Like I always say, “life is good in Montana”. To start off I have to tell you about an email I got from a good buddy down in CO. It showed a tripod stand standing out in the open with no skirt or anything around it. The caption below said they had killed three antelope out of it over a water hole. Well I'm from Missouri originally and most folks know MO is the “Show Me” state. I was pretty skeptical about getting away with sitting out in the wide open without being spotted much less shooting at a sharp eyed antelope...
Well the wheels got to turning so it was out too the lumber pile in the barn, I grabbed a few 2x4s and a ladder stand and headed to the pond. We had been seeing a few antelope coming in to a pair of ponds to water but the cover was very minimal plus I don't do so well in blinds so I hadn't fooled with them. I screwed together a sort of tripod from the 2x4s, anchored it with stakes, then stood the 15' tall ladder stand against it and strapped it down. The contraption was a little squeaky but surprisingly stable. Now to see if speed goats look up???
The first sit proved what the email had stated but also proved getting a shot certainly wasn't a sure thing. Early right at daylight the whitetails started passing thru but a bad wind alerted them something was up and they came on red alert. I got busted five or six times that morning and was glad when the last of them had passed on to their bedding grounds...
Just minutes later I spot horns topping the pond dam to the left and out steps a dandy 6pt bull elk. Since I'd already filled my bull tag I had to just sit and enjoy his antics. He was so love sick and lonely it “hurt” to watch him whine and moan. I'm guessing he'd had his butt kicked good, been driven out of the main herd and was looking for some lonesome cow without a bigger bull guarding her. I'd never seen elk down here this early in the year and well prior to the rut so when he passed 20 yards right in front of me I was really wishing for another elk permit... He eventually wandered off to the west still whining and moaning but never let loose a real bugle.
A couple hours later I was really whining myself after sitting atop that ladder stand with no back rest or anything. I was very close to climbing down when a few antelope topped the rise to the west. All of a sudden I was feeling good again and couldn't wait to see what happened next. The goats stood off a couple hundred yards and looked things over for several minutes then the old lead doe decided things were cool and here she came. They ran right down the trail I was hoping but when 25 yards or so away the whole bunch veered like a flock of birds to the north and ran to the other pond where I wasn't sitting. I couldn't believe it but decided there was still a chance of getting a shot if I could get turned around ready when they came back by after watering...
I slowly stood and turned to the right and was ready for them when I heard something behind me. I looked under my arm in time to see another group of does and fawns running down the hill to end up three yards from my stand on my right now since I'd turned toward the other pond... I couldn't believe my luck and before I made the excruciatingly slow turn, (remember the squeaky stand) back to the goats that were right under me they had watered and were wandering off to the west again. In the mean time the first group had wandered toward the second group and were like 15 yards away, of course on my weak side... I wound up both bunches got away without me even getting my bow drawn.
Now I'm convinced this tripod concept will work but not convinced I can get off a shot out of it... I sat the contraption a couple more times with goats always zigging when I zagged. I finally decided to preserve my sanity I'd better get back on the ground for a bit and a couple days later was able to kill a nice buck by stalking up on a big herd.
I had a buddy that was sitting a blind on a fence crossing without much luck so I invited him to set up on the north pond thinking the goats that were avoiding me would get a surprise next time. Now I'm not sure they were seeing me but something was obviously up and even if they did come to my pond I was always turned wrong for a shot. Mostly I was looking forward to the “birds eye” view I was going to have when that arrow came darting out the blind window and nailed a speed goat.
We made the sneak into the stand and blind in total darkness the next morning and just after daylight the deer parade started again. The difference this morning was the updraft the thermals were creating kept my scent off the beaten path. I was amazed when a couple of 120”ish bucks came waltzing thru without a care in the world. Both bucks passed 10 yards right in front of me without spooking. Next were three little dink bucks who actually spent 15 minutes sparring 15 yards away. I was really enjoying the show as three mulie does walked between the legs of my stand on their way around the pond. Maybe this tripod thing had some merit after all...
After the morning rush hour things slowed considerable for the next hour till a few goats materialized on a ridge a quarter mile away. I was certain they would eventually be coming in to the blind or ladder stand one. I sat like a rock for the next 20 minutes till they decided the coast was clear and came trotting in the water. Lady Luck was smiling on me as they turned and almost ran right into the water on my strong side and plunged their heads into the water. Turns out the whole bunch was bucks and me without a buck tag... my tag did say doe/fawn on it though and there were two nearly grown buck fawns with the bunch. Since the wife and I both love antelope meat it was a no-brainer not to pass a shot on a legal animal so I slowly swiveled at the waist drawing at the same time. The biggest of the little bucks chose that time to turn his butt to the right turning him broad side to me. Without conscious thought the arrow was away and thru him near side. The whole group spun at the shot but only went a few steps before turning back to the water and it was business as usual. All of them except my buck that is, was made half a dozen wobbly steps and dropped to his final resting place 15 yards away. I was officially out of Antelope tags for 2012...
Finally after several hours of sitting time and a few "hiccups" it had come together. No doubt occasionally a sharp eyed old doe would spot you and I'm sure the rest would eventually be “educated”. But obviously this was a viably option for antelope hunting water holes and such. I know for myself it's sure a better option than being couped up in a blind and I would sure be planning something better for next year.
I was shooting my trusty Toelke Whip, AD Trad shafts and Grizzly heads. Thanks for following along and hope you enjoyed my last Antelope hunt in 2012
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Topic: Final Antelope Hunt for 2012 (Read 499 times)
