Starting last weekend my brothers and friends and sons went on our annual antelope hunt (Does). between the whole group we had 6 tags, and we filled em all. I've got some pics but others are still filtering in so I'll post them as they arrive. We got to shoot a couple prairie dogs too,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcKQMr65VfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32UzYnZucWo
and my brother even had a good shot at a coyote, but missed.
It all started opening morning with a stiff breeze and some very skiddish antelope. The first few shots given were in the 700 yards range and with the wind gusting everywhere we didn't want to try it. We got close to the tail end of a herd going over the hill in front of us, and the last four does stopped ontop of the hill, unfortunately, three of them were pointing northbound, but the one that was looking southbound (right at us) ranged at 280 yds with the Leica. My youngest brother got into position with his bone stock M77 300wm and placed one right in the throat. Perfect kill, she went right to the ground and pumped every last drop of blood onto the dry desert ground.
Then my second brother and I snuck around the side of said hill, and watched the antelope work their way back around, we set up to ambush them when they came into view, with the farthest shot being 600ish, and as close as 150yds. After a brief wait, they came round the edge of the hill, and I ranged them right at 330yds. I told my brother to take the shot since neither of them had shot one before. He quickly took to eying the target, and nailed her right under the earhole, making another perfect kill, and again pumped out ALL the blood onto the ground. The cleaning of both of these two animals was pleasant(or at least as it could be) due to the lack of bloody mess usally found inside.
heres the money shot
Next up was my brother in law, we crept up to a ridgeline and found a small herd(5-6) that busted us quick and ran behind the next hill. Not taking no for an answer, we crawled to the top of the next one taking cover in the sagebrush. When we spotted them they were already onto us, and gave only seconds for a shot, always jonny on the spot with his R700 300wm, he quickly dispatched the largest of the does.
So we made our way back to camp to do the skinnin and cleanin part, had us some dinner, and shot some prairie dogs. CBM#1 made some very fine messes of the Pdogs. and CBM#2 drew first blood on a rabbit that found all the racket "just fascinating".
The next morning, we made our way back to our spot, and found another small herd feeding in some sage atop a little hill. We crawled up to about 430 yds but right as chubbles was puttiing the pressure on his m700 .308, they started moving away. We continued crawling closer, and when we crested the hil, they were only 200 yds away. they kinda figured somethin was going on and started looking for us, but it was too late. Chubbles put the 175SMK right through the boiler room and she went right down.
After driving up to Billings Montana and working for a week, i came back and we finished the last two.
The first one was a good friend of mines, he made a perfect quartering at us shot at 440 yds, she ran about 40-50 yds and folded.
Then it was finally my turn! A nice doe sporting the largest "horns" yet, I shot her at 490 yds, and spooked both her fawns off. We threw em in the truck and headed home.
What a great time!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcKQMr65VfM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32UzYnZucWo
and my brother even had a good shot at a coyote, but missed.
It all started opening morning with a stiff breeze and some very skiddish antelope. The first few shots given were in the 700 yards range and with the wind gusting everywhere we didn't want to try it. We got close to the tail end of a herd going over the hill in front of us, and the last four does stopped ontop of the hill, unfortunately, three of them were pointing northbound, but the one that was looking southbound (right at us) ranged at 280 yds with the Leica. My youngest brother got into position with his bone stock M77 300wm and placed one right in the throat. Perfect kill, she went right to the ground and pumped every last drop of blood onto the dry desert ground.
Then my second brother and I snuck around the side of said hill, and watched the antelope work their way back around, we set up to ambush them when they came into view, with the farthest shot being 600ish, and as close as 150yds. After a brief wait, they came round the edge of the hill, and I ranged them right at 330yds. I told my brother to take the shot since neither of them had shot one before. He quickly took to eying the target, and nailed her right under the earhole, making another perfect kill, and again pumped out ALL the blood onto the ground. The cleaning of both of these two animals was pleasant(or at least as it could be) due to the lack of bloody mess usally found inside.
heres the money shot
Next up was my brother in law, we crept up to a ridgeline and found a small herd(5-6) that busted us quick and ran behind the next hill. Not taking no for an answer, we crawled to the top of the next one taking cover in the sagebrush. When we spotted them they were already onto us, and gave only seconds for a shot, always jonny on the spot with his R700 300wm, he quickly dispatched the largest of the does.
So we made our way back to camp to do the skinnin and cleanin part, had us some dinner, and shot some prairie dogs. CBM#1 made some very fine messes of the Pdogs. and CBM#2 drew first blood on a rabbit that found all the racket "just fascinating".
The next morning, we made our way back to our spot, and found another small herd feeding in some sage atop a little hill. We crawled up to about 430 yds but right as chubbles was puttiing the pressure on his m700 .308, they started moving away. We continued crawling closer, and when we crested the hil, they were only 200 yds away. they kinda figured somethin was going on and started looking for us, but it was too late. Chubbles put the 175SMK right through the boiler room and she went right down.
After driving up to Billings Montana and working for a week, i came back and we finished the last two.
The first one was a good friend of mines, he made a perfect quartering at us shot at 440 yds, she ran about 40-50 yds and folded.
Then it was finally my turn! A nice doe sporting the largest "horns" yet, I shot her at 490 yds, and spooked both her fawns off. We threw em in the truck and headed home.
What a great time!!
