Where the antelope roam…I won't be

I checked again, just to be sure.

The results were the same.

There it was. Under “Special drawing Status” on the Fish, Wildlife and Parks web page: Not successful.

I won’t be hunting antelope this fall.

It’s happened before. An antelope tag is never a sure thing, but I’ve drawn enough of them over the years, that I was expecting this one.

Last year’s hunt was too easy. And too quick. I spotted a herd grazing along a dry creekbottom as I was driving to the ranch to pick up my permission slip. They were still there an hour later when I belly-crawled into position above them.

I picked out a buck and dropped him with a single shot at about 200 yards.

Then the disappointment set in.

It was a nice buck and the truck was less than a mile away. He’d soon be hanging in my garage and I could move on to other things. But my 2016 antelope hunt was over just like that.

And I like to hunt antelope. I was already anticipating this season.

I like to crawl through the prickly pear and smell the sagebrush, the autumn sun warm on my back. I like to spot a herd and try to sneak into range, often finding out too late that they spotted me first and moved on.

But antelope are sporting critters. Unlike elk, who once spooked may leave the country entirely, antelope will simply move out of range and let you try again.

I appreciate that. I often need another chance. Or three.

I’ll still hunt. Just not antelope. Pheasant season inconveniently opens the same day and I won’t have to make a choice this year. I can hunt pheasants without worrying that someone will shoot my buck.

Upland bird season opens Sept. 1and the dogs and I never miss it. I’ve also got a cow elk tag to fill and it would sure be nice to put another whitetail in the freezer.

Antelope, however, will have to wait.

I suppose I could go out and crawl through the cactus anyway, stare through the binoculars until my eyes water and fall asleep in the sagebrush, but I probably won’t.

I’ll just whine and complain and badmouth FWP for not deeming me worthy of a tag.

Then again, if it doesn’t rain soon there may not be a hunting season at all.

For anything.

Including antelope.

Parker Heinlein is [email protected].