This is topic Finally pulled one out of the hat. in forum Member forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on June 29, 2010, 05:20 PM:
I typically put in for a few of the hard to draw areas for big game hunts in Wyo and finally drew one. I have an area 61 (Red Desert) antelope tag and its one of the hardest to draw and best tags in the state. This is a place you can take a B&C antelope if things go right. I never have. I have killed two with a bow that just missed the B&C mark, but were both well into Pope and Young. This will be a rifle hunt and I'm going to try for a monster.
Posted by booger (Member # 3602) on June 29, 2010, 05:27 PM:
That's cool, Cal!
Post pics! I will have to live vicariously through you!
My dad and I were going to Wyoming after I graduated from high school in the fall of '79 to hunt antelope, but unfortunately, he passed away when I was a junior. We hunted a lot of birds together in my first 15 years, but never big game.
Wyoming antelope is on my 'bucket list'!
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on June 29, 2010, 05:54 PM:
Cal,
I am betting that you already have the monster located, and already salted his tail down real good.
I look forward to seeing the photo's. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Posted by Aznative (Member # 506) on June 29, 2010, 06:24 PM:
Congrats to you too Cal. It is nice to have some luck once in a while.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 29, 2010, 06:30 PM:
Congrats Cal. You deserve it.
If you need a guide, Ill come ride with ya. LOL
Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on June 29, 2010, 07:23 PM:
No scouting yet Rich, Its a couple hundred miles down there, but maybe in August I may sneek off for a weekend of scouting and lowering the coyote population. Andy, you are more than welcome to serve as "guide". Which pretty much means you have to make sure there is always ice in the cooler. I don't know if I deserve this tag, but good tags are few and far between and I sure appreciate it anyway. I drew a southern Utah deer tag (paunsagaunt) in about 95. Thats the only other really hard to draw tag I have ever had. Been in Wyoming most of my life and have never drawn a sheep or moose.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 29, 2010, 08:09 PM:
That would be a blast. When is the hunt? I am a good ice man and sandwich maker.
Posted by Brad Norman (Member # 234) on June 29, 2010, 09:36 PM:
I hate to hijack your thread but I'm holding a SW Kansas rifle tag for December 1-12. First time I've ever drawn one. I'll keep ice in your cooler if you'll keep ice in mine.
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 29, 2010, 09:44 PM:
That's great news, Cal. Hope you get a real trophy. You deserve it.
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on June 30, 2010, 04:14 AM:
Congrats on the draw Cal. Hope you fill that tag with real B&C style.
- DAA
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on June 30, 2010, 06:05 AM:
Brad and Cal, I have heard that keepin ice in the cooler can be a two man job. This could be a good time!
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on June 30, 2010, 08:25 AM:
I've never hunted antelope, but they are such a neat critter; that is too cool. ![[Cool]](cool.gif)
Andy & Brad; you guys will have to have T-Shirts made up; '3Toes Pit Crew'. Even better.....bring out a whole line of 'Official 3Toes Pit Crew Wear' & we'll get another sponsor. ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posted by DAA (Member # 11) on June 30, 2010, 08:30 AM:
You guys still run old fashioned coolers that you have to put ice in? Hell, the one I got can make it's own ice... For that matter, it can freeze up a bag of goat meat on a hot day in the Red Desert. It does require 12 volts though...
- DAA
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on June 30, 2010, 04:46 PM:
"I've never hunted antelope, but they are such a neat critter; that is too cool." [Cool]
---------------------------------------
I never did hunt antelope on purpose, but I had one dang near scalp me with her hooves one time. She came in behind me when I was calling coyotes in Wyoming. I actually slapped her in the side of her neck with my rifle barrel. That was close enough to suit ME.
