Hunting fence line for antelope

[colorado russ]

Found a great fence crossing from BLM to private land but there ain\'t nothing taller than sage brush in the area. There are 5-6 scrapes with some on both sides. It was freshened up same day that we found it late in the afternoon. There\'s a few nice bucks in the area but have been hanging out on BLM mostly then over to private some.

Does anyone have tips or suggestions on hunting a fence line?

Can I just pop up my double bull 20-30 yards down the fence and not disturb them? I\'ve heard people do this on a water hole and be successful same day but not sure about a fence line. We drove this fence and there was only one other crossing we found(bottom row of barbed wire was high enough for them to go under more easily). My thought was to block the second crossing so they\'d focus on the one I want to sit.

I set up a trail camera on that crossing and will check it in a week.

Appreciate any input.

Russ

 

[colorado russ]

Found some more info on bowsite but surprisingly......this is hunting and what has worked for one hasn\'t worked for another then what didn\'t work for one worked for several others!! :dk:

My biggest concern is the cattle on the private land. I could try setting up my blind on the BLM side so that I could at least leave it up for a couple of days without it getting trampled. Where this is at, I doubt anyone will bother it from the BLM side - too hard to get to even on an ATV.

I would fully expect a new blind put up to keep them gunshy from using that crossing but maybe not as this would be my first attempt.

Decisions, decisions. Wish it wasn\'t so close to the archery elk opener and I could focus more on one vs the other.

 

[cohunter14]

I think you won\'t know until you try it to be honest with you. I would maybe try to get the blind out there a week or two before the season starts so they can get used to it. If you can do that and hang the trail cam by the blind, you\'ll have your answer before the season starts and know whether it\'s worth it to sit in there or not.

 

[otcWill]

Set your blind whenever you want. Its a non-issue. What I\'ve observed on fence crossings is that they mill around for a while on the side they are coming from about 50-100 yards. They come in and cross fast and run out to about 50 yards or so from the fence. After doing this a few times I set up right out in the open at about 30 yards from the fence and 20 or so from the crossing spot. The lopes will cross and run a little ways from the fence every time leaving you with a VERY short opp. to shoot when they stop for the first time. After that, I\'ve seen them walk away pretty quick and I\'ve only had one short opp. to let one fly so be ready. Don\'t expect them to piddle around much while/after crossing. Be ready to draw and shoot at the very first opp. Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[colorado russ]

Appreciate the feedback guys. I\'m going to somehow figure out a way to get back out there and put up an old Ameristep blind on the BLM side so they can start getting used to it. It\'s too small for me to hunt out of but figure I can replace with my double bull opening morning or the night before.

Given there are cattle on the private land, I think I\'d be best to put my blind like Will suggests but it\'ll be on the crossing \'from\'(BLM) side not the \'to\'(Private) side if that makes sense. Granted, it\'d be on the crossing \'to\' side when they return!

I\'ll walk/ride the fence line one more time just to identify any other potential fence crossings. I read where you can tie a plastic bag on the fence where you don\'t want them to cross as they\'ll be confused. Again, not something I\'m going to try on the crossings that are close to where my blind is going to be.

 

[WW]

Russ if you want to put your blind 0n the private side, just drive a T-post about 6 feet from each corner and string a couple strands of barbed wire around it. Keeps the cattle away and also makes for some extra tie out points if the wind gets up.

 

[colorado russ]

Pulled SD card on fenceline and there are cattle on the BLM side now too so didn\'t setup my blind as I didn\'t have the material with me to keep cattle away. ARGH!

Fence crossing is definitely being used and we\'ll do something similar to what Bill suggests with a t-post and wire.

 

[colorado russ]

Building a couple of blinds Monday afternoon(I already feel a nasty cough coming on)!! Will drive t-posts and put up a single strand to keep cattle out. I\'ll just \'drop\' the single wire before getting into the blind.

Lots of goats in the area. Date on buck picture is obviously wrong but was taken this year. [attachment=1]<!-- ia1 -->group of antelope.jpg<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment][attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->antelope 1.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]

 

[iccyman001]

Russ,

I wish I was closer, I\'d love to come tape you shooting a nice buck!


I am taking a guy on his first antelope hunt here in 16 days. I hope to get some good footage of it!

 

[colorado russ]

Found another fence crossing that you can actually see the trails to/from on Google Earth. This will be my backup spot. Went ahead and built a ground blind close to the creek and a dyke where they cross. Lots of daily pictures on the trail cam so should be a good location.

Here are a few pictures - did a little more brushing in and drove in t-posts with a single strand of barbed wire just in case the cattle get back in there. First pic is from around 200 yards, then 75 then 20.[attachment=2]<!-- ia2 -->blind 1.jpg<!-- ia2 -->[/attachment][attachment=1]<!-- ia1 -->blind 2.jpg<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment][attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->blind 3b.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment]