Antelope lessons

[akdd]

Well to make a long story short the antelope won round one and round two. But there is always next year. I will be back. Blew several stalks and missed one shot because I misjudged the distance by ten yards. Shot right over his back. There were some blood trails but they all came from my hands and knees. All in all it was a blast. Here are some of the things that I learned about antelope hunting.
1. If you are spot and stalking like I was invest in good gloves and knee pads. I blew one opportunity because I was busy picking cactus spines out of my knee.
2. Practice judging distance in open terrain with something antelope sized. Sometimes you won’t have time to use your range finder. I am used to judging distance on bigger animals in brushy terrain and this caused me to miss the one shot that I had. Thought he was at 45 yards and in reality he was 30 to 35 yards.
3. You will probably have better success if you are in an area with limited water where you can sit by a waterhole. The area I was hunting had a lot of irrigation water around and they did not seem to return to the same place to drink. But I like spot and stalk hunting better than sitting.
4. The decoy can be used several ways I had some come to it, used it to distract there attention from me and hid behind it while stalking got within 60 yards of some bedded antelope before they got up and wandered off. I don’t think that they ever got spooked they just moved off.
5. The bucks seemed to like to stay in the same general area day after day.
6. When the bucks were chasing the does they would hang out closer to water. I think that they would get hot from the running and need to drink more often.
7. Scent and sound did not seem to alert them to much mostly they use there terrific eyesight and speed for protection. Any movement they pickup on right now. Crawled up close to a few that were bedded but then you are laying flat and when you raise up to draw and shoot they are out of range in about two jumps then they turn around and stand there giving you the hoof. Good camo is a must.
8. Them most important thing I learned though is how much fun it is to hunt them. I am definitely going back for more abuse. If not this year next year.

[royden]

Sounds like you had fun anyhow. Two rounds of antelope? Bet those trips cost ya Where did you go?

I've noticed they use the water holes primarily in the morning and then again early-mid afternoon on hot days. Most of the times I sat on a water hole it was a waste of time - did shoot one at a waterhole though; but I used a decoy at the same time and they came to the decoy not the water.

I think they completely ignore scent and sound, and even close-up objects. They seem to pick up distant objects very keenly and ANY movement, but will ignore or even investigate close up objects that are still.

I prefer to hunt right around Sept. 8th - but due to unexpected expenses was unable to make the trip this year (243 miles - compared to your 2500 miles )

Be carefull - they are addictive! Feel free to call if you make it down here next time and I can help in anyway. RC

[smj]

Antelope are fun to hunt, and it sounds like you had a great time of it! Your list of thoughts on the subject is a good one, too. To your list, I'd add a good light. Walking back in the dark, and some times out in the morning as well, a good light comes in handy when you hear that wonderful buzzing sound coming from somewhere close! It would not do to step on a snake. Also, if the weather turns really bad, hunt hard! They tend to collect in any sheltered spot and bed down while the storm is blowing. I've had some great stalks in bad weather. Congrats on a fun trip!

[BT]

akdd said:

There were some blood trails but they all came from my hands and knees.

This was hands down the best quote

Well....at least you saw some and got an opportunity

Glad to have you back and I am sure their days are numbered

[akdd]

I stayed with some friends who have a ranch in Augusta both times and hunted around there. Not a lot of antelope and most of them on private ground. But there were enough that I was blowing at least a couple of stalks per day. You are right about them being addictive. Thanks for the offer of help royden.

[royden]

Gotta agree BT that quote is funny (those little barrell cactus are sharp and they hurt!) They will go right thru light soled shoes like court shoes or light hikers.

You know SMJ I've noticed too how the antelopes huddle together on the leeward side of hills durning a storm - never had the chance to hunt them in such a situation, but I will keep it in the back of my mind for next time! THANKS!

Hit up the ranchers in the area ... just go knock on the door and be friendly ... when they hear that you drove all the way from alaska to kill those pesky antelopes for them I'll bet they will fall all over themselves helping you do it (probably even offer a rifle so you can poke projectiles at 'em)

Not too far north of there, this spring, I talked to a bunch of ranchers at the local cafe sunday morning - they all (well almost - 1 had had a bad experience with a dead horse) told me to come over and kill those hated antelopes. Most ranchers really do detest them because of the damage to winter crops from all the trails and running around they do. Which reminds me, I need to call those people back.... ( I didn't make it out to their ranch like I promised :