Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Couple of old goats

That is one heck of a pronghorn!

Yep.

And NM, not AZ, WY or MT.

DF

DF, which one was the "old goat?"

As to shooting over, maybe consider a 45-70?

just kidding of course. Good looking old goat!

NM and AZ are good places to hunt large pronghorn. Not familiar with NM licensing. Is it a draw?

WY has some good bucks but in a few areas. Climate is a bit harsher though. For a truly large buck I think NM and AZ are tops.

Yeah, it's a draw, but landowner permits are available thru outfitters. The draw is cheaper, around $350. Landowner permits are around $1,000 to $1,200.

My bud and I have drawn 4 out of the past 5 years, missing out last year.

DF

The guide said this goat had some age on him. So, I related to that and titled the thread as I did...

Just need to hold on the hair...

That bipod messed me up. I don't use them much and didn't use good judgement on "when to hold, when to fold"...

DF

DF, to better appreciate sleeping on a cot, do the first night on the ground.

Nicely done sir.

Ouch...

I'm a bit old and creaky for that. Maybe 40 yrs ago...

The cot was bad enough...

DF

Nice ole goat! Ditto on the bi pods, I have given 2 Harris bi pods away for that very reason.Give me a Levi leg full of beads or sand! Old habits die hard.... very best WinPoor

But, out on the flat ground, taking a 400 yd. shot at a speed goat with nothing to use for a rest, grass too high for prone, they're pretty good.

I was trying to use one on a severely uneven, rocky cattle tank berm. If I could replay that shot, I'd leave the bipod folded, slip up over the rocky berm and be right on that goat. The folded bipod would have proteced the rifle stock from the rocks.

Or, fold it, raise up and take the shot offhand.

DF

Good deal DF. Yeah those bipods on a hunting rifle don't usually work out on my hunts. Shooting sticks for me, if anything. Or throw a pack down.

Very nice pronghorn DF; your performance shows you're still affected by the pursuit! Sounds like an awesome time in a wonderfully game rich area.

I think I need to regroup on that aspect of Pronghorn hunting.

What type sticks do you use?

DF

DF, there are several versions of bungied "shooting sticks" that will allow a very steady, three-point, sitting, shooting position to get you above the grass. I took a goat at ~ 395 yds (pre-LRF, but paced) with one and other game since.

Any specific suggestions as to brand, etc.?

DF

"Shock-corded" is a better description. My originals were Underwoods, but there are Hammer's collapsible, Flambeau Mad Hunters, and I believe Stony Point has one.

The main feature is shock-corded bipod with light-weight aluminum sections that fold down into a 12-14" package, but that fully extended, forms an "x", with the very small section obove the intersection cradling the rifle and fitting into your closed fist anywhere from a foot to two feet off the ground.

You are sitting while your left hand clenches the the intersection just below your rifles forend, left elbow on your left knee (two points of contact). Your right hand is obviously on the pistol grip snugging the stock into your right shoulder (third point of contact).

This can give you a very steady rest where prone and/or a bipod is unworkable. Hope this helps.

That does help and I'll for sure check them out.

Thanks,

DF

DF just a suggestion but if you get a set of Stoney Point stix ( I have 2 - sitting and standing) store them extended and not folded or collapsed. If you store them extended there is less stress on the elastic shock cord. I used to store mind folded but ended up having to replace the cords prematurely.

In my above description I neglected to say that your right elbow (for right handers) is also on your right knee-your two elbows on your respective knees are your two points of contact with the stock in your right (or left shoulder for lefties) is the third, so I misspoke a bit above. At least that's the way I do it.

However, the point stands that this can give you a considerably good rest.

That surely is one heck of an antelope! Now I know what 90" looks like!