Hunting & Fishing Pronghorn
- Thread starter NYShooter
- Start date
That is not a ton when speaking of pronghorn, drive across Wyoming or Montana, or even northern Colorado, I've seen thousands of them in a little afternoon drive, and if your not careful, you'll be picking them from the grill.
Wyoming once again saw fit not to extend me any pronghorn tags this year, huge letdown for me as its one of my favorite hunts. Wyoming and Montana will always be my first choice for antelope, maybe next year...
You betcha, only this year I talked my wife in going. We hunt Wyoming Area 7, which is just a short distance from the house. Though its close, (Less then 30 minutes) I still like to camp on while hunting goats.
Nothing like laying out at night listening to coyotes and other prairie sounds, stirring at the million stars on clear Wyoming nights.
Wont get to stay out long this year, the season for my Elk tag starts the same day, have to get the critters on the first day, get them cooled and cut up so I can head for the Big Horns, But yes you bet your ass I'll be set up the night before.
I'll be running our clubs sight in days again this year so I'll have to be loaded up, so I can book as soon as we close the range.
Nothing like laying out at night listening to coyotes and other prairie sounds, stirring at the million stars on clear Wyoming nights.
Wont get to stay out long this year, the season for my Elk tag starts the same day, have to get the critters on the first day, get them cooled and cut up so I can head for the Big Horns, But yes you bet your ass I'll be set up the night before.
I'll be running our clubs sight in days again this year so I'll have to be loaded up, so I can book as soon as we close the range.
You & me both brother, no stick & string for this feller.
You betcha, only this year I talked my wife in going. We hunt Wyoming Area 7, which is just a short distance from the house. Though its close, (Less then 30 minutes) I still like to camp on while hunting goats.
Nothing like laying out at night listening to coyotes and other prairie sounds, stirring at the million stars on clear Wyoming nights.
Wont get to stay out long this year, the season for my Elk tag starts the same day, have to get the critters on the first day, get them cooled and cut up so I can head for the Big Horns, But yes you bet your ass I'll be set up the night before.
I'll be running our clubs sight in days again this year so I'll have to be loaded up, so I can book as soon as we close the range.
Kraig, i'm in the same boat as well. Only I have a handful of buddies from out-of-state to take care of before I can bag mine & head towards Ranchester/Parkman. I'm not real happy they decided to open Elk season (in my area/for my tag) on Oct 1. I'm still trying to figure out how i'm going to break the news to my boss that i'll be taking an additional week off in pursuit of Wapiti....
t
Yeah I don't understand the Oct 1st deal, maybe I wasn't paying attention, I didn't realize it was an Oct 1st opening until I got my tags.
I normally try to get tags for Area 1, but didn't get drawn this year so I bought a left over cow tag for area 38. Seems like every time I get a tag for the Big Horns, early snow moves them out. If I don't put in, then snows wait.
Should be find for Oct 1st but it just makes me rush my antelope hunting. Don't know why I worry about it, I always get one opening morning. The problem is deer, there are some huge muly's just above timberline and I was figuring on getting one of them, but deer season don't open until the 15th in that area.
I normally try to get tags for Area 1, but didn't get drawn this year so I bought a left over cow tag for area 38. Seems like every time I get a tag for the Big Horns, early snow moves them out. If I don't put in, then snows wait.
Should be find for Oct 1st but it just makes me rush my antelope hunting. Don't know why I worry about it, I always get one opening morning. The problem is deer, there are some huge muly's just above timberline and I was figuring on getting one of them, but deer season don't open until the 15th in that area.
+2 i have two doe/fawn tags for 23 and 1 any tag for 23 just south of Gillette, my Dad has two doe/fawn tags for the same unit. Gonna be using a 284 win, 257 rob, 30/375 S.I., 220 swift, and maybe a 6.5x284. Should be a fun season, i love Wyoming!
I didn't know until after we'd applied. I've been hunting 38 for several years now, we go up through Kern's toward West Pass. I had ALWAYS carried my deer tag just incase
There are some rather large fellows that hang out up there. Oh well, I guess i'll spend another year chasing after that 180" ghost on the family ranch that's given me the slip the last couple years... bastard t
Sorry for the threadjack, how does one go about applying for a South Dakota non resident tag? Does it matter if it's private land? This is a hunt I want to do, but I'm not sure of how to go about it. Last time I looked online, the SD DNR was not very clear to me.
I've hunted on the Barclay ranch, just out of Gillette, on I believe hwy 55? It's been several years but was a nice spread at one time and was wondering if it is still in operation. they raised and sold polled herefords at one time. Nice family.
Sorry brother, I can't help you with that one. I've never heard the name. As far as the HWY goes, we have 50, 51 & 59 (off the top of my head) that exit Gillette in various directions.
t
I was just in the Thunder Basin, north of Gillette last week (unit 18 area) Didn't see a single pronghorn in a couple of days of driving the back roads. I'm guessing they still haven't recovered from the winterkill a couple of years ago?
They are definitely not back to the numbers they once were. We're still struggling quite a bit. It seems to me that, the further north you drive (at least in Wyo) the farther south the numbers to. Now I actually have to LOOK for the damn things
t
Thanks for the info, but I was planning on a rifle hunt. Not necessarily this year, but probably next.
