Hi.Markco,
I have been shooting,eating,and watching pronghorn since the 60's.At ne point,I bought a book that was some scientific study of the species.
This was not a hunters book,it was a "science" book.I loaned it out and it never came back.
That book said sage is the preferred forage,makes up about 80% of their diet.
The oily nature of sage makes it a high energy fuel,and the antelope liver has special characteristics that metabolize the alkaloids in sage.
I agree,they will munch on nice grass or alfalfa...matter of fact,some cottonwoods watching over a patch of alfalfa was a pretty reliable stand.
There is only one reason I am bothering to argue,because,other than that,I really do not care about a difference of opinion.You are free to disagree.
Its not the sage diet that makes them taste bad.Period.
Bad antelope is bad antelope because ,if the hunter will accept there is something new to learn about handling,bad antelope can become good antelope.
Blaming it on sage is not the answer.
I can tell you a few things that make bad antelope.
If you can't identify the bladder and do whatever is necessary to keep from bathing the inside of the carcass with antelope urine,odds are good you will taste bad antelope.
I have met plenty of folks all proud of dumping a gut pile in under five minutes,but they cant tell you where the bladder is,"Oh,its that wrinkly little EMPTY blue thing? Duh...
And antelope season is warm.Often over 40 deg f for 24 hrs a day.So nomatter where you hang it,unrefrigerated,its at spoilage temperature.Yup,antelope that's been at 55 deg f to78 deg f for three days migt taste bad.
And I believe a certain flavor will migrate from hide to meat.I skin them while still warm and the skin is loose.Leave the hide on while it hangs,or till you take it to a taxeidermist or processor,yup,its going to taste bad.
One more way to make it taste bad is band saw through the bones,smearing the bone chips and marrow across the chops.
If any of those things happened to te meat,oh,along with running the animals,gut shooting them,or having to shoot them seventimes around ghe edges because everyone can hit an antelope at 700 yds,noproblem,especially if they are moving away..
Yeah,a lot of ways tomake antelope taste bad.
Its not the sage.