" The Cricket Buck "

**Bencoyote** · 08-28-2011, 06:43 PM

For the past 25 years, I have been applying for a resident California antelope tag. These much sought after tags are coveted by sportsman everywhere. This year the California Department of Fish and Game implemented a new big game draw system called Automated License Data System, {ALDS}. Going into this years draw I had the maximum point total of 9. I thought maybe this may be my year? So when I checked the DFG website in mid June, I was shocked to see a "yes" by my name for being one of the lucky ones who has been selected for the Likely Tables period 1 antelope hunt. I first thought it must be a typo or my eyes are finally going bad. I quickly realized I in fact beat the 56:1 odds of drawing the tag. Approximately 3,484 applicants apply every year for this hunt period. I consider myself a seasoned hunter and outdoorsman, but have never had the opportunity to hunt these speed goats { I will later find out first hand why they are called speed goats!}. As with any animal I pursue, I always try and educate myself as much as possible regarding the species. I did a lot of research via the Internet and even bought a book and video on the American Pronghorn Antelope. I also relied on a lot of help from fellow hunters who have been drawn in the past for this unit 3. Special thanks to JHO member Jerry T!!!!!

After a crash course on the pronghorn I felt I was ready to take on the 4-legged prairie dweller. My designated hunt zone included most of Modoc county and a small portion of Lassen County. Previously I had scouted sorrounding areas within the unit and found a spot I called the "Funnel". The antelope seemed to travel or transect north to south and vice verse inside the Funnel. The only bad thing about this was the fact that their Interstate route was right out in the open and at most only had 6 inches of grass cover at any given time making it very difficult to stalk such an animal with one of the best vision care plans in the animal kingdom. It is believed that the pronghorn's eyes have a wide field of vision roughly equal to looking through eight power binoculars and they also have 320 degree field of vision.

My game plan was to climb high onto a plateau in the early morning hours and glass the Funnel. Opening morning I followed my strategic plan and my pre-season scouting seemed to pay off. I had several antelope transecting through the Funnel including a decent buck of approximately 13 inch horns. He was at least 1,000 yards away but was worth a closer look. So I devised a plan to stalk closer. Keeping the wind in my face I descended onto the open prairie, I did so, almost with Navy Seal precision, {probably not- but sounds good}. After about an hour and a half of slithering on my stomach I got within 102 yards of the buck. He now was bedded and facing away from me. Still at 102 yards I wanted to make sure he was the buck for me especially after waiting so many years and plus it was opening morning.

As I glassed him over and over the buck suddenly jumped up and took off running full speed ahead! Before I knew it he was in a different time zone. A few seconds later I realized what had happend. Coming over the horizon a hunter in a 4wd quad came speeding over the ridge line, unaware that he had just spooked the buck and also making the decision for me not to shoot this antelope. Fast forwarding to day 3 of my hunt. So far I had seen several buck antelope in the Funnel and surrounding areas but nothing worth filling my tag. I still felt there must be a good buck roaming the Funnel, so I decided to give it one more try. I glassed from a plateau looking into a north eastern direction. All of a sudden I saw a buck coming over the horizon. Even at approximately 2,000 yards away I knew he was a shooter!.

I once again set a plan in motion to belly crawl through the open grassland. This time the terrain had a mixture of sharp lava rocks, sage and millions of crickets! YES, I said millions of crickets, almost in biblical proportions! Every time I would take a break from crawling to glass the trophy buck, tons of crickets would seize the opportuntity to hitch a ride on myself and my rifle. They would even nibble on me just to check if i was edible. Also the crickets would seek shelter from the sun by climbing into my guns barrel. Not wanting to waste time with these pesky freeloaders I continued my cautious stalk. As I got closer, the bucks sixth sense started to kick in. I now am 218 yards of my dream buck. I gently place my backpack in front of me and rested my Browning 300 mag on top of it. When I looked through my scope, the wary buck was looking straight at me! It's now or never I thought.

With my finger ready I squeezed the trigger....... only to see my bullets vapor trail sail right over the mature bucks shoulder, cleanly missing him. Without hesitation I quickly chambered another 150 grain bullet, this time putting the cross hairs of my scope 2 feet in front of my speeding target. With one more pull of the trigger my bullet found its mark striking the buck high in the spine and dispatching him before he even hit the ground. To make myself feel better I am going to blame my missed first shot on those annoying little crickets who had un-authorized access to my gun barrel and all the copious amount of cricket guts that must of flown out of my barrel as I shot. That's my story and I am sticking to it! I approached my downed buck with gratitude and respect. 25 years in the making and it finally came down to a few adrenaline filled seconds. This will be a hunt I will remember for a lifetime.

My buck has 15 inch horns on his right side and 15.5 inch horns on his left. Lots of mass in his bases, 6.5 inches in circumference at bases. Also has some junk with the start of an extra cutter on his right side.

**cjack** · 08-28-2011, 06:49 PM

Those crickets are crazy, I'll give you a pass for that. Congratulations and well told! Thanks for shareing your once in a lifetime hunt.

**jerryt** · 08-28-2011, 07:19 PM

GREAT Buck Ben. Are you sure those are crickets. They look more like grass hoppers to me. I'm glad I was able to point you in the direction of the buck. Wish I had gone with you rather than hunting the high country for a muley.

**WoodGrain** · 08-28-2011, 07:55 PM

Dude, amazing story! Well done man. Thanks for sharing

WoodGrain

**weekender21** · 08-28-2011, 08:00 PM

Awesome! You should submit an article to Relentless 365!

http://relentless365.com/

**slanttop357** · 08-28-2011, 08:07 PM

Congrats on a very nice Prong.

**Modocer** · 08-28-2011, 08:55 PM

nice goat! THose are grasshoppers, they are everywhere this year.

**solus** · 08-28-2011, 09:06 PM

locust more likely nice billy goat hes a nice trophy....

**Orygun** · 08-29-2011, 09:07 AM

Excellent buck!!

**Mel Carter** · 08-29-2011, 09:13 AM

Very cool! Great looking goat for sure. Yeah, the grasshoppers are everywhere right now, I can see how they distracted you from your shot :) Congrats!