sometimes they mend fences, bring a bottle, bring Salmon, ride a fence line, give a knife, buy dinner in town, but that is from the heart to a new friend. Myself, I have hunted more ranches and farms than I can count. Many have border public land that I primarily hunt or fish during my lifespan! I have never paid cash for access, yet at certain times of the year, they might have something on their doorstep…

Use onXmaps HUNT products to gain the knowledge to gain access to private land. It also will be the tool to know the landowners that border public land and vice versa.

IF YOU DON’T ASK, YOU’LL NEVER KNOW!

Frank Biggs aka Bwana Bubba

Hunting Equipment, Successful Hunters 2016

Scott’s 2016 Juniper Pronghorn Hunt

September 18, 2016 Frank Biggs 2 Comments

Juniper is one of the premier Oregon Pronghorn Hunts

“I am also a long time subscriber to onXmaps and use it religiously.”

First off.. Thank you Frank for the tips… As many know the Juniper unit antelope hunt is an incredible opportunity. I was fortunate to have unexpectedly drawn the coveted tag with only a single preference point. The news came as a great surprise and the time to scout was severely limited with my prior commitments. This lead me to some online research and the discovery of the Bwana Bubba Adventurers. Upon contact with Frank, he sent me some places to look in search of antelope. This being my 5th Oregon antelope tag, I had set my sights on killing a high caliber animal. This is my story…..

Scott and son checking out a herd of Pronghorn in the Juniper Unit in Oregon

On to the hunt… Due to previous commitments with my oldest son, I was unable to make the season opener and did not arrive in the unit until Monday afternoon. My son and I quickly setup camp, made a sandwich and headed out in search of our quarry. We immediately headed for a spot Frank had pinpointed for us. We weren’t 15 minutes from the trailer when I had spotted an animal apparently fleeing a waterhole that someone was driving into. It was immediately evident the animal was a billie antelope and we fought to get into a better position to see. We caught up with him 4-5 different times, but every time he was 750+ yards away and we just couldn’t make a good determination what caliber animal he was. Based on the glances of occasional clarity, he appeared to be a really solid billie with good height and prong length. This guy’s worth a second look… The adventure continued into the sage and a few hours passed before any antelope were spotted in some nearby fields. There were a few billies, but nothing worth watching to see if an exit from private was going to be a probability. The evening found us trekking across what seemed to be an endless plateau of sage in search of the billie we had encountered earlier in the day. As we hiked in search of our prey, the probability of killing an animal in 4-5’ tall sagebrush seemed a monumental task. As darkness overcame us, the billie had gave us the slip and was securely hidden in his native territory.

Day 2 – We awoke early and headed to another location marked by Frank that allowed us to glass in a Westerly direction. As the light slowly illuminated the desert floor, we patiently glassed a large bowl full of tall sage. We found one good representative billie in the 13” range with decent prongs managing a small group of nannies a little over 500 yards from our position. This was an easy pass and we moved on. The next few hours we drove, hiked and glassed numerous locations to only find a few nannies and two very young billies. Upon exiting the area we stopped to speak with another hunter whom was struggling to find any antelope in the area. With this information and what we had also encountered it was determined to mark this spot off the list of places to revisit. It was decided to head a little further South and explore during the heat of the day. The road that separates N. Juniper and S. Juniper seemed like a good choice. After a dusty 4 hour ride in the truck, we determined our choice was less than stellar… Not a single antelope had been found upon the stretch of road. We came out few miles North of the Narrows and made the decision to head further South. After traveling another hour South we made the turn back into the unit again. The next 10-12 miles were bumpy and dusty, but our hopes were high despite not locating any animals. Then, all of a sudden we located several animals. As we continued to glass, more and more of the tan and white creatures appeared scattered amongst the cattle in the area. The next several hours were spent locating and investigating billies. By the time the sun had set we had passed on 10-12 billies ranging in size from 8-13” all within a 3 mile radius. The drive back to camp was long and filled with discussion around our discovery and future prospects.

Day 3 – Again an early rise took us in search of the billie we saw that first day. Finding a decent vantage point, we set up and glassed the sea of sage in search of the elusive animal. As the sun rose and the temperature quickly climbed we decided our search was futile. No animals to be found…. While departing a billie was located off the side of the road seemingly careless of our presence. Luckily for him, we again were not interested in what he had to offer and we both moved on our separate ways. Arriving back at camp, we packed a healthy amount of supplies to ensure lunch and dinner were covered and pointed the truck South again. Arriving at our location early afternoon we quickly located several groups of antelope. One group had a dominant billie that was definitely coming into the rut and spent all his time head down checking the nannies. With the heat waves in full effect, it was quite challenging to judge him at over a mile but we again passed feeling he didn’t meet our standards. A couple miles further down the road another group was spotted over a mile away and we began closing the gap. Once within 900 yards we took another look from atop a small rise. It appeared there was a group of billies and one worth taking a closer look at. We geared up back at the vehicle and prepared to sneak in for a closer look. Due to the lack of terrain, we struggled to get within 600 yards of the group. Finally, by crawling on our hands and knees we closed the gap to 470 yards. This was when we were able to determine with confidence there was a billie in this group worth our precious tag. Unable to get into a prone position I was far from comfortable taking a shot at that distance. A small bunch of taller sage was 70 yards ahead and I felt I could get the needed elevation to setup for an ethical shot. As we crawled toward the sage two additional billies began running in from the East and gained the attention of the target group. This gave us the opportunity to quickly close the remaining gap and approach our target. I quickly began setting up for the shot on the bedded billie. Before I was able to settle in, the other two billies came into the targeted group and put them into alert. Before I could react the group had quickly traveled away and was now acting very nervous at 800+ yards away. A quick assessment found that we could access some tall sage and attempt to move close enough for a shot. As we progressed thru the tall sage the group again became anxious and didn’t let us get within 600 yards before moving off to a ridgeline where they again met up with yet another group of antelope. Our cover was good and were able to again move toward the group leveraging the tall sage. The antelope went over the rise and we picked up the pace. Looking up a single billie had turned back and was now staring us down at 300 yards. A quick assessment put him at about 13” so we waited for him to move off and we proceeded toward where the group had went. Just after cresting the ridgeline a group of antelope materialized on the opposing hillside. I snuck up to a shooting position and quickly picked out the largest billie. As the billie chases a few nannies It just didn’t look right to me. At 450 yards the billie just didn’t look right… I hesitated long enough for the billie to move out of range. Just as I sat up to scratch my head and figure out what happened, my other billie came out from under us. He had been over the roll of the hill and just out of site from our position. He and the others that were traveling with him now joined the other group that now totaled about 50 animals. The group seemed to be settling down and we backed off in attempt to parallel their position to get closer. When we felt we were close to parallel we eased to the edge using sage for cover. Our silhouettes didn’t even break the ridgeline before the large group began moving away again. We sat and glassed them as they traveled over the next rise… Quickly deliberating about our next move we noticed another single billie traveling in our direction. A quick assessment found him to be too small and we decided to give the group one more chance. The sun had set and light was quickly leaving as we pushed the half mile to the next vantage point. We crested the top to see them already 800+ yards away and still moving. We were unable to get within a ½ mile of them. Aborting the mission we would come back Thursday and try again…. It was a couple miles back to the truck in the dark and a couple hour drive back to camp that night.. It was decided while traveling back we would move camp in the morning in attempt to be closer to our quarry.

Day 4 – We woke early and immediately worked on breaking camp. On the road by 9:00 we headed to the Narrows. A quick check-in at the Narrows campground had us headed for our hunting grounds before lunch. We again saw a few groups of lopes on the way in and decided the billies were not what we were searching for. Pulling into the drainage we left the big billie in the night before we parked the truck, gathered our gear and went afoot. After cresting a rise just out of site of the truck we were immediately pinned by some nannies. The range was 300 yards as we squatted in the open terrain. Wouldn’t you know it, they were in curious mode and wanted to check us out. Not knowing what may be behind them we stayed put. The nannies came to 64 yards before deciding to lose interest in us. Unfortunately when they did spook, they went the same direction we were traveling. We rose up and went about 75 yards when we saw the original group of 8 billies from the day before standing 450 yards away. I saw the one billie that was noticeably larger than the other 7 and knew this was our group. I needed a better shooting position and found a mound of dirt 50 yards ahead. The nannies had now joined the group of billies and they were becoming increasingly anxious. I quickly got into a shooting position on the mound and my son began calling yardages. 350, 375, 400, 375…. The group was unsure on what direction to depart, I had to shoot quick. I identified the large billie thru the 95 degree heat shimmer and followed him until he momentarily stopped. At the report of the rifle the lope immediately dropped in his tracks. I rolled over and gave some high fives to my son as the remaining group galloped away in a dust storm. Gathering up our gear we headed over to claim our trophy. Approaching the billie, there was something wrong…. This was not the billie we had hunted the previous day. In my haste, after chasing him miles the day before and not being able to get within 800 yards of him, I had taken the wrong animal. The heat shimmer and my haste had resulted in harvesting the wrong animal. Although saddened by my actions, we were also very happy with having harvested a beautiful animal that is proving to be excellent table fare.

Success after a long hunt of checking out many on the run. Great looking Oregon Lope

Thanks again Frank for your aid in making this a fantastic trip!

Pronghorn from a previous hunt in Oregon

Hunting Equipment, Successful Hunters 2016, Uncategorized

Derek’s 2016 Steens Pronghorn Hunt

August 31, 2016 Frank Biggs 1 Comment

A new predator in the hood has taken a liking to

Pronghorns the Steens Mountains

Derek's hard earned Pronghorn from the Steens Mountains in Oregon — Derek’s hard earned Pronghorn from the Steens Mountains in Oregon

The most frustrating hunt I have ever had! Left early Friday morning and after shredding a drive belt on the truck in Madras, Oregon made it to The Narrows south of Burns by 11:00 to start scouting. The plan was to ask landowners to hunt the pivots in Princeton. After talking to 3 owners I was informed that they had seen very few antelope this year, in the past there where 100’s and were considered pest.

They rack up the missing antelope to cougar problems. So that said went to 2^nd spot Dry Lake just south. The lake was half full and had multiple camps around it. Talk to a few campers/hunters and said they too had seen only a few antelope in the area. My son and I only saw 1 herd of Lopes that were staying around the Round Barn in Diamond on private land with only a very small buck in the herd.

The week before I had talk to O.D.F.W. & B.L.M., Burns, Oregon and all had said the same thing, very good water year and the antelope were spread out everywhere making them difficult to find.

We moved south to New Moon Rd. Check out the waypoints I was given from Bwana Bubba based on using onXmaps HUNT and my Garmin GPS and did stop at all overlooks and canyons to spot. Saw nothing, 3 hours later we were at the end of the road at Fish Lake. Went to the top of Kiger Gorge and talked with a few camps that we set up on the road leaving the view point. Again no one had seen Antelope. Frustrated we headed back down and to the HHH road, above Fish Lake to get away from the main road. Had a very hard time finding a place to set a tent, thought we might have to set it on the edge of the road at one point. Found a meadow on a spring head right above Fish Lake on edge of private ground. With the lots of batches of Aspen trees were surprise at the lack of any animal signs. The Steens seems to be a dead zone with very little wildlife left…

Started opening morning glassing the open basins to no a fail, only a lonely doe across the Blitzen Canyon. Decide to break camp around 10:30, and headed back to main road. Came around the last corner and 20ft in front of the truck are 2 doe Lopes and seconds later 40 more crest the ridge in front of use. I jump out of the truck and go to the back of the truck and the Lopes all cross in front of use at 50ft away; there was 1 very nice buck in the middle of the herd. They see a fence in front of them and panic and turn around and pass us again, yet the buck is buried in the middle of the group. As they crest over the ridge he almost gives me a parting shot, but gone. We run up the road only to see they are circling the ridge above us heading back towards Fish Lake. We run up the road and rush to the ridge line were I get an open shot at 150yds, but cannot take it as I knew they were on the wrong side of the fence on private land. We watch the herds for over 10 minutes, traveling miles to the top of Kiger Gorge where they were fired on by the hunters camping on top.

Frustrated we went for gas in Frenchglen. Talking to other hunters, all had the same story can’t find Lopes. Decided to skip going back to New Moon Rd and opted to head to the South Loop Rd south of Frenchglen. Drove and glassed for a couple hours. Lots of water holes and all were still wet. Saw A few other hunters driving and glassing. After only seeing herds of horses and cattle heading back towards highway 207, our goal was to find small spur round to get off on our own. At a junction I saw a rancher unloading his quad and hay bales. Stop and talked to him and was informed he had seen a small group of Lopes every day for the past week right above us working the area. He suggested a hunt strategy and told us about water holes up the old road he was using. We did the hunt the spot, saw no Lopes only horses so decided to make camp in the area. The area was more deer country with juniper trees and draws with open plains in between.

Next morning were up glassing before daylight on the plains above camp looking out towards Hart Mtn. Saw nothing, around 7:30 I get a buzz from my son who has locate the group in a draw find a mile above camp. 20 mins later I’m in the same area hugger under a Juniper tree watching the group in the draw. Saw 2 does and 4 yearlings mixed through the Juniper trees at 400yds, after 5 min I see a buck moving in the trees. My son decided he would move down the draw cross it and get to the other side. I was afraid they would see him and move up the draw out of range. The buck was now at 375yds. I decided I better make the shot as I probably will not see him again. I was getting ready to make the shot when I saw the does; they were closing their distance, walking right towards me up the old road. Told my son to stay put and turned the radios off. The does and yearlings passed to my right just 40yds away the buck was trailing, so ended up taking the shot at 60yds, dropping him in his tracks. There was 10 minutes of per thrill as he closed the distance to me on the road, thought for sure something would go wrong or the does would see me. Took care of the Lope and broke camp, was on the road by 11:00AM with the Lope in the rear seat of the truck and A/C on high.

Derek D.

Hunting Equipment, Hunting Ideas, Successful Hunters 2016

Kenneth’s 2016 Owyhee Pronghorn Hunt

August 26, 2016 Frank Biggs 1 Comment

Scouting more than 200 miles for Pronghorn

Hi Frank
Thanks a lot for directions that you sent me. I scouted from Wednesday to Friday and cover more than 200+ miles. Majority of the scouting was in my Ford truck in 4wd low range. I found a dandy buck on Tuesday morning on the south side of the Mahogany’s running off three other bucks from his 6 doe harem, between water and the bedding area. This I know, because I had spotted him and the doe’s the day before just as they entered the brush at 10AM. I camped in my Ford FX4 truck high above them that night and would hunt down in the morning.

The next morning I worked myself out on the bluff I figured I could find him. I found him, ranged him in at 350 yards with my Bushnell rangefinder and made the 1 shot kill with my Browning A-Bolt in a 7mm Remington Mag, topped with a Leupold V-3 4.5×14 50MM Gold Ring scope. Other items in my bag to make the hunt successful were my Garmin GPS with onXmaps HUNT Oregon chip and GIS hunt map.

Thanks Bubba

Kenneth D

Archery Talk - Posts, Hunting Equipment, Hunting Ideas

Oregon – Sleeper State – Pronghorn Hunting

April 19, 2015 Frank Biggs 1 Comment

Through time in the field, knowledge comes to all!

None us come out knowing everything. So over the years I have absorbed a great deal of knowledge about hunting Pronghorn – Antelope that roam the high plains and arid lands of the United States. Pronghorns are one of the most magnificent mammals that has survived since the Ice Age. It is one of the few living links to the Ice Age. They are an ancient species dating back about 20 million years and are the lone survivors of a family of hoofed mammals found only in North America (Antilocapridae) A little history class for hunters!

Oregon truly is a sleeper state for hunting Pronghorn – Antelope – Lope or Dinosaurs! Problem is getting a tag for resident or even non-resident. Many non-resident hunters put in for many states, with the hope of drawing. As for those of use that live in Oregon, getting a tag runs from 8 to 25 years for a rifle tag and 1 to 3 years for archery. Sometimes you might be lucky and draw a tag based on the hold back tags put in random draw. As a biologist friend of mine once told me Oregon’s Pronghorn units all hold Boone & Crockett warrantable bucks. Biggest problem is holding out for the big buck, judging bucks, know the whereabouts and what unit has the best possible chance for a trophy buck.

This archery buck scored 78" 13 1/2" with 6 1/2" Prongs. — This archery buck scored 78″ 13 1/2″ with 6 1/2″ Prongs.

When I first started out with my first tag for an Oregon Pronghorn, I had help from a Naval Officer that I knew while on active duty in the Navy, he had great deal of knowledge, plus his friend a young BLM summer help student that knew the area. His name was Rod Briece, who later became my Commanding Officer and was a long time hunting friend.

We did not go blindly into the hunt unit, as there was a game plan to check out many different areas of the unit in a short period of time. We did get into the unit prior to the hunt by one full day to scout. We had about 4 game plans with the A, B, C, and D plan changing with the sighting of bucks. The final plan of the day became a A plan for the opening morning. I was successful on my first Pronghorn hunt to get a buck that scored 85″. He and his does had come into the same waterhole that we had seen them at, the evening before. At about 0715 the buck came to the waterhole. The rest is history at 250 yards from the rocks! Point being prepared and having options on the hunt.

This buck scored 85" after be on the fireplace mantel for a year. He is 16 5/8" with 6" Prongs. Prongs are high on the horn, a key element. — This buck scored 85″ after be on the fireplace mantel for a year. He is 16 5/8″ with 6″ Prongs. Prongs are high on the horn, a key element.

Over the following years in this particular unit it put out many trophy Pronghorns. This does not include the ones that a few missed during the hunts and the hunter came up empty handed…

One of the greatest lessons that I learned with hunting Pronghorns is the use of the binoculars and patience. Finding vantage points and glassing over massive areas. Pronghorns have always been the animal, you don’t see me now, but wait long enough I will be standing there. Amazing creature that has intrigued me for many decades. Even on that first hunt, we glassed from afar and it paid off. I always look for mass from a side profile of the head. If warranted, I have a spotting scope to do a better judgement of the buck. Many times the heat waves in the high desert are so bad that there seems to be an illusion of what you see. So seeing the side profile is most important. Length is not always as important as mass and the high of the prongs (cutters) on the horn.

Mapping is very important for hunters, whether it is Pronghorn hunting or any other movement in the outdoors. I find it is almost as important as the optics and the weapon of choice.

Until recently, lets say 1998, most of us would have B.L.M. maps or other maps to find places to hunt. The GPS came along and it was OK, to know where you were, but not much good to know where to go. A few software companies tried back then, but were crude and not very accurate. Along comes onXmaps HUNT (2008) and what a success story for the company and the people that use their products. It is a lot of fun to have knowledge of places to hunt (landmarks), take them and mark them in the mapping software on the computer and then move them to the GPS. A great way to share information that is accurate. Like having a snapshot of a hillside that you have seen, but now you get to remember where it is. Better yet, at times when using the software and Google Earth via the laptop to Garmin GPS, it like watching TV… Remember by using this software, you might even be able to find a rancher or farmer that dislike Dinosaurs and will give you permission. For DIY you’ll find that you just might not need a guide for out of state hunts. Many got it figured out how to hunt public land for Pronghorns!
onXmaps HUNT

BLM and the Private Food Plot via Google Earth and onXmaps HUNT

You figure it out how you want to hunt. Find legal land and game! From onXmaps HUNT Viewer

We all have options on what caliber to hunt with for Pronghorns and my thoughts are no different. Having many calibers to choose from, I am a firm believer to go big on this medium size mammal. It is not the fact that a 243 Win, or 257 Weatherby won’t get the job done, but I don’t remember to many times that the wind was not howling after the sun comes up. My favorite light caliber is the 257 Weatherby, but if I get one chance to get a tag in 15 years and I have to make that 500 yard shot due to not being able to crawl within 250 yards, I will take my 30cal to get the job done. Shrugging your shoulders with that comment, just think about not getting there with the shot… There are many great calibers and my first was taken with a 7mm Remington Mag. Overkill, ya it might be, but still a 30 cal 180 grain that is going to make a hole in and out most likely. I do know I will have a kill shot and and not have to track the buck very far in most cases. One has to be comfortable with the rifle and trust what it will do or what you can do.

This archery buck score 86" 14 1/2" with 8" Prongs. Very heavy mass. — This archery buck score 86″ 14 1/2″ with 8″ Prongs. Very heavy mass.

This brings up another subject: Making sure you have great shot placement and anchor the Pronghorn down. Tracking for trying to find a Pronghorn in the sagebrush after a hit from afar, might just lead to not finding it. Years ago one of my hunters that I gave waypoints to shot a monster lope in a large sagebrush flat. It was late and darkness was fast approaching. He decide to wait for morning! A great mistake as one loses focus of what he or she might have seen with the shot. With a Pronghorn left overnight, the coyotes have already taken are of it. You might be lucky to find the horns, but in many cases the horns have been taken care of also. Anchor the animal as with any animal in it’s tracks or close proximity.

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 huntable numbers. For archery hunters in many of the Western States you have a chance to hunt every year for Antelope. Whereas with a rifle you might have to wait some 8-25 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. Since competition for tags is so great, some of use will wait the whatever years to get the rifle tag, get it done and the following years put in for a bow tag. Not many years ago in Oregon and I am sure in other states, you put in for a rifle tag and make your second choice a bow tag. I do believe that I did this at least 10 times over the years. Very fortunate to have harvest a number of great bucks with the arrow. Now I find that many are taking great bucks with the arrow in many hunt units in many states.

deLope008 — This is a great buck, worthy of any wall! Didn’t have a tag, but hunting season was upon us. 100 foot photo op!

I one thing I have learned 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 250 yards. He missed the buck and the hunt was over for him! The hunter who I knew well told me he had been a Marine Sniper… 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. Now you know one of the reasons to have a mapping and gps system that lets you know your legal. Many times my hunters tell me, “WOW”, you were right on the money for Lopes being there…

This is a great buck taken in Oregon also in a 2 season unit.

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?

Not a big buck in a 5 tag unit, but it was nice to be able to read his mind! He cut my path at about 75 yards, trying to double back to the basin!

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 – Bowhunters sat for two (2) days for more than 12 hours. He as been successful two (2) years in a row on the same waterhole. I do love to stalk them and arrow them before they know I am there. 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.

deLope036 — Which one is the shooter in this crowd?

Note: 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!

Most experience hunters have their 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!

You also have to be patient and let the smaller bucks (“VILLAGE IDIOTS”) go by, so you can harvest the trophy buck.

Just a short little video of a nice buck ( we had him set for the following year) in the Grizzly Hunt Unit in Oregon: Pronghorn in the Big Muddy!

Bwana Bubba

Hunting Equipment, Successful Hunters 2014

Mick’s Silvies #2 Antelope Hunt

November 28, 2014 Frank Biggs 2 Comments

One of Oregon’s Premier Pronghorn – Antelope Spots

Riley Lope 01 — A very common sight around Riley, Oregon. The gateway to the Silvies and N. Wagontire Unit. Plenty of circles and the Pronghorns hang close.

Mick’s hunt did not go as planned, can happen to anyone!

Disaster! My help all bailed. I went Tuesday before the opener, camped at store. Highway noise negated sleep. It was 94 degrees and dryer than I’ve ever seen it there but road hunted on Wednesday. Quad was leaking gas so I was afraid to take it out.

Saw a small group later in the day where you had marked them by water. Several people were staking them out. Thursday much of the same! Met a farmer around 4pm, Hoot Raley! Great guy! Took me right to his farm, glassed a herd on his alfalfa field, and spotted a DANDY walking towards field. Snuck down to a spot he knew this lope would cross to, got into position, waited, guessed at about 300 yards, and took shot, missed 6″ high. Circled around to rest of herd, spotted a smaller buck and they spooked. Gave him Salmon hoping to try again on Friday, Hoot never showed.

Saturday took the Quad and followed your map markings to the “T” jumped a doe on the quad, pulled up rifle, scoped a buck on her tail, and took shot even though it was on a dead run, missed 6″ high. Spent the rest of the day on quad, help arrived at end of the day and he got drunk and didn’t show Saturday. Packed up and headed home.

Devastated, broke, dirty and tired. Your directions were spot on and much appreciated. I still wake up almost nightly wishing I could have either shot over again. Still pretty bummed but Sunday morning took a nice little buck here locally as I had to cancel my Malheur trip due to finances.

My dog became sick while Antelope hunting and had emergency surgery when I got back on his foot. Likely has cancer as his health is worse and new lumps on chest and hip have arrived.

But the conditions over there were brutal. To make matters worse the guy camped next to me took a beautiful buck in the same spot I scoped and it was at or near the spot you marked with an “X” to signal the old scruffy buck about 2 miles from the store. But the experience was good. To have shot and missed is better than most. I was surprised at the number of hunters out road hunting but I guess there was a cow bow hunt going on at the same time. I didn’t see any elk but saw several deer daily. I am confident that had I stayed or if the quad wasn’t freaking me out leaking gas, weather cooler any of these things I probably could have tagged one.

The farm incident was frustrating as hell, but a great guy. I should have gotten his number but the fact that he didn’t return told me he didn’t want to share another try. Plus, had he returned and I missed again I would truly be a wreck. The rifle is still sighted in but I know my judgment of distance is off. The deer I figured at 225 and I shattered its back about 6″ too high.

If one ask they can get permission to hunt near the circles. Ranchers or farmers do not like Pronghorn as they like to lay in the Alfalfa!

So I need a range finder, should have sighted in if for no other reason than to be used to the shot. I hadn’t fired it for over a year and might have been jerking the trigger in anticipation of its fury. But as usual in a like situation I didn’t feel or barely hear the shot. I am also confident of the area now but will likely not ever get the chance again. That tag took 15 years and if I get lucky I know exactly where to go.

Thanks again for your wisdom and sorry to let you down but your knowledge was spot on and appreciated. Thanks again. Mick!