Well, after many years of trying for a NM antelope tag in the public draw, I finally caved and played the landowner tag game so my wife could chase prairie goats. It's kind of a scam, but when the landowner works for the benefit of wildlife, I'm a little less critical. The wife has wanted to hunt antelope since we met, and this year we made it happen.
We were hunting a small ranch near Corona, NM with only one tag available, which allowed us the freedom of being the only folks on the place. There was much hiking, glassing, and a couple failed stalks (one that didn't pan out 'cuz he was too small). Finally, just as the sun was setting on the first day of our two-day hunt, we put a stalk on a small herd of antelope and the wife was able to take a nice buck at about 225 yards with her .257 Roberts using handloaded 100 grain Nosler BTs.
You can tell from the picture that she's as happy as a pig is $hit!
Posts: 3310 | Location: Southern NM USA | Registered: 01 October 2002
Mark, her rifle is a tang-safety Ruger M77 in .257 Roberts. It's the shorter-barreled version (I don't know what they call it) with the ebony forend. The stock was shortened before we bought it, making it fit my 5' nothing wife to a tee. To date she's killed this antelope, two mule deer, and an oryx with the rifle, and there's no sign of stopping! She was shooting 100 grain Nosler BTs that I loaded with Accurate XMR4350. Don't know the velocity, but they're darned accurate and worked wonders on something as light-skinned and boned as the antelope.
Posts: 3310 | Location: Southern NM USA | Registered: 01 October 2002
DesertRam: I'm jealous that you a.) were able to go on an antelope hunt and b.) have such a beautiful partner to hunt with. Congratulations to both of you - nice photography too!
Posts: 226 | Location: Western Maryland | Registered: 21 August 2003