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Author: Mark Seacat
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Oct 13, 2010
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Sitka's Kevin Sloan made good on our first stalk of Montana's Rifle Antelope Opener, making a perfect 70 yard shot on the best antelope we've ever harvested out in Eastern Montana.
Kevin and I made the journey east from Bozeman to hunt antelope with my father (Scott Seacat) and my godfather (John Armstrong). We've been hunting this beautiful piece of property for the past decade and my dad's been hunting this general area since before I was born. We definitely know the country... scouting isn't necessary, we do the same hunt every year and we consistently see upwards of 300 antelope per trip. This year would be no different and we had a great time.
I have a bow only buck tag, and due to a busy schedule during the antelope rut, I never made it out to hunt earlier than rifle opener... this meant bow hunting with orange on... only after everyone else harvested their bucks! I told the boys, let's make this perfect... three bucks with three bullets... and that's exactly how it worked out! John harvested a great buck with one shot from 216 yards, Kevin tagged out on his with one shot from 70, and my dad filled his tag with one shot from 220... nice work all around.
I couldn't get the bucks to cooperate and get a good opportunity to fill my buck tag with the bow (after they'd been "rifle educated"), but Kevin, Dad, and I each had a separate doe tag. Time to switch to the rifle! Kevin and I made a good stalk into 300 yards from a well educated band and I was able to make a perfect shot on a doe with my titanium remington .280... I hit nothing but heart... and the tenderloins are marinating as I type! Kevin also made a great shot at 374 on his antelope doe, and my dad rounded out the group with another one shot harvest on his doe from 200 yards.
6 antelope, 3 bucks, 3 does.... 6 empty pieces of brass. That's how it's done in Eastern Montana.