#2279563 - 06/27/08 05:18 PM
Antelope question #1?
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captdavid
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Registered: 12/21/03
Posts: 769
Loc: south texas
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For the first time I'll be going antelope hunting. I'll be hunting on a privately owned ranch, and the surounding public lands, near Casper. It's my understanding that we'll hunt two ways. One is to drive around and then spot and stalk, or sometimes even make shots from the hood. I'm not even sure if this is legal, but it is in Texas. The other way is to scout and then wait by water or places where they cross a fence. Because I am a basic Texas stand hunter, I prefer the later. My plan is to wear my lightweight gillie suit, try to find some local cover, sit down and wait. What are your ideas? Thanks, capt david
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"It's not how hard you hit 'em, it's where you hit 'em." The 30-06 will, with the right bullet, successfully take any game animal in North America up to 300yds.
If you are a hunter, and farther than that, get closer!
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#2279591 - 06/27/08 05:30 PM
Re: Antelope question #1?
[Re: captdavid]
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Tom264
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Registered: 12/19/06
Posts: 4959
Loc: Indiana
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Water holes are the ticket.
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 Deer = 2 Me = 2
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#2279598 - 06/27/08 05:32 PM
Re: Antelope question #1?
[Re: Tom264]
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captdavid
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Registered: 12/21/03
Posts: 769
Loc: south texas
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I'm moving this to big game. capt david
_________________________
"It's not how hard you hit 'em, it's where you hit 'em." The 30-06 will, with the right bullet, successfully take any game animal in North America up to 300yds.
If you are a hunter, and farther than that, get closer!
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#2279599 - 06/27/08 05:32 PM
Re: Antelope question #1?
[Re: captdavid]
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Hemi
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Registered: 02/24/07
Posts: 243
Loc: Wyoming
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IME antelope hunting can be as easy as you want or as hard as you want to make it. Most people do the hunting the first way you described. Drive around until they glass an antelope they would be happy to shoot and then stalk up to a desired distance and shoot them. I guess if you wanted to make it harder than that you could. If you want to use your suit and see how close you can get go ahead- you could also sit back 200yds from the same spot and take a good rest and shoot them from there. The choice is yours  JMHO
Hemi
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#2279614 - 06/27/08 05:37 PM
Re: Antelope question #1?
[Re: captdavid]
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HawkI
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Registered: 06/10/07
Posts: 1637
Loc: Iowa
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I'm sure many are shot from the vehicle; if you choose to do it that way then you need to be okay with it.
Forget the ghillie suit, use some binos to find a good one and try to get as close as you can. With goats, like deer, it can be very little sport or more sport than you bargained for.
They are curious, use it to your advantage. If they are routinely shot near a pickup they won't be so curious; its good to know how your guy "normally" does it.
Sounds like you can either shoot one or hunt one; my vote is for the latter. There is nothing like trying to get close with twenty (curious) pairs of eyes scouring the prairie with just you, a daypack and your rifle.....Makes me wanna go!
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"No, wait; Its gotta be your bull"
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#2280017 - 06/27/08 09:14 PM
Re: Antelope question #1?
[Re: HawkI]
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supercrewd
Campfire Ranger
Registered: 09/12/05
Posts: 1978
Loc: Gunnison, CO
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The other thing no one has mentioned is that you will see hundreds of antelope. If you are staying in Casper you will probably see a few in backyards. Now that you know that, you may see why people drive around and glass for a decent buck as it can take a lot of shoe leather. In my hunts up there I do some driving but only to different areas to foot hunt. It is fun, still easy to do and plenty of antelope to hunt. They really blend in well when not glassing. I took a new guy out and he was walking up and down a fence looking for antelope with the naked eye. When he came back I asked him what he expected to see. I picked up my glasses and looked around where we were standing and found 3 bedded animals 200 yards behind us, right where we had driven by. Foot hunting is fun, but tiring...
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Thomas Jefferson:
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#2283645 - 06/29/08 08:27 PM
Re: Antelope question #1?
[Re: captdavid]
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jigman222
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Registered: 10/08/06
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Loc: sd
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A gillie suit for antelope. 
An old pair a jeans and a pocket tee is more appropriate. I use natural terrain or lay prone when waiting at water or a crossing. You might consider a blind also.
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#2286365 - 07/01/08 12:33 PM
Re: Antelope question #1?
[Re: jigman222]
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Reloader7RM
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Registered: 09/20/05
Posts: 961
Loc: NW La.
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When we hunted them at Elk Mountain several years ago we just drove around in the 4x4 until we spotted a descent buck and then planned a stalk. They'll run like hell if they see you, but often don't pay the trucks much attention.
Despite what many here say, we took most of our goats from 300-450 yards. That was due to absolutely no cover and having to usually stalk small herds with lots of eyes.
This year we are also hunting near Casper and the guy has assured us that it is a piece of cake on his place. I'll be prepared for whatever the situation just in case. I'll be carrying sticks, one of my long range rigs, and probably my Harris UL bipod. He says to "just drive around until you see a good one and get out and shoot him." I hope to give it alittle more sport, we shall see.
He said 8 guys went on a hunt together last year and were alittle disbelief of his claims on how easy the hunt would be until they had all 8 tags filled the first day by noon and spent the rest of the day butchering
I do know that you can spot them from very far away.
Good Luck
Reloader7RM
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#2289624 - 07/03/08 07:05 AM
Re: Antelope question #1?
[Re: Reloader7RM]
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supercrewd
Campfire Ranger
Registered: 09/12/05
Posts: 1978
Loc: Gunnison, CO
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As far as not reacting to the truck, I have had mixed experience with that. Some years I have driven up on groups and have had passengers take shots across the bow, last year the antelope were spooking at the truck 5-600 yards out. I prefer to walk the land, taking a step and glassing over hill and dale, take another... It is very effective and more fun than jumping out of the truck and blasting... If you drive all that way, no sense in filling out your first afternoon. I brought a group of friends out on a "lever gun" hunt which turned out to be an iron sight hunt since not everyone had a lever gun but fun was had by all. After a day and a half of all that hiking they were ready for scoped rifles. But they had fun.
_________________________
NRA Life Member
Thomas Jefferson:
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
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#2291286 - 07/04/08 03:14 AM
Re: Antelope question #1?
[Re: supercrewd]
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PredHunter
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Registered: 03/10/08
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I get so torqued when I hear guys talking about hunting out of trucks. I have been burned numerous times by Nimrods! thinking they can "drive up" on goats. Do some glassing, find an area where the goats are congregating. Get there before daylight and wait on them. They will come well within shooting distance. My wife and I have shot quite a few over the years, infact, never been skunked.The longest shot ever was 200 yards.
But do yourself and everyone around you a favor... get out of the truck and HUNT! 
Edited by PredHunter (07/04/08 03:16 AM)
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