First Time Pronghorn hunter

[billfromtx]

I drew a Wyoming Antelope tag this year and am excited about going. I have been reading everything I can getting ready. I would appreciate any advice from guys that have been there and done that.
I've been shooting and reloading my .270 a lot gtting prepaired.

Any helpful tips would be appreciated.

Thanks
Bill

 

[Coues]

The most challenging aspect of a pronghorn hunt is judging quality. They all look big.


They have 10X Swarovski's for eyes. Don't expose yourself (HAHA) until you are in range. Prepare for long belly crawls across cactus and snake infested grasslands in most Antelope areas.

If you plan on having a mount, get the cape off quick and get it in your cooler or the taxi ASAP. Don't drag your goat, all the hair will fall off. Skin it on a tree, bush, fence post, or bring a small tarp to skin it on flat ground.

The meat is excellent, despite what others might tell you. Just keep it clean, get the hair off, and get it cooled down quick.

Don't shoot the 1st buck you see (unless it looks like these) These are big ones. Their video on field judging Antelope is very good, but it's a little boring. There is no hunting on the video, only live footage.


http://www.pronghornguideservice.com/photo2006.html

 

[Kentuck]

Best hunt you will go on. You will see lots of game, all day long. Pace yourself. DFG once told me there are good and bad hunting antelope. The good, you will see lots of them. The bad, you will see lots of them. That's why I say pace yourself. You can run yourself ragged hunting them. Be patient and you will get your goat. If you don't already have good glass get some. A spotting scope is really good to have along with some good binoculars. Be prepared to take a long shot too. Although I shot mine at 35 yards, I did miss one a tad longer than that. My Dad got his at about 225 yards.
Like Coues said, if you want to have a mount done be careful with the hide, the hair comes off really easy.
Take care of the meat properly and you will have some of the best eating meat around. I just cooked up some antelope backstrap from Wyoming last weekend from a friend and it was fantastic.

 

[subfan]

+1 on the video that Coues mentioned. I believe it is titled "Size is Everything." The advice Coues gave is sound logic!

 

[Rick]

Knee pads can be handy, and thin leather gloves are a must. Plan on crawling. You may get lucky and not have to, but it is better to be prepared. Keep terrain features like hills between you and them as long as possible.


As others have said, get the meat cooled quickly and it will be great.

 

[billfromtx]

Thanks guys...I never thought about knee pads and gloves, I'll get some!..I am chompin at da bit to go!

 

[azbiggame]

for 1st. time "Lopes" hunters,just have a Good Time --- those knee pads work well on Your elbows also,get 4 and a pair of gloves.A GOOD range finder is a must,because when You are in the Prone,distance is "TOUGH" to judge ??? Practice,"NOW" shooting in the Prone.Don't think its easy after crawling out to Your buck,and make this the 1st time You have tried this position !!! Best have a Bipod on Your favorite .270,also.That SHOT,sure is easier with the aid of one --- Good Luck and have a Good Time

 

[SDHNTR]

All good advice. You will know a really good antelope when you see one. In WY though, you will usually see lots and lots of medium sized ones. There it can be harder to sort out the above average ones. Look for mass first. It should have a lot of black on top of his head. The mass should go all the way up the horn. The tips of the horns should not be spindly. Look for good hooks up top. The top of the antlers should start to hook around. If they complete the hook, you are looking at a mature animal. The prongs should be well defined, you should be able to see a good triangle coming off the main horn. A rule of thumb is that you want the prongs to jut out above the height of the ear. But don't use that rule as the be all and end all. I've seen big goats prove it wrong. Lastly, watch the body language. Antelope are herd animals. If you can watch them for a while, you should be able to pick out the boss hog of the group.

Have fun, it's one of my favorite hunts. Great eating too, if well cared for, kept clean and cooled down quickly.

 

[One Track]

Don't use "knee pads" and "chomping at the bit" in the same sentence.

It's a fun hunt. You will probably be hunting from your vehicle until you find the lope you want to go after. Be sure to have lots of good cd's with you. Also, good optics are a must. Nice to have a spotting scope with a window adapter.