The Hunt...in Numbers

For posterity's sake, we wanted to capture some of the details of our trip, and do so in a bulleted/numbers format.  Thus, without further ado, note the following:

The Hunt...

• 35 antelope seen in day one...including 8 bucks
• only 10 antelope seen in day two...including 6 bucks (preferred ratio!)
• 3 hunters, 3 antelope taken (love the 100% success rate!)
• 3 shots fired in total (at least that is all we will admit to)
• 150 yards - all shots fired under this distance
• 50 - prairie dogs (1 taken)
• ??? - result often seen on range finders, either due to user error on our part, or object too far away to register

The Ranch

• $25 per day, per hunter, trespass fee on the Barton Ranch (regardless of targeted game)
• 2 slabs Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar and 9 cigars - tip for Verne Barton
• 20,000 acres - size of Barton Ranch...that's 31 square miles
• 5,000 acres - approximate acreage of Barton Ranch that we utilized
• 2 - number of trees seen on the 5,000 acres we hunted
• 5 - number of oil wells we saw on Barton Ranch (could certainly be more)
• 2 - number of oil wells pumping/active
• 10 - number of barrels per day the average oil well produces
• 300 head of cattle on Ranch
• 23 - number of antelope taken off Barton Ranch through first 6 days of 2010 season
• 2 - average number of other hunter vehicles seen per day on Barton Ranch

The Processing of Game

• $100 processing fee for meat (including standard cuts, and good assortment of sausage)
• $25 fee for caping Dad's antelope, which he will have mounted
• $15 for a 10 pounds of dry ice

The Trip

• 900 miles one way from Oconomowoc, WI, to Newcastle, WY
• 15 hours of drive time, one-way Oconomowoc to Newcastle
• 20 miles from Newcastle/motel to Barton Ranch
• 2000+ total miles driven on trip

News from the Napper

Let me preface this post by saying both Jerry and Lee were two of the most enjoyable people I have had the pleasure of hunting with.

After reading this blog, you are all aware of my napping abilities.  This is actually a little known hunting technique.  Yes, you’ve read about Jerry’s fantastic stalking ability, but even the best stalker needs a little help every now and then.  As Jerry was stalking his antelope, I kicked into Nap Mode and allowed the melodious sound of my snoring to hold the antelope’s interest.  I’m sure this soothing rumble was one of the contributing factors that allowed Jerry to successfully sneak up on his prey. 

Lee’s knowledge due to his previous antelope hunting experience definitely rubbed off on both Jerry and I.  We decided his approach to the ultimate bagging of a buck was something we could aspire to.  Being the little sponges that we are, we tried to fire a round or two to let them know the game was on.

You will have to read about Jerry’s antelope harvest from his perspective since I missed it while taking a nap in the truck.

Because of my personal preference and proven ability in the short stalk, I was the perfect candidate for the next opportunity to take a shot. This was my area of expertise and both Jerry and Lee knew it.  I descended into the arroyo for cover and checked over the side of the bank twice in 100 yards.  Unfortunately the buck was not there either time.  I proceeded back down the arroyo and stalked another 60 yards to the east with great endurance and stealth.  I nimbly climbed over the bank and spotted my quarry 143 yards away.  At this point I debated whether or not to fire the recommended warning shot but decided against it.  This local community of antelope didn’t seem to respond the same way as those Lee had come into contact with before.  I deftly set up my shooting sticks and placed a skillful kill shot at base of the neck.  Antelope down!   I looked back toward my hunting buddies and saw Lee with a “Thumbs up” and heard “Nice shot!” over the walkie-talkie.

Fortunately I was not napping at the time Lee took his antelope.  He spotted a napping buck lying down about 100 yards off the two-track road.  Lee slowly exited the truck (his usual speed) and gently placed his rifle across the hood of the truck being careful not to mar either truck or rifle.  You’ve already read Lee’s account of his successful stalk and it is quite accurate.  In future hunts, Lee will be using his new rifle rest system.  He will be seen stalking his quarry while carrying the hood of his truck.  He’s considering a few modifications and has been investigating the cost of replacing his metal truck hood with a custom fiberglass hood making it easier to transport in the field.

I must say it was one of my most exciting hunts and would definitely go again with both of these great guys!

The Napper (Glenn)

The Rest of the Story - by Lee Rowe

The following comments, observations and insights are from the most senior member of the "Great 2010 Wyoming Antelope Hunt".  During the trip from Wisconsin, as the only experienced antelope hunter in the group,  I felt duty bound to pass on to both Jerry and Glenn the vast wisdom I had accumulated in three previous hunts for the wily and ever vigilant antelope.  They both apparently have minds like sponges as they obviously soaked up everything I told them - Jerry shot the first antelope of the hunt and Glenn shot the second.

