10/25 Sweetgrass hills 

With price of fuel, I decided to try new area this year.  I had always heard good things about sweetgrass hills, so decided give it a shot this year.

On fri afternoon drove over, (it was a little windy while driving 70mph, tumble weeds would pass you) after leaving highway, drove 40 miles north on gravel roads, got to BMA at dark, only to discover they no longer allowed camping there.  I got out map closest state land to BMA other than BMA was 12 miles away.  I went over there and parked for night.  On sat morning got up set up trailer, saw flat tire and decided I'd just fix it before I went home.  I always carry at least couple extra spares for truck and trailer when hunting off gravel roads.

I went back to BMA to see if I could spot and stalk some antelope.  I didn't have too high of hopes, on 60 miles of gravel roads I hadn't seen a single antelope yet.  I covered the ten sections of BMA glassing where I could park and walk to overlook area away from road.  The wind had dropped to a stiff breeze now only 40 or so.  I didn't see anything except a few huns, I should have shot at them, but I don't shoot birds until I get other game first.   I figured, I had better check out some other BMAs in area before dark and see if any better.  I covered a 60 mile loop around sweetgrass hills, no antelope to be found.  I decided to scout out a spot for deer next morning. 

I found a coulee that looked pretty good, I glassed it spotting a few MD both bucks and does.  I figured I found my spot for morning.

Wind blew all night again, got up early temp in teens 30 mph wind.  Got to end of road to hike last mile to top of coulee, for first shooting light.  Found eight other rigs there ahead of me.  Coulee was only couple miles long, so I decided I'd drop back down a mile or so and hunt back uphill and upwind, instead crosswind as I planned on.  I jumped up a group of WT does, they looked to be yearlings and were at 300 yds+, too far in that kind of cross wind anyway.  I met two other hunters after completing my loop.  They had worked coulee above me, hunting downwind and downhill towards me.  I decided to go back towards top and work another section.  I got up to end of road and found three other hunters starting to work coulee, I left them in peace and decided to hunt next coulee mile northeast from there.  When I walked over there, I found an atv there even though no offroad travel was allowed on BMA.  I just turned around and went back to truck.  I went and checked out other area for antelope again,  wind still blowing, I figured, I was going to have breakfast and if wind hadn't slowed down, I'd just head home.  At 1:30 wind was still going strong, so hooked up and headed home, 20 miles south and wind started to die down, another 5 miles and I saw first antelope of trip.  I looked at map and saw they were on state land and thought about parking and put a sneak on them.  I decided I didn't need a doe that bad, so went on home.  I got home in time to get ready for mon morning.

Thanks to Ron's efforts here's some pics, thanks Ron

Only 40 miles of gravel to go.

end of first road, need to walk across to coulee ahead & work it up to hill.

Second spot

last spot

RC

10/28

First blood for Taurus

Getting ready to go hunting for eve, saw a doe and I figured I might as well put her in freezer.  Got my 45 out (Rifles aren't allowed in area by house) and started to sneak up on her, a buck got up about 25 yds out, he was decent, not huge but shootable.  I had only figured on shooting the doe, but figured 45acp should be ok on buck too.  He went about 20 ft, 45acp+p 200gr HP, does good job on deer too.  Found bullet bulging out under hide on off side.   Best deer I've got with pistol so far. 

My software took a dive so I'll e-mail pics to Ron and if he'll be so kind as to reformat and post,  Anyone know of a free or low cost pic software?

Here's some pics thanks again Ron.

Self Pic

Pistol and spent bullet

Not a huge deer, what I consider a shooter though.

I'll have to stick tongue in next time.  He'll be a good eater seemed fat enough. 

RC

>>>Thanks to Ron's efforts here's some pics, thanks Ron<<<

no problem at all! looks like it was a great hunt!

About 10 years ago, I was hunting about 40 miles south of Taz down in breaks, opened pickup door, wind caught it and tore it off.  $2000 repair bill, I hate those eastside breezes.

RC

I used Hornady 200 gr XTP hp in a +p loading.  Shot was at 27 yds, shot just left and high, went through joint of shoulder blade and leg bone, through rib, took out both lungs, vessels above heart, went out through off rib, through leg bone just below joint where shoulder blade connects, and stopped just under skin on off side.  There was quite a bit of blood shot, but no where near as much as with rifle or slug, he made it about three or four steps, before folding up dead.   I had two purposes for using 45 acp, I wanted to check bullet penetration, for new carry round and for the challenge of using 45acp, I've shot deer with 44mag out to 75yds, so I didn't feel 45acp would be under powered at 25 yds..  If I didn't think I could take deer with 45, I wouldn't have taken shot.

RC