Warner family enjoying antelope hunting to the fullest

When Dustin Cash of Warner returned home from a successful Wyoming antelope hunt in 2021, he immediately began making plans to take teenage sons Jaxson, now age 16 and in the 10th grade, and Rylan, now age 14 and in the eighth grade, on an antelope hunt of their own.

“I’ve been putting the boys in for several hunts every year,” Dustin Cash said, “but this was the first time to draw out-of-state tags.”

Cash went on to say it typically takes five years to get a permit but the boys drew out in three. This hunt proved to be a real challenge.

While planning the trip, Dustin asked his wife, Dana, who had never been to Wyoming, to accompany the trio and turn it into a family hunting excursion/ vacation, and it was an opportunity she just couldn’t resist.

Also known as “The Cowboy State,” Wyoming is home to more antelope than all of the other states combined with an estimated population of 400,000. The land speed of the antelope is only exceeded by that of a cheetah. The antelope can reach speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour.

Hunting public land near the town of Casper, Wyo., the Cash family arrived a day early for scouting only to learn the antelope had suffered a massive winterkill losing up to 80 percent of the herd in some areas. Despite the long odds, they did locate a few good ones in an area that held promise for the following day. Upon arriving the next morning, there were other hunters that had the same idea.

“We couldn’t make the first ‘spot-and-stalk’ attempt work on a good buck,” Dustin Cash said. “Later in the day, we spotted another buck and Jaxson made the most of the next opportunity, making a great shot at 200 yards with his Sako 300 WSM short mag.”

Next up was Rylan, who spotted the next antelope about 600 yards away. His plan was to watch him bed down and the young hunter managed to get within 70 yards and made a clean shot with his 25.06-caliber rifle.

With the boys tagged out, the family spent a few days sightseeing and fishing for walleye along the way.

Dustin Cash, who is also a taxidermist, and the boys caped out the antelopes for mounting and spent the next several days tanning the hides.

“The lessons and experiences that family being in the great outdoors together teaches responsibility, determination and a respect for our environment and traditions,” Dustin Cash said. “Outdoor activities also help kids to have an outlet instead of playing on their phones or doing video games.”

During the 2020 COVID year, Jaxson began carving out wooden topwaters and tinkering around with plastic lures, and the boys decided they wanted to start a business making them. The duo formed Big League Baits which features a wide variety of hand-poured quality plastics for crappie and bass fishing which are available at the Warner hardware store.

It’s refreshing in these complicated times to see families concentrate on what is important in life.

John Kilgore is the former Greenleaf State Park manager. He can be reached by emailing him at jkilgoreoutdoors@yahoo.com.