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on June 30, 2010, 04:59 PM:
Hey Brad,
Rumor has it on the Outdoor Channel that there's a trophy-class buck behind every tree in Kansas. Unfortunately, SW Kansas doesn't have a single tree. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on June 30, 2010, 05:00 PM:
Rich, that would be a bit too close to suit me. I'd hate to have to change my scivvies in the middle of a hunt. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
[ June 30, 2010, 05:48 PM: Message edited by: Possumal ]
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on June 30, 2010, 08:27 PM:
Possumal,
It was in fact a close call but no time to panic, just automatic reflex action. When you are in the sitting position with your butt on a 1" thick cushion, it is tough to turn a complete 180 and whack an antelope in the neck with your rifle before the hooves hit you. She was already standing on her hind legs with those front hooves in the air before I saw her. An antelope ain't very big, but those hooves could do some serious damage. I called three more that way on purpose, but I saw them before blowing the fawn distress. It was during the month of june, and I am fairly certain that the doe antelope went into protection of fawn mode when they heard the fawn bawls.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on July 01, 2010, 01:15 AM:
Brad, I dont know if I can still get the access or not. But we used to feed a lot of cattle in SW KS. The feedlot we used had quite a bit of land they grew their hay on. I can check and see if I can still get on there if your lookin for land. No promises.
Posted by knockemdown (Member # 3588) on July 01, 2010, 05:25 AM:
3T,
Good luck on your hunt! Couldn't even guess what they'd score, but we sure did see some nice lopes through that area on the way out & back while p-doggin' last month...
What caliber rifle are you going to grab?
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on July 01, 2010, 11:31 AM:
I'm getting a little tired of hearing about it! ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
This guy; handsome as all get out, gets the pretty girls, has the koolest job, kills giant bull elk with pointed sticks, gets free Foxpro stuff, and now, how lucky can you get? Draws an impossible tag.
I admit it, I'm jealous! LB
Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on July 01, 2010, 03:37 PM:
LB, it's never as cool as it seems. My looks have never got me anywhere, although I was supposed to have a bit part in the movie "Geronimo". But broke my leg and ankle in 4 places and had 9 pins and a steel plate inserted the week before I was supposed to go to work. The pretty girls are always the meanest. And I have to work with sheepherders. Did you see Brokeback Mountain? I been scared as hell of sheepherders every since I saw part of that movie! I have killed a few big elk, but that has to be top secret, and I always end up packing the damn things out by myself so I don't have to give away my secret spots. I took one "friend" along on an elk hunt once and the next thing you know, he was going to invite his brother, and then his brothers kid, and the kids friend, and the brothers friend and so on. I finally told him the invitation was worn out and if I seen him or anybody that knew him in that area that an ass kicking was in order. FoxPro stuff is cool, and I can't complain much there, but then you do have to put up with all the anti FoxPro guys and that BS. So you see, it really isn't all it's cracked up to be.
As for the antelope hunt, I'm not sure when I will even get to hunt yet. I have to squeek this in between guided hunts. I can only hunt the rifle season in September. I'm going to shoot my 7mm mag that I have tricked out and ready to go to 1000 yards with the 168 grain Bergers. I have alot of confidence in it to 800 and will practice more to get things dialed further. I have shot alot of steel with it, but thats it for me. I did have a client kill an antelope with it at over 500. And Cenny Burnell shot a cow elk with it at around 800. It really shoots. I would rather kill one at 200, but it's big open country and the big ones are smart.
Posted by Possumal (Member # 823) on July 01, 2010, 04:20 PM:
Cal, the story about the friend taking his brother back, etc. gets old quick, doesn't it? I didn't see Brokeback Mountain but if it scared you, I'd be terrified by it Good luck on your hunt. Kill a bigun!
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on July 01, 2010, 04:30 PM:
Back to fishin, a lot of people thought I was being a prick because I fished alone most of the time, if not on a guide trip.
Guide trips I took to community holes that everyone knew about. The rest of the time, I was pre fishing tournaments and if I showed anyone, they would be back with friends and it was like a pyramid scheme from there.
I know right what your talkin about Cal.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on July 01, 2010, 04:32 PM:
BTW Cal, I left you a message on your cell phone earlier.
