I've never hunted Pronghorns

But have wanted to for a very long time. Would I be better off DIY in eastern NM, or outfitter in the Tx panhandle? My fear with the guide is that you just kind of drive out there and shoot one, and that's not really what I am after. Please share your experiences.

I would suggest Wyoming for a first pronghorn hunt. Lots of goats, and a generous season for DIY hunters. For a real trophy, NM with an outfitter would be fine, but their season is much shorter, and the prices fairly steep. Eastern Co. might be a good choice as well, but I've never hunted there. Most tags are gone for this year, so you have a whole year to plan. Good luck !

DIY I would second Wyoming. Outfitter I'd go NM or TX.

X2 in Wyoming if doing a DIY. I have been on at least 10 pronghorn hunts (NM, WY, CO and Texas) and have never hired a guide. However, pronghorn are extreamy difficult to judge at least for me. The difference between a good one and a great one is a hard to tell. It's not a hard hunt, but you should be very comfortable with a 300 yard shot. I would say the most pronghorn I have shot have been 200 plus yards.

Hope this helps

Try Wyoming.

We did a DIY hunt there, it was fun but not overly challenging. With a rifle it should be a snap.

You want a really really hard hunt use a long bow spot and stalk.
You want a hard rifle hunt, use an open sighted 30-30.
They aren't hard to hunt in general, your personal limitations can make it tougher.

A lot of TX guides will just sell you the tag and let you do DIY on the ranch.
Technically NM is same thing, since most those ranches are open to the public draw tag holders

Definitely Wyoming. Lots of game, lots of spaces, and a good time can be had by all. You don't need a guide there and lots of places to hunt.

My only experience is TX around Dalhart. We were with the Texas Youth Hunting Program. It Texas the state issues tags to landowners according to the Pronghorn population in the area. The landowners with tags will fluctuate each year, although a few are available over the counter.

I would think that unless you are from the area and know farmers one of the hardest parts of the hunt would be finding the farmers with tags, unless you went with the outfitter.

It's an easy DIY hunt as long as you do your homework on areas. Just up to you - is DIY more important or (most likely) the chance at a better animal? As it's not a tough or technical hunt anyway, the main difference is probably just the extra expense of having an outfitter who knows the area/animals.

It's a fun hunt. Good luck!

While I would love a trophy, if the hunt was fun going home empty-handed wouldn't hurt my feelings. I don't want an 11" but I'm not under some belief that I'll stumble across a world record either. This would be for next year so I feel I have plenty of time to get ready, including studying up on field judging.

It's a fun group hunt in the sense that you can watch others do the spot-and-stalk thing. I hunted around Medicine Bow on private land in 2013 and the goats were everywhere. Our group went 9 for 9 in spite of losing three days to bad weather. Where we hunted it was 7200 feet above sea level, even though it was flat; be prepared for cold weather even if it's late August / early September.

I would go for one of the cheaper hunts, they don't excite me. On the other hand deer, I don't mind spending the money, but the speed goats just never have been a "target" for me. I have been on 4 landowner tag hunts in New Mexico, but I only went because I went with friends. I would never have went after the first hunt if it weren't for friends going on the other hunts.

Hopefully a nice (my last) whitetail buck with MulieMike this year, then pronghorn next year for me with an outfitter

I've neither been either but have always wanted to. Can anybody recommend an area/outfitter for the better areas in Texas or New Mexico?

WY is definitely the ticket if you want to DIY. Plenty of animals and tags. The nice thing with antelope is that even if you screw up a few stalks as you learn, you will get more chances.

Joe will do guide or diy

PM if you want his contact info.

Most are sold out for this year, I would think

Yeah I would think the best ones are booked but always looking for next years hunts!

Pm sent with Joe #. He had some last min cancellations

Buy a PP in Wyoming now, then you can apply next year for a tag. 2 PP will get into better hunting areas. No landowners fees and if you get the right area a B&C buck is very realistic. Doe tags are very in expensive. Mule deer combo could be done in the right areas too.
You could literally have thousands of acres of public land to hunt and camp on.
Great first western hunt for youth also, antelope make a great family hunt.
The meat is excellent, if you don't run them all over the country then shoot one.

I was gonna ask if they're edible, looks like the last post answered it.

We smoked the one my son got it it was good. Back Strap for Thanksgiving and Christmas that year.

Good information Wytex thanks.