Gerber Res. Antalope ?

gottafish · 08-18-2008, 02:18 PM

Well, I have a black powder muzzle buster tag and have never been to gerber res. with work and gas being tight its going to be a scout while I hunt kind of a hunt. Work wont permit me to head down real early. So a couple of questions that You guys in the know might find it in the kindnes of your heart to pm me .

Gerber Res. Where is a good place to start looking for the Antalope? Have you hunted them there? Tactics that work? Im not looking for a trophey but I do want to fill my tag. Im heading down to days before season and hopefully I'll find some good areas to hunt.

Any info that you guys can share (pm Of course) Would be very helpful. I dont ask for help very often but it took 9 points to draw this tag and Im not to proud to ask for help. Ive never hunter antalope before so it'll be a learning experiance. Thanks Rich

weirdbeard · 08-18-2008, 02:41 PM

Sorry I cant help much but a phone call to the local Fish and Wildlife bioligist might be a real good place to start. Get some good maps of the area and take real good optics. Hold out for a buck with horns 4" longer than its ears Don't shoot the first one you see , they are pertty easy to spot but be ready for a long shot.

beardbuster · 08-18-2008, 05:48 PM

I hunted there a few years ago near Round Prairie??? I think. I saw some good antelope in there, but they were far and few between. Granted I was hunting with a bow, and if I had a rifle or rocket launcher we would have been successful.

Found some good waterholes in tucked away places. Wish I had my GPS when I hunted there to give you some coordinates, but a crack head decided he needed it more - probably to get the three ounces of brass out of it.

Good luck. It's a big unit, but if you cover enough ground, you'll find them.

Mike P. · 08-18-2008, 08:16 PM

I had an archery tag there about 10 or so years ago there. Most of the sucessful (bow) hunters sat on a waterhole. The easy to find holes already had stands/blinds on them, but I talked to a rancher who showed me one that was off the beaten path that would be great to hunt...I doubt that I could find it now, but you may talk to the local ranchers out there who would most likely help you out. Just be prepared with your bug spray as the moquitos were terrible and I wasn't prepared.

WapitiBob · 08-18-2008, 09:53 PM

I hope you were joking about burning 9 points on a Gerber tag.

Few and far between is an understatement. it was pretty good back in the mid 80's.

Down in the SE corner of the res there is a 4 way intersection, head East, then North. Get off that main road and find the wet pockets and open areas.
I haven't looked yet but maybe Google Earth will be clear enough to show them. Those goats used to hang where you could spot them from the road, not anymore.
There are some that will hang on the East side of the res but I'm guessing they've been busted out of there by now.

ommedia · 08-19-2008, 08:41 AM

A buddy of mine just hunted (finished) the archery hunt down there. Seems like a lot of archery tags for such a concentrated area. Anyway, he said the bucks were much harder to find this year than 2 years ago. They landed up taking 2 does and got out of there. 2 years ago he took a buck during the archery hunt.

So, point being, they've been festered with already, but a lot of archery prospects. Be prepared to sit and wait. Water is always the key with speed goats.

gottafish · 08-19-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WapitiBob

I hope you were joking about burning 9 points on a Gerber tag.

.

No Im not joking My son and I both drew I had 9 points and he had 4 We just knew if we didnt draw this year we would never get to hunt them together because of Collage and Jobs and what not. I only have him in the nest for a few more years and then he wont have time for the old man. LOL I hope we find some somewhere. If I dont get anything I'll try a montana tag next. I dont think I'll waist the time or money to hunt Oregon again.

spurcrazy · 08-19-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gottafish

I dont think I'll waist the time or money to hunt Oregon again.

cheer up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You drew a tag and get to go hunting. And Oregon has some fabulous bucks. Just make the best of the time you have and trust your instincts. And finally, just enjoy the time with your son. My dad and I have never drawn oregon tags in the same year but we always hunt together no matter what and it's a blast just being together!!!!

Rank Amateur · 08-19-2008, 10:04 PM

One year my Dad, my son and myself all drew tags. That was a hunt to remember. Go have a good time Rich, just have somebody who knows how to run the camera take the picture of the two of you with your bucks!

anschutz1913 · 08-19-2008, 10:38 PM

I drew that hunt three years ago as a youth. Turned out I didn't waste my 5 points. I dropped a really really heavy massed buck that was over 14 inches, and green scored just under 85 by the taxidermist. He wasn't super lengthy, but the prongs were pretty high up. And, I showed up the day before season!

If you check, OHA put on an orientation for the youth hunters , outlining likely areas, and going over counts and such. You may want to attend that if they are still doing it (if applicable to your situation).

Hint: find openings in the timber, preferably with water in the area.

ANZ

gottafish · 08-25-2008, 12:12 PM

Well, it almost time. Saturday I'll be lookin for a goat. Any more tips between now and wednesday would be helpful. Like I said this is a first for me. never hunted these critters before. My Great Plains Rifle Is shooting so sweet. 1 inch groups at a 100Yards Im hopin and a prayin.

