Posted on 04/22/2018 6:02:38 PM PDT by Peter ODonnell
We live in western Canada but we love to travel to the western states. One place that always intrigued me was Hart Mountain Antelope Reserve in southern Oregon.
So we had the chance to visit this remote area last week, hoping to see some of the resident thousands of antelope (pronghorns).
The scenery was awe-inspiring, in particular the western side where we entered is a sheer cliff that rises above a chain of lakes. It was a clear day but despite several stops and scans with binoculars, no luck seeing antelope.
So as we were driving out of the sanctuary, about ten to fifteen miles towards the nearest highway, and right beside a large cattle ranch with a feedlot, two antelope came running out of the sagebrush and just about wiped out into our vehicle. They jumped across the road barely ten feet in front of us (luckily we were not driving very fast on the dirt road).
So it proved once again that nature will take its own course and at least two antelope figured out that they were better off on private than public land, and why you may ask? Feedlots.
Perhaps there's a moral to this story or perhaps not, after all, forty thousand other antelope chose to hide out on the reserve somewhere. Or that's their story any way.
Broader note: love to travel in the U.S. and would gladly move down (further the better, to the limit of northern AZ perhaps). But unlike so many others who look on in envy, I don't think about doing this illegally. If somebody wants to pay me mucho dinero to post on the internet from your basement suite so I can meet the requirements, I am one more vote in the right column!
(just kidding, I think I need to stay here to keep an eye on these commies).
The Deer and the Antelope play all over the West. Often at dusk and dawn they want to try to collide with you. Be careful out there.
The refuge is also a huge sanctuary for Greater Sage-Grouse. More there than anywhere else. Again, I've had to swerve to avoid hitting them sometimes too.
As I recollect, Vesper Sparrows are crazily abundant there as well. And bushy-tailed packrats. Don't get me started on the bushy-tailed packrats! Ha!
Not far from your neck of the woods. Ever explored/hunted in this area?
I had a black powder muzzle loader tag for mule deer on Hart Mt. about 20 years ago. Spent almost a week there, missing shots at some tremendous 25 to 30 inch mulies. Finally sored, as well as my two buddies. Stalked some Big Horn sheep with a camera and took some fabulous shots. Have had a few tags for antelope and pursued them in various eastern Oregon hunting units.. Lovely animals...
And the Aholes and Sh*theads play all over Wash. D.C.
But unlike so many others who look on in envy, I don't think about doing this illegally. If somebody wants to pay me mucho dinero to post on the internet from your basement suite so I can meet the requirements, I am one more vote in the right column!
I know where you're coming from.I fell in love with Australia about 40 years ago but just recently,having hit retirement age,I discovered that I don't qualify for permanent residence there thanks mainly to my age.It's understandable that they don't want old farts like me.And I wouldn't consider violating their laws even though I might be able to pull it off...just as you could probably pull it off here.
That’s a coincidence...we just bought a place in the Idaho Panhandle and are looking to exploring southern BC north of Idaho to western Alberta. Recommendations?
The Tule Elk population in California has really rebounded from near extinction in the late 1800s. You can see magnificent herds at Point Reyes National Park north of San Francisco. A hiking group I was with spotted a good size Tule Elk herd only 14 miles from downtown San Jose, CA last month. That was quite a surprise and treat.
Hi Fly,
I’ve never been into the Hart Mtn Antelope Res or hunted that area, I hunted for years 50 or 60 miles due north of there.
It’s high desert with sagebrush, juniper trees and rim rock until you get into the timber in higher elevations and that’s normally National Forest.
Lots of mule deer and some big bucks if you want to get out and work for them. Most of central and eastern OR is that type country and I love it, very beautiful.
The scenery, that is. Not the hard work I had to perform there!
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