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Post by ukwil on Sept 23, 2017 17:49:44 GMT -5
Just got settles into our room in Casper. We are going to use tomorrow as a scouting day. We are about 45 mins from our unit. On the drive from Cheyenne we seen over 150 antelope with 2 being huge bucks. Also seen 6 mule deer, 4 whitetails, and a bald eagle. Temps have taken a nose dive and was only 43 when we got out of the truck. It's supposed to warm up into the 50s next week.
I'll try to give updates each day if possible.
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Post by schall53 on Sept 23, 2017 18:52:12 GMT -5
Just got settles into our room in Casper. We are going to use tomorrow as a scouting day. We are about 45 mins from our unit. On the drive from Cheyenne we seen over 150 antelope with 2 being huge bucks. Also seen 6 mule deer, 4 whitetails, and a bald eagle. Temps have taken a nose dive and was only 43 when we got out of the truck. It's supposed to warm up into the 50s next week. I'll try to give updates each day if possible. Good luck, we're leaving on Thursday for our annual Muley hunt north of Lusk, Wy. |
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Sept 23, 2017 19:29:12 GMT -5
I'm jealous, still 2 more weeks for me.
Get some rest and good luck!
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Post by ukwil on Sept 24, 2017 15:35:02 GMT -5
Day 1:
Got to our area about 8am and started scouting. It was a whopping 37 degrees with misty rain and fog. After already seeing dozens between Casper and our area, including some nice bucks, we almost hit a buck and 2 does as we crossed into our area.
We estimated we seen north of 400 animals with probably a minimum of 75 bucks. Lots of does and small bucks. We have our eyes on 3 for in the morning. I know they say not to shoot on the first day, but it's going to be a dilemma. 2 I'd say will go over 80 inches and the 3rd is a freak. The biggest has short prongs, but he's extremely heavy and flares out really wide.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Sept 24, 2017 15:42:19 GMT -5
Good to hear that you're seeing animals. I'm no good at all on judging them, so I'd try for the freak. The good part about shooting on the first day is you have plenty of time to sight-see.
Are you hotelling it all week or are you camping?
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Post by ukwil on Sept 24, 2017 16:03:14 GMT -5
Good to hear that you're seeing animals. I'm no good at all on judging them, so I'd try for the freak. The good part about shooting on the first day is you have plenty of time to sight-see. Are you hotelling it all week or are you camping? I've studied so much on them I'm hoping I'm judging right. The freak has a bunch of extra points. The 2 biggest ones just had that WOW factor about them and you could easily tell they were a caliber above the rest no ?s abiut it. We stayed in Casper at a hotel this week. We'll camp from here on out. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Sept 24, 2017 16:03:26 GMT -5
Day 1: Got to our area about 8am and started scouting. It was a whopping 37 degrees with misty rain and fog. After already seeing dozens between Casper and our area, including some nice bucks, we almost hit a buck and 2 does as we crossed into our area. We estimated we seen north of 400 animals with probably a minimum of 75 bucks. Lots of does and small bucks. We have our eyes on 3 for in the morning. I know they say not to shoot on the first day, but it's going to be a dilemma. 2 I'd say will go over 80 inches and the 3rd is a freak. The biggest has short prongs, but he's extremely heavy and flares out really wide. Oh my!! One does not simply pass 80" pronghorns no matter what day it is...... |
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Sept 24, 2017 16:50:26 GMT -5
Good to hear that you're seeing animals. I'm no good at all on judging them, so I'd try for the freak. The good part about shooting on the first day is you have plenty of time to sight-see. Are you hotelling it all week or are you camping? I've studied so much on them I'm hoping I'm judging right. The freak has a bunch of extra points. The 2 biggest ones just had that WOW factor about them and you could easily tell they were a caliber above the rest no ?s abiut it. We stayed in Casper at a hotel this week. We'll camp from here on out. Cool. I'd probably shoot the first day too if they're that big, especially since you've got doe tags to enjoy still. Good luck! |
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Post by schall53 on Sept 25, 2017 9:57:07 GMT -5
Day 1: Got to our area about 8am and started scouting. It was a whopping 37 degrees with misty rain and fog. After already seeing dozens between Casper and our area, including some nice bucks, we almost hit a buck and 2 does as we crossed into our area. We estimated we seen north of 400 animals with probably a minimum of 75 bucks. Lots of does and small bucks. We have our eyes on 3 for in the morning. I know they say not to shoot on the first day, but it's going to be a dilemma. 2 I'd say will go over 80 inches and the 3rd is a freak. The biggest has short prongs, but he's extremely heavy and flares out really wide. If you get a shot at one you like take it, first day or not. After those goats get shot at they tend to be a lot harder to get up on. They move out into the flats and won't let you get within 500 yds. of them. Good luck. |
