Pronghorn - too small?

[Guy Miner]

Okay - you experienced pronghorn hunters - looking for guidance. I don't want to shoot a baby buck, just like I was after Yogi when I went bear hunting, not Boo Boo.

Last year I was riding my motorcycle through some desolate chunks of eastern and central Oregon on my way to California and came across these pronghorn. Too small/young to shoot?

This guy looked like he had bigger horns.

Those critters were real curious about me and the motorcycle. That close-looking rascal really was close - I was still sitting on the motorcycle, on a dirt road, with the motor turned off. My pocket camera has a zoom, but it doesn't compare with a real SLR camera with a good telephoto lens. I could have hit him with a rock, and I don't throw worth a hoot!

Looking for some help in figuring out how to judge if I ought to shoot one. I don't want to clobber a baby pronghorn. Not looking for record book. Just want to make sure I'm going after something that looks like the average adult pronghorn.

Besides - it gives all you guys a great excuse to post a few pronghorn photos...

Guy

 

[JD338]

Guy,

Good question and some nice pictures. I think it would depend on the area you are hunting and the amount of time you have to hunt.
I am far from an expert but the third picture is a dandy.
For length, the length of the ears are 6-7" so you want 2x min. Teh eye is 1" dia so thick bases would be 3x. 3" cutters would be pretty decent too.

I am looking forward to what the speed goat experts have to show and say.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

Pretty much...

 

[nitis]

Thanks for posting this I am going on my first pronghorn hunt. And for what it's worth I probably wouldn't hesitate in that last one.

 

[FOTIS]

Thanks for posting this I am going on my first pronghorn hunt. And for what it's worth I probably wouldn't hesitate in that last one.

Pending on area you might want to hold out....

 

[6mm Remington]

Boy Guy that depends on so much. I know antelope in Montana the last couple years with weather and disease got hit pretty hard and numbers are way down. The last buck looks pretty nice even though the photo isn't real clear, but he does look like a decent buck.

The one on the left is about 13 inches. Not super heavy or really long pronged. Just a nice buck with pretty shape. My buddies on the right is smaller. I would pass on one like he got, unless it was the last day of your hunt.

My friend Don's buck with his 45-70. He is not huge, but is about 14 inches or a touch more on the long side not broken. Decent mass and decent prongs. He's pretty.

Another photo of the same buck.

My biggest buck. He was 16" on both sides, nice prongs, but not much mass above the prong. Really pretty shape and I think a beautiful animal. Sometimes horn shape means a lot, at least to me.

I showed this one from the B&C club here in Missoula. See one like this better be on him!

This one again from B&C. He is really huge and has those extra points which really add character.

This is one of those horn shapes that got my buddy the way they sweep forward. He was fairly long at about 15 inches, but was pretty thin horned and prongs were not huge, but he sure looked neat.

My dad shot this one Guy and he was 15 1/2 inches and had nice heavy horns and decent prongs. He's a pretty good buck.

Just a nice respectable buck. Hope this helps. Notice that 6mm Remington, and you better be taking that one of your boys as a back-up!

Fotis probably can tell you how the numbers are in your area and what you might expect to see. Your buddy will also be able to help you out on that end of things. You will have fun! I wish you luck.
David

 

[Guy Miner]

Great photos there David!

Guess I'll get on the ground and do some looking through the binos and maybe my spotting scope too.

Really looking forward to this. Of course the draw hasn't happened just yet, so I could be counting my pronghorns before the tag hatches or something like that.

Guy

 

[JD338]

David,

Thanks for the photos.
Now Guy and I know what to look for. :mrgreen:

JD338

 

[6mm Remington]

David,

Thanks for the photos.
Now Guy and I know what to look for. :mrgreen:

JD338

I forgot Jim that you and Fotis will be going at it.......I mean hunting together this year! You guys are going to have a great time out there!

I've seen smaller antelope that were much prettier to look at in my eyes than some of those huge monsters I've seen guys take. It's kind of like women, it's truly in the eye of the beholder, just like we are to them. (close call there, glad I caught that slip-up in time) It's all about what you like when you look at them. I'm kind of an addict when it comes to their horns curling in and having that heart shape from the front. I'll have to see if I can get a picture of one I have on a plaque. He was about 15 1/2, decent mass, little short on the prongs, but he really has a pretty shape. He is just gorgeous.

Jim I am by no means an expert on antelope, but some of the things I keep hearing are if their horns really look black, they probably have pretty good mass. Jim you were right on the ears using them as somewhat of a gauge. If the horns really hook over above the prong but they appear not very long as all you really are getting a good look at is the portion below the prong, they can really add some length there. Hope I got the juices flowing!! Heck I'm excited for you guys to go. I did not even put in for my central Montana antelope hunt this year as the permits are down so much. The chance of drawing was not very good and finding one could be really difficult.

David

 

[6mm Remington]

Jim & Guy just to tease you a little bit, these are all pictures of Wyoming antelope! Just amazing. Gorgeous ones too!

I know this was extremely rotten on my part! :lol: We have some pretty nice antelope in Montana, but not quite like these Wyoming brutes. Make the one's I posted look tiny!

 

[JD338]

David,

Those are some toads!

I am leaving it up to my trusty guide. When he gives me the green light, I'll send it. :wink:

JD338

 

[Oldtrader3]

I look for the "prongs" to be above the ear tips and I prefer to see some curvature on the tips of the horns. The ear tips on the pronghorn (on my wall) are 6 inches above where they come out of the skull. Some big goats are straight horned but most are curved either lyre shaped or backwards.

 

[DrMike]

David,

I really like the Nosler broadheads used on those Wyoming antelope. What velocity were those fellows getting out of those shafts? :shock:

 

[6mm Remington]

David,

Those are some toads!

I am leaving it up to my trusty guide. When he gives me the green light, I'll send it. :wink:

JD338

I hope Fotis gets you on one that looks like that. Those are some bucks that you all can look at on the B&C website, and drool over!

Mike those must be very fast shafts to catch one of those amazing creatures!!

 

[FOTIS]

The area that JD and I will hunt has a 21" and a 19"..........no kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Problem is finding them 2 in season! They are way smart and experienced bucks

 

[FOTIS]

Here is a freak

 

[FOTIS]

some other freaks :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

and the one my buddy Lloyd shot in my area last year. His heart buck he calls it

and my boy's

and mine

 

[DrMike]

Fotis,

Those are fascinating goats. It is always interesting to see the variation in headgear of the game we hunt.

 

[FOTIS]

They are Doc. but to be honest with you I pretty much shoot whatever I see first. That way the kids can have bragging rights that they shot the biggest ones! :mrgreen:

Just lost my appetite for the biggies.

This was last year's dinky buck with the 257 Bee

 

[DrMike]

I hear you--I ceased being a collector of antlers many years ago. I do, however, delight to see people whom I take hunting collect good specimens, especially if they are new to hunting.