When it came time to pick the location to complete my Triple Threat of antelope, the choice was easy. In previous years I had completed both my archery and muzzleloader hunts for antelope in the eastern plains of Colorado. So, I figured I should stay with the theme as eastern Colorado has some of the best antelope hunting found anywhere. On this trip I would be rifle hunting the northeast area of Colorado with Comanche Wilderness outfitters (CWO). CWO is one of the best outfitters in not only Colorado but in the entire US.
I have in the past, hunted antelope with a rifle both in Montana and Wyoming, but on neither of these earlier trips was I filming the hunt. This Colorado trip, would complete the antelope portion of my Triple Threat journey. Thus far, I have been able to complete all three (rifle, bow and muzzleloader) for Rocky Mountain Elk, Whitetail and Woodland Caribou. I continue to learn on each of these trips and have met some amazing people. This trip was
no different.
Our guide on this trip had been guiding for CWO for years and knew the ranch we would be hunting like the back of his hand. Jim Schmid is not only one of the most professional guides I have ever met but he is also a great teacher. The day before I arrived in eastern Colorado, my father Earl and my nephew, Alec hunted with Jim and both took great antelope. Alec is 14 years old and this antelope hunt was his first experience of hunting the wide-open areas of a western ranch. Jim taught Alec how to move up single file, by using a decoy, to reach an acceptable shooting distance. Alec practices his long-distance shooting at our family range here in Michigan. His single shot, as expected, was right on. Thanks Jim, for being Alec’s teacher!
What impressed Dad the most was the way that Jim handled the antelope after the shot. The temperatures were in the high 80’s and the sun was beating down. First, there were the obligatory photos and congrats. Then the antelope was cleaned and quartered on site. Jim carries an ice chest with him in the back of the truck and within 45 minutes of the shot, the antelope was cooling, covered with ice, in an ice chest. (As a note, we had antelope this year at our Michigan deer camp and it was superb; the best any of us had ever had. Remember the ice chest on your next antelope hunt).
For our hunts we were using landowner tags, so no draw was needed. The Ranch we were hunting was over 100,000 acres so there was no shortage of territory to glass and cover.
I had just finished a muzzleloader hunt for Blacktail in Oregon, so I arrived the 2nd day of the antelope hunt. Alec joined me so we would have an additional person glassing. Once we arrived at the ranch and started glassing, we saw antelope bucks all over the place and knew it was going to be a good day. As we pulled up to our second glassing location, Jim and I spotted what looked to be, at a long distance, an extremely unique buck. It looked like his horns were laying outward, so he was non-typical. For those that have been following along on my journeys, you know that unique, non-typical animals trump all others. Looking back at my past Muzzleloader hunt for antelope, I was able to take a great goat that had the tips of his horns flare out. It was time to move closer and take a better look at this buck.
We used a dried-up creek bottom to move forward to the buck, and with the wind in our favor, we quickly cut the distance. There were 3 bucks and they were all chasing after a hot doe. When antelope are rutting like this, it is best to move as quickly as you can as there is no telling when the doe might take off running for a mile with the bucks following. We moved fast along the creek bed and got ready to pop up right where we thought the antelope would be about 200-250 yards away. As we eased over the side of the dry creek bed, we saw the group fairly close and in range.
I was prone and ready for the shot as Jim called the distance at a bit over 200 yards. I set the crosshairs on and squeezed. The Gunwerks 7LRM barked. He dropped.
Walking up to the goat, it was cool to confirm that his horns laid to the sides. He was a unique trophy and I couldn’t think of a better antelope to take to complete my Triple Threat of the antelope species.
If you are looking for a great antelope hunt, make sure to give the team at WTA a call. We have great options to fit whatever you’re looking for, but I personally recommend Comanche Wilderness Outfitters in Colorado. CWO has some great ranches to hunt with amazing populations of antelope. I can’t wait to get back to CWO, with my bow in hand chasing giant mule deer.
Happy hunting…
