I’ve been wanting to hunt Pronghorn in Wyoming for a while so earlier in the year I called Justin. We agreed that this would be a good year so we did some research and put in for a couple units. We didn’t draw our first choice unit but were able to draw our second choice unit which was a zero point 100% draw unit.
After looking at maps, networking with the local game warden in the off-season hunting season was finally here. We couldn’t miss opening weekend of whitetail season so spent the weekend at the deer lease with no success and started making the 18 hour drive to WY. As we started getting closer and closer we were seeing pronghorn in the panhandle and NM getting very excited.
We arrived to our hunting unit around 830am opening morning and began going to all the spots we mapped out this summer. We quickly learned the frustrations of public land hunting with guys in orange everywhere we wanted to go. We were cutoff by other hunters everywhere we went so decided to do a 5 mile hike in a remote area we didn’t think anyone would walk to. Sure enough we didn’t see any hunters but we also didn’t see much wildlife. We found one nice solo buck but were not able to connect with him and hiked back to the truck. The unit was covered up in Pronghorn but they were all on private land, crazy how they just know.
At the end of day one we reviewed our maps and came up with a plan for the morning. Plan A didn’t work with hunters cutting us off so we moved to another area. I spotted a nice buck with two does and we hiked to a ridge where we thought he would feed to that would give us a nice vantage point. It was the perfect stalk, I belly crawled to the top with Justin on the range finder behind me. He whispered 298 yards so I adjusted the scope took a deep breath and sent one. Justin immediately says “hard hit” watching him in binocs. He went 15 yards and piled up in front us. I jump up fist pumping and yelling to have Justin tackle me with excitement. He was a true stud and bigger than anything I expected from a zero point unit with limited public land access. We soaked it all in and took some pictures and packed him out.
The monkey was off our back so after a quick lunch we headed back out to find Justin one. We did some good hiking way away from everyone else and found two young bucks that Justin decided to pass. After that hike we decided to move to a different area that we haven’t been to yet and Justin spotted a good heard about 1/2 a mile from the county road in public land. We got a plan together and hiked around them towards where they were feeding. At this point we were pretty worn out walking through water where Justin even fell in a deep hole. Soaked up to his waist we finally got to the ridge we wanted to be at. The plan worked perfectly and the buck and group of does were all broadsides at 250 yards. Justin fired and dropped him in his tracks! I returned the Favor and tackled him with excitement before he could get up.
We went from a lot of confidence to little confidence with public land frustrations to doubling up and tagging out Day 2. We took some pics and packed his goat out. Tuesday night we filled our bellies with fresh victory back strap and celebration beers.
Lots of miles in the truck and lots of miles on the boots but got it done. Wyoming has been great, the people have been really nice and such a beautiful state. We’re all public land owners, get out there and just do it!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
After looking at maps, networking with the local game warden in the off-season hunting season was finally here. We couldn’t miss opening weekend of whitetail season so spent the weekend at the deer lease with no success and started making the 18 hour drive to WY. As we started getting closer and closer we were seeing pronghorn in the panhandle and NM getting very excited.
We arrived to our hunting unit around 830am opening morning and began going to all the spots we mapped out this summer. We quickly learned the frustrations of public land hunting with guys in orange everywhere we wanted to go. We were cutoff by other hunters everywhere we went so decided to do a 5 mile hike in a remote area we didn’t think anyone would walk to. Sure enough we didn’t see any hunters but we also didn’t see much wildlife. We found one nice solo buck but were not able to connect with him and hiked back to the truck. The unit was covered up in Pronghorn but they were all on private land, crazy how they just know.
At the end of day one we reviewed our maps and came up with a plan for the morning. Plan A didn’t work with hunters cutting us off so we moved to another area. I spotted a nice buck with two does and we hiked to a ridge where we thought he would feed to that would give us a nice vantage point. It was the perfect stalk, I belly crawled to the top with Justin on the range finder behind me. He whispered 298 yards so I adjusted the scope took a deep breath and sent one. Justin immediately says “hard hit” watching him in binocs. He went 15 yards and piled up in front us. I jump up fist pumping and yelling to have Justin tackle me with excitement. He was a true stud and bigger than anything I expected from a zero point unit with limited public land access. We soaked it all in and took some pictures and packed him out.
The monkey was off our back so after a quick lunch we headed back out to find Justin one. We did some good hiking way away from everyone else and found two young bucks that Justin decided to pass. After that hike we decided to move to a different area that we haven’t been to yet and Justin spotted a good heard about 1/2 a mile from the county road in public land. We got a plan together and hiked around them towards where they were feeding. At this point we were pretty worn out walking through water where Justin even fell in a deep hole. Soaked up to his waist we finally got to the ridge we wanted to be at. The plan worked perfectly and the buck and group of does were all broadsides at 250 yards. Justin fired and dropped him in his tracks! I returned the Favor and tackled him with excitement before he could get up.
We went from a lot of confidence to little confidence with public land frustrations to doubling up and tagging out Day 2. We took some pics and packed his goat out. Tuesday night we filled our bellies with fresh victory back strap and celebration beers.
Lots of miles in the truck and lots of miles on the boots but got it done. Wyoming has been great, the people have been really nice and such a beautiful state. We’re all public land owners, get out there and just do it!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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