Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Wyoming muley and antelope doe trip

Planwas for dad, bro in law, and me to hunt mule deer and antelope this year. 6th year of no buck tags for antelope, dad and I drew doe tags. Oldest sister had been sick for 2 weeks, finally goes to hospital the day before our departure. Yep, Chiner 1 Niner. Plus mom has it. So dad is in quarantine and can’t go. Not to mention he had it, but never got tested as he was in a lot better shape than them. Sister ended up on a vent, but is off and doing better anyway. Dad filling out the papers for his refund and points back now.

On to the hunt…

Nice elk herd off of I80 to get the juices flowing.


Most of the first wave of snow had ended when we got to camp, but still got to set up the tent as it was coming down.



Bro in law contemplating life that night.



Lots of emergency rations


He didn’t want to get out until it was light because we would be driving up higher elevation, lots of drifts and unfamiliar terrain. Hadnt got off the highway 100 yards and we were stuck trying to get through a gate. Nothing tire chains wouldn’t solve.

Then half mile later got to pull a 70 year old guy from California out. He had missed the ranch road. Realized it, tried getting back on and buried to frame in a ditch. He was glad to see us. Quarter mile further was an abandoned jeeo also buried in a drift.

California guy said his buddies had went into first canyon and had shots at daybreak, so we headed up to the 2nd and 3rd canyons. It was about 1.5 hours after legal shooting time.

Playing with the panoramic setting on the iPhone. Got to much sky in this one.



5 minutes if glassing, out comes some does and fawns.


5 minutes later, a whole covey of mule deer come around the bend. Lead one was legal. Didn’t even check the others. Buck fever. First muley hunt. Blood lust. Whatever it was. 1st shot on game with my new 1885 Low Wall High Grade in 6.5x55. High shoulder, higher than I’d have liked, but he goes down immediately. 129 Hornady interlock mushed him up pretty good at 136 yards.

Trying to use sagebrush as a tripod. Timers. Sunglasses jacking with my screen. But here’s the result. Not a monster, but I’ll take it.





Snow and cold made it nice.

What’s also nice is having a 6’4 brother in law with single digit body fat that likes to work out



On to doe hunting. Unit is super flat. Not much terrain to use. Seemed like 450 was as close as we could get. Too far for me.



Tough people to stay this far out in the boonies.



Second day ended up spitting a herd 3+ miles away. Got to 1000 yards on a ridge to formulate a plan. Drove around them close to 2 miles. Then a 1.78 mile hike around them up down and up another ridge. Belly crawled to the rim and got a shot at 260 yards.



100 grain Hornady Interlock out if my Kimber .257 Roberts kinda messed the shoulder up perfectly.




Packed up for the mile back to the truck with one big hill to climb.



No picture of the 6’4” brother in law with single digit body fat taking his pack back to carry it the final .7 miles…. I’m blaming his pack on being setup for him and not me….

Saw a cow moose as well, that was fun.

Nice deer, pics, and snow!
Where we you hunting, I know Wyoming, but near what city?

Antelope just west of Laramie. Deer north of there.

Good stuff! Congrats on a nice buck and a tasty antelope.

Congrats on the nice buck and antelope! Sounds like a great trip.

Sitting here in my tree stand bow hunting @ 68 degrees and reading your thread with snow in it. Trade you places.

Anyway, nice pics and you had some luck. Thanks for sharing.

We pulled out early because at camp they were forecasting 12-24 inches and 9-12 down on the flat with 60 mph winds. After we left that backed off some, but still wouldn’t have wanted to try and push through those drifts.

Ben the done that. I-80 can close also, not a good situation. Get out while the gettin good.

Nice write up and pics. Myself and a couple of friends are starting to talk about a similiar hunt a couple of years from now. Congrats

Glad you made the most out of it. Congrats on your bounty and thanks or sharing!

Sounds like a good trip, congrats!

Thanks for taking us along!

Heck yeah! Great critters and pics. Hope the family is well soon.

Cheesy great work on the hunt and glad to hear your sister is on the mend.

Very happy to see you’ve ha so better luck keeping the Wyoming trip annual than I have! Congrats on a representative mulie as yer first!

I-80 can flat out suck with snow....too many trucks on that stretch.
My folks live about 70 miles from Laramie...

Good job on harvesting your deer and antelope....
What kind of tent are you running?

Enjoyed the story and pics ! Congrats on the nice Mulie and Goat.
P.S. liked the rifles also.

Great pics and story! Have always wanted to hunt that stretch !

Thanks everybody for the kind words.




That's the brother in laws, I believe it is a Davis. 14'x16' using EMT conduit for frame. Think this is our 15th? hunt using it. Using the little 2 burner tank top propane heater, we usually only run at night with 1 burner going. Doesn't keep it 'warm', but it is far from uncomfortable. I'm usually sleeping in shorts under a comforter from home. Nothing is too luxurious for us...



Thanks, sister was released from the hospital a week ago Sunday, was supposed to have had 2 weeks of in hospital therapy, but that didn't pan out. She ended up back at work at the jewelry store she owns on Thursday. We typically go try to hunt antelope every other year, with elk hunt in Colorado in the off years. Antelope tags keep getting harder and harder to draw though. I think its been 6 years since we got a buck tag, just keep buying point for now.

Congratulations, and nice pair of shootin’ irons.