pronghorn outfitters- help?

TDAVIS

TDAVIS

New member
Myself and a buddy are looking for a little help on finding a pronghorn hunt. For our birthdays my wife and his girlfriend are sending us on a hunt anywhere we want to go. We decide we would like to go after a speed goat. My problem is I have never booked a hunt before and don't know where to start. I have looked on-line but there are hundreds of outfitters. We would like a hunt that is more than 2-3 days so we can enjoy ourself a bit more. If we tagged out early then what, could we predator/varmint hunt the rest of the time? Any help or direction would be great.
My head is spining in five different directions over all this.

TJ
 
I would recommend a DIY in Wyoming, where in many units you can hunt a buck and apply for two doe/fawn tags. Unfortunately, the application deadline for these hunts passed on March 15. You may be able to pick up some leftover tags though. Go on over to the WY game and fish website and have a look around. There are a number of posts in this very forum that address WY antelope - a search should yield good results. WY antelope seasons in many units are several weeks long.

Alternatively, there are "guaranteed" hunts here in NM from landowners and/or outfitters. By guaranteed I mean you're sure to get a tag, because you pay a pretty penny for it. Landowner certificates can run up to $1,500, while fully guided hunts may cost up to 4 grand. Bad part - NM goat hunts are 2-3 days only.
 
If you PM me, I can give you the name of some outfitters that I've worked for. Just the good ones though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I think a DIY hunt would be great and lots of fun, but having never done this before or seen a pronghorn other than TV and mags, I believe it would be a smart thing to have a guide. This way there is someone experienced to "show us the ropes". I'm not sure I would be able to tell the difference between a so so buck and an exceptional one at a distance.

TJ
 
Quote:
I think a DIY hunt would be great and lots of fun, but having never done this before or seen a pronghorn other than TV and mags, I believe it would be a smart thing to have a guide. This way there is someone experienced to "show us the ropes". I'm not sure I would be able to tell the difference between a so so buck and an exceptional one at a distance.

TJ



I totally understand where you are coming from. Whereever you go in antelope country you will be plenty edjucated by the time you get there. You will see literally thousands standing along the roads heading to your destination.
Bucks are pretty easy to distinguish with the obvious larger horns and the black cheek patch, which does don't have. It gets a bit tricky when it comes to young bucks which have a small black spot about the size of a quarter and smaller horns.Does can have horns to about 4" in length. I have passed on a few shots over the years when not a 100% sure. Better to be safe then sorry and you will get another oppertunity.
The area we hunt in nearly 100% success. Those that don't succeed are the lazy road hunters that think they can drive up on a herd. (&#*@*@# LAZY M*&*&*(*& *&*!^**&%$) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif If you get out and hunt, you will have no problem filling your tag.Whatever you choose to do good luck!! Antelope hunting is by far my favorite. Do it for a while with a rifle then try them with a bow thats really a riot! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Last edited:
The Wyoming Game and Fish Web site has several hunter management areas that offer antelope hunting in various areas of the state to anyone who draws a tag without an access fee.
 
There are several outfitters located in the Raton area. There are some really nice bucks out here. The only problem is getting booked. I know a guy that might have a few tags. He had 3 left over last year.
The CS ranch in Cimarron usually has really good success and Tri State Outfitters(Bridger Petrini) has ALOT of land to go on, but like I said getting booked might be an issue.

PM me if you are interested and I can get you some contact info or call them to see if they have any available.
 
I am heading out to Medicine Bow area in Oct. for a DIY hunt for antelope with my 12 yr old son and a co-worker. It has been 17 years since I have been out to WY antelope hunting but my Dad and I went out there for 5 years in a row. Getting a nice antelope and having a great time is not that hard to do. Gaining access to hunt is not that hard also as the landowners get money back for allowing access. Good luck on your hunt!
 
They're really not hard to find. These 2 came off of public land 10 minutes north of Cheyenne. Land found through BLM maps, pretty much all over the place.

Actual hunting time combined was roughly 45 minutes, but had a 4 hour break between mine (first pic) and his. I spent about a month chasing them with a bow, but as you can tell from the pics, hard to sneak up on them in their natural terrain.

Archery season, you'll find the same herd in the same places every day. Rifle is a bit of a different story. Places near town do get a ton of pressure, goat hunters are pretty lazy. There had been 2 herds all season long where I took mine. We went about 10am on opening day for rifle and saw not a 1, but several gut piles. That guy was on private land due north and decided to cross over into the public for a few hundred yards. Not his best decision. They're a lot easier when you can touch them at 270yds than when you need to get w/in 50.

DSCF2068-1-1.jpg

DSCF2072-1.jpg
 
I was considering a diy antelope hunt in wyoming, but after looking at the game commision website, I think it is the most confusing mess I have ever tried to navigate. Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't seem to make heads or tails out of it.
 
I've spent I don't know how many hours on the G&F site, still can't find what I stumbled across the week before. But all in all I've got a pretty firm grip on it if you need some info.
 
My brothers and I have been wanting to "go West" for some time and have decided this is the year. We have narrowed down to Colorado and Wyoming, but leaning to Colorado as it seems a much simpler process (over the counter elk tags for many areas). Basically, I am trying to find a public access area that allows camping which will also have tags available. I looked one day and there was a page with some private land that allowed public access, but now I can't find it for anything. Plus, I can't seem to find a page showing what tags are left (after drawing).
Any reccommendations on zones or anything?
Any help would be appreciated.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top