Yesterday, I jumped two Pronghorn bucks in the morning. As I was looking hundreds of yards down range, these two bucks jumped up right under my nose (less than 20 yards). I was startled, but pretended not to notice. I just kept walking, not looking directly at them until I was 50 yards away. Then I turned around and we had an old fashion stare down, but I did my best not to give them much concearn. After a while, maybe 20 minutes, they actually bedded back down. I watched for a good while longer, but the cold was getting to me, so I moved on.
Today, being openning day and having read much about the predictability of Antelope, I returned to the scene. Sun came up and there they were. Thats the good news.
Here is, in my opinion, my mistake. Though I practiced a lot over the last couple of months (with lots of money spent on ammo, between $30 and $35 a box) with my new Marlin XL7 30-06, today I brought along some Stoney Point shooting sticks that I bought less than a month ago and never practiced with.
There were two bucks, one much larger than the other. Considering myself more of a meat hunter than a trophy hunter, I pulled out the sticks and set my sight on the young buck. My shot hit the young buck in the rear leg. Almost two feet from my intended spot.
So, here I was, first light of openning day and the realization that if I dont get this buck, my much anticipated antelope season is over. I can not shoot another antelope,because in my rule book, if I dont get this buck, my tag is going in the fireplace. So I fallowed this buck, trying not to push it hard. After a while, the bigger buck and loyal companion left his younger friend and fled. Still I kept on, because with intermittent snow and frozen ground and no blood trail, I couldnt rely on my tracking ability to let him lye down and then get him.
I fallowed him for a while until a shot finally presented itsel. I pulled out the shooting sticks one more time and this time I didnt miss. This is not how I would want to write this story, but it is what it is. Lesson learned, dont try something while shooting at game that you havent practiced with before.
I would like to post some pics with this, but I do not have a digital camera at this point and neither does, apparently, anybody around the Divide/ Dewy area.
