Djmann
Active member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2019
- Messages
- 42
After several years of planning and researching, with a lot of help from hunttalk, I drew my first choice unit with 4 points this year. Of course after getting the tag, I started hearing that the unit has gone downhill, and learned that tag allocations were cut back. This was discouraging, but I was determined that my first western trip would be a good one.
Trying to keep my expectations low, after the 20 hour drive I headed into some grassland and walk in areas along with my wife. Not 30 seconds off the main highway my wife asks “is that them?” Sure was! Laid eyes on my first group of pronghorn not 5 minutes into the first day. A small buck and a few does. The next few hours was more of the same, with a blown stalk on one good buck, and got to witness some rutting action from another right next to the gravel road.
Headed back that afternoon to try to spot the bigger buck I had saw earlier and try to get a shot. We did find him, about 500 yards into private. Oh well. Continued to some walk-in I wanted to try that bordered a large chunk of grassland. As soon as I could see the gate, there was a nice (to me anyway) buck right at the parking area. I prepared to get closer, and he wandered about 500 yards further, which worked to my advantage as it put the little bit of broken terrain between me and him, offering a good chance to get close. Managed to close to 160 yards and make one killing shot from prone, cactus in my knees and all.
I probably wouldn’t have made this trip without inspiration from this forum, so thanks to everyone here.
Also got to try the famous pizza barn prime rib! Lived up to the hype thankfully.
Later in the week I managed to get my small munsterlander pup on a group of sharptails as well.
Got to see the bighorns in the South Dakota black hills. We were staying right on the border.
Trying to keep my expectations low, after the 20 hour drive I headed into some grassland and walk in areas along with my wife. Not 30 seconds off the main highway my wife asks “is that them?” Sure was! Laid eyes on my first group of pronghorn not 5 minutes into the first day. A small buck and a few does. The next few hours was more of the same, with a blown stalk on one good buck, and got to witness some rutting action from another right next to the gravel road.
Headed back that afternoon to try to spot the bigger buck I had saw earlier and try to get a shot. We did find him, about 500 yards into private. Oh well. Continued to some walk-in I wanted to try that bordered a large chunk of grassland. As soon as I could see the gate, there was a nice (to me anyway) buck right at the parking area. I prepared to get closer, and he wandered about 500 yards further, which worked to my advantage as it put the little bit of broken terrain between me and him, offering a good chance to get close. Managed to close to 160 yards and make one killing shot from prone, cactus in my knees and all.
I probably wouldn’t have made this trip without inspiration from this forum, so thanks to everyone here.
Also got to try the famous pizza barn prime rib! Lived up to the hype thankfully.
Later in the week I managed to get my small munsterlander pup on a group of sharptails as well.
Got to see the bighorns in the South Dakota black hills. We were staying right on the border.