Both students had decidely different approaches to their successful hunt - Jerry was willing to walk a long way and put on a lengthy stalk while Glenn was willing to walk only a very, very short distance to make his shot.  To be fair, I should comment on my own extremely skillful and difficult taking of the third antelope.  To be brief, my first shot was made from a very stable rest position (actually, the hood of the truck).  The shot was intended to just "wing" the antelope, which it did, enabling me to use long practiced stealthy tactics to manuver in position for a kill shot.  This stratedgy worked like a charm and I became the third and final successful antelope hunter.

An observation of note is that Glenn's demeanor does not improve on days when he misses his afternoon nap.  Both Jerry and I made the mistake of shooting our antelope early in the afternoon when Glenn was scheduled for his nap.  While I will not expressly admit so, it is possible that I missed a morning shot at an antelope just so I could prevent Glenn from getting his nap.  After reflecting on this and judging by his surliness after missing his nap, this was probably a mistake.

Perhaps someday I will elaborate on "the rest of the story" and the many difficult  and exasperating situations that arise whenever three hunters of varying ages and temperments get together for a hunt.  Suffice to say it is often hard to separate the BS from fact.  However, although I have not read what Jerry has written thus far, I believe and I think Glenn would agree, that Jerry has reported accurately the events of the last week

Overall it was an excellent hunt with excellent company.

Dad's Goat...

Glenn shot his antelope at around 9:30am.  After cleaning, we hoisted him into the back of truck, pushed two bags of ice into his body cavity, and headed to the butcher shop in town.  With temperatures already in the lower 70's, the heat can quickly ruin the meat.

It was time to fill Dad's tag, so we wasted no time in heading straight back out to the ranch after the butcher shop.  Finding our entry point near Two Trees National Forest, we headed for a tall butte that we had passed several times to sit and have lunch.  High-up on the butte, we sat and glassed the surrounding area and enjoyed our industrial-strength PB&J's and other fixin's.  Wow...what a view!  See below...

Dad was now feeling the pressure to fill his tag, so we didn't dwell too long in the shadows of the butte.  We decided to head east, then north again toward the watering hole.  We took some two-track we had not yet traveled but could not see goats anywhere as we scanned the rolling terrain.  Ninety minutes later, we were back on the path where Glenn got his buck.  We passed through that area, and as we crested a steep hill we saw two other vehicles in the area that we were headed.  They were a mile apart, and moving along slowly, searching for game just as we were.

Verne Barton had told us when we checked in with him on Sunday that we might have to do some walking to find antelope...that they weren't all just standing by the two-tracks.  Now here we were watching two trucks amble along, so I sarcastically noted that these two trucks were proably road hunting!...who would do that!?!  Not 60 seconds after my comment, Dad spotted a antelope buck not more than 120 yards from the two-track.  How these other hunters had missed it we are not sure.

He was bedded down with his back to us.  We could tell he was beginning to get nervous as Dad quickly decided how to handle the situation.  Dad quietly exited the truck, leaned over the hood of the truck, and aimed in the direction of the buck.  The buck stood, ran about 20 yards away from us, and turned broadside.  Dad fired!...he hit him, but a little low.  The buck ran a short distance and stopped again.  Dad crept around the truck and into the field behind the buck to close the gap for a kill shot (see photo below).  The buck kept his eyes on the truck, not seeing Dad's move to the field.  He turned broadside again, presenting the angle Dad needed, and BANG!, the next shot dropped him in his tracks.

The pressure was off!  Dad's buck was very similar to mine and Glenn's...horns about 12 inches in length, with 2 inch prongs, and a real nice curl at the end of the horns.  Success for all of us....what a great hunt!

Glenn's Goat...

After "the one that got away", we decided to start heading north again toward the watering hole.  Not more than 3/4 mile down the two-track we spotted a buck and two does.  We spent a minute watching them, sizing up the buck as to whether or not he was a shooter.  After deciding he was, we quickly agreed on a simple take-down strategy.

First, we had to get out of site.  The antelope knew we were there, and were watching for our next move.  We ranged them at about 250, but saw an opportunity to close the gap.  I drove the truck another 50 yards further down a steep hill so the antelope could no longer see us.  The plan was for Dad to slowly walk the two-track to the left in case the lopes headed west, while Glenn would stalk east down the draw to the right, staying low and out of site to get behind them and perhaps get a shot.