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Post by ukwil on Sept 25, 2017 23:20:00 GMT -5
Day 1: Got to our area about 8am and started scouting. It was a whopping 37 degrees with misty rain and fog. After already seeing dozens between Casper and our area, including some nice bucks, we almost hit a buck and 2 does as we crossed into our area. We estimated we seen north of 400 animals with probably a minimum of 75 bucks. Lots of does and small bucks. We have our eyes on 3 for in the morning. I know they say not to shoot on the first day, but it's going to be a dilemma. 2 I'd say will go over 80 inches and the 3rd is a freak. The biggest has short prongs, but he's extremely heavy and flares out really wide. If you get a shot at one you like take it, first day or not. After those goats get shot at they tend to be a lot harder to get up on. They move out into the flats and won't let you get within 500 yds. of them. Good luck. I did that tonight schall. He's not huge but I'm tickled with him. It was hard earned. I'll do a better write up tomorrow. I'm killed. |
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Post by schall53 on Sept 26, 2017 7:03:27 GMT -5
Great job, now you can go out and hunt predators or find some prairie dogs. No license needed and a ball to shoot. Waiting for your write up.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Sept 26, 2017 9:09:40 GMT -5
Congrats! Looking forward to seeing him.
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Post by ukwil on Sept 26, 2017 20:38:59 GMT -5
Opening day dawned with 37 degree temps and a steady rain here in Casper. We arrived up in our area right at shooting time only to find 33 degree temps and 4 inches of fresh snow. We immediately started seeing pronghorn EVERYWHERE. Bucks chasing does, bucks fighting, you name it.
Got on the Big boy about 30 minutes later as he was coming off of private into a big chunk of BLM. As he was fixing to cross the road another guy pulls up and spooks him back on to the private. We decided to drop over into the draw where he and the other one went Sunday afternoon. We didn't see another big one, but proceeded to see over 50 Lopes on the first loop which was 2.5 miles. The animals in this area were considerably bigger in size, but fewer in numbers.
We proceeded to drive and glass off and on all day and if found an animal with a chance at a stalk we tried. About 1030 or so we seen a group of 12 or so with a decent buck in them. I managed to stalk with in 250 yards, but forgot to compensate for the wind and missed. After taking a much needed nap we did a repeat of the morning that afternoon. At one point we stopped and glasses a big sage brush flat. In this flat we seen a badger, 15 or so pronghorn, and a herd of 25 elk with a huge 6x6 in it.
About 4pm we glassed a good buck trying to keep 4 does from a couple other bucks and away I went. After playing cat and mouse with them I snuck up a ditch and got close enough to hear him grunting as he chased one of the does in a little draw. I was less than 80 yards, but couldn't see him below his prongs due to a slight hump between us. I eased up for a shot only to realize he was gone as he's chased her back out to around 400 yards. Figuring the night was over I went to go get my cousin who was watching from a sagebrush patch on a 2 track, this is important later. We walked back to the BLM gate about 300 yards away and turn around to see the buck I eventually shot standing in the sagebrush patch with 2 does. He started chasing them and I literally ran back up the same ditch as earlier. Got to within 289 yards and figured it was now or never. I let excitement get to me and pulled the first shot and got him back. Missed on #2 and dropped him with a shoulder shot on #3. Not the biggest, but we'll earned and I'm tickled. The game warden stopped to check us and aged him at 4+ years old, very common, and respectable for the area. We will be back, it's addicting.
Who can put a photo up? I always used photobucket
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Sept 27, 2017 9:09:02 GMT -5
Congrats. Sounds like a good hunt.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Sept 27, 2017 10:01:51 GMT -5
Sounds like fun! Good luck on your doe tags.
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Post by ukwil on Nov 5, 2017 6:35:43 GMT -5
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Post by ukwil on Nov 5, 2017 6:37:42 GMT -5
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Post by whitetaildave24 on Nov 5, 2017 9:45:48 GMT -5
Very cool. Thanks for adding the pics of your adventure.
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Post by SFC (R) B on Nov 6, 2017 11:21:30 GMT -5
Nice pics and congrats!!....I love anything with character.
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