I've been putting in for a point since the point system was instituted, I figure one of these years I might actually have a decent chance at pulling a tag. I've never hunted antelope before and don't know the area up there (would probably put in for Likely Tables since it's not too far from a friend's place). I'd "scout" the area a few days before the opener but since I don't really know "how" to hunt antelope, I'm not sure scouting would be all that productive. What can a noob loper do to increase his odds on what is probably a once in a lifetime (in Cali, anyway) hunt?
- Thread starter Hogskin
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BOWUNTR
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Scout!!! If any one thing will help you be successful, scouting will. Otherwise you are scouting during the hunt, wasting valuable hunting days. Me and my bro in law drew Ca antelope in 99. We spent a week scouting, even flew and video taped the whole zone. My bro in law is a pilot. When opening day came we knew exactly where to hunt. We both shot our antelope on the fourth day My
I absolutely agree that the single most important thing to do is to scout...
Anybody can shoot a rifle (some better than others).
Anybody can pay to hunt some alfalfa field - drive up, find an antelope, shoot, and kiss your $800 goodbye.
Most anybody can kill a small antelope in Likely Tables, Lassen, or any other zone...
but if you truly want to find a good animal, if you truly want to HUNT for it, and you truly want to enjoy your overall hunt, then scouting is essential.
You can talk to people that have hunted there before, and gather good information that way, but nothing will replace time spent in the field.
When I was drawn last year, I spent 4 weekends scouting... I live only a few hours away, so that was totally feasible for me to do. For some people, it is not feasible. My first weekend I covered a lot of ground (mostly driving) to get a general feel for the area and the terrain. I saw lots of antelope. I found one really large herd with lots of bucks... the following weekends were spent really analyzing a choice few locations...
1. Were there animals present?
2. Were there any trophy animals?
3. More importantly, could I hunt this location?
a. Would the terrain allow a stalk?
b. Is there a corridor where I could ambush an antelope?
c. Is there nearby water, where the animals will come to water?
d. Is this area one that will see a lot of people, or is it more remote?
I printed maps, talked to locals, scouted, used GPS to mark areas I wanted to investigate, scouted those areas in more detail...
It all boiled down to knowing exactly which animal I wanted to kill even before the season started. I knew where I needed to be in order to kill the animal, and I knew of other animals that I would go after if the first one didn't work out. All that being said, things didn't quite work out as I had planned. The animal I wanted was not in the same spot, where I had patterned it for 4 weeks straight. But I knew enough about the surrounding terrain, waterholes, etc. that I was able to find the animal on the second morning of the hunt and kill it after a 5 hour stalk. See this link for pics... My lope
My whole point is - scouting is the most important element...
Ken
Anybody can shoot a rifle (some better than others).
Anybody can pay to hunt some alfalfa field - drive up, find an antelope, shoot, and kiss your $800 goodbye.
Most anybody can kill a small antelope in Likely Tables, Lassen, or any other zone...
but if you truly want to find a good animal, if you truly want to HUNT for it, and you truly want to enjoy your overall hunt, then scouting is essential.
You can talk to people that have hunted there before, and gather good information that way, but nothing will replace time spent in the field.
When I was drawn last year, I spent 4 weekends scouting... I live only a few hours away, so that was totally feasible for me to do. For some people, it is not feasible. My first weekend I covered a lot of ground (mostly driving) to get a general feel for the area and the terrain. I saw lots of antelope. I found one really large herd with lots of bucks... the following weekends were spent really analyzing a choice few locations...
1. Were there animals present?
2. Were there any trophy animals?
3. More importantly, could I hunt this location?
a. Would the terrain allow a stalk?
b. Is there a corridor where I could ambush an antelope?
c. Is there nearby water, where the animals will come to water?
d. Is this area one that will see a lot of people, or is it more remote?
I printed maps, talked to locals, scouted, used GPS to mark areas I wanted to investigate, scouted those areas in more detail...
It all boiled down to knowing exactly which animal I wanted to kill even before the season started. I knew where I needed to be in order to kill the animal, and I knew of other animals that I would go after if the first one didn't work out. All that being said, things didn't quite work out as I had planned. The animal I wanted was not in the same spot, where I had patterned it for 4 weeks straight. But I knew enough about the surrounding terrain, waterholes, etc. that I was able to find the animal on the second morning of the hunt and kill it after a 5 hour stalk. See this link for pics... My lope
My whole point is - scouting is the most important element...
Ken
