I hunted there in 2013, but it was so wet that I didn't have any opportunities at shots I was willing to take. So forward to 2014.
I talked my Buddy, Adam, into doing the 24 hour drive with me and with high hopes we set off with two tags to fill. Across BC, south through Alberta, angle east by south/east through Montana and then into Wyoming. We stopped into the Billing' Cabelas and picked up a few things including two of their swivel blind chairs [on sale] and were later very happy we did. Final food shopping was done in Gillette and then LOTS of ice in Wright before hitting the ranch "campsite".
We met Ron [Rock] and Larry who were already there and they brought us up to speed on the speed goats. They had improved some blinds and put up one new one. Great guys to share camp with. I'm 61 and Larry is in his seventies. Even with a bum knee from surgery, I'm not sure I could keep up with him for long.
I got set up with this hunt through Ron and he knows the ranch well. He also knows what it takes to kill an antelope from a blind. So to instill in us one of the most important skills, being patience, he sent us to blinds that we would have almost zero chance of having a buck come in. We could SEE goats but not shoot goats. Adam sat the new "South Blind" and I put a pop-up on a berm on another pond not far away. Did I say Ron knows the ranch? His plan for us worked flawlessly. We saw goats, nice bucks! Little bucks and does came in but the big guys just passed by and teased us. On his advice we learned to see how many flies we could let crawl on our faces before we freaked. We practiced controlling our panic when waking up from a nap and having a snake in the blind with you. To pass the time we licked all the candy coating off of each individual Smarty before sucking the melted chocolate from our sticky fingers. We learned patience!!
In the meantime Ron shot an antelope.
Seeing that we were almost ready, Ron suggested a change of blinds and we were ready for the change. It was day four and Ron was headed home, wishing us luck. Larry was trying a new spot after the Windmill Blind proved fickle at best. I chose to sit the same blind Ron had shot his from and Adam went to the Island Blind.
I had animals and birds to keep me entertained. Deer came everyday.
There's a buck drinking!! HOW THE...???
"..move slow... get your bow up... range him... he looks okay... he's walking off!!. Decision time?!?!
I put a thirty yard pin on him and let the arrow go as he was walking slowly very slightly quartering away. I heard the thud and he bolted. I can never remember my shots. Even when I try talk my way through it, I never really remember the execution. The buck ran about forty yards and laid down and then he got up and stood there with large gobs of blood blooping out of the hole. He laid down again.
About now I'm thinking it was too far back or he should be dead by now. I snapped a picture through the spotting scope as about five minutes passed.
YES!! First archery antelope on the ground! I took some photos and loaded him up before the heat got o the meat. As i was loading I got checked by a game warden. Very helpful and friendly fellow. Back to camp and got everything on ice and had a chat with Larry who was getting ready to leave. He would come back after his moose hunt.
NO NEED as I see him out of the blind walking towards his antelope. Yep a double header! And Adam had never even seen an antelope in his life before this trip. More congratulations and high fives.
I had one very nice buck stand completely still and broadside at fifty-nine yards for at least five minutes. I was very tempted, but figured sure he would come in. He didn't.
Thanks Ron and Larry for all the help, advice, fun, the camp BS sessions and hopefully we can meet up in 2015.
Nick
You and especially I both screwed up big time this year by shooting Bucks that we should have let walk. Wait until you see the pictures of the one that was shot yesterday at the Windmill Blind.
Of all the years I have hunted this ranch this has to be one of the best for bigger Bucks and I just got to wound up to shoot one with the Bow a friend built for me.
Let me know what date you want next year, how many will be in your group and I will get you on the schedule.
good luck to all the dog
Adam saw a very big buck walking over the hill just after he shot his.
r-man, the blind is a Primos Double Bull "Double Wide". I rarely use a blind for hunting, so I don't know much about them. I just know I like room. Unfortunately, I discovered that "Double Wide" only refers to the door. It was likely designed with Jimmy Primos in mind. I can almost stand up in it and there is room to draw a bow. But I bought it at 70% off, so for around a hundred bucks, I'm happy with it.