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on July 03, 2010, 12:10 PM:
Hey Cal,
I too have been trying for the hard to get tag in CO now for 13 years now! I I just received my second choice (a statewide archery buck tag). My first choice, the one with all the points built up is area 2 just barely South of the Red Desert! I have seen some monsters up there and I'm talking just right off the road. There are more antelope in part of the country that probably anywhere...so why are they so dang stingy with the tags? Oh well, its irrelevant now that you drew. How many points do you have for sheep and moose or years applying? Seems like I read of a super duper hard to get to area in Wyoming where you can buy over the counter ram tags???
Good luck on your wall hanger!!! That's the only reason I apply for the red desert area - a real nice specimen for the wall!!!
Posted by 32below (Member # 2075) on July 03, 2010, 02:41 PM:
Now Hooty there is ONE tree in SW Kansas with two treestands and one skelton in it. Rumor has it that fellow said he was staying there till a deer walked by.
Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on July 03, 2010, 02:44 PM:
There are tons of antelope in Wyoming and actually tags are fairly easy to get in most of the state and there are some nice antelope here and there. But, if you truely want a chance at a monster, it's either the Red Desert or New Mexico or Arizona. New Mex and AZ have gotten a little pricey for me. I thought about trying to get a tag down there for a few years and getting one huge hog for the wall but have put it off till I can't afford it. So this is the next best thing. We have antelope in our back yard as I'm typing this, I just don't see any 85" ones.
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on July 03, 2010, 02:48 PM:
Cal, I have been playing phone tag with you. If your serious, spur of the moment works best for me anyway. Every time I plan something, it seems I have to work or something happens. So, if you need a ice man, I mean guide, , if I can have a couple days notice to drive it, either I can or I cant. Most times I can.
That would be a blast. I could care less about pullin a trigger. Im sure we can hook up by phone between now and then and talk more about it. But I dont want to intrude or be in the way in any way shape or form.
Posted by Brad Norman (Member # 234) on July 03, 2010, 10:10 PM:
I'd like to find that tree with the skeleton...could be fun. Send me your number Andy. I have a spot but the more land the better. I was planning on scouting the place in September but this asshole friend of mine drew an antelope tag in the Red Desert and I've got to go help him.
Posted by 32below (Member # 2075) on July 04, 2010, 06:10 AM:
Be glad to. Two miles west of the junction of Holcomb Lane and Parallel Road, 1/4 mile south right side of the trail next to the gas well.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on July 04, 2010, 09:48 AM:
Similiar to what Cal describes, there are some real monster 'lopes in extreme northern California, but drawing a tag is probably not going to happen. This area is contiguous with the Sheldon range in Nevada, extreme northeast corner of the state. Most people don't know we even have antelope in California. Speaking of which, there is much land in Nevada that appears to be ideal antelope range, except for the mustangs and burros which are protected. But, within my memory, I see antelope in places where they never were, before, like Monitor Valley.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by JeremyKS (Member # 736) on July 04, 2010, 09:56 AM:
32 I know the spot your talking about lol.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on July 04, 2010, 10:13 AM:
Hey LB, where's Monitor Valley ? is that in northern Nevada ?
Have you been to Fields Oregon, just north of Denio NV ? there's tons of "prairie goats" north of there in the shadow of Steens Mountain, the Alvord desert is sure interesting country.
Not sure why but I like that country.
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on July 04, 2010, 10:55 AM:
Dave;
Ever been to the hot springs out toward the White Horse Ranch?? It's a neat place to camp. Decent quail & chuckar numbers around Fields too.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on July 04, 2010, 11:44 AM:
Koko, no I haven't. I've drove past the White Horse Ranch several times though. I'm taking a guess here and thinking you're talking about the Borax hot springs ? I've read about them but never been there.
As a matter o' fact I have a book dedicated to Steens Mountain, it's been several years since I've read it. Just might have to bust it out this afternoon.
I heard a rich guy from back east owns the White Horse, way back in the 1800's a guy named John Devine owned it, along with the Alvord and Mann Lake ranches if memory serve's me correct ?
Big spreads in remote country, you ever roll past the Roaring Springs Ranch ?
Huge country there in S/E Oregon..Love it !
