Perched above a drainage Dad and I watched antelope graze. The range finder indicated they were still over 400 yards out, but it appeared they were working towards us. Glassing the herd with my Vortex binoculars, I identified three bucks. The wind was in our favor and with a little luck, the antelope might wander into range. Right now, it was a waiting game.
Antelope hunting on public land in Wyoming is a series of solving problems. Locate a buck you want to pursue and make a plan. If the plan fails, evaluate it, and try again. This particular unit had plenty of antelope. Almost too many. Stalks are blown due to encountering a herd that originally went unseen. The landscape offered little change in elevation and the wind never seemed to be in our favor. On top of all this the pronghorns have already been hunted for weeks. The first sign of danger triggered a sprint over the horizon. If Rod and I were going to punch our tags, we would need to be stealthy, creative, and accurate with our shots.
Leaving Nebraska Tuesday afternoon we drove to Wyoming. We arrived in town around 11:30 pm and opted for a cheap hotel over setting up camp in the dark. Maybe we are getting soft or maybe we are getting smart. Regardless of your assessment of our grit we woke before day break and headed to the prairie. It wasn’t long and we spotted antelope. The challenge isn’t seeing the antelope. The challenge is seeing the antelope before they take off like a bat out of hell. The pronghorn antelope can run up to 55 mph and big bucks don’t get mature by hanging out. They are alert at all times.
The morning was spent belly crawling towards herds of antelope. There never seemed to be enough cover to close the last couple hundred yards. Additionally, we were trying to figure out how to field judge a mature buck. Before we left on this hunt I studied numerous articles regarding this endeavor. I found many helpful tips:
· Use the eyeball to help judge mass
· Use the ear to measure length
· Make sure the cutters start above the ear
All this made sense, but applying the knowledge in a real life hunting scenario was proving difficult.
As noon approached we left the prairie for the foothills of the mountains to set up camp. The campsite was empty. Trees and a nearby stream created a better spot than the open prairie. The 20 minute drive was worth the atmosphere. This would be our home for the next three days.
After camp was assembled we headed back to the frontier. Dad and I discussed a couple of different options for the afternoon hunt. Our decision led us to the first paragraph of this story. We belly crawled to the edge of the drainage. A patch of sage brush created the perfect spot to lay our packs for a rest. Antelope were spread out across the horizon. As I glassed the nearest group I could pick out three bucks, but I still couldn’t come to a conclusion of their size.
A buck was running in the distance. Antelope always seem to be on the move. Did another hunter spook him? Why did the rest of the herd stay put? It wasn’t long and I realized the cause of the erratic behavior. The buck was chasing a doe. When other male antelope approached the dominate buck would run them off. He was pushing the doe toward the herd below us. A few minutes passed and the buck was intermingled in the herd. Through all the commotion the entire group moved to approximately 200 yards out. Dad steadied his .243 on his pack and said “what do you think?”
As I watched through the binoculars I replied “shoot the one chasing the doe.”
I heard the safety click…then BOOM! The mature pronghorn dropped in his tracks. The remaining antelope scattered as Dad and I exchanged high fives and congratulatory “hell yahs.”
The first problem was solved, but we were not finished. After taking photos of Rod’s success we had to figure out how to get the meat back to camp. Over half a mile of prairie stood between our bounty and the truck. Not a significant distance, but far enough to evaluate our options. Skinning and quartering the animal where it lay was our best choice, so I got to work.
I loaded the quarters, backstraps and loins in my Eberlestock pack and Rod took the head. It was an easy pack, but my quads were burning by the end. Click Here for the pre-packout.
Back at camp Rod started a fire. We would eat well that night. However, first we needed to hang the meat. Dad tied a rope between two pines and we attached the quarters securely. Another problem solved. Once the work was done we feasted on potatoes and fresh antelope loin.
There is not a better feeling in the world than eating fresh meat cooked over an open fire with your dad. Camp morale was high, but we weren’t done. I still had a tag to fill…
How Does This Apply to Business
Business and life is a series of solving problems, just like antelope hunting.
A question that I ask myself is “what do I want to be true in the end?”
Then I evaluate my situation.
What do I know is true? With antelope hunting this might be wind direction, terrain I have available, and my current location in relation to the game I am pursuing.
What do I think is true? When antelope hunting this might be how close I think I can stalk, the distance of shot I think I can take, or how much I can get away with regarding the wind.
What do I know is false? This often blurs with what I think is true because I am often optimistic in my skills. However, it is important to make a list of items you know are false. For example, if I think I can stalk an antelope into the wind, I am wrong.
Once you answer these questions you are ready to develop a plan. If the plan fails evaluate the results and try again. The best part of business, life, or antelope hunting is the fact if your plan doesn’t work you can make another attempt.
Until next time remember, you are going to have to earn it.
To Be Continued…