Not more than 60-70 yards from the truck, Glenn crouched into a shooting position (see photo below).  He could see them but had too much sage in the way to get a good shot, so he slid back into the draw and hiked further to the east to find a better position.  A couple minutes later, he setup again, only to again withdraw and move down further.  Moving up the draw a third time, he finally had a good view of the buck.  He quickly ranged him at 143 yards, moved into shooting position, settled his nerves, took a deep breath, and BANG!  Glenn's buck crumpled to the earth in a heap...it did not take a step!

A great, patient stalk that resulted in Glenn's first antelope buck.  He measured about 12 inches, with good mass and deep 3+ inch prongs...a mature buck.  Great job, Glenn!

Tuesday Morning...the One That Got Away

Tuesday morning of our hunt started much like Monday morning.  Breakfast and coffee, then into the truck for our 20 minute ride to the Verne Barton Ranch.  Our plan for the day was to use the spot and stalk technique that we had successfully executed in downing my buck on Monday.

A few miles down Grieves road, the road that the Barton Ranch is on, is a two-track that we used as our primary entry onto Verne's land.  The two-track is marked by what we have proclaimed Two Trees National Forest, which is comprised of two giant Plains Cottonwoods rising up out of a draw in the midst of miles of open grassland (...it is our belief that folks from these open plains consider two trees sufficient enough to call a forest).

Dad and Glenn in front of Two Trees National Forest

Once on the ranch, we decided to head north toward a watering hole that we had discovered the antelope tend to congregate around.  As we swung north on a two-track, we saw a competing vehicle already making its way toward our destination.  So we went to plan B, and headed east toward the area I shot my goat on Monday.  After following the track for a little more than a mile, we jumped out of the truck to glass the area, and determine where to head next.  On alert, I began to climb a steep grade to gain a better vantage point, being careful not to spook any goats that might be just over the crest of the hill.  I saw no movement as I came over the ridgeline, and then turned around to look at the opposite slope.  There stood a antelope buck, 100 yards away across the draw, staring straight at me waiting for my next move.

I signaled to Dad and Glenn, who remained at the bottom of the draw, that they had a shooter buck directly above them.  Due to the slope of the hill they could not see him, so we started a careful stalk.  Dad went off to the left, and Glenn off to the right.  I quickly caught up to Glenn and assisted by ranging various landforms ahead so he would know shooting distance if the buck appeared.

Suddenly off to our left we saw Dad crouch, kneel, and set his shooting stick and rifle, readying himself for a shot.  BANG!...5 second pause....BANG!...a couple of near misses at what ranged at 385 yards.  Then it was Glenn's turn, as the buck came our view at a full run.  It was a long shot, but Glenn took it as the buck slowed, pounding dirt just underneath the buck at what we ranged to be 525 yards.  Unfortunately, the buck started running again, quickly out of range and disappearing over the horizon.  The one that got away...but what a fun stalk!!  This antelope hunting can be addicting!

Two More Makes Three...

Well...It's Tuesday evening and we are back at our motel.  Both Glenn and Dad knocked down their goats today!....a successful hunt for all of us!  I thought I would get a couple pictures up on the site now...and I will post the story of the hunt later tonight or tomorrow. 




Glenn's first speed goat
















And Dad's goat



Day 3...Our First Success

Day 3...our first day of hunting...started as most first day's do.  We were all up earlier than planned, anticipation in the air as we enjoyed our Raisin Bran and fruit for breakfast.  We loaded our gear and hit the road to Barton Ranch by 7:00am.

And wow!...what a day!  From a seeing game and gettin' lead in the air standpoint, we had a great day.  We saw our first antelope by 8:00am, a small group of three.  After a brief stalk we discovered that the buck in the group, and one of the females, had disappeared.  Strike one.

We quickly moved off the lonely doe, and on to a group of 8 that were about 2 miles off (believe it or not, these guys are easy to see at that distance!).  We drove the first mile to get as close as we could without spooking them.  Then with rolling hills as cover, I volunteered to make a stalk.  I headed far north and wrapped back around to the south, using landforms and wind as my cover.  After a bit of radio help from Dad and Glenn, I cautiously made my final stalk.

