Pronghorn - too small?

[FOTIS]

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.

Precisely sir! :wink:

 

[JD338]

Fotis,

Those freak bucks are pretty cool!

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

I am going to do some scouting Jim......

 

[sask boy]

Fotis I still haven't collected any monster Speed goats.
I would like to take one, however that is how I am with Whitetail.
If one crosses my scope I will take it but I have more fun with the young guys
the animal is just a bonus :wink:

Blessings
Dan

 

[6mm Remington]

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

Holly cow, those are some serious bucks! They sure don't get that way Fotis by being stupid that's for sure! Even just getting to see one like that would be something special. Maybe JD will have the antelope God's smile on him. :grin:

Thanks for posting your pictures up Fotis, those sure are great. I'm with you, the smile on your boy's face, and your daughter's who wasn't even hunting are great. It's nice helping someone, especially someone new to a nice animal. Jim I forget, have you ever antelope hunted before or ever gotten one? I hope Fotis finds you a really nice one. Did Fotis tell you that you can expect cactus in your knees, elbows, maybe even your butt if you are lucky enough to sit on one!!

 

[6mm Remington]

Those "freaks" you posted are incredible. That one with the messed-up horns is something special. What a disaster of a headgear. Fotis we haven't heard from Guy, do you think he's okay? Maybe someone should check to make sure he's still breathing!! :shock: :lol:

 

[PJGunner]

I can't post pictures of my antelope. Sfter trying for 33 years to draw in my home state, I finally bit the bullet and went with a guide in New Mexico. A half hour into opening day and had mine on the ground. :grin: I do wish the hunt would have lasted a bit longer but my first speed goat and hoefully not my last. Not quite big enough for any record book but a very pretty head with almost perfect heart shat and decent cutters. Just a very nice typical head after a reletively easy stalk and a 75 yards shot. Probably about as perfect a hunt as I've ever had. Probably see if I can do another one next year if I'm still above ground.
Paul B.

 

[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

Holly cow, those are some serious bucks! They sure don't get that way Fotis by being stupid that's for sure! Even just getting to see one like that would be something special. Maybe JD will have the antelope God's smile on him. :grin:

Thanks for posting your pictures up Fotis, those sure are great. I'm with you, the smile on your boy's face, and your daughter's who wasn't even hunting are great. It's nice helping someone, especially someone new to a nice animal. Jim I forget, have you ever antelope hunted before or ever gotten one? I hope Fotis finds you a really nice one. Did Fotis tell you that you can expect cactus in your knees, elbows, maybe even your butt if you are lucky enough to sit on one!!

Yup I dubbed them Gram-pa Moses 1 & 2

 

[BP736]

Too small??? That depends. What state?, trophy potential?, hunting pressure?, how selective are you? Rifle or bow?. I think that if you like it... then it's not to small. Shoot it and be happy! Here are my 2 best antelope. Both were taken in AZ. I got the one on the left in 2006. It is 17 1/2" and scored 87...The one on the right was in 2010. It is 16" and scored 82.
BP

 

[brianwyo]

JD and Guy,

You will have a blast hunting Antelope. Never a dull moment with Fotis. You will see many
goats so dont worry. I set aside one day for Antelope hunting every year and always get
one. I want to spend more time on Mule Deer. My rule with antelope size is if you have to think about it he is too small. I like the heart shaped horns with good prongs for dragging them
out. Here is my best buck to date. I got him in 2008 with my .280. Brian

 

[6mm Remington]

Too small??? That depends. What state?, trophy potential?, hunting pressure?, how selective are you? Rifle or bow?. I think that if you like it... then it's not to small. Shoot it and be happy! Here are my 2 best antelope. Both were taken in AZ. I got the one on the left in 2006. It is 17 1/2" and scored 87...The one on the right was in 2010. It is 16" and scored 82.
BP

Fantastic antelope BP736! The way you have them displayed that mount is absolutely fabulous. What a special way to honor such a beautiful animal. Antelope make one of the most beautiful mounts with their color and gracefulness in my opinion.

 

[brianwyo]

BP,

Very nice Taxidermy mount! Here is a buck behind my house about 2 weeks ago. Brian

 

[FOTIS]

And some in Downtown Cheyenne, earlier this year on Pershing Ave! Like they own the place!

 

[Guy Miner]

Good info and great photos! Thanks guys.

 

[JD338]

I hunted antelope in Newcastle, WY in '82. Used a M700 BDL 30-06 loaded with 150 gr PT's.
Shot this buck at 200 yds.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

Dang, you were a long haired, bearded hippy in '82! :grin:

 

[brianwyo]

JD,

I like the old picture! Good buck too. I have a real cool picture of an Antelope on the wall in my office I will post tommorrow night. Brian

 

[cloverleaf]

Boy, goats are kinda one of those things..... 6mm (David) posted some excellent examples of nice goats. Trouble with dead antelope is there ears are always down (they never seem to be when you are looking at them alive...and of course they are watching you ) That first pic might be a pass depending on how many you've seen and how many miles you've walked. My yard stick (so to speak) is I want a good shot- that I can make. That tends to narrow my choices. No runners for me and nothing that looks like 300 yards. See-? that narrows my field. Also remember that I am usually stationary when hunting goats, and despite good hearted ranchers and friends who put me in the right spots, (antelope will follow sheep and cattle trails if there is a good reason) some times its "take the good shot- cause you cant eat the horns", or go home with tag in pocket. My uncle used to say that.

Jack O'Connor wrote a pretty good piece on judging antelope. If recall correctly, he said, "prongs should be above the ears, an antelopes eye is about two inches, horn mass should be bigger than that at the base. However, I had one rancher tell me, "those goats have good looking horns, below the prongs, but summer really dried out towards the end and the tops of the horns got really thin". Sounds like pretty sound logic to me. He also said "the big ones look big". That I have found to be true.
IMHO and limited experience, antelope that I have taken were creatures of habbit. As long as they dont get pushed to hard or shot at they will come back to favorite bedding, feeding and watering areas. they will usually give you time for a look at a few. Guy, there are more goats than people in Wyo. or so the story goes. If you can get out the day before the season opens you might have a chance to look 'em over. Teh fun thing about antelope is, if you get on 'em there are usually plenty to see, they are all different, and they are great fun to watch (for me anyway). Nice pics guys. Officially jealous. Wish I was planning a hunt this year......CL

this one went 16 1/4 on the long side.

Different shot........ same goat...

An earlier hunt. Mine is the little guy on the left but it was a great shot- broke the neck at 120 yds. IF I recall correctly, Dads was about 13+ close to average for SD that year.

 

[6mm Remington]

Very pretty buck CL.

 

[6mm Remington]

I hunted antelope in Newcastle, WY in '82. Used a M700 BDL 30-06 loaded with 150 gr PT's.
Shot this buck at 200 yds.

JD338

Looks like Jeremiah (JD) Johnson on the loose 150 years later! I'd say Jim and Guy have plenty of antelope to look at to see what tickles them. Even if it was only one hunt that Jim has been on Guy I bet he says that if you don't come home with cactus in various parts of your anatomy after your trip, than you weren't really on a "true antelope hunt"! One year I was over hunting with two friends and we stayed with my grandmother when we were over hunting when she was still alive. She loved having us around for company. My buddy Don was complaining about all the cactus in his knees, elbows, rear-end, and just about any place else he could think of. She finally just old him to quite his complaining, it will fester up in a couple weeks and come out! :grin: :lol: Oh my was that funny, true and very funny!

I hope this post got you both really excited to go so that you cannot stand to wait the 4 months left to go!!! You started it Guy!!

David