Q:
WY antelope w/a bow?
- My WY rifle season group is now all fragmented and looks like I might not get there for antelope season (rifle season), so that leaves me with the bow option. Anyone done it? Anyone got advice? Closest I've been is 250 yards- way too far for a bow. How would you get in closer? Or is it just luck if they go thru a choke-point and you're there? What about gear? (I assume my 125's are too heavy), but I do have faith in my Bowtech Tribute (maybe not my abilities, but the bow yes). Thanks guys,
Question by MN_deer. Uploaded on March 02, 2010
Answers (12)
Firts of I am so far unsuccesful with pronghorn and a bow.. after 2 seasons but I have learned alot so I think this year I will get it down..Get knee and elbow pads, thick leather gloves and a water source like a camel back and crawl/low crawl behind a decoy, be very anal about the wind. Stop sometimes and they will move to you out of curiosity a white flag helps get them but don't overdo it ( I did once)..keep a keen eye out for rattlers and mad badgers I was staring face first at a rattler and rolled to the side fast over cactus and jumped up and back of course pronghorn were gone...badger got mad once same result. I have them down to a pattern I could lay down in the grass behind a decoy and wait the will walk by or sit in my ground blind near a watering hole and I would also have a pronghorn ..I want one spot and stalk..but if you don't mind watch them for 2 or 3 days get a pattern and ambush them using a decoy and laying down or setup a blind a few days on a watering hole that they use and pray it doesn't rain
btw get a lohmans pronghorn call..I need a new one I lost mine on the prarie last year...a must have
Thanks Hengst- even Teddy R. used the white flag trick so it must be good! What about other gear? Broadhead grain? (I have G5's/125s, but think they might be too much) I found a water hole two years ago and was within 150 yards, but I was on a hill-top overlooking them and it was pre-season. Not sure how I'd "train" to go from a belly-crawl up to shooting position- might look kinda funny at the range!
hengst has some great pointers for you. It takes patience like you wouldn't believe. I've only been west river SD but it's the same setup in the bluffs around the Missouri. Rattlers were a frequent close encounter. The Lohman's pronghorn call was the best weapon we had. They weren't too interested in our decoy until we called a couple times. But we were also about 3 weeks before rut. I've heard they are MUCH MUCH MUCH more responsive to decoy and calls during rut. You absolutely have to spend a bunch of time glassing. Look for corridors to approach to the 200 yard distance or better. Then find ways to attract them with a decoy or low crawl to a bush or something. It is without a doubt one of the most challenging hunts I've been on but it was fun. Would have been more fun if it wasn't a completely ridiculous heat wave that pushed the temps into mid to upper 70's.
PS- I shoot the bowtech tribute with carbon express maxima hunters 250 grain and 100 grain Muzzy 4 blades on the end. The equipment was not the reason I dind't come home with a goat.. I hang my head with shame.. haha.
SD_Whittail adds some good experience...As far as the grain of broadhead, a pass thru is a pass thru regardless I am a firm beleiver in not changing my bow setup. If you use 125's for deer then stick with them that way you have a point of aim etc that you are used to...of course a 100 will fly flatter but It would not be worth it to me..as far as thewater hole..get there well befor they do early early morning but be careful they could be bedded nearby...If spooked theat early they could still return but it will be cautious....belly crawl to shoot...do it behind your decoy or a chollo cactus large growing grass...as you know their eyes are amazing
Use a decoy and a standup blind and the big bucks will about walk inside during the rut. Five to ten yard shots are not unusual. I don't bow hunt but I have two close friends in Montana who get them all the time with bows. It's so easy, Dick doesn't even bother anymore. He enjoys the challenge of whitetail hunting much more.
Key on water holes.And a few sagebrush tied to a T post and a decoy should improve your odds.good hunting.You cant go wrong with Bowtech.
Thanks guys- my area in WY is partial thick stuff and wide-open ranges/valleys. There's one valley with a cattle watering spring where I've seen goats. The problem is the valley is kind of "bowl-shaped", so a crawl would give me away faster than standing up and yelling. So next question- if the watering hole is right in the middle of a clock, where would you put a decoy and blind? (ie decoy at 2 o'clock and blind at 6 o'clock?)
I think killing antelope at a water hole in that country is about as sportmanlike as poisoning their water. They have very few places to drink and if you take their water hole away from them they may have to go 20 miles or more for another one. I have had three antelope put their nose on my chest after they came to a white handkerchief. I laid on my back and raised the white cloth in the air several times. They came from about a half mile away. I have also been able to sneak into bedded down herds by watching along washed out creek beds where I could get in the creek bed and sneak to within 10 yards. I think it is tough but fun. Watch for rattlers though, last year, my brother got bit twice in one morning sneaking on antelope.
If you are stalking them then I recomend the montana decoys and I would get the cow one because there are a lot of cows there.
DakotaMan makes an interesting point- I appreciate that. So my shopping list so far is: white flag, Montana decoy(s) and Lohman call.......you guys want to go with me and my wife to Cabela's and you can explain to her why I NEED this stuff?!? (I'm kiddin, she's pretty good when it comes to my toys!)
