Dr_Hunter
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Here is my Official Antelope Scouting Report for the Plateau Unit.
This year I was curious to know how bad off the unit is after all of last years hype about it. I don't have a tag this year, but I enjoy looking at antelope and spending time down there.
So here are some pictures of what I saw. I hope you enjoy them. These are in no particular order.
I just posted them after I uploaded them.
This guy eluded a lot of hunters last year due to his ability to hide so well behind trees.
. . And the infamous "Red Ear Tag" bull. He really has put some mass on this year.
I know a lot of you are asking yourself, "What the heck?? Where are the pictures of the Antelope?" Well... Do you think I would have posted pics of cows, if I was able to take pictures of antelope?
What once was impossible has now been proven possible, and that is to be able to drive through the unit and not be able to see a single antelope!
I wasn't about to go home without seeing something so I got out and hiked down to an area where I always have been able to see them. I saw a small group of 6. Three bucks and three does. One of the bucks was 72-73 inches, the others were little. Then I checked out one more spot and saw five more, one buck and four does. Unfortunately, I didn't pack my camera to get pics of them.
Granted I only spent about three and a half hours on the unit, but that amount of time last year would have produced 100+ antelope visible from the road. Two years ago I would say 2-300. Three years ago even more- You get the point.
So here is my prediction for this year. With the decreased amount of tags their will still be a high success rate. I think the old "no scouting, one day, shoot from the road hunt" success rate will be limited for those who hunt that way. It simply won't be the hunt that it once was and will require a lot more effort (which I think is good).
I enjoyed those days where I could look over 50-60 bucks a day. I have spent a lot of time down there over the past couple of years and have learned a lot about antelope, mainly because of the high numbers and concentration of antelope there. It is too bad the the DWR screwed up.
"Half of being smart, is knowing what you're dumb about."
This year I was curious to know how bad off the unit is after all of last years hype about it. I don't have a tag this year, but I enjoy looking at antelope and spending time down there.
So here are some pictures of what I saw. I hope you enjoy them. These are in no particular order.
I just posted them after I uploaded them.
This guy eluded a lot of hunters last year due to his ability to hide so well behind trees.
. . And the infamous "Red Ear Tag" bull. He really has put some mass on this year.
I know a lot of you are asking yourself, "What the heck?? Where are the pictures of the Antelope?" Well... Do you think I would have posted pics of cows, if I was able to take pictures of antelope?
What once was impossible has now been proven possible, and that is to be able to drive through the unit and not be able to see a single antelope!
I wasn't about to go home without seeing something so I got out and hiked down to an area where I always have been able to see them. I saw a small group of 6. Three bucks and three does. One of the bucks was 72-73 inches, the others were little. Then I checked out one more spot and saw five more, one buck and four does. Unfortunately, I didn't pack my camera to get pics of them.
Granted I only spent about three and a half hours on the unit, but that amount of time last year would have produced 100+ antelope visible from the road. Two years ago I would say 2-300. Three years ago even more- You get the point.
So here is my prediction for this year. With the decreased amount of tags their will still be a high success rate. I think the old "no scouting, one day, shoot from the road hunt" success rate will be limited for those who hunt that way. It simply won't be the hunt that it once was and will require a lot more effort (which I think is good).
I enjoyed those days where I could look over 50-60 bucks a day. I have spent a lot of time down there over the past couple of years and have learned a lot about antelope, mainly because of the high numbers and concentration of antelope there. It is too bad the the DWR screwed up.
"Half of being smart, is knowing what you're dumb about."