Antelope meat???

[robbor]

Im going antelope hunting for the first time somewhere near Sheridan Wy, no idea what to expect.
About the only Venison I have cared for is breakfast sausage, How does goat compare to venison?
Anybody recomend a good butcher in the area?
Are there lots of antelope and how far is a normal shot?
Planning on 500 yards, or will they stay pretty out of range most of the time?
How bad are most of the public dirt roads in Oct, will a RENTAL car cut it?

 

[Tom Petterson]

There should be plenty of antelope and you wont have to shoot 500 yards. If you can hold out you will get a shot at under 250 and if you are really take your time you can get 100+ eazily. I have shot antelope from 35 yards with a bow to 50 yards with a rifle up to 450, but I really wanted that goat bad and I could have had many shots much closer.

There should be a couple of butcher shops around sheridan. Antelope can be on the strong side but it is still very edable.

If you get a rental it beter have fare clearance and 4 wheel drive if it rains in Oct the roads turn to slime.

Get in touch with the fish and game. They have lists of free walk on ranches and pay to play ranches for hunting.

 

[scr83jp]

My friends wife shot a buck antelope near Butte.MT. They said it was delicious!

 

[SDHNTR]

Lots of misinformation out there. Goats do have good eyesight but if you can stalk by using topography and keep from skylining yourself, you should have no problem getting within 300 yards. You don't need to shoot 500 yards and probably shouldn't. I've killed and/or been a part of about a dozen antelope kills and only 1 was over 400 yards, and that was only after a missed shot at 300ish. The average was probably in the 180-200 yard range.

You will have no problem finding a butcher in Sheridan. There will be several. As for table fare, antelope is my favorite. I love it. As does my wife, family and friends. But it has to be cared for well. Kill the animal in a calm state. If you want good meat, do not shoot at one that has been chased for miles. Get it cool very fast. Get the hide off asap. If it is warm, carry a big ice chest in the field with you at all times. Do not touch the meat after handling the hide or horns. Keep the animal clean and keep dirt and hair off the meat. If properly cared for, antelope is some of the best meat out there.

 

[MarvB]

Like any big game animal they are what YOU make of them...meat care, meat care, meat care!
I know that many will argue it but I've never had a bad speedgoat and the problem with most I bet are the yahoos that whack their goat, toss it in the back of their truck in 90+ weather, and then continue to drive around and look for another. We carry a huge ice chest of frozen gallon milk jugs and after promptly dressing our antelopes we put the frozen jugs in the body cavity to speed the cooling and also keep the animals out of the direct sun. One word of warning about goat hair...it falls out easily (don't drag one you plan on mounting) and you need to take the effort to keep it off the meat.

I use antelope in nearly any receipe that I'll use deer/elk.....just my 2+ cents

 

[upperEA]

robbor when are you heading out there and where? The guy I stay with out there has a butter shop at his place, acctuly I will probley be the one doing it if you brought it in while I'm out there. I am going to be out there for a couple weeks in September and then again in October around the 1st thru the 15th or so. There are a gazillion goats around that area and you can get anything from a 50yard shot to a 500yard shot depending on what you are looking for and public or private.. Shot me an email and we can figure something out if I am not there when you are I can give you his number, great folks and really resonable on prices.
morenotom@yahoo.com