Yeah, I would get the subordinate buck during the peak of antelope rut (last weekend of august thru the 2nd week of september)! Get some good glass and be prepared to go on hands and knees!
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Firts of I am so far unsuccesful with pronghorn and a bow.. after 2 seasons but I have learned alot so I think this year I will get it down..Get knee and elbow pads, thick leather gloves and a water source like a camel back and crawl/low crawl behind a decoy, be very anal about the wind. Stop sometimes and they will move to you out of curiosity a white flag helps get them but don't overdo it ( I did once)..keep a keen eye out for rattlers and mad badgers I was staring face first at a rattler and rolled to the side fast over cactus and jumped up and back of course pronghorn were gone...badger got mad once same result. I have them down to a pattern I could lay down in the grass behind a decoy and wait the will walk by or sit in my ground blind near a watering hole and I would also have a pronghorn ..I want one spot and stalk..but if you don't mind watch them for 2 or 3 days get a pattern and ambush them using a decoy and laying down or setup a blind a few days on a watering hole that they use and pray it doesn't rain
btw get a lohmans pronghorn call..I need a new one I lost mine on the prarie last year...a must have
hengst has some great pointers for you. It takes patience like you wouldn't believe. I've only been west river SD but it's the same setup in the bluffs around the Missouri. Rattlers were a frequent close encounter. The Lohman's pronghorn call was the best weapon we had. They weren't too interested in our decoy until we called a couple times. But we were also about 3 weeks before rut. I've heard they are MUCH MUCH MUCH more responsive to decoy and calls during rut. You absolutely have to spend a bunch of time glassing. Look for corridors to approach to the 200 yard distance or better. Then find ways to attract them with a decoy or low crawl to a bush or something. It is without a doubt one of the most challenging hunts I've been on but it was fun. Would have been more fun if it wasn't a completely ridiculous heat wave that pushed the temps into mid to upper 70's.
PS- I shoot the bowtech tribute with carbon express maxima hunters 250 grain and 100 grain Muzzy 4 blades on the end. The equipment was not the reason I dind't come home with a goat.. I hang my head with shame.. haha.
Thanks Hengst- even Teddy R. used the white flag trick so it must be good! What about other gear? Broadhead grain? (I have G5's/125s, but think they might be too much) I found a water hole two years ago and was within 150 yards, but I was on a hill-top overlooking them and it was pre-season. Not sure how I'd "train" to go from a belly-crawl up to shooting position- might look kinda funny at the range!
SD_Whittail adds some good experience...As far as the grain of broadhead, a pass thru is a pass thru regardless I am a firm beleiver in not changing my bow setup. If you use 125's for deer then stick with them that way you have a point of aim etc that you are used to...of course a 100 will fly flatter but It would not be worth it to me..as far as thewater hole..get there well befor they do early early morning but be careful they could be bedded nearby...If spooked theat early they could still return but it will be cautious....belly crawl to shoot...do it behind your decoy or a chollo cactus large growing grass...as you know their eyes are amazing
Use a decoy and a standup blind and the big bucks will about walk inside during the rut. Five to ten yard shots are not unusual. I don't bow hunt but I have two close friends in Montana who get them all the time with bows. It's so easy, Dick doesn't even bother anymore. He enjoys the challenge of whitetail hunting much more.
Key on water holes.And a few sagebrush tied to a T post and a decoy should improve your odds.good hunting.You cant go wrong with Bowtech.
Thanks guys- my area in WY is partial thick stuff and wide-open ranges/valleys. There's one valley with a cattle watering spring where I've seen goats. The problem is the valley is kind of "bowl-shaped", so a crawl would give me away faster than standing up and yelling. So next question- if the watering hole is right in the middle of a clock, where would you put a decoy and blind? (ie decoy at 2 o'clock and blind at 6 o'clock?)
I think killing antelope at a water hole in that country is about as sportmanlike as poisoning their water. They have very few places to drink and if you take their water hole away from them they may have to go 20 miles or more for another one. I have had three antelope put their nose on my chest after they came to a white handkerchief. I laid on my back and raised the white cloth in the air several times. They came from about a half mile away. I have also been able to sneak into bedded down herds by watching along washed out creek beds where I could get in the creek bed and sneak to within 10 yards. I think it is tough but fun. Watch for rattlers though, last year, my brother got bit twice in one morning sneaking on antelope.
If you are stalking them then I recomend the montana decoys and I would get the cow one because there are a lot of cows there.
DakotaMan makes an interesting point- I appreciate that. So my shopping list so far is: white flag, Montana decoy(s) and Lohman call.......you guys want to go with me and my wife to Cabela's and you can explain to her why I NEED this stuff?!? (I'm kiddin, she's pretty good when it comes to my toys!)
Yeah, I would get the subordinate buck during the peak of antelope rut (last weekend of august thru the 2nd week of september)! Get some good glass and be prepared to go on hands and knees!
Post an Answer