[ July 04, 2010, 11:51 AM: Message edited by: Dave Allen ]
Posted by Andy L (Member # 642) on July 04, 2010, 12:28 PM:
Brad, I will talk to my dad and have him call out there. He was the one that dealt with them most of the time. I dont know if the same folks are still working or what. Thats why I said no promises.
Ill check it out and get back with you.
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on July 04, 2010, 02:32 PM:
Dave;
The hot springs that I'm thinking about are on one of the Trout Creek(s). If you go south from Fields about 6 miles there's a good dirt road off to the left. About 20 or 30 miles in, there's a community gravel pit on the right. If you pull in and hike up the berm, you will see a tiny white speck waaaaaay far away. That's the restroom at the hot springs. Just over that berm is also a decent calling stand. They will usually come from in front & to the left along the creek. When you leave the pit, take the next right two-track & kind-a keep fading to the right. A lot of times in the winter you'll have the whole place to yourself and it's one of a dwindling few campsites that you can look all of the way to the horizon at night and not see an artificial light.
There are some huge mulies & 'lopes on & around the Roaring Springs Ranch. I called a coyote & a badger on the same stand one time on the road just south of French Glenn to the Hart Mountain Coyote Refuge. Had some really neat stands fine tuned in that country before I moved south. Oil Pan Stand comes to mind, among others. (The rock didn't LOOK that hard). Good memories in that country.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on July 04, 2010, 03:48 PM:
Koko, thanks for the information, I'm impressed you know the area so well, I wouldn't imagine too many folks even know where Fields is ?
I have been to the Trout Creek Mountains only once though, spent the night on top, just west of "sherman field"
Only one trip over the top the Pueblos, Diego pass ? or something like that, can't remember ?
I've also spent some time in the Frenchglen area, ever been to the French round-barn ?
Back in the day before gas was $3.00 bucks a gallon, we used to hit that country 4-6 times a year, as a matter o' fact, we used to hike down to Wildhorse Lake on the top of Steens and fish it. Along with Fish Lake and Pate Lake.
If ya ever want to BS sometime about that country, drop me an e-mail with you're number, I've got unlimited long distance and will call ya..
Let me know if ya do though, for some reason I don't always get my e-mails lately.
(Edit) for spelling..
[ July 04, 2010, 06:53 PM: Message edited by: Dave Allen ]
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on July 04, 2010, 09:33 PM:
I'm a little slow, plus I've hammered a few Miller Lites today. I just caught you're joke.
"Hart Mountain Coyote Refuge", I just busted a gut
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on July 05, 2010, 06:49 AM:
Yeah, I've been told that I have a strange sense of humor. The 'Coyote Refuge' came about after a run-in with a short, round (very round) female ranger who while admitting that antelope fawn survival on the refuge was dismal, there was NO NEED FOR UNNATURAL PREDATOR CONTROL. I suspect that the coyotes voted her Man Of The Year that fall.
Email sent.
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on July 05, 2010, 03:34 PM:
Koko, I just wanted to say I sure enjoyed our phone conversation. Sorry my phone was going dead.
I still can't believe my Boss gave me the afternoon off ?
If we ever hook up to hunt Coyotes, I'm buyin' the Miller Lites..
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on July 05, 2010, 04:34 PM:
That was, indeed, a nice chat. If we ever get hooked up, I'll drink a Miller Lite, although I'm more of a Fosters guy.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on July 05, 2010, 06:09 PM:
Miller Lite, Fosters@! I'm locking this thread! ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
Posted by Dave Allen (Member # 3102) on July 05, 2010, 06:34 PM:
So LB, you ever been to Fields or what
It's a small world, turns out me n' Koko have been thru alot of the same country in S/E Oregon.
I'm just curious ? I think, I read once you hunted the Denio NV area, a buddy of yours pulled a coyote skull out of a hot spring and burned his hand ? or something like that..
