Article 05
"Hunt Report - A Combo Mule Deerand Pronghorn Hunt with the R93LX with the semi-weight barrel."
Cap-n-Dave Funk
Copyright © Dave Funk
After several years of not drawing a Montana Pronghorn Antelope tag, I managed to luck out this year and not only drew a Buck Antelope tag, but also picked up a second doe tag in the short window that that were available for the 700 District.
Having arrived in mid afternoon a day early, my outfitter, David Potts of Sage and Sun Outfitters in Forsyth, Montana, and I did a bit of scouting the evening before my hunt was scheduled to begin. I had brought two rifles. My Blaser R93LX with a 338 Winchester Magnum semi-weight barrel, wearing a Schmidt & Bender Zenith 1.5-6x scope. The second gun was a Blaser R93 Offroad Safari with a 223 Remington LRS barrel and Leupold 6x-42MM Mil-dot scope. Both guns top out loaded at just under ten pounds. The 338WM ammo on this trip was the excellent Federal Premium 225gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claws (TBBC’s), and the 223Rem ammo for Antelope was Federal Premium 55gr TBBC’s with Black Hills 60gr V-max ammo for prairie dogs and coyotes.
Having hunted both Antelope and prairie dogs in this same area for several years, I knew what type of terrain and conditions to expect, but whenever your in Eastern Montana in November, any weather from -20F to +90F can happen.
Recently I injured a disc in my neck. As a result, my motivation for a tough Mule Deer hunt in the Little Porcupine Creek basin was pretty low. Knowing the area, and that I might have to pack 300+ pounds of deer over a mile or two of tough country, I was looking for any respectable Mule Deer in an easily accessible location. To the guides and my surprise, we spotted a nice 5x5 Mule deer with unusual 4" brow tines, just outside of the ranch house in the main pasture that took all of twelve minutes on the first morning. At first light, we headed out from the ranch house to the large hay fields just west of it and he jumped from his bed. After getting a good look at him at just under 200 yards when he stopped to look back at us, I made the decision to take him right then with the 338WinMag R93LX. A solid thump could be heard upon bullet impact, he ran about twelve yards into the open pasture and that was it. I’m sure on my next Mule Deer hunt; I’ll pay for this one.
Cap-N-Dave and his very respectable 5x5 Montana Mule Deer taken his R93LX Semi-weight 338 Winchester Magnum
Later that same morning, after seeing several nice but not trophy class antelope this part of Montana is known for, I saw for the first time the perils of a late season antelope hunt. Most of the good antelope bucks had already shed at least one horn. Although several single horned bucks were well over fifteen inches, it was obvious the pickings would be pretty thin.
The guide spotted a good sized antelope doe later that same morning. We maneuvered into position to head her off, and I shot her with my 223 Remington R93 Offroad. I did hit her a bit far back in the body as evidenced by her reaction. She took off and ran about fifty yards and stopped in the open. Several minutes passed and my guide suggested I take a head shoot to drop her. The 55gr TBBC hit her just behind the right ear and she folded right there.
We took the antelope doe and my Mule Deer buck to the shed and hung them both up to cool. It was time for a serious try for an antelope buck. David and I circled to the east end of his ranch, about six miles and spotted a nice sized group of antelope in the open to our west. After about two miles of maneuvering, we managed to catch them as they crossed the main road headed for the creek bottom. It was almost anti-climatic to catch this group as they stopped by the cattle fence confused. I was able to make an easy ninety yard shot on the bigger buck in the group. The 338WinMag is over kill on antelope and this one dropped in his tracks before I could even come out of recoil. By eleven am the first day my five day combo hunt was over.
Outfitter Dave Potts and the authors 14” Pronghorn Antelope
The best thing about hunting with a friend who is an outfitter and rancher is that he can always use an extra man around the ranch for a few days. David received a call from his neighbor to the North; it was time to sort and pregnancy test 300 cows. We helped out with that chore that took most of the next morning and gave me a real appreciation for what a large animal veterinarian goes through in Montana to earn his living.
After lunch back at the house, I headed out and shot 52 prairie dogs with my 223 Remington Offroad Safari that afternoon. On my last day in Montana, we scouted out what David calls the Devil’s Dancing Ground’s hoping to connect me with a coyote or two. The only one we saw was over five hundred yards away and running away in full afterburner. No chance for a shot on him!
A good prairie dog alongside Cap-N-Dave’s day pack and R93 Offroad Safari with the 223 Remington LRS barrel
Guided hunts in this part of Montana can be pricey. David and I were approached by a gentleman and his son from Western Montana that had been glassing some nice antelope along the north side of David’s concession from the public access road. He was looking for a good, and legal, spot to get his young son his first antelope. Without any hesitation, David took them down to his ranch and turned them loose on the east side of his place. Normally David charges $300 each for the limited number of antelope he allows to be taken on his ranch by non guided hunters. David pointed out that that kid is the future of hunting. David felt that he could do without a little cash now to ensure we all have hunting heritage to pass on.
Needless to say, it was a great ending to a great hunt.