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Antelope Hunting
First trip to Wyoming and first antelope hunt!
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<blockquote data-quote="solitude" data-source="post: 680700" data-attributes="member: 36099"><p><span style="color: #000000">Unless you have permission to hunt private land, the biggest problem you'll encounter hunting Unit 23 is public land. And, what is available will be crowded. Some of the greatest hunting is on the east end of Unit 23, but virtually ALL private land. Areas near Dead Horse Creek off I90 are BLM, but it's difficult antelope hunting. There's some decent public land in the south/west of unit 23, east of I25 and between Hwy 192 and Hwy 387. This is generally where most people hunt public land in 23.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">I spend enough time on the ground during deer and elk season. Stay in a hotel in Casper or Gillette (depending on where you're hunting).</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">Hunting with an -06 will be sufficient. For 30 cal, I'd suggest using at least 160 grain VLD bullet. Close range shots will probably result in over penetration and wasted meat, especially on does. For does at close range I typically take head shots. Most LR hunters prefer flatter shooting cartridges, typically in magnum calibers, but this is by no means absolute.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">As kraigwy already indicated, antelope are not that big, weighing about 90 - 100 lbs live weight, average. A big lope would weigh in at 150 lbs. Leave your camo at home. I say that in jest, but the point being that antelope will spot you with/without your camo kit from very far distances. And, Wyoming plains don't offer much concealment. Take clothing that offer good protection from thorns and other sharp objects. Expect chilly mornings and hot afternoons.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">Perhaps the greatest thing about hunting antelope is you can hunt them all day, anytime of the day. You don't have to wake up at the ***-crack of dawn! The most common method for hunting does....? Driving around until you spot a few antelope on the move, getting out of the truck, ensure you're off the road to make a legal shot, setup for the shot and shoot. Yep, it's that easy. That's how I learned to hunt antelope. If there's been a lot of hunting pressure it may be more involved than this, but it shouldn't be much more difficult.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">Now, to harvest a quality buck, here are a few techniques you can leverage for your hunt. However, if you're not that picky, the same method of driving around until you spot animals on the move will work just the same.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">Consider that eyesight and speed are an antelope's greatest asset. They generally like to stay in the open plains in tall grass, maintaining a good amount of distance between any threat. With this in mind:</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">1. On crowded public lands, let other hunters push the antelope to you. Look for other hunters attempting a stalk. Position yourself where you'll benefit from hunting pressure. If pressured enough they'll move through draws and gullies. Understanding the terrain you're hunting and how the antelope will move through it is critical.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">2. Consider setting up an ambush between where the antelope graze and water. One misconception is that antelope will not swim across water... this is untrue. They don't like to do it, but they will make a deep crossing if necessary.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">3. On a stalk use the terrain for concealment (hills, gullies, draws and river beds). You may even have to belly crawl to close some distance. This is where quality hunting clothing pays dividends. </span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">4. You could try this... <a href="http://bethedecoy.com/" target="_blank">Be The Decoy | Archery Decoy System for Antelope Hunting, Mule Deer Hunting, Elk Hunting and More</a>. Especially if you're bow hunting.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">5. Lastly, considering this is LRH, glass the antelope you want to take from a distance. Setup a good shooting position. Use your tools (anemometer, LRF, ballistics calc, etc.). Dial in your scope, and drop that speed goat from 600+ yds. ** Preferred Method **</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">Perhaps the greatest difficulty in hunting antelope in WY is dealing with the wind. Go to your range on a windy, miserable day... not the bluebird, calm days when everyone else likes to shoot.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">A word of caution... when hunting does from long range (even at closer ranges depending on conditions) it's wise to use quality optics. Spike antelope often get mistaken for does because their ears camouflage their horns. You'll be dealing with wind, dust and mirage. Poor optics tend to be soft even in the best of conditions, making it even more difficult to discern spikes from does.</span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000">Hope this helps. And, good luck!</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="solitude, post: 680700, member: 36099"] [COLOR=#000000]Unless you have permission to hunt private land, the biggest problem you'll encounter hunting Unit 23 is public land. And, what is available will be crowded. Some of the greatest hunting is on the east end of Unit 23, but virtually ALL private land. Areas near Dead Horse Creek off I90 are BLM, but it's difficult antelope hunting. There's some decent public land in the south/west of unit 23, east of I25 and between Hwy 192 and Hwy 387. This is generally where most people hunt public land in 23.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]I spend enough time on the ground during deer and elk season. Stay in a hotel in Casper or Gillette (depending on where you're hunting).[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]Hunting with an -06 will be sufficient. For 30 cal, I'd suggest using at least 160 grain VLD bullet. Close range shots will probably result in over penetration and wasted meat, especially on does. For does at close range I typically take head shots. Most LR hunters prefer flatter shooting cartridges, typically in magnum calibers, but this is by no means absolute.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]As kraigwy already indicated, antelope are not that big, weighing about 90 - 100 lbs live weight, average. A big lope would weigh in at 150 lbs. Leave your camo at home. I say that in jest, but the point being that antelope will spot you with/without your camo kit from very far distances. And, Wyoming plains don't offer much concealment. Take clothing that offer good protection from thorns and other sharp objects. Expect chilly mornings and hot afternoons.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]Perhaps the greatest thing about hunting antelope is you can hunt them all day, anytime of the day. You don't have to wake up at the ***-crack of dawn! The most common method for hunting does....? Driving around until you spot a few antelope on the move, getting out of the truck, ensure you're off the road to make a legal shot, setup for the shot and shoot. Yep, it's that easy. That's how I learned to hunt antelope. If there's been a lot of hunting pressure it may be more involved than this, but it shouldn't be much more difficult.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]Now, to harvest a quality buck, here are a few techniques you can leverage for your hunt. However, if you're not that picky, the same method of driving around until you spot animals on the move will work just the same.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]Consider that eyesight and speed are an antelope's greatest asset. They generally like to stay in the open plains in tall grass, maintaining a good amount of distance between any threat. With this in mind:[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]1. On crowded public lands, let other hunters push the antelope to you. Look for other hunters attempting a stalk. Position yourself where you'll benefit from hunting pressure. If pressured enough they'll move through draws and gullies. Understanding the terrain you're hunting and how the antelope will move through it is critical.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]2. Consider setting up an ambush between where the antelope graze and water. One misconception is that antelope will not swim across water... this is untrue. They don't like to do it, but they will make a deep crossing if necessary.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]3. On a stalk use the terrain for concealment (hills, gullies, draws and river beds). You may even have to belly crawl to close some distance. This is where quality hunting clothing pays dividends. [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]4. You could try this... [url=http://bethedecoy.com/]Be The Decoy | Archery Decoy System for Antelope Hunting, Mule Deer Hunting, Elk Hunting and More[/url]. Especially if you're bow hunting.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]5. Lastly, considering this is LRH, glass the antelope you want to take from a distance. Setup a good shooting position. Use your tools (anemometer, LRF, ballistics calc, etc.). Dial in your scope, and drop that speed goat from 600+ yds. ** Preferred Method **[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]Perhaps the greatest difficulty in hunting antelope in WY is dealing with the wind. Go to your range on a windy, miserable day... not the bluebird, calm days when everyone else likes to shoot.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]A word of caution... when hunting does from long range (even at closer ranges depending on conditions) it's wise to use quality optics. Spike antelope often get mistaken for does because their ears camouflage their horns. You'll be dealing with wind, dust and mirage. Poor optics tend to be soft even in the best of conditions, making it even more difficult to discern spikes from does.[/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000] [/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000]Hope this helps. And, good luck![/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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First trip to Wyoming and first antelope hunt!
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