Applegate · 08-25-2008, 12:43 PM

Watch yer' topknot pilgram.

gottafish · 08-25-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Applegate

Watch yer' topknot pilgram.

LOL Love dat Movie

Cliff D. · 08-25-2008, 06:23 PM

Didn't put enough dirt over it. Saw it right off !!

gottafish · 08-26-2008, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff D.

Didn't put enough dirt over it. Saw it right off !!

A woman breast is the hardest rock the almighty ever created and I can find no sign apon it.

James in Idaho · 08-26-2008, 07:40 AM

Gotta:

Kilt two with my Hawkin, over in Wyoming. Have a great hunt with your son, one of my favorite hunting pardner's is my Dad. This year I'm chasing the beady eyed you know what's with the bow, all I've gotten is dehydriated! Had a doe at 50 yds, but she knew something was there that wasn't supposed to be there. Got within a 125 of a really nice buck, but he won't come anywhere near the rocks, not sure how I'm going to ambush him. They have a big field their using, so I can't pin 'em down on a waterhole. Go have fun, post pic's of your success.

billc_sbio · 08-26-2008, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gottafish

Well, it almost time. Saturday I'll be lookin for a goat. Any more tips between now and wednesday would be helpful. Like I said this is a first for me. never hunted these critters before. My Great Plains Rifle Is shooting so sweet. 1 inch groups at a 100Yards Im hopin and a prayin.

Gottafish,

So you're hunting with a smokepole?

(Which is sorta "Bow Plus"?)

Use your optics as much as you can ahead of time. (You can spot their white "saddles" from miles away)

From my Oregon 'lope hunting experiences I'd say you're pretty much looking at 2 hunts a day, early morning until ~9->9:30 then they lie down out in the sage and simply "disappear".

Then again ~4:30 til dark.

Use EVERY trick in your book.

Pretend you're Bow Hunting.

Stake out waterholes, use a Decoy, a white flag, or whatever you have to do to "make it work".

Oh and if you get the chance, sit and WATCH those critters and see their habits as much as you can.

One little hint here...you know all those stories you've heard about their phenomenal eyesight? It's BETTER than that!

You know all those beautiful Buck Antelope pics you've seen in the books? The ones with them standing there looking at you (taken from a blind or LONG Optics)...

If you see a lope, at a great distance, looking at you, head up, then it IS!

When they haven't spotted you and they're walking along, they look kind of like a horse walking...looking down at their front hooves.

If they're looking in your direction, standing there staring, then they see you (or at least something, but probably you).

Good luck. We'll be eagerly waiting for your success story.

ehunter · 08-26-2008, 02:28 PM

Good luck man let us know how it goes I am sure it will be fine. You have a knack for getting in close don't forget the pictures and don't forget the sun scree....

Quote:

Originally Posted by billc_sbio

Gottafish,

So you're hunting with a smokepole?

(Which is sorta "Bow Plus"?)

Use your optics as much as you can ahead of time. (You can spot their white "saddles" from miles away)

From my Oregon 'lope hunting experiences I'd say you're pretty much looking at 2 hunts a day, early morning until ~9->9:30 then they lie down out in the sage and simply "disappear".

Then again ~4:30 til dark.

Use EVERY trick in your book.

Pretend you're Bow Hunting.

Stake out waterholes, use a Decoy, a white flag, or whatever you have to do to "make it work".

Oh and if you get the chance, sit and WATCH those critters and see their habits as much as you can.

One little hint here...you know all those stories you've heard about their phenomenal eyesight? It's BETTER than that!

You know all those beautiful Buck Antelope pics you've seen in the books? The ones with them standing there looking at you (taken from a blind or LONG Optics)...

If you see a lope, at a great distance, looking at you, head up, then it IS!

When they haven't spotted you and they're walking along, they look kind of like a horse walking...looking down at their front hooves.

If they're looking in your direction, standing there staring, then they see you (or at least something, but probably you).

Good luck. We'll be eagerly waiting for your success story.

gottafish · 08-26-2008, 03:29 PM

Thanks Guys, My son billys pretty excited as well. Should be a good hunt.

Rank Amateur · 08-26-2008, 07:37 PM

One trick I haven't tried but did make sense. If you have a buck like James in Idaho has that is using a large field or flat ect., and you can't get close to it, watch and see if the buck has a pattern of a place it goes by each day. Then in the cover of dark (oh snake time) and sneak into that spot. I would assume you would need some type of concealment, hopefully a natural structure would provide this. Then wait for the buck to follow his pattern.

gottafish · 08-27-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

One trick I haven't tried but did make sense. If you have a buck like James in Idaho has that is using a large field or flat ect., and you can't get close to it, watch and see if the buck has a pattern of a place it goes by each day. Then in the cover of dark (oh snake time) and sneak into that spot. I would assume you would need some type of concealment, hopefully a natural structure would provide this. Then wait for the buck to follow his pattern.

Hanks I never thought about that. I figure by now they'll be scared after the youth rifle hunt but ya never know