That I'm not sure about but give the SD DFG a call and I'm sure they can answer your question. They are extremely helpful.
I just purchased my tag a few hours ago so hopefully I'll get a nice buck this month!
Good looking Buck Pat. I agree with you that Antelope are fun to hunt & dern good eating, which reminds me.... I'm almost out !!
t
t
My wife says the only way she likes antelope is the way I cook it. All I do is roll small steaks in flour/pepper, and fry it in oil.
So I cook when we have antelope.
Then I over heard her tell a neighbor that I cook antelope just like she fries chicken...................I think I've been snookered.
So I cook when we have antelope.
Then I over heard her tell a neighbor that I cook antelope just like she fries chicken...................I think I've been snookered.
I hope to be back in the Buffalo/Kaycee area again this year if I can. Probably try and be there towards the end of the season around the end of October so hopefully Sendero_man leaves a few for me
And yes Pat antelopes are tasty critters!!!
Here's a couple from the last few years
And yes Pat antelopes are tasty critters!!!
Here's a couple from the last few years
Massive hail storm rolled through Wright WY last night and word is a lot of antelope didn't make it through. Hail was baseball sized and tore a lot of shit up. Probably wont make a huge difference but right around Wright may be a little slow this year...
I saw a few pics on K2's website. It looks like they had a freaking snow storm. I was kinda bummed they didn't show any big hail though. It seems that little town always gets the shaft.
t
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Few pics from the hail storm...
^^^trailer park lol.....
It's 80 degrees down there today and there is still hail piled up and melting...
^^^trailer park lol.....
It's 80 degrees down there today and there is still hail piled up and melting...
Well, last year at least in my little spot I hunt the numbers where way down from even in 2011 but still plenty of animals - you just had to hunt a little harder but still filled all our tags with decent bucks. I did notice that most of the bigger/nicer bucks came from unit 22 which is mostly private. Fun area to hunt with some really fantastic scenery down around the south end of the Big Horn Mts / Red Wall area. Be sure to check it out if you have extra time to kill.
Oregonmuley,
Remember that Pat, George, Jamie and I are have the second annual speed goat hunt the beginning of Oct.
Remember that Pat, George, Jamie and I are have the second annual speed goat hunt the beginning of Oct.
Here's a few pics from Wyoming to get you revved up.
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Wyoming north of Saratoga last year.
Going back again this year.
My favorite North American Hunt!
Going back again this year.
My favorite North American Hunt!
Oregonmuley,
Remember that Pat, George, Jamie and I are have the second annual speed goat hunt the beginning of Oct.
I figured that - that's why I hope you leave a couple for me
If I make it at all it'll be around the 20th or later.
Fine looking animals there. What calibers do you use?I hope to be back in the Buffalo/Kaycee area again this year if I can. Probably try and be there towards the end of the season around the end of October so hopefully Sendero_man leaves a few for me
And yes Pat antelopes are tasty critters!!!
Here's a couple from the last few years
Top one is a Kampfeld built .243 which is my all time favorite for antelopes, bottom rifle is a Kampfeld 7MM-08 which I no longer have.
Here are a couple of mine and one of my brothers. We like to hunt the does, during season they seem to be more edgy than the bucks and make for a very fun hunt.
Killed with my as issued 1903 Springfield same configuration it was when it left the factory in September of 1909, 60-65 yard shot.
Killed with my 25-223 and 110gr Accubonds at 2700fps, 190ish yard shot.
Only buck antelope I have killed, my dad was heading back to Michigan the next day so I took this average buck instead of holding of for a larger buck, same rifle as above 25-223 with a 110gr Accubond, about 230 plus some change laid him right out.
Killed with one of my 6.8spc's
One my brother killed, with my 243 Super Rock Chucker, 445 yards he planted her like she was hit with a Mac truck.
Don't over look doe tags. I'm not a fan of antelope meat but I always try to draw doe tags because its really is a fun hunt and the meat makes good sausage.
Killed with my as issued 1903 Springfield same configuration it was when it left the factory in September of 1909, 60-65 yard shot.
Killed with my 25-223 and 110gr Accubonds at 2700fps, 190ish yard shot.
Only buck antelope I have killed, my dad was heading back to Michigan the next day so I took this average buck instead of holding of for a larger buck, same rifle as above 25-223 with a 110gr Accubond, about 230 plus some change laid him right out.
Killed with one of my 6.8spc's
One my brother killed, with my 243 Super Rock Chucker, 445 yards he planted her like she was hit with a Mac truck.
Don't over look doe tags. I'm not a fan of antelope meat but I always try to draw doe tags because its really is a fun hunt and the meat makes good sausage.
That was a really fun and challenging hunt with the 1903, I limited myself to a 125 yard shot or closer since I was using cast bullets at roughly 30-30 velocity and I am a spot and stalk hunter. I have a M1 Garand and am going back and forth between the M1 and my 7-30 Waters contender for this years hunt. I haven't killed anything with the Garand but on the same note I haven't killed a big game animal with a handgun (other than finishing shots at point blank).