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on July 05, 2010, 08:08 PM:
Brad,
Not to further hijack Cal's thread, but I thought I'd throw you some eye candy so you are sure to look for the right tree when you get up this way. This story is of a nice 12-point that was taken by a customer of mine with a bow on the last day of Kansas' firearms season. yes, it can be done.
http://www.mikehanback.com/blog/index.cfm/2010/4/16/BJ-Clements- Giant-Kansas-Bow-Buck-12Pointer-181-78-Typical
He called me in late March asking when his deer would be done. Told him it would be about now, to which he asked what he could do to get it by the end of April. The answer was simple,... pay up. My tannery offers a premium service that I offer downstream to my customers to put a rush on the tanning work. He needed it done FAST because TV crews were coming to town to feature him and this deer on a show on Versus Television. I got it back to him by April 29th and he was tickled.
Here's the finished mount...
This guy consistently shoots big bucks and I did his son's deer this year, as well. Not as big, but not far behind and from the same gene pool.
[ July 05, 2010, 08:12 PM: Message edited by: Cdog911 ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on July 05, 2010, 10:49 PM:
quote:
I'm just curious ? I think, I read once you hunted the Denio NV area, a buddy of yours pulled a coyote skull out of a hot spring and burned his hand ? or something like that..
Yes, Dave Allen, you recall accurately. I am somewhat familiar with that corner of southeast Oregon, up to vecinity of Prineville Reservoir.
That fella, a very good friend of mine, and well known to one coyote (Danny) too. Neighbor, in fact, and school chum; Richard Cooper, burnt the hell out of his hand and I laughed at him, for which I was sorry because he really hurt himself.
In a way, it was understandable, the morning was very cold and snow on the ground and steam rising from that perfect funnel bubbling and crystal clear. How tempting to reach for the pure white skull about three feet down, but he didn't get past his wrist before withdrawing it quite hastily. I'm sure he won't ever forget it either.
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on July 06, 2010, 06:52 AM:
Hey CDude;
Mayhap you should have offered to swap the sooner finish date for a T.V. plug.
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on July 06, 2010, 03:07 PM:
He said he was going to make sure my shop name was included in the credits. This is all quite exciting for him, as well it should be, but with as much exposure as I get in the written media now, it really didn't make much difference to me one way or t'other. I was just glad to get it done so the producers could include him and his finished mount rather than just a set of antlers. I started doing taxidermy work to underwrite my hunting habit so I had material to write about back when the wife and I were lucky to be able to buy rice and beans and not much more. Despite the suggestion that I'm making "thousands" of dollars writing, costing out that part of my business reveals that by the time I consider gasoline, lodging, licenses, equipment purchase/ replacement/ depreciation and the like, I barely break even. Taxidermy now is just to satisfy my longtime customers who refuse to let me take the shingle down. I haven't spent a dime on advertising in five years and still the work comes in. (damn it...)I've spent more time this summer taking my daughter fishing (trying to, at least) and relaxing in my backyard than in any of the past fifteen years and most days, on my days off from the Post Office, I dread the prospect of being shut up in my shop all day doing other people's trophies while my kids are growing up and the world is going on without me. I read Loco's stories and admire the man for how he manages his time with the critters.
Posted by Nikonut (Member # 188) on July 07, 2010, 01:21 AM:
Hey Lance...
It takes someone like you with a real love for the critters to do work like that mount!!!
Absolutely fantastic work!
Nikonut
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on July 07, 2010, 05:12 AM:
Thank you.
Posted by booger (Member # 3602) on July 07, 2010, 08:36 AM:
Holy crap, Lance--that is awesome work!
I may have found a new taxidermist!
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on July 07, 2010, 08:58 AM:
Thanks, Tim, and as much as I hate to say this (see, here I go again), gimme a call if you get a hanger. I'll take good care of you. (When will I learn?)
Posted by Brad Norman (Member # 234) on July 07, 2010, 11:58 AM:
Great work Lance. If I get a "hanger" this December, I'll drop him off at your place on my way home.
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on July 07, 2010, 03:39 PM:
Yes, I've always loved your work too! And by the way, what a really kind thing to say about me! Thank you. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I've been helping the boys built a go-cart. The inspiration was those pictures that Geordie posted a while ago of him playing with his kids out in the snow. Remember, riding around on his 4-wheeler and pulling the kids on the sled in the snow? What a ton of dad and kid fun!!!
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