Calling antelope

Dogpopper

Dogpopper

New member
Well this morning I went out calling on a ranch on the back side of ours and got skunked. Here is the interesting part. I live in area that is close to antelope country but they are rarely sited within 10-15 miles of our area. My first stand this morning started with some jack rabbit distress on a handcall. Within two to three minutes I heard snow breaking in the distance. When i looked there were two doe antelope on a dead sprint to my position. They stopped about twenty yards to my left and stared at me for about 2-3 minutes. Finally they walked up wind from very slowly still within bow range to catch my smell. I don't think they could actualy ever tell what I was but when they smelled me they started bucking and kicking in the air. They slowly worked there way outta sight, the whole time looking to see what I was.

Thought I'd share the only cool part of my uneventful day.
 
I've never called 'lopes with a predator call, but I've sure called them with a 'lope call. Was helping a hunter this past fall and we got right into a large herd of pronghorn. I started working the "bark" a little and pretty soon a medium 13" popped his head up and watched us. After a few minutes of me barking at him, he looked to his left. I looked too and saw horns coming over the rise. Told me hunter "Get ready!" and Mr. 16" walked into view and stopped broadside at 75 yards. One well-placed .25-06 shot and he was down. That's one that didn't suffer from ground shrinkage!

Using the predator call, I have called in many mule deer in the fall. Once called in a doe that came hustling in, just like your 'lope, jumped a fence and came w/in 40 yds of us hunkering in the grass. Best part was the 2 4x4 bucks she brought with her!
 
We call them often when hunting around here. I have had them as close as 5 feet fomr me. I think just like deer there is an instinct to go check things out. Or maybe thats my baby thinking. I called a jackrabbit once with a dying rabbit sound? Go figure.
 
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