18A Antelope

[Red Rabbit]

Went from the southern boundary to the northern edge of the unit for the first scouting trip which covered over 700 miles this weekend. I have never hunted unit 18A, so this weekend was to see the unit, lean some roads, and maybe find a nice buck. No pictures were taken of the 3 biggest bucks seen, as they were on the run or at a long distance. A friend has an archery tag for 10, 18A, 18B, so Friday afternoon was spent in 10, but only 4 does were seen.

 

Bluestem Pricklepoppy was blooming on the tank berms.

 

A gate to nowhere

 

The setting sun poked through a hole to shine upon Unit 10

 

Oh yes, the antelope. This buck skylined itelf about 200 yards out.

 

 

Another had hooks that swept rearward right above the prongs.

 

A third roamed the center of the unit

 

One definite shooter buck was located, but hopefully a couple more trips will reveal some other bucks to consider focusing on the first morning of the season come September 12.

 

Doug~RR

[azryan]

great photos as always. thanks for sharing

[111]

Great pics! I like that skyline pic, he looks like a nice buck!

[Red Rabbit]

Mike,

 

I spotted this buck about a mile away before he walked behind a ridge. We later relocated him heading toward a tank, but he bedded in the middle of a cedar instead of proceeding to the water. He busted out when he saw the truck, and ran to the top of the ridge where he stared at us for several minutes.

 

He is a nice average buck, but lacks mass at the base and above the prong, and could use some longer prongs.

 

RR

[111]

Mike,

 

I spotted this buck about a mile away before he walked behind a ridge. We later relocated him heading toward a tank, but he bedded in the middle of a cedar instead of proceedint to the water. He busted out when he saw the truck, and ran to the top of the ridge where he stared at us for several minutes.

 

He is a nice average buck, but lacks mass at the base and above the prong, and could use some longer prongs.

 

RR

 

I agree he's a good buck but could use another year or two. It's good to know you found a shooter buck in the area, I bet you'll find a few more by the opener. Good luck with the rest of your scouting, and keep posting those great photos!

[TAM]

Nice pic's RR, thanks for sharing!

 

I love taking my boys out for an evening drive to look at the Antelope. I haven't found any real BIG bucks this year like I did last year, but lots of solid 80-84 inchers. I'll have to download some pic's and get them posted.

[Flash]

I bet you'll find something worth pursuing. My buddy has an elk tag down there and will probably scout with him a bit. I'll let you know if we see anything. Here is a buck from an earlier scouting trip. Let me know if you run into any elk while you are there! Good luck.

[willhunt4coues]

Sweet pics. Those ants are real healthy lookin.

[Hunterdan]

Nice Pictures Doug. Thanks for sharin.

[D.F.M.]

Hunted there years ago one thing about that unit is a couple days before the hunt all the no tresspassing signs go up did get one just not where I had scouted. Good luck.

[Red Rabbit]

This weekend, Rica and I made another scouting sojourn to the prairie goat lands west of Seligman. Besides the antelope and a nice sunset, we saw 2 badgers and a handful of coyotes not pictured or shot at. Guess when you see the yotes in some one's driveway or on posted land the bullets should not fly, and most of the coyotes were that way. A few PDs succumbed to the 50 gr V-Maxes during one road stop though.

 

Saw a couple of groups of fine pit BBQ, but those horse lovers in NY and with BLM would not have approved. Can't fathom why a feral land rapist is federally protected.

 

The recent rains made the prairies green, and adorned with some blossoms.

 

An old ranch house near Pica Camp turnoff. The weathered T&G on the other two sides has already been removed.

 

Saw a few speed goats, but no buck that was primo.

I peered over a ridge and caught this buck with about 8 does at 50 yards, with a yote sitting and peering at the group from about 10 yards away. Went back to the truck to get the camera, but the group had moved further off.

 

 

This buck was herding a dozen does on a flat a couple hundred yards out.

 

 

 

This third buck was by his lonesome.

 

Saturday night's sky fire.

 

 

 

Doug~RR

[CouesWhitetail]

Great pics Doug! That 2nd buck looks pretty good, but I hope you find one you like better.

 

"Can't fathom why a feral land rapist is federally protected."

