A Windy Quest for a Freaky Asymmetrical Antelope Buck
I want to start by saying that I was not an avid antelope hunter going into this hunt. I had been on a couple of antelope hunts many years ago. I had been successful harvesting antelope but nothing of the caliber of antelope roaming in the Wyoming area we were headed to.
After so many years, what was the reason for finally entering the draw with my 11 points? The answer is Extreme Outfitters. In 2022, I was drawn for a bull elk tag and my husband, Greg, had me set up with Chance and Kevin Marshall with Extreme Outfitters out of Lander, Wyoming. The hunt was amazing! We had to ride horses in the mountains for our hunt, and that was an adventure in and of itself. They were bugling and running around in a frenzy. It was crazy. Unbelievable!
I was fortunate enough to harvest a very nice bull in the morning of the first day of the hunt. An interesting thing to note is that Chance also had a rare bull tag in the same area and he was also able to take a nice bull the same day. It was a very long day but a super exciting hunt and result.
After this memorable hunt experience and spending time with Chance, Kevin, and Tammy, I was ready to go on another hunt with Extreme Outfitters. I put in for the mule deer and antelope draws and pulled the antelope tag. I was excited to be joining Extreme Outfitters for another hunt and told Greg I hoped I was fortunate enough to harvest something unusual, freaky. I think antelope that have unusual shapes are the coolest.
Greg and I started our “hunt” in Rawlins, Wyoming playing the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course to fill the day before getting to camp. Once our round was over, we headed to the local shooting range to ensure my rifle was spot on. Once we felt it was dialed in, we were ready for camp and the Marshall family. I was not sure if I would get an opportunity to take a nice antelope, but I knew I’d have another fun and wonderful experience.
As always, it was great catching up with Chance, Kevin, and Tammy. There was another hunter in camp, and as the evening progressed, I found out Kevin drew the short straw. He would be my guide. Again, we were up early and on high points when the sun was coming up. As we were glassing, Greg and I kept pointing out antelope for Kevin to keep telling us, “Not what we are looking for.” Greg and I thought we saw some shooters, but it’s a good thing we had Kevin to keep us in line.
Around mid-morning, Chance’s hunter was fortunate to harvest a mid-80s antelope. We took a short break to celebrate, quarter the antelope, and hike back to the trucks. Now the hunt was back on for me. We continued to glass from high spots, and it was getting windy and colder as the day went on. Kevin spotted an antelope that he wanted to get a better look at, so we set off for a long walk. It was not what we were looking for. I’m just glad someone knew what “we” were looking for.
Did I mention that I was sidetracked with work? On our travel out, I had been working on a bid proposal, so while on the hunt, I’d check emails when we were in areas with cell service. Around 5:00 p.m., I hit cell service and several work emails came through. I needed to address these emails, so I suggested we look for antelope as we headed back to camp. Within minutes of heading back to camp, Kevin radioed Chance to let him know our plans. Chance’s response was that he had found not one but two shooter antelope and to “get over here now.” Kevin grinned and looked at me. He said, “There goes work. Let’s go get an antelope.” I guess the work had to wait.
Chance and his hunter had been scouting, and since we were on opposite sides of the mountain, he had not been able to reach us until we had started heading back. He said the two antelope were in the low 80s and mid-80s. Once we hooked up with Chance, it was time to grab gear and start walking in the direction he had last seen them moving to try to find these two shooters. After a little while, we found one across a draw and thought it was worth glassing. Chance said he was the smaller of the two, and upon closer inspection, you guessed it, not what we were looking for (like father, like son). Chance wanted to find the larger of the two antelope, so off we went. While we were evading the wild horses and looking for the larger antelope, there was a lone antelope feeding at a distance. Our hopes were up, but it was too far to determine the size. We walked a little more, and Chance and Kevin put their binoculars on it.
Something strange was going on. Greg and I noticed they gave each other a funny look. I heard Kevin ask Chance if the antelope had a bag on one of its horns. We moved a little closer so they could get a better look. Binoculars up again, and this time when they looked at each other, they giggled like two kids. Binoculars back on him again and more giggles. Kevin looked at me and said, “You need to shoot him now!” We moved a bit more so I could see it while sitting down. While someone was ranging him, Kevin was grabbing the scope cover off, “helping” me to shoot it now! Ranged at 275, I got set up quickly using Chance’s Bog Deathgrip tripod Greg (the pack mule) had been carrying across the countryside. Once I had my scope on the antelope, I squeezed the trigger and he dropped in his tracks! My .300 WSM and Berger 185s did the trick.
We all celebrated the clean shot with the antelope down. Now it was time to walk to him. Let me say, when I put my scope on him, I did not concentrate on horns, I just focused on my aiming because I had to shoot him now! I was up for a huge surprise to see what lay in the sage. As we were walking up, Kevin made sure I was up front to see him first and what a surprise we all got. At first, I could only see his “regular” side because the heavy side went down first. He was laying in the brush, and I could not see anything unusual. I grabbed his “little” horn and picked it up. What a freaky sight! I did say I liked antelope that were unique. Well, I loved this one! The larger horn was huge, hanging over his eye. We were all so excited, Kevin and Chance laughing and giggling more.
After celebrating more, it was time to get him quartered and packed out. Once we got the meat bagged and ready, Greg packed most of it out. Kevin told me he was glad Greg was there. It made an easy walk out for Kevin, Chance, and myself. We got back to camp and admired the horns while sitting around the fire, having a celebratory dinner. The more we sat looking at this strange, freaky unicorn, the more Kevin laughed. I’m not sure who enjoyed this hunt more, Kevin or me.
By far my favorite part of the hunt was Kevin and Chance laughing and giggling while glassing him. With all the years of the Marshalls hunting and guiding and to see the unbridled joy these two were showing, it was amazing and words can’t describe it.
Greg may have pushed me to hunt antelope, but it was an easy decision to hunt with Extreme Outfitters. The pressure is on Kevin and Chance for another exciting hunt when I draw my mule deer tag. I am sitting on ready for another Wyoming hunt!
My antelope was measured by Tony Grimmett, SCI scorer. The official score was 94 6/8" SCI. The two horns were 56 6/8" and 38 0/8". The large horn was 17" long with a 6" prong. The circumference measurements were 12 2/8" base, 10 6/8" first quarter, 6 7/8" second quarter, and 3 3/8" third quarter, making it the largest horn ever recorded for an antelope.