Lessons from Antelope hunt

[EX121]

I just got back from an antelope & whitetail deer hunt near Sheridan WY. I got one each. But here are some lessons.
I did one long crawling stalk on a couple of laying down antelope one morning. It was about 200 yards up a gentle up hill slope along side a dirt jeep trail where I could keep a line of tall grass between me and the 'goats.
Gloves are good, it was great to be able to keep most of the little stickers out of your hands. Knee pads would have been nice.
It was surprising how tiring it was to crawl this far. I was using muscles in a manner I wasn't used to.
I made it to the ridge line and the tall grass where I could see the antelope and hadn't spooked them. I had to wait a little bit and catch my breath (more cardio training).
Laying prone in the grass looking through the scope the field of view was partially obscured by the grass. So I could see the antelope but a nice clear 'range" picture it wasn't. So more practice in odd shooting positions, not just clear range sessions.
So after all of this I missed the antelope.
I need to do more practice at 300 yards and higher next year in various conditions and from different positions. Real life shooting conditions won't be like a day at the range.
Good binos are must.
But I made a good one shot kill on one at 317 yards later that day.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I can't say enough about how awesome this is because this is real and not standing position only with the chesticle rig acting invincible.
Low crawls to get into position stink no two ways about it. They are hard on the body, work them muscles, test the patience, and are slooooowww. The stickers, rocks and cactus are unforgiving. They will leaves marks, scar the rifle and shred clothing and gear while crawling. I can look at a mans gear and rifle and tell you immediately weather or not they will do what it takes to get there or if they are just feeder hunters.
Then trying to get above the grass into shooting position is almost impossible with the standard short bipods that work so well on the benchrest. Taller bipods are better in real life and packs work well if they came forward with you but often get left where the crawl begins to lower the profile. Thats a little tidbit the range commando trainers don't tell you either.

Wished a brother would take a picture or 2 cause they are all trophies when you work for them no matter the size!

It is awesome that you had a successful hunt in the end and a great accomplishment.

[EX121]

Thanks Matt.
I did leave the fanny pack behind on the long crawl. It was very hard to crawl and carry the rifle in one hand. I was joking with my hunting buddies about the crawl being tough , uphill both ways, through the cactus, attacked by a badger, etc, etc. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

[Tackleberry]

I can definitely second the above opinions regarding stalks that involve low crawls. I have stalked up on deer while bow hunting on several occasions and as Matt pointed out, the pack (& in my case boots) were left where the stalk began. The only things I had with me at the end of the stalks were my bow, a couple arrows, range finder, and binos. They tax the body greatly. My first low crawl stalk (about 60 yards) was when I was 26 and in excellent shape.....it sucked!! My hat is off to EXE121 for crawling 200 yards. That's impressive! Good physical condition is critical to pull it off. To help with stalks I have 2 sets of knee pads. One set is military surplus. They're hard plastic and are rather loud on dirt, sand, & gravel. They are comfortable and very durable. I don't usually hunt with them unless I am up above the Mogollon Rim where there is more ground cover. The second set are made of commercial grade rubber for construction. They work really well and are pretty quiet.

Here in AZ gloves are critical just for walking thru the desert. Everything in the deserts from the southern border to the base of the Mogollon Rim will cut or stick you. I learned early in life hunting quail that leather gloves are great protection against cactus, mesquite trees, brambles, cat's claw, etc. I carry a pair of leather gloves in my pack, my hunting vest, and keep a thrid pair in the Jeep. On the pair I carry in my hunting vest I cut the trigger finger off the glove of my shooting hand. I shoot a Remington 870 and the safety is on the front of the trigger guard making operating the safety & trigger easy without the finger on the glove.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Thanks Matt.
I did leave the fanny pack behind on the long crawl. It was very hard to crawl and carry the rifle in one hand. I was joking with my hunting buddies about the crawl being tough , uphill both ways, through the cactus, attacked by a badger, etc, etc. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

twernt no regular badger way i heard it it twas the dreaded saber toothed polar badger that eats man flesh and poops barrel cactus and it snowed twice and rained once and had it not been for that survival straw hollowed out fer breathing with your tactical ninja pen you mighta drowned for dedication of huggin the ground in modified nap position in your stealthy assault of the ferocious attack antelope while in rut when they are at their deadliest to the eukaryotic cell of the helpless Artemisia
and yeah i'd leave a fanny pack behind too
permanently LOL hehehe