At first I thought it was a bird.  I was slowly stalking, slightly hunched over, toward where I concluded the goats were last seen.  Suddenly, the "bird" looked my way, and I realized it was an antelope doe's ears, and now she was staring right at me from a bedded down position.  The next 60 seconds seemed to take one.  The doe stood, snorted, alerting the others in her herd.  I saw the black horns of a buck move behind her, then up parallel with her, the move to a quartering position broadside to me.  From my now kneeling stance, I took aim at the buck and saw nothing but brown grass in my sites.  Unfortunately, I took the shot anyway, and missed...and the small herd of eight quickly moved out of range.  I great stalk wasted by a poor decision to shoot before the shot was there.  My bad...Strike 2.

An hour later, we had another stalk where we ended up empty...so we started thinking Strike 3 and we're out.  Somewhat dejected, we moved off to the south in hopes of another opportunity.  We stopped at the point of a ridge-top looking over ground that we had not yet hunted.  Dad and I hiked a short distance down the ridge which provided a good vantage point to glass the areas below.  About 10 minutes into our glassing, we agreed to hike down a bit further to a point that would provide a better view.  As we stood, an antelope buck appeared to our north, about 300+ yards away.  It ambled down a ridge and out of site, but given the angle and direction it was headed,  we calculated where we would see it next and started a fast hike to that point.

Five minutes later he appeared...exactly as predicted.  It was Dad's turn to shoot, and he got off a quick freestanding shot that missed.  I knelt down, setup my bipod shooting sticks, and put my crosshairs on the buck.  I only had a head shot from my kneeling position, so waited.  Dad knelt and did the same.  The antelope, curious at the sound of the shot and the movement it saw from our direction, started to slowly move directly toward us!  A short 60 seconds later, I took the shot that he presented, and the buck dropped in his tracks.  Photo below...

Not a trophy from a horns perspective, but definitely exciting and pleasing for my first antelope buck.  His horns measured 12 inches, with 2.25 inch prongs.  I guess you could say a trophy for me!  Many thanks to Dad and Glenn for their help!...and I hope to help them down their trophy's yet this week.

Day Two...Arrival and Scouting

It was 9:30pm lights-out our first night, with agreement to meet for breakfast at 6:45 before heading out.  As you might assume, anticipation controlled our sleep and we were saddled-up and eating breakfast by 6:20, and on the road by 7:00am.  Destination Newcastle, Wyoming.

At Rapid City, SD, we headed south then west and took the scenic route through Custer State Park.  We saw well over 100 turkey, a few deer, and even some big horn sheep...good stuff to get the excitement level raised.  Coming out of the Park we had a short 25+ miles to Newcastle.

After stopping by our hotel and picking up our room keys, we headed out to our hunting grounds for the week...the Barton Ranch.  Proprietor Verne Barton settled the land over 50 years ago, and now owns over 20,000 acres.  That's 31+ square miles!  After discussing our hunts plans, the 86 year old Mr. Barton reaffirmed his approval to allow us to hunt his land.  We headed out on one of the "two-tracks" (a unimproved ranch road) to do a bit of scouting and get the lay of the land.  After seering countless prairie dogs, finally about a mile north of the Barton Ranch driveway we jumped a small herd of antelope.  We saw one good buck in the group, so plan to return to the same area in the morning to start our hunt.

We finished out the day with a number of preparations including grocery shopping, gear checks, and map studying. And now we close the day after a quick dinner and a couple games of horseshoes at the motel.  Tomorrow will be our first day hunting, and we plan to hit the field by around 7:30am.  I hope to be reporting our successes tomorrow evening.

We're On The Road!

Well....after feeling like it would never come, departure day for our 2010 Speed Goat Hunt finally arrived!  As a matter-of-fact, we are currently sitting in the Country Inn Motel in the half deserted town of Murdo, South Dakota.  We will finish our drive with about 4 hours in the truck tomorrow morning.

We left the Oconomowoc area shortly after 7:00am this morning, and made short work of the 700 miles to Murdo.  We stopped once for a bio-break and driver change in LaCrosse, then stopped again for a Subway sandwich in Luverne, Minnesota.  After lunch, we started discussion about the accoutrements each of us had brought that would provide us with unique advantage against our quarry, which led to realization of the items we had forgotton.  As if on cue, the sign for Mitchell, South Dakota's Cabela's retail store appeared!  Hallelujah!  We made a quick stop to secure items to enhance our hunt, and continued on our way to Murdo. 

So, 10.5 hours after leaving home, we arrived at our humble accomodations in Murdo.  After the host's brief history lesson about the property and surrounding area, we checked into our rooms.  A short nip of scotch sent us off to dinner at the Buffalo Bar, where we all enjoyed....what else...but a buffalo burger.  Back at the Country Inn now....we sit imbibing one more short nip and planning our next day's itinerary. 

Look for more posts soon.....

JLR