Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Oregon Desert Trip - 2015 Antelope

Just back from a long week. Figure on sharing some pics, and what the heck, I'll make my own post. I hit the Trout Creeks once, the West Little Owyhee Country twice and the Whitehorse Mountains twice...

Beauty


Saw these other type bucks.


Sorry Oregon hunters, Nevada by about 1000 yards and headed south.


Looking SW off the Trout Creeks, Pueblos?


A couple more bucks.

Some Little Owyhee country scenery. IIRC, Big Antelope Creek where the road petered out into One Bovine Lane!

One less Trout Creek yote.

Two less Trout Creek yotes. Third one too but no pic.

Another purdy pic. It's a pleasure to be out on the desert, especially once it cools off in the evening!

I'm totally thrilled with my lil' mountain buck. Yah, I had pre-season visions of heavy 16-inchers with big prongs but reality soon set in! Saw him three weeks ago on a pre-scout trip with the family and he looked like a buck to consider but was not a certainty. Then saw him again on day two of this trip when I went back, found him and pronounced him 'not big enough' and moved on but started calling him my mountain buck... Well, after a buzzzillion more looks and passing on several tiny bucks, he was actually the largest I saw - near or far - in the unit - and decided to go back after him. Gotta admit, I was getting pretty worn out and he was getting to be more of a 'shooter' as every few hours passed! Anyways, couldn't hold out any more and got back up there after midnight a couple days ago. Next day, hoofed it all over where I'd last seen him and finally located him and his 19 does from about two miles. Broken country on top of the mountains with lots of places to disappear, about 7200'. Went out at daybreak this morning and found 'em --- right after they found me... So, 350 AND 400 yards, it matters... Short story, got 'him! Fulfilled my longtime desire to bag an antelope on the Oregon Desert. Pleased to connect with my mountain buck after all and feel fortunate everything worked out like it did. Hope everyone enjoys their hunts this year and it's a pleasure to share...

Great pictures and story.

Did you flush any sage grouse in the Trout Creek area?

Well done! I love kicking around in that type of country.

Predator in Creed?

Nothing wrong with that buck! Congratulations and thanks for sharing the great pictures.

Nicely done - love the high sage desert country. Nice buck and great pics of some nicely mulies, too!

Thanks. Saw a few sage grouse here and there throughout, mostly on ridgetops.



Yep, that's the one. It's fairly hefty with all the goodies added to it, helps keep things steady, LOL.

MtnBoomer:

Pretty country.

Would love to get a shot at the mulies.

Thanks for sharing.

KC

Beauty of a buck, congrats!


P

Beautiful country, nice photos and nice antelope.. Thanks.

Nice looking country and congratulations on a nice antelope.

Nice buck. My son and I drew in South Dakota and I can't wait! Winter's have been hard on the goats but they're starting to recover. Your post helps fuel the excitement. Thanks!

Thanks folks. All cut up and in the freezer.

Here's a couple more snapshots of the area.

Fried some up today and WOW great stuff. I know I've had some antelope before but it's been a very long time. This one is uber-tender and not a bit gamey. Excellent, couldn't be better!

Used to shoot sage rats, jacks and coyotes in that country years ago. Very few people or traffic and it’s quiet. I loved the Oregon high desert and always wanted to draw a tag for anything.
Congrats on a great Oregon antelope.

First congrats on a fine antelope - been some nice ones taken in Oregon this year. Also great pictures thank you for posting them.

And I'll 2nd what you said about antelope, its a tasty little critter for sure, its why I drive to Wyoming every year while I'm waiting for my next Oregon tag:)

Congrats on the goat and an awesome experience in some stunning country! Thanks for bringing us along I love these kinds of pics!!!

Great thread...thanks!!

Great photos and story. Congrats! It looks like you had a great time!

Eric

Great post and beautiful buck and photos!

Thanks for sharing with us

I just bought that same rifle. It's showing tremendous accuracy potential with very little work so far.

Yah, mine shoots, just a 3-shot trifecta but nonetheless accurate in my eye.

BTW: This antelope was the first game that I've had the opportunity or need to use a rangefinder on.

Appreciate all the responses. Happy Hunting!



More scenery.

I love those pics. I feel like a part of my soul lies in the wide open spaces of the west. The pics are therapeutic.

Thanks for the great story and pics. I drive through that area every now and again, always wondered what it looks like away from the highway.

The smoke from all the fires makes for some really nice landscape photos but it's not doing a darn thing good for my eyes and lungs tonight at work.

Thanks again, and I hope your family enjoys the meat you provided as much as you do.

Geno