Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Wyoming Pronghorn Doe Run

My hunting partner Andy and I had a heckofa time! We'd started talking about a short cheap hunting trip last year, and decided to take my Pruis on a Wyoming doe pronghorn hunt where we'd tent camp. We left last weds the 7th, drove straight through, and hunted Thursday afternoon through Saturday. It was my first trip west w/o one of my two boys, we ended up, tags included, having less than $300 into this trip.

Arriving 2-ish we circled through the many walk-in acres the unit had. Last thing, after seeing none on public and very few on private, we hit a spot suggested to me by our very own Cheesy. Sure enough, there was a lone doe there. Unfortunately my itchy trigger finger got the best of me and I missed in spite of ample opportunity to stalk closer. I noted that lesson. To placate my frustration I pulled out a coyote call behind camp and tried unsuccessfully to call a dog:




Our campsite was GORGEOUS with coyotes, mule deer, and birds of various sorts all over. Fewer cactus than I've experienced in other units also.



I tried not to rush things so much that I skipped enjoying the (not so) little things like enjoying a mountain house meal, fresh brewed camp coffee, and a STUNNING sunrise with a good friend



Once rolling Friday we did a lot of glassing



as we drove between walk-in units. It was clear that Cheesy was onto something; the spot he'd found was wet. Where there was moisture there were pronghorn. Sadly most of that was on private rather than public land. We really thought we'd scored when we saw this field on a walk-in piece



until we realized the fence marking our boundary was at least a couple hundred yards shy. A complicated play on two pronghorn that were sky lined on some state land right near the highway succeeded in getting them to a place where they could be safely shot at, but Andy wasn't able to connect. That was a miss for each of us but a confidence builder from the standpoint that we were hunting as a coordinated team. Even so fact was we were getting our butts kicked on state land when EH76, another of the 'fire's finest, stepped in. Sadly he was too busy working to join us so he got us in contact w/ his friend Sheldon, a state trooper he knows who has land & contacts. Things were looking up!

On our way to Sheldon's house the next morning we realized a big chunk was wet & public & had a group moving in. I belly crawled as far as cover would allow, got prone and waited to see if they'd come closer but they kept the pond between us. I shot her high and back and thought she was going down but she stayed up. I got closer and finished her but it wasn't pretty so no pictures.

While I cut that one up Andy went out to check a chunk of Sheldon's land. I have to say that Sheldon is one of the nicest, most generous people I've met in a long time. Here we are two strangers and he really opened up his home to us, and basically guided us around showing us his areas. Much more than I'd ever have expected. When he & Andy arrived they found a group, and as Andy approached he used what Sheldon called something like "the Michigan shuffle":



Andy got his doe, and the three of us gathered to hit a farm field of clover. There were several large groups in this field and a healthy crosswind. Luckily mine snuck up behind us and I was finally able to take a big game animal with the 6mm-250 I got here several years ago:



What happened next was really awesome. Sheldon and I dropped Andy to get his second doe and watch him from above the field. Andy carefully army crawled across the field, and just as Sheldon said, "Dude they are in another zip code!" The group ran and a doe dropped. Andy had bloodied a rifle that'd been cursed before a rebarrel from .243 to 7-08 & a trigger job... And he'd done it with flare, making a tough shot!





Sheldon was an AWESOME host! He are Andy & Sheldon enjoying a completed hunt before the work to come:




Generous to the max he not only drive us around helping us fill our tags but allowing us use of his backyard for a marathon butchering session Saturday afternoon:



And the view from his yard was STUNNING (Laramie Peak):



We left after butchering and made the trip home, arriving in Grand Rapids, Mi 4-ish Sunday afternoon. Quite the whirlwind tour!

The first thing my 10 yo son Elijah said when we arrived home was, "Dada can you grill some pronghorn for dinner???" so I soaked some back straps in kosher salt water overnight which seems to be a great substitute for hanging/aging. They were INCREDIBLE! Both boys loved it and it was so tender you could just about chew it with your tongue!

I can't thank Cheesy, Keith (EH76), and Sheldon enough for helping us find pronghorn. Also, thank you very much to Andy who was a great partner on a fast paced and strenuous outting. This is a trip we'll remember long after our cooler full of tender meat is gone!

That's s cool as it comes, right there.

I think it's great that you pulled off such a super trip using limited time and cash resources. Do you give lessons?

Also glad that EH76 is still kicking. My regards...

Sounds like a fun trip. Great folks in Wyoming!

Congrats

Excellent.. Too bad more folks don't realize what fun these hunts can be.. Fun, no worry about score, points etc.. Just a fun hunt.. Anymore they are my favorite.. Glad you had a great time..

Great hunt and better story!

I'll be out in Buffalo in 2 days for a 2 day pronghorn hunt. Are OTC doe tags still available?

great photos!

Good on you and your team! Great pictures to boot. Sounds like a perfect way to start hunting the west-of course now you're hooked... Congrats!

Sheldon's a great guy, not surprised at his hospitality to strangers. Awesome to read the story and see the pics, shows a little more than random texts throughout the day. I told you that you guys would find em!

congrats!

Congrats on a great trip and memories!

Frikken awesome !!

Kudos to Keith, Cheesy & Sheldon, for helping make it happen !

Those types of hunts are much more fun for me and my family than the thought of some big dollar guided trophy hunt. Congrats on having a great time doing that.

Cheyenne,

I couldn't agree more. I am sure some day I'll hire a guide in Alaska or something but only for a species I couldn't otherwise hunt like sheep or brown bear.

Figuring this stuff out, even if it involves eating tag soup, is an awful lot of fun.

One thing I discovered on this hunt was the value of my wingman (Leatherman). (Irritated with myself over the shadows in the latter pic but was in a hurry for some reason)

Sure am glad we took the time to take photos; gonna do more of that next time!

Eric- EPIC trip buddy. I appreciate the folks who made you feel at home. I enjoyed following your trip and was glad to know you were doing ok the whole time.

That is one heckuva trip. Prius scores again!

That backyard view....just...WOW

Eric!

Congrats on a great trip! I've stuffed deer in my wife's Ford Escort (without butchering!) and took my Honda CRV to CO a couple years ago. The economic factor sure helps. Glad to hear of your expert help, it doesn't get better than Cheesy and Eh76.

Great pics and write up. You guys ROCK! Epic adventure.

Sounds like a fun hunt...congrats!!

Great to read your success! I'll be in the same area hunting with Keith and Sheldon next weekend. Two years ago I shot one right from Sheldon's backyard. Great guy. Congrats!

Bob