Range of Pronghorn Hunting

[Crankylove]

I have been watching the invasion the last few years and while the G&F is happy to collect your money,

It must be horrible for you to watch money from out of state contribute to the conservation and management of your local wildlife. All those silly people from other states, dumping money into Wyoming to help make your hunting experience a little better............what are they thinking? I hope you never plan on hunting Caribou in Canada, Bear in Alaska, or maybe some African plainsgame............that would make you the invader, wouldn't it?

I watched a group last year who drank most of the night, slept till 3 and then drove around in their Super Duty until dark, killing whatever 2pt buck happened to come out onto the right of way at dusk just to be shot from the road. Not hunters in my book. I don't doubt there are some respectful people in the bunch but as a group, I will take Ca hunters. They typically have invested alot to get here, stay longer and want a higher quality experience. Same w/ most of the people from back east.

I am glad to see you an open minded individual, and don't lump all out of state hunters in the same lot since they don't hunt exactly the same way you do.

I just hope you think about it on your next trip here.

We will be there in September, be glad to have ya tag along..............if you could stand to be seen in the company of some Utah hunters.

 

[FrankenMauser]

It's clear that you're simply biased against out of state hunters, and will not accept that more than just myself judged the situation to be something other than a pursuit or harassment. I won't argue any more.

However - Crankylove makes a good point.
I don't enjoy seeing A*hole trophy hunters destroy wildlife in my state, either. But, I understand that the stupid system put in place to get massive amounts of cash from them is what allows me to still purchase an Elk tag over-the-counter for less money than a tank of gas. I am still able to hunt affordably, simply, and only, because of the idiot out of state hunters.


I'm sure this topic has drifted into oblivion, but if it is salvageable....
To rehash the subject - The average shot I have seen is about 400 yards. If you're not careful, you'll spook them before that (antelope have been shown to recognize predators up to a mile away, but wait for them to expend energy in getting closer). If you watch what you're doing, use the terrain, and know how to stalk; you can close the distance to 25 yards or less.

 

[kraigwy]

Horses:

Antilope live on range land, either private or government leased range land.

They are use to cows and horses. As you get close, you can get off the horse and use them for cover as you work yourself closer.

Remember, as good as antilope eyes are, they dont know how many legs a horse has.

 

[wyobohunter]

^^^

Insectohorse

You can also set up on a watering hole. Where I come from (SW Wyoming) watering holes can be pretty few an far between. Set up near a watering hole and glass the country while occasionally glancing at the water.

 

[FrankenMauser]

You can also set up on a watering hole. Where I come from (SW Wyoming) watering holes can be pretty few an far between. Set up near a watering hole and glass the country while occasionally glancing at the water.

Indeed.

Even better, is setting up between two (or more) watering holes. Where I hunt, it is possible to set up right in the center of what could be seen as a pentagon, or a triangle (depending on whether two of the holes have dried up). The Antelope do a 10-15 mile loop around the water holes, every day; beginning and ending at the same one.

A good vantage point gives me the ability to see which herds are where, and let my anticipate where they'll be at any given time. (Even if they are spooked by other hunters, they tend to return to their normal loop.)

 

[Crankylove]

They are use to cows and horses. As you get close, you can get off the horse and use them for cover as you work yourself closer.

Remember, as good as antilope eyes are, they dont know how many legs a horse has.

My grandpa used to tell me stories about a childhood friend he had, that would shoot antelope from horseback with a SAA Colt in .38-40 (in the 30's and 40's I believe). Said his buddy would slowly walk his horse right in to the herd, and as they were used to seeing horses, they wouldn't get too spooked (even with the funny lookin lump on the horses back), and drop one while sitting in the saddle. He did say he went thru two or three horses doing that, as some of them would turn their head and wrong time and get a lead injection...........oops.

He also made mention of dismounting the horse over the crest of a hill, then walking the horse towards the herd, while hiding on the far side of the horse, and then shooting one with a '94 in .32-20 at 50 feet or so. His buddy said it worked quite well, because, as mentioned above, antelope can't seem to count legs very well.

 

[cornbush]

Back on topic....

If there are no water holes close to where you want to set up, use other hunters.
Several times, not just on antelope I have used this method.
If you see where other hunters have pushed the critters to your already a step ahead.
If the terrain co-operates you can set up in an intercept location.
If the other hunters see where they go and follow, I dont.
With antelope I have set up and watched as they got spooked and came from well over a mile away to within 300 or 400 yards.


I have never tried hunting goats off horses, I have watched our range rider in SE Idaho ride up to a dozen or so bull elk in August and they didn't care til he got within about 75 or 80 yards.

My granpa told me years ago that he used to get close sometimes by imitating an animal. He said he would bend over at the waist, hold one arm straight down like a leg, and the other out in front a little like a neck. He said as he walked toward the critter he would stop and move the "neck" around a little like an animal feeding, and would angle slightly away, while still closing the gap. He got far more laughs than animals that way, but he said it did work several times in open country with no cover.

 

[Regolith]

My dad used to hunt off a horse. Deer are used to them as well, and don't tend to spook.

He also had a horse that hated deer, and would sometimes chase them. That lead to some interesting stories...

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I have read in some ethnographic accounts of SW Native Americans that pronghorn hunting was sometimes accomplished by waving a blanket in the air. As curious animals, they are often inclined to investigate things strange to them and so they get lured close to the hunter, at least close enough to dispatch with simple/common bows and arrows.

 

[Jack O'Conner]

spelling error corrected

These 'lopes were taken in western South Dakota on public lands. We hunted using spot & stalk method to get within rifle range. I suggest knee pads and leather gloves for this method. 275 yards is a common average distance for our shooting these amazing animals.

I've had good luck with 243. One of my friends swears by his 220 Swift. Just about any centerfire rifle will down antelope quickly. They have huge lungs and over-sized windpipe in relation to their body mass. A chest strike through the lungs with fast expanding bullet is all it takes to drop 'em in their tracks.

Good hunting to you.

Jack

 

[kraigwy]

Jack,

I figured with a that name you would be using a 270.

 

[Jack O'Conner]

Craig:

Actually I've never owned a 270.

My preference is a short and light carbine chambered for 30-30 or .308.

This dandy muley was taken at long range with my Savage .308 rifle. It was a cross canyon shot; distance was approx 225 yards or so.

Good hunting to you.

Jack

 

[Jack O'Conner]

text added

I've toppled approx. 60 pronghorns with this .243 rifle. None got away. This photo was taken in Butte County, South Dakota. Take note of my hi-tech camo: an olive colored flannel shirt and gray Carhart work pants.

My estimate for so-called average shot is about 275 yards or so. But hunting over a water hole from hidden blind will result in a shot more like 25 yards or less.

Jack

 

[Bigjfb]

Depending on where you hunt, but most any gun used on deer will work. Don't let me talk anybody out of getting a new gun though, when in doubt, always buy a new gun. Ive killed them with anything from a 22-250 to a .300 wsm. If I had to choose on caliber, 6mm rem would be hard to beat. 25-06 for when antelope and muley season overlap.

I hunt them on a family ranch that gets no pressure, no too hard really. Hardest part is picking out the one you want. As soon as you decide on one, there is another that looks just a little fatter ans tastier.