Neither can I.

 

Amanda

 

[Red Rabbit]

In spite of the weather forecast that predicted a weekend of heavy rains, I ventured out to 18A to scout for antelope again. Perhaps a big buck had come out of hiding to steal the harem away from a delusional youngster.

 

Saturday morning greeted to antelope plains with a lightning show at sunrise. Of course the rain upon the camper shell meant a few extra winks of sleep. Fortunately, the rain was light and did not turn the roads to a mucky mess. CWT member "Butters" and his daughter were out archery hunting antelope. He had located a nice buck, but it was just the viewable kind as it was behind a posted fence. He had moved his Jeep further down the road, and that is where I met him glassing. We drove and checked two other bucks a mile away. I left Butters at 10:15 AM to put a stalk on one of them, as I had to meet a friend and we were going to check a well used fence crossing in another part of the unit.

 

After checking the fence crossing, I stayed to scout that part of the unit. Shortly after the friend and I separated ways, the clouds unleashed their pent up moisture for and hour of heavy rain. National Weather Service had issued a flash flood warning for the area. After the rain stopped, I tried to venture out, but a flowing wash had left only part of the clay road, so I let discretion stop my crossing of the slick clay roadbed, as I did not want to slide off into the 2' hole.

 

Thus I went back to where I had met Butters earlier that morning. I did see one nice buck across a wide draw. Another solitary buck was tucked up in the head of that draw, whose horn configuration reminded me of a court jester. I stood in front of a tree, and Rica moved around within 30 yards of me. The buck closed the distance from his bed at 200 yards and slowly walked towards us until about 100 yards out. After I got enough pictures, we gathered the tripod, camera and spotting scope, and headed back to the truck. The buck slowly trotted away.

 

Court Jester

 

 

That evening, another sunset pulled down a colorful curtain on the day.

 

 

Sunday morning brought a line of low clouds and a light sprinkle, but they passed overhead to the north . The first nice buck seen yesterday was now chasing his harem around the middle of the flat. A second group of antelope with an undetermined buck was watched heading into the cedars, presumable to escape the warm sun. Headed back down the two-track and found this buck with about a dozen does. (I will get the hang of digiscoping through the 15X binos yet. Seems better to use a large lens aperture for higher shutter speed, and zoom in to reduce vignetting and get a larger field of view.)

 

This is the rearward hooking buck and his herd. I had not seen this buck on the two previous scouting trips.

 

 

 

Sunday afternoon, the truck headed west to check out the western edge of the unit along Hackberry Wash. Rather a brushy desert more suitable to Gambels quail.

 

As I drove north towards Valentine, more grass appeared and looked more antelope-ish, but so did the no trespassing/no hunting signs of the local ranch. Valentine is set in a scenic area along old Route 66, with granite boulder mountains and buttes along Truxton Wash.

 

 

 

With that venture crossing Hackberry Wash off the list of places to hunt, I ventured back towards Seligman to go back into wher the prvious rains had stopped my progress. The gully was no longer flowing and the clay no longer slick after a day. Wide expanses of held grazing bovines, and 4 buckless antelope does fed in a shallow basin. My route out was stopped by a wide mud flat left behind by yesterday's flowing water. Before turning around, a coyote replete with summer hide was dispatched at the edge of the mud flat. Stopping on the retrace of the drive in for the evening allowed the view of another sunset.

 

 

 

 

Labor Day Monday morning awoke with the 20MPH winds that plagued yesterday. Sunflowers danced along the roadside (sorry Chris, no pics) as I headed to a spot where a buck rumored to be 18" tall has been seen. He must be playing Houdini still, as I only saw these three lesser bucks.

 

One of two bucks that kept tabs on a dozen does.

 

This was the last buck seen during the weekend. A young buck hiding in the cedars until he grows old and large enough to have a harem of his own.

 

 

 

Less than two weeks before the rifle season opens on the 12th. Let's hope the big boy remains unseen and out of range during the upcoming muzzleloader season that opens this Friday.

 

Doug~RR

[KGAINES]

See any elk Doug. Great pictures hopefully you find the one you want when the hunt starts.

[GameHauler]

Great report Doug.

Looking forward to your hunt