Surviving in the Wild West

I am going to start my very first blog post with this: We have a rotting antelope skull in our barn.  You're welcome.

Jake drew an Antelope tag this year and left me alone last weekend to hunt one down. He was successful and had a nice buck down by Saturday evening.  Rob, Jake's friend and co-worker, was also part of the draw, but unfortunately his truck broke down so he couldn't meet up with Jake.  But, being the wonderful person he is, Jake drove nearly 2 hours out of his way to pick up his friend so he, too, could get his trophy animal.

Jake also picked me up. This was Saturday afternoon. We drove out to the National Forest and I was excited and nervous to join these guys on the hunt. I had never before been on any type of hunting expedition in my life. 

Unless you cound mushroom hunting! That was very successful - see photo. om nom nom...yummy. 

Anyhoo, Last year, during elk season, Jake would come back late on Sunday, after a weekend of what sounded like torturous hiking over mountain after mountain after mountain....on a fruitless search for that big, elusive buck. So, I am thinking we will be hiking all day, up and down steep slopes; or, sitting in one spot, quite, motionless, waiting.  Boy was I wrong.

If the usual hunt is anything like my experience last Saturday, count me in. (My feeling, however, is that this was just a lucky break!).

Driving along the gravel Gros Ventre (prounounced "Groh Vaunt") Road, we pulled off on a little forest service road that wound its way up a hillside and stopped at a feedground in the middle of a beautiful meadow. The boys got out their scopes and searched the surrounding sage-covered hillsides for any sign of antelope.  Rob spotted the first herd - one male and small harem of three females.  As they discussed the size of the male, another herd came into view, much closer this time. They were on the next hillside over, grazing and completely oblivious to us.

The hunt was ON!

I envision tracking down an animal something that involves slow moving, sneaking, quietly creeping....I resolved to follow these guys' every footstep and not be in the way.  The antelope herd closest to us began to move downhill in our direction. Jake whispered to Rob, "They're on the move! Go go go!!!" and Jake and Rob took off. Running. Running? Surely these delicate creatures would hear us cumbersome humans running through the woods in their direction? No? Apparently not.  We ran some 20 yards then they boys slowed down and squatted, taking small steps and eventually belly-crawling up a hillside. The antelope were just on the other side. All the while I was following, mimicking Jake's every move ahead of mine.  As I am belly crawling up the hill, he motions for me to stop. What! I wanted to see what was going on! I wanted to see the animal up close! He was afraid if we got any closer, we'd spook them and Rob wouldn't get his shot. So, I hunkered down and waited to hear the rifle. I didn't have to wait long. Antelope down!

We stayed out at a ranch that night, celebrating with beers, bonfires and new friends. 

All in all, it was a pretty cool experience. The whole ordeal took less than 30 minutes it seemed. Pretty simple, this hunting stuff. And we had antelope steaks for dinner last night. I made mashed potatoes and asparagus, and boy, was he delicious! I am looking forward to an elk! Not the hunting part, I probably won't partake in that again. Just the eating part. Especially the breakfast sausage. Mmmmm......

But for now, corn and summer squash soup for dinner and hopefully watching Date Night tonight with my honeybunny. Life is pretty good.