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Pronghorn #7561898 07/22/19 03:36 PM
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First-timer, here, going Aug 17-19. I've been reading/watching a lot of material trying to get ready. Does anyone have any wisdom to share?


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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7561901 07/22/19 03:41 PM
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Be ready to shoot to 300 plus yards. Be sure to bring good Binos and most important is a range finder. I personally have a very difficult time ranging pronghorns because they live in such wide open areas. Have fun and good luck. Pronghorn is my favorite big game animal to hunt.

Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7561902 07/22/19 03:41 PM
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Remember that their eyesight is like yours except zoomed in two miles while looking through a pair of 10x42s simultaneously, whilst living in areas with little to no cover. On the other hand, they are VERY curious, I've seen one come in on a rope from 500yds to 80 just by my friend waving a bandana over his head. I'm not a pro, but I've shot 3-4 and they are a blast to chase around. Have fun, shoot straight!

Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7561920 07/22/19 04:03 PM
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Erny is right, be prepared to shoot 300-400 yards. Going myself this year, will be my 4th time. Make sure you have some dang good shooting sticks and possibly a bipod on your gun.

Last edited by Stompy; 07/22/19 04:04 PM.

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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7561923 07/22/19 04:04 PM
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Be prepared to make some long shots in the wind. I've been pronghorn hunting three times, and all three times the wind played a major factor. The last trip (September 2018), the wind was blowing so hard it was difficult to keep a sight picture even on shooting sticks.

Take good optics. We spent hours glassing before making a stalk.

Have a plan to get the meat cooled quickly after the shot. It will drastically affect the taste if left warm for too long. Also, the hair will start to slip very quickly if left warm. That will ruin a mount if you are planning on shooting a trophy buck. On the same subject, take a game cart or one of those plastic sleds. Dragging a pronghorn any distance will remove the hair on the dragged side.

Be prepared to blow a lot of stalks. Pronghorn are spooky, and you will probably bump some animals during a stalk you did not see originally.

Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7561930 07/22/19 04:13 PM
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are you going DIY or with a guide? all the above is good advise.

you might look into one of those fold up decoys, cow, pronghorn. allows you to walk slowly within range or the goat will walk towards you from curiosity.

bowhunters will use live horses for the same thing.

if you have a guide, do what he says,

prairie dog hunting a few weeks ago, we had 3 shooter pronghorns walk within 200 yards of us and a white f-150

Last edited by Buzzsaw; 07/22/19 04:13 PM.

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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7561932 07/22/19 04:15 PM
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New Mexico? They have great pronghorn hunting, be patient and listen to your guide if going that route. If OYO look for one that the horns look much taller than twice the ear length. I found the southern pronghorn have a little shorter ears than out Wyoming bucks. Look for prongs that come off above the ears and length above the prong. Mass at the base should be bigger than the eye diameter.
The big bucks have horns that look out of place, too big for their head. Horns that look in proportion to the head will be 12 inchers. The prong should be nice and long for good score. Mass is the most important to a high score though.
This buck is probably about 14+ inches with decent prongs. Notice how his horns look out of proportion to his head size, good buck but not a real high scorer, maybe mid 70's . Pay attention to the curl it adds up, and bucks that curl back instead of in look short from the front view.

Get the meat cooled asap in Aug. it is great eating if taken care of right. Don't shoot a buck that just ran a mile.
I would have a bipod also on my rifle or have shooting sticks.

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Re: Pronghorn [Re: Buzzsaw] #7561937 07/22/19 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Buzzsaw

you might look into one of those fold up decoys, cow, pronghorn. allows you to walk slowly within range or the goat will walk towards you from curiosity.




Forgot about that. We used a Montana Decoys cow decoy last trip. Worked fairly well. Managed to stalk up on a medium-sized buck to 75 yards with the decoy on open ground. We did have some issues with the wind, though. Was tough to hang on to a cow-sized kite in 25+ MPH winds.

Re: Pronghorn [Re: Adchunts] #7561944 07/22/19 04:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Adchunts
Originally Posted by Buzzsaw

you might look into one of those fold up decoys, cow, pronghorn. allows you to walk slowly within range or the goat will walk towards you from curiosity.




