Table Mountain Outfitters (Scott and Angie Denny) http://www.tablemountainoutfitters.com/

Kimber Montana in 270 Winchester topped with a 3-9 X 40 Zeiss Conquest
Federal Premium 140 grain Accubond


A couple months ago I decided I wanted to go antelope hunting. I contacted TMO and they still had some openings so I went ahead and booked a hunt. They were very responsive throughout the process and before I knew it I was on my way to Douglas, WY.

There were a total of seven of us in camp that were going to be hunting the following morning’s opener. TMO has exclusive hunting rights to 220 square miles of private land north of Douglas where we would be antelope hunting. They run some of their mule deer hunts out of this camp as well. Before the hunt started Scott made it clear that there are lots of nice bucks around and we would have plenty to look over.

The next morning I was paired up with Angie as my guide. We started the morning perched up on a hill glassing from the truck. It was evident from the first few minutes of the hunt that we would see lots of animals. There were antelope everywhere we looked. Having never hunted antelope before we spent a lot of time glassing and evaluating the various bucks in sight. Angie did a great job of teaching me what to look for when evaluating a buck. I really enjoyed glassing all the bucks and trying to size each one up. It is pretty fun to look at bucks from over a mile away through my spotting scope. After about an hour we spotted a buck that warranted a closer look.

We headed off in the direction where we last saw the best buck. There was also a group of four bucks and a doe in that same direction. After some walking we worked ourselves into position to try and glass the group of four. By the time we got there they were gone. Bucks were rutting pretty hard while I was there so none of them seemed to be in one spot very long. Even though that group was gone there were other bucks scattered around us that we glassed. We were pretty certain the group we were looking for had made their way over the next hill to our east, so off we went.

We were just about to top that hill when we were busted by a little buck. We just squatted down. It was clear that he didn’t know what were by the fact that he came toward us. He got inside of fifty yards before he got nervous and drifted off. So we continue over the hill. We never did find the group but just as Angie we telling me how those bucks can come from nowhere we looked to our right and a buck had popped over a little rise not 75 yards way. He bolted pretty quickly but fortunately he wasn’t a shooter.

As we continued to loop around the side of the hill we spotted a buck a couple hundred yards away. He was looking right at us so we just sat down so we could look him over. She had her spotting scope and I had my ten power binoculars. We glassed this buck for a long time. Like many of the other bucks around he was rutting pretty hard and worked his way toward us. He would stop every few steps to snort at us and then continue in our direction. At some point I went ahead and put the rifle on the sticks as we attempted to size him up. He looked great from the front, a perfect heart shape. However, when he turned sideways he just didn’t appear to have the mass. We had him at 79 yards but ultimately decided to pass.

It was at that point that I knew I made a good choice to hunt with Scott and Angie at TMO. At no point during that encounter did she try to talk me into shooting. We took our time evaluated the buck and she made it clear that it was my decision but she also felt confident that we could do better. I had no problems passing him up if for no other reason that I was having such a fun time glassing these bucks I had no interest in ending my hunt.

After relocating to another area we came across a group of eight bucks chasing one doe. They would run her a half mile in one direction and then before you knew it they would head back three quarters of a mile in the other direction. At one point we thought we had them. Our final stock would put them at just over 200 yards. They had settled a bit and were up against a fence. Just about that time a buck can from over the hill on the other side of the fence. He barreled up to where the biggest buck had his doe cornered (or so he thought). The two bucks started fighting each other through the fence. The one on our side got hung up in the fence at which point a little buck tried to sneak in and mount the doe. She bolted and off the whole group went and that was the end of the stock. We spent the rest of the morning glassing and made one other successful stock on a buck that turned out not to be a shooter.

When we got back to the bunkhouse for lunch the other six guys were tagged out. I personally was glad to still be hunting. Like I said earlier, the hunt up to this point was so enjoyable I wasn’t in a hurry to end it. Additionally, having never shot an antelope I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted.

After lunch Scott joined us and the three of us headed off. We stopped to glass a couple bucks out in the open when we noticed a buck bedded up on the hill about a mile away. It was hard to evaluate him through the spotting scopes because the heat waves where making it hard to get a clear view of him. Regardless, we decided to get a closer look.

On the way to him we bumped a couple smaller bucks. As we came over the rise of a saddle the antelope were on the next ridge. There were two bucks and a couple does. I could see that the one on the left was bigger. Earlier in the hunt Angie warned me that if we came across a good one there wouldn’t be much discussion just a “sit down and get readyâ€. That’s basically the PG version of what Scott said to me. He ranged him at 170 yards. It took a couple seconds for the does to clear, then, bang-flop. He was down. I didn’t realize he was quite that big when I shot, but fortunately he got bigger as we got closer.




I didn’t end up with a hero shot that showed his cutters very good but here’s one I took with my phone so I could send a pic home right away.



After we had him loaded up we headed to the processor in Douglas. If you are ever near Douglass go see the people at Grizzly processing. They are super nice. From there we headed over to the taxidermist in Glenrock. He is an official SCI scorer. They wanted to get him SCI scored so he could be entered in the WY Guides and Outfitters contest. He scored 82 2/8 inches. Last year I think a buck just over 83 inches got third so he probably won’t make top three but that’s okay. I still like him.

Independent of drying time he won’t make Boone & Crockett. His D3 circumference falls on his cutter. SCI lets you use the base measurement in place of that measurement but B&C makes you go just above the cutter. Given that he will probably loose 4 or 5 inches off his total. I am pleased with him regardless of the score. He is already at the taxidermist here in Iowa. I should have him back in 8 months or less.

Overall I had a great time. I loved every minute of my hunt even before I shot my buck. He was just icing on the cake. Hunting with TMO was just like hunting with my buddies back home which suited my just fine. Hope to take the wife back next year. As far as antelope hunting in general goes, I think they are a great animal to hunt. I could see myself applying for tags in several states next year. I would have no problem hunting them more than once in the same season.

Thanks for listening.

An 82 inch pronghorn is pretty darn good. I have seen quite a few on the hoof this year that will go that big, only because of the spring rains and snow, and off and on rainfall this summer, which helped the forage 10 times over previous years. It will be an exceptional year for sure for bigger than average bucks. Yours is still a dandy!

Great buck and report.

quote:

I am pleased with him regardless of the score.

I'll say! That's a heck of a pronghorn!! Great job and congratulations on one heck of a nice trophy.

Kudos on taking your time, and wisely waiting for the right one. That's huge, and you shot a GREAT Lope as a result.
Thanks for the posting. I enjoy reading success stories.

Don

What a great trophy!!

Congrats on a fun hunt!!

Bob

Congratulations on a fine buck and great story. Table Mountain Outfitters is a first class outfit. I have hunted with them five times and have been completly pleased every time. If I get to go back to Wyoming , I will hunt with TMO.

quote:

Originally posted by landkiller:
Congratulations on a fine buck and great story. Table Mountain Outfitters is a first class outfit. I have hunted with them five times and have been completly pleased every time. If I get to go back to Wyoming , I will hunt with TMO.

What all have you hunted for with them?

They told us when we got there that they just finished up all their archery hunts and went 100% on antelope, mule deer and elk. I was thinking about one of their mule deer hunts. Angie showed us a picture of a 35 inch mule deer from last year. He was a pig.

Elk, Mule Deer, and Antelope.

GrayDuck , just sent you a PM.

GrayDuck, very nice lope and thanks for sharing.

Your report is welcomed as I head to Socorro, NM in a couple of days to try my luck on a nice speed goat.

My taxidermist called me the other day to tell me my antelope was done. When I dropped it off last Sept he said it would take between 5 and 8 months. Turned out to be right at 6 months. Overall I am pleased with how it turned out. Pictures aren't the best. They are a little grainy due to the low light.

Looks good to me!

GrayDuck

Very nice Antelope, great picture and thanks for sharing. The only way I think that speed goat could look better, is if he was hanging on my wall.

Steve

Thanks Steve. I can't wait to go back again this year. A friend of mine has some family with property near Gillette I am already looking forward to it.

fantastic buck! i've looked at TMO several times trying to figure out if i can swing the money. looks like i need to get my stuff together...

Nice buck antelope

very nice...congrats