Antelope - South Dakota Hunting

Antelope

2007

2006

Well here it is, the Buck I've been chasing for over 3 years. In 2004 I got my first goat license, about 3 weeks ahead I started scouting and this guy was on the ranch, my plan was to leave them alone, stay far away and give them no reason to leave the ranch. The plan in some sense worked, on opening day he was there along with 2 other bucks and a herd of does. Chief and I never got within 400 yards of them. In 2005 I scouted all summer, and kept track of this boy starting in mid June. The season was fast approaching and I could find him every time. In fact I would drive up to him and admire him, he learned to not fear the pickup and we became friends, (at least I would like to think so). About 2 weeks before the 2005 season he disappeared, I couldn't find him, I missed work and lost sleep trying to figure out where he went. I was sure he left the ranch and became someone else's wall hanger. About December 1st I spotted him and he was back on the ranch not fearing the truck. This year he was around, obviously older, a little larger and all alone. I kept a close eye on him, but about a week before the season started he was missing again, I was devastated, and then on the Thursday night before the season started he appeared with 4 does at a water hold on the far reaches of the ranch. I devised a plan and on Friday night I scouted one last time. We found the spot where he was going to bed and on Saturday morning Opening Day, he appeared, and after a spot of about 700 yards we started a stalking plan, but it didn't take much, he never spotted us, he headed right for me and I killed him at about 120 yards. This will be my first full shoulder mount of any species, and I think it will be worth it.

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2005