Forgot about that. We used a Montana Decoys cow decoy last trip. Worked fairly well. Managed to stalk up on a medium-sized buck to 75 yards with the decoy on open ground. We did have some issues with the wind, though. Was tough to hang on to a cow-sized kite in 25+ MPH winds.

That was almost exactly my experience last year. I used the Moo Cow decoy, snuck in to a little less than 100 yards and the wind blew down my decoy. The pronghorn buck that was bedded down hopped up but I was able to drop him before he ran.

Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7561963 07/22/19 04:44 PM
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Killed a lot and hunted them a lot.

I’m a fan of a decoy during rut. Out side of rut it’s a caught 22... sometimes it will hold their attention long enough to get a shot.

Range is completely dependent on terrain and how hard they have been pressed. Most of my goats have been killed under 100 yards, but I did have to reach out an old grumpy one.

My advice, look at horn configuration more then score. Get a configuration that you like. If prongs are above the eye you will have a decent sized goat.

Also do not leave blood on the cape, you will ruin it. Hair is hollow and soaks up blood if you le it


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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7561983 07/22/19 05:18 PM
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Knee pads and leather gloves are a must too.

Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7562049 07/22/19 06:50 PM
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I have hunted pronghorn once and will say I could have killed most of the ones we saw with a .22 magnum.


I killed mine with a bow at 84 yards after missing one at 40 ( limb silencer slipped and hit the cam, which cause the arrow to shoot low ) and another at 86 yards ( he heard the arrow coming and took a few steps to dodge it)


The guys I hunted with had killed several each with archery tackle.


If your going to try to sneak up on one that has already seen you, good luck, but don't subscribe to the " you are gonna have to take a 300-400 yard shot" adage. Use the terrain to your advantage.



For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7562064 07/22/19 07:09 PM
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It's not that you have to shoot 300-400 yards, it's be prepared to on a specific goat. If you're looking for any ole goat, yea you'll find one closer probably. I've hunted goats in terrain that would be very hard to sneak up to 150-200 yards. But if you're not comfortable with a shot that far, don't take it. Just hunting, prepare for any situation.


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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7562069 07/22/19 07:15 PM
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Right time of the day you can put the low sun directly behind you and walk right to a pronghorn.
Shot distance will depend on cover and terrain. Even cholla cactus can be used for cover.

Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7562150 07/22/19 09:19 PM
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Good luck, that is a bucket list hunt for me. Just have to make plans for it.


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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7562171 07/22/19 09:29 PM
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Water holes, a decoy and long shots.


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Re: Pronghorn [Re: stxranchman] #7562373 07/23/19 02:57 AM
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Originally Posted by stxranchman
Good luck, that is a bucket list hunt for me. Just have to make plans for it.



you would enjoy it


For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7562487 07/23/19 11:39 AM
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Take a good bipod that will extend to 23"+. A .243 or 7/08 will get the job done and a big ice chest to bring them back, It will probably be hot and most of all have fun.


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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7562566 07/23/19 01:22 PM
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It's been said. Try your best to bring the best bino's you can afford. Glassing is what you'll be doing a lot of it Good glass makes a huge difference. Bring and drink plenty of water and drink more water. Aug is still hot no matter where you're going. I went to Wyoming in 2011. We saw probably 250 to 500 antelopes a day. A lot of them we may have seen two or three times but there were a lot of them. It got to the point If I scanned an area, by the time I went in a 360 circle we'd see some. Depending on where you're going bring knee pads. I was on nice 16" plus one and knelt down to shoot. My knees went right into some cactus on the ground hidden in the grass. I spent the next hour picking cactus quills out of my knees.

Depending on how many days you're going and the antelope population be patient. If you have a guide listen to what he says. A great antelope to you might not be to the guide. Explain to the guide what you're looking for in your antelope. Do you want tall, wide, heart shaped horns. It's not always about being the tallest, their horns may be skinny. I've seen 13"+ tall antelopes score better than 15" tall one.

Your guide will see aspects you won't be picking up on. Winds on the prairies seem to always blow and usually hard. Figure on 300 yards being your average shot.

Have a blast, can't wait to see some pictures!


Distance is not an issue, but the wind can make it interesting!
Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7562722 07/23/19 04:37 PM
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I'm probably free that weekend, I could come help glass for you. I live in Midland, have taken pronghorn in Texas (2015), Utah (2016) and took bucks in Wyoming and New Mexico just last year. Judging them can be tough unless its a giant, then you just know. In the units I have hunted so far I just looked for ones that I liked the look of. They can be the best eating wild game if you can get them broken down and cooled quickly.


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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7562746 07/23/19 05:03 PM
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I'm honestly worried more about under-judging than over-judging. While I certainly don't want to take a 12-incher, I feel I have a pretty critical eye when it comes to measuring things. I'm afraid that I'll see a pretty nice one in the 14" range, or even a 13 with good mass, and think he's too short. I've watched several videos on it and read several articles but until I see one that I'm actually hunting in the field it's all just classroom stuff. This is where the TPWD antler restrictions start to pay off. Having to watch and judge lots of WT will hopefully have taught me patience and help me remember to look at the size of the eye in comparison to the length of the prong and diameter of the base, etc. Do they hook in or back? Where are the hidden inches that makes that one nearly 14 instead of 11-12?

I need to solve the ice chest issue. What's an appropriate size to get it all in?


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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7562760 07/23/19 05:20 PM
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I have a goat that was 12” and scored 77, it’s an ugly but really heavy horn.

I carry a 150 qt with three 20# ice bags and dry ice, but I have to check at a station whole

Most sage/range land pronghorns don’t weight over 116lbs on the hoof so you can quarter them to a 100qt cooler really easy, and less if you debone(no idea if Pronghorn follow new CWD transport requirements)

My advice is put a 2x4 in bottom of your ice chest long ways, will make it drain better, more you drain and re-apply ice less stink.

Again don’t forget to keep blood of that cape and don’t let it set in bloody water





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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7563423 07/24/19 02:31 PM
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I run a 120qt cooler. It's bigger than you need for a quartered pronghorn. I put an entire Wyoming PH in mine last year with a lot of ice while we chased my buddy's for an hour or two. My buddy was running an 85qt Orion and all the quarters fit without issue. An 80ish quart is about as small as I would run. The 120 I run, with proper packing can hold all the quarters, the head and cape with more than enough ice to keep everything cold and still close (guess that means I'm not killing giants. I don't worry about the skull being in the cooler unless the weather is really hot and I plan on taking my time getting home.

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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7563487 07/24/19 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by QuitShootinYoungBucks
I'm honestly worried more about under-judging than over-judging. While I certainly don't want to take a 12-incher, I feel I have a pretty critical eye when it comes to measuring things. I'm afraid that I'll see a pretty nice one in the 14" range, or even a 13 with good mass, and think he's too short. I've watched several videos on it and read several articles but until I see one that I'm actually hunting in the field it's all just classroom stuff. This is where the TPWD antler restrictions start to pay off. Having to watch and judge lots of WT will hopefully have taught me patience and help me remember to look at the size of the eye in comparison to the length of the prong and diameter of the base, etc. Do they hook in or back? Where are the hidden inches that makes that one nearly 14 instead of 11-12?

I need to solve the ice chest issue. What's an appropriate size to get it all in?


That’s always my problem too. I don’t hunt them enough to know how to judge them well (unless it’s a huge one). I watched a buck for 30 minutes on the first day of a 3 day hunt last year. Although not a giant, turns out we only saw one bigger and the one I ended up killing was not nearly as good.


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Re: Pronghorn [Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks] #7584538 08/20/19 01:54 PM
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So much great advice in this thread that is spot on! Thank you all!

It was an amazing hunt! After two hard days Saturday and Sunday, knowing time was short and I had to be back at work today, I took this one out of a herd of 6 bucks yesterday morning at straight up 6 am. My first goat, I am hooked for sure!

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