Two more Pronghorn

[Deertick]

Well, elk season is over ... for now (I might chase them with a rifle) ... so lately I\'ve been assisting others while they hunt pronghorn.

The first was \"Not Your Usual Pronghorn Hunt\".

My neighbor and I have noticed that while riding in the high country in the summers, there are occasionally pronghorn up very high. He thought it\'d be fun to hunt them up there ... he calls it a \"Poor Man\'s Mountain Goat Hunt\".

So, we saddled up. Since at the time there was still an archery season for elk on, I took my bow. You never know!

 

[Deertick]

Like I said, it was an unusual place to hunt pronghorn. But it didn\'t take long to find one. My neighbor wasn\'t picky ...this was a meat hunt, and any buck or a dry doe was going to get serious consideration. We were near the border with private land, and it looked like there were about 27 pronghorn ... on private ... but one little satellite buck on public.

Barely. He was bedded down right by the border marker. When he stood up, it would matter what direction he walked.

 

[Deertick]

Well, he walked our direction, and Neighbor made the shot, anchoring him about 10 yards from the boundary. I went back for the horses (which is a strange phrase when discussing a pronghorn hunt) and Neighbor went to collect his meat. We were down about 800 feet and 3 miles from the pickup, so we were glad to have the help with packing him out.

 

[Deertick]

We had to go back through this great elk country. And ... we heard a bugle!

Twice!

With a location that I was fairly certain about, we had lunch, and then chased the bull. We never found him, or got him to talk again, but we did find some elk territory that I didn\'t realize was \"there\" ... a great spot with a big flat bench, water, and quite isolated from hunters.

I\'ll be back. I\'m wondering if it\'s not a good spot for a treestand.

And then, back near the truck, another bugle, from another bull ... but this one was down in a deep hole, one that the horses couldn\'t go.

We decided to go home ... it had been a great day.

 

[Deertick]

Who would\'ve thought a guy could find an elk-hunting spot while chasing pronghorn?

This is a shot of where we thought the bull was bedded ... you\'d never know this spot existed if you looked from the usual access points.

 

[Deertick]

Pronghorn aren\'t huge!

This is my horse with the front quarters and back straps that I just threw in front of me. This way, we were able to ride out in style!

Neighbor had some GIANT moose quarter bags ... so we just threw one side of meat in, twisted the bag, threw in the other meat, and tied it off.

It worked great ... a \"Poor Man\'s Saddle Pannier\" on a \"Poor Man\'s Mountain Goat Hunt\"!

 

[Deertick]

Yesterday ... a more \"Traditional\" pronghorn hunt.

My son, Joe, had little time this year to hunt. With college and his photography business as well as another part-time job, he\'s a busy kid.

I\'m really grateful that he had the time to get out one day, and what a good day. The weather was perfect ... sunny, warm, and not a lot of wind.

We found an unusual pronghorn at first ... horns sweeping forward ... and Joe went on the stalk ...

But the only shot he was offered would\'ve had a highway in the background. He passed.

It\'s pleasing to know that those rules have been \"put in there\".

It didn\'t take long to find another herd. Oddly, as we closed in on the herd, we found they were within 100 yards of a pickup!

Other hunters had parked there, left on 4-wheelers, and the herd, with a nice buck, was grazing RIGHT THERE!

Well, we made it to the pickup to verify there was no one else there, and the pronghorn had moved off to about 325 yards. Joe shot ...

and missed!

They ran a ways, but with the rut going on, the bucks don\'t like to travel far ... since \"traveling far\" often means \"traveling into another buck\'s territory\". He held up his does about a half mile off, and the stalk was on. Joe crawled a little closer, and ...

BAM ... This one was right where it should be! The 13.5\" buck didn\'t go far.

The rifle is a little compact Ruger .308 that my Dad won in a raffle before he died last year ... he never shot it, but so far it\'s taken my rifle cow elk and this pronghorn. It may end up going with me to Nebraska for rifle deer season.

 

[Deertick]

Here\'s another shot of the buck ... he wasn\'t quite as big as Joe would\'ve liked, but he is a solid buck for the area ... and 13.5\" is pretty good. He\'ll have plenty of meat for the winter and spring.

We brought him home, and got him broken-down and in coolers to age. Most will be ground ... easy to prepare in an apartment setting like where he lives.

We were joined on the hunt by an old friend, one of my college professors, who had come out from Nebraska for a quick trip. I\'ve hunted with the man more than about any other person, I think, and it was good to have him along as an observer. But ... I didn\'t get a photo of the 3 of us ... which makes me a bit mad at myself.

Pronghorn hunting with a rifle is a blast ... and if you have never tried it, you owe yourself the chance to do it. You will not be disappointed!

 

[bnsafe]

great pics and a great hunt.

 

[F M]

Sounds like a couple of great days hunting. :upthumb:

 

[cnelk]

Great stories and pics John!!
I hope to take your advise and do a antelope hunt!

 

[bnsafe]

do it brad, you will love it. one of the funnest hunts i have done.

 

[razorback]

Driving home across I-80 they were everywhere. I was so tempted to stop and by a tag. Not sure how much public land is in Wyoming or what\'s available for non-residents but those antelope are some beautiful animals. I\'m going to end up in Wyoming one day chasing those things. I\'ve heard mixed results on the meat but I sure do want one to go on my wall.

 

[iccyman001]

Great pictures! :up thumb:
The country looks beautiful.

 

[otcWill]

Great hunt! Thanks for posting John

 

[Scot320]

I think an Antelope hunt is in my future...thanks for sharing John.

 

[Ol' Arky]

Great hunt! Thanks for posting John

X2.. :upthumb: :upthumb: :upthumb:

 

[mainebrdr]

Thanks John, enjoyed it!

 

[Liv2HntBigBullz]

Awesome story.

Antelope hunting is my favorite thing to do. Unfortunately I can\'t find a reliable spot in Wyoming or CO to make it a yearly deal. Lucky for me some friends and family draw and I tag along and help.


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