{"id":1921,"date":"2024-07-09T18:37:28","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T18:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guncoupons.net\/?p=1921"},"modified":"2024-07-09T18:37:28","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T18:37:28","slug":"hunting-the-american-pronghorn-antelope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guncoupons.net\/?p=1921","title":{"rendered":"Hunting the American Pronghorn Antelope"},"content":{"rendered":"


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If you enjoy pursuing big game, I dare say you are always looking for a new challenge to add to your list of hunting<\/a> accomplishments. My suggestion would be to not overlook the pronghorn.<\/p>\n

Today, pronghorn numbers are believed to be well over a half-million animals, scattered across mostly western states. Wyoming is the top producer of pronghorn with New Mexico, Montana, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Washington, North and South Dakota along with Texas all having huntable populations. Pronghorn are also be found in California, Canada, and Mexico in lower populations.<\/p>\n

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\"Hunter
The Pronghorn Antelope is perhaps the most iconic big game animal associated with the wide-open spaces of our country\u2019s western prairies and grasslands less it be the American bison.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

A Few Facts About Pronghorn Antelope<\/h2>\n

Despite popular belief, pronghorn are not actually antelope like the those found in Africa or Asia. Pronghorn are truly a unique North American species that use their incredible vision and speed to evade predators. They are most closely related to giraffe and okapi.<\/p>\n

The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the western hemisphere. They can reach speeds of 60 mph making them the second-fastest land animal, second only to the African cheetah.<\/p>\n

Both males and females (bucks and does) can have horns. Females however, if they have horns, rarely exceed the length of the ears. Males shed their outer black horn sheath once a year leaving the boney inner core atop their head for a short time until the sheath supporting the prong grows back. They are the only ungulates (hoofed mammals) in the world that have horns and shed the outer sheath. Bucks also have a distinctive, black cheek patch on both sides, while the females do not.<\/p>\n

Hunting Methods<\/h2>\n

Hunting styles are usually focused on a spot and stalk approach. Pronghorn generally live in open, flat country, where tree cover is limited or non-existent. Pre-scouting your hunt area will give you some idea as to the number of bucks and whether there is a \u201creally good buck\u201d in the vicinity.<\/p>\n

One hunting tactic I\u2019ve used in the past is to be positioned on any elevated hilltop (if available) early in the morning with the sun at your back. Once the sun begins to rise, all pronghorn to the west of your position will stand out. The morning sun will reflect off their white and tan colored hides.<\/p>\n

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\"Pronghorn
This buck is in the 13- