Wyoming Hunting -Where the Deer and the Antelope play! Part Two!
Ed H Edwards is a Lansing Chapter Member, avid hunter, and fisherman.
2025 Antelope Tag Received!
The view of the antelope herd on the distant ridge was nothing short of stunning. A vista of rolling hills and fields that seemed to be barren wilderness, but not emptiness with the abundance of antelope. To hunt antelope in Wyoming means glassing section by section of the landscape. A preliminary sweep of the binoculars at first often gives an impression that no antelope are around. Then, as you settle down to study carefully, bands of antelope appear, walking up out of folds in the land and disappearing as mysteriously as they appeared. Each group with a dominate buck herding his harem and guarding them from harassment of other bucks. This view was different since it contained over two dozen antelope and at least three mature bucks.
The odor of sage can be overpowering especially if you hunker down in it for nearly two hours as me and my son Clint had been doing.
We spotted the “speed goats” as the locals call them at 600 to 800 yards distance which increased as soon as we parked the truck and stepped out to glass. Knowing trying to stalk them would be impossible we got in the truck and drove back the way we came for a half mile or so, parked, and walked out into the sage flat. Finding a spot that would conceal us if we sat down, I suggested we stay a while and see what happens. Maybe the herd would break up and scatter or another band might come by from a different direction, with the rut in full swing anything could happen!
After a while the herd started to spread out and some were now visible from out vantage point. A small buck left and came straight to us and stopped, stared and took off like a race horse feeling the whip. We had no other plans for the day and stayed in place hoping one of the mature bucks would work into range. About an hour later two mature bucks that were 700 yards out started to walk in our direction. We lost sight of them due to a dip in the elevation about 400 yards out. Not knowing if they were still on a straight line to us or would take a turn I was on full alert with my 270 mounted on the tripod. Suddenly the smaller of the two bucks appeared , turned, and trotter back towards the main herd.
Knowing if any opportunity happened it would only last for a few seconds and I had to be ready to shoot immediately if the buck came into view. First the horns appeared over the sage then enough of the body for a shot and a 136 grain Federal Terminal Ascent dropped him like unreinforced masonry in a hurricane with a double-lung shot.
There was no ground shrinkage and I was as happy as a clam in moist sand, a beautiful public land buck and the shared experience with my son!
Clint still had his tag to fill so the following morning we drove to the area he had drawn and started looking around. Within an hour we found a good buck with a single doe , made a short stalk, set up the tripod, and Clinton shot him at 318 yards with his 7mm PRC. An easy-peasy hunt.
Hunting Antelope in Wyoming
The BLM land I hunted is North of my son’s home in the town of Douglas, WY. Antelope hunting area #26 has considerable wilderness land but also has natural gas stations, wind farms, and free- range cattle. None of these seemed to bother the antelope. This confirms wildlife can not only survive but flourish in areas where natural resources are obtained provided good environmental practices are followed and sufficient habitat is left undisturbed.
Antelope are the most exotic looking big game animal in North America. A mature buck with his tan, white, and black pelage topped with rakish black as a crow wing horns, and tasty venison is makes it a worthy animal to hunt.
Sadly, antelope are not the most adaptable of animals. For eons they got by using their eyesight which is estimated to be the same as a human using 8X binoculars. In addition, they are one of the fastest running mammals on the planet. Compared to whitetail deer they lack the cerebral qualities that species is known for. Further, they suffer from extreme curiosity as my buck displayed.
Unlike a deer, antelope cannot jump and a stock fence can prevent migration or the ability to escape from predators. Some hunters do not respect them and refer to them as “prairie rats” and use a vehicle to herd them against a fence and start shooting. Also, the growing interest in long-range shooting results in the poor little creatures being shot in non-lethal areas such as the paunch and leg due to shooters trying to be hunters and shoot at them with their new high ballistic coefficient cartridges at ranges they are not capable of. When dropping my buck off for processing another hunter was doing the same and his bullet placement was right through both hams on a broadside shot. An absolute mess and much of the meat ruined. No thank you.
To hunt, and I mean hunt, an antelope or any animal to the fullest requires patience, shooting skill, stalking methods using available terrain changes, and intimate knowledge of your equipment. Antelope have been here a lot longer than we have and certainly deserve our respect.
New Technology
Since my previous hunt in 1988 a lot has changed due to new technology.
OnX Maps. Clint subscribes to the app and we were able to view land ownership through the trucks navigation system. BLM land is not posted nor does it have any boundary markings, without the app it would have been difficult to determine where BLM starts and stops.
Commercial Tripods. Did not exist to my knowledge in 1988. We used a Bog Pod Death-Grip model with carbon fiber legs. The vice like clamp securely locks down the rifle for a hands-free, rock- solid rest. Both of our shot opportunities would have been much more difficult without the tripod.
Range Finders. Are an important accessory to have on an antelope hunt. The terrain and animal size makes it difficult to judge distances. My SIG and Clint’s Vortex range finders came in handy.
Final Thoughts
When I hunted antelope in 1988 37 years ago I was 37 years old so it was exactly half a lifetime ago. It was a great hunt in all respects, what I call a 3M hunt.
Memories. Guided by a Wyoming resident friend that has since passed away I was blessed to meet and share camp with on a 1984 Botswana hunt.
Meat. The antelope venison from that hunt was delicious.
Memento. The shoulder mount of that buck reminds me of the hunt every time I walk into my home office.
My 2025 antelope hunt was also a 3M hunt and extra special being able to spend time with my son and his wife and daughters.
