Antelope Anxiety....

I've got a Texas antelope tag. In TX, you have to get it from a landowner and they typically sell them. I paid quite a bit for it but I have been waiting for a long time to figure out how to take a TX pronghorn. Anyway, I really want to use my flintlock. The outfitter says we should be able to get 100-yard shot (at closest). Also says most likely it will be a short window of opportunity likely from a standing position.

My rifle shoots PRB into 3.5" groups at 100-yards from the bench. I have 4 days to practice between now and the hunt. I plan to first shoot off sticks at 100-yards and see how I do. Then I want to practice prone in case that presents itself. The only other range is 200-yards and I cant see the target with the sights so no sense practicing there. I also might make a "pronghorn" target out of a brown paper bag and some white spray paint.

The last time I got a tag was 1985! I would like to have the odds of success in my favor as much as possible and really can't afford to miss (although it happens and I am realistic).
Does anyone have tips, advice or anecdotes for practicing for a trip like this and/or the actual hunt?

I am going to shoot a caplock similarly and take it along as a back-up rifle but I don't shoot it any better as it offers the same accuracy and the load is the same.

I think you are on the right track. Carry sticks and shoot from them. I have carried a single shooting stick with a yoke that I can shoot from standing. A single stick can be wobbly, but much better then off hand.

Fleener

I would carry a shooting stick, I regularly do when still hunting. Shoot a few shots using it from 100 yards and see if your group is acceptable, then you'll know for sure. A quick google search showed that the kill zone of an average antelope is 8.5"-9". I personally would be satisfied with a 6" group or less based on that info. That allows you to nearly double your bench groups but still hit in the vitals if max deviation occurs. Keep in mine being winded or if antelope give you a touch of buck fever of course.
I really like the Primos "trigger stick". I can carry it in its most compact position but then it can be quickly and easily adjusted with one hand when a shot presents itself.
They do also have a bipod style with two legs if preferred, but I can't deploy it as quickly.

If archery hunters can get close enough so can you! Best of luck!! Can't wait to see pictures!!

Sparkitoff said:

I've got a Texas antelope tag. ... The outfitter says we should be able to get 100-yard shot (at closest). Also says most likely it will be a short window of opportunity likely from a standing position...

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I don't know about Texas antelope but if you plan on shooting from a standing position out in the open, on an Arizona pronghorn, the time window will disappear in a flash, along with the antelope.

They are curious beasties as long as they don't feel threatened but if someone suddenly pops up out of the undergrowth within eyesight, POOF! Their gone.

I would plan on doing my shooting from a kneeling position. I'd say from behind some cover but in Arizona antelope country, their ain't much of it.

I've found that with antelope the terrain can be very important. If the terrain is rough or brushy stalking is a good option. If it's dry then sitting a waterhole is good and is how most archers kill antelope.

They don't jump fences (some very rare exceptions notwithstanding) but prefer to duck under them. They have habitual fence crossing points and tend to follow the fence lines to get to them.

Decoys can be helpful too. Also a portable blind.

How about strapping a decoy to yourself, maybe you can get real close then. Some commercial ones available I believe.

I always fancied trying it over here on the Scottish red deer.

A cow cut out supposedly works, just hide behind it and casually walk towards the antelope. They can count the number of legs.

Fleener

fleener said:

A cow cut out supposedly works, just hide behind it and casually walk towards the antelope. They can count the number of legs.

Fleener

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If they can count the legs!

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Ooh no! Now I am gonna get countless emails from eBay

Lots of good advice...

Like Zonie said AZ goats are not easily put in the truck. I gave up on getting a tag myself, 40 years was long enough. If I did I would sit water in a blind or use a decoy. I Know archers that have gotten pronghorns both ways.

I'd be a bit worried to strap an antelope decoy to myself if there are other hunters in the same area during an open rifle season.
The cow one might work.

renegadehunter said:

I'd be a bit worried to strap an antelope decoy to myself if there are other hunters in the same area during an open rifle season.
The cow one might work.

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Just put some orange spots on it

Going to Wyoming in Oct. for Antelope but will be using one of the other weapons. The main rifle is sighted in for a zero at 200 yds. and followed through with 3,4,5,600 yard increments as with the back up rifle. I would shy away from the decoy ideal, Leary of other hunters. The water hole seems like a ideal and I have also read where you can flag Antelope by waving a white rag on a stick I guess this is like flagging geese. I would play the terrain as to a stalk, shoot a lot and use a range finder as to distance. And definitely use shooting sticks practice with them from different shooting positions. But most of all have a great time and good luck on your goat. Like you I have been waiting a long time for this hunt.

Antelope can be a very funny animal at times to hunt. At times they are as skittish as can be, other times they seem to not be afraid of anything and just stand there.

Fleener

Hey Sparkitoff

<-----------I hear tell others have muzzle loaded antelope

For me it was the does busting me that made it hard, you are going to have blown stalks, at least I did, half a dozen as I remember. Having my hunting partner setting up the next stalk while I was on a stalk made it all attainable for my hunt.

I really don't think I could have done it anywhere nearly as well without that help. Each time I spent an hour crawling to a spot only to have the does bust me 150 yards from the buck, my partner was spending that hour setting up another buck, seeing where the group was headed, finding an arroyo I could sneak up that would put me in position
If I had had to get back to the truck search for another group, watch to see where they were headed and find an ambush point each time the does busted my stalk, it would have been much much harder. If you can work it so someone is prepping your next chance while you are hunting the one at hand I think that will help a ton.

You can't beat an antelopes superior eyesight. many is the time we have been well hidden in the scrub glassing with our spotting scopes and seen the whole herd half a mile away staring right at us. But they are easily ambushed if you find suitable cover along their route and let them walk up to you. My first antelope was shot this way at 8 feet.. yes feet. Range and size estimation are key as well. Antelope are small animals in a big environment and invariably look to be much further away then they are.