2008 - Three-generation antelope hunt

December 9, 2008 • Voyageur Press

This past fall, members of the Streeter family – Andy, Todd and Gene – invited Andy’s personal care attendant, Lisa Obrien, to join them on an antelope hunt in Wyoming.

Andy, who was paralysed in an automobile accident back in 2004, continues to enjoy hunting, and his father, Todd, decided it was time for a trip out west. 

“The decision to go on an antelope hunt had to do with the time of year,” Todd said. “It’s a little earlier in the season. We wanted it to be nice out for Andrew. This was his first time going out west since the accident.”

The hunt took place on the D3 Ranch near Hulett, Wyoming, where Todd has formed a friendship with the owners J.O. and Rhoda McDonald. 

Andy, Todd and Grandpa Gene were all prepared for a successful hunt. The key was to see Andy get his.

The first day, Andy and Todd spent the day in the blind. He watched antelope that day, but there weren’t any nice bucks grazing on the field. “We sat and watched them until dark,” said Andy. “Some came to within 200 yards, but they just weren’t quite what we were after.”

Andy noted that Grandpa Gene was actually a little over a mile away, and he shot his the first day.

On the second day, J.O., the owner of the ranch had a plan to go after a buck he had spotted earlier. “We loaded up in the Ranger,” Andy recalled, “and headed out to a field they were bedded down in.”

The plan was to maneuver the Ranger into position about 200 yards away. Andy and Todd had everything in place. “I had the site on him and told my dad, ‘I think I’m ready,’ and I pulled the trigger.”

Dust flew and they weren’t quite sure if it was a kill. Todd was sure Andy shot too high.
The antelope ran off, but the crew came up with Plan B. “J.O. suggested that we move down to the mounds of Bentonite spoils. We got in there, and the antelope were going to cross right in front of us.”

The Ranger was positioned so Andy could get a shot. “They came through there and here comes this buck walking. I got on to him, and I am following him but he won’t stop.”

Andy pulled the trigger and dropped the buck at 292 yards. According to Andy, he has the kill videotaped for proof, “both my miss and my kill shot. I tell everyone I didn’t want to shoot it when it was so close. I wanted more of a challenge.”

Lisa, Andy’s personal care attendant witnessed the whole experience. “It was absolutely fabulous,” Lisa shared. “It was amazing. After doing this for 35 years (PCA), it was the highlight of my career.”

Lisa talked about how special it is for hunters to get this opportunity. “For an avid hunter getting to do this, it is really cool,” she added, “but to have someone in Andy’s condition do it and actually see it happen, it was a rush.”

Lisa wasn’t the only one to get a rush from the hunt. Grandpa Gene was watching Andy’s kill also. “I don’t know if anybody else saw Grandpa Gene,” added Lisa, “but when he turned around, he pumped his fist and said, ‘YES!’”

Lisa isn’t an avid hunter at this point, but she has become more interested. “I really didn’t seriously know what an antelope was before going on the trip,” Lisa said. “I knew it was like a deer.”

Todd also talked about the hospitality at the D3 Ranch, a place he has visited since 1987. “They [J.O. and Rhoda] are so nice. They had a ramp ready at the cabin, because we get up real early, do a morning hunt and then come back and have a huge breakfast in their home.”

In the afternoon, hunters can go on another hunt, shoot prairie dogs, sightsee, chase down buffalo... “or help them with a cattle drive,” said Todd.

The Streeters ended up helping drive the cattle with the van. “Luke was on his dirt bike, Rhoda was on her horse and we were in the van,” Todd noted. “We took up the rear and zigzagged through the field. It was just a little cattle drive.”

“Every year, it seems like we get into something with cattle,” added Todd. 

It turned out to be shipping day at the D3 Ranch. “That cattle drive was fun,” added Andy. 
“Todd was driving yelling, ‘YEE HAH!’” added Lisa.

Todd shared that later in the evening, they all got back to J.O. and Rhoda’s for another meal in their home.”

Todd commented on the 19 thousand-acre ranch and how different it is from acreages or farms in Minnesota. “That little 40-acre plot some of us have doesn’t really compare to 20 thousand.”
“Every direction you looked, it was their property,” said Lisa.

“It’s really kind of unique out there because there are thousands of acres and they work with the game and fish department,” added Todd. “They dammed the creek that runs through the property and developed a beautiful waterfowl habitat area. It’s full of ducks and geese right now.”

Todd shared that the habitat is perfect for an assortment of wildlife. “That’s why his [J.O.’s] particular property is so perfect for deer hunting – there’s the cover and the water.”

Other wildlife on the ranch include whitetail, mule deer and buffalo. 

Trips out west have been and continue to be a tradition for the Streeter family. “I really enjoy out West,” Todd shared. “My dad took me out to Montana when I was young. I shot my first buck out there.” 

That tradition continues. This time, three generations enjoyed an antelope hunt, and all three guys were successful. “Our goal was to get three 14-inchers,” concluded Todd. “Andy’s had the nicest rack with big cutters, and mine had the biggest body.

Plans are already in place for a return trip. “We are going to go back and do another antelope hunt, and we have had a brief discussion on having Andy shoot a buffalo next year,” Todd concluded.

Lisa is hoping she gets to go along. “Hey, I might be shooting by then. Maybe I should shoot the buffalo.”

“You better start with something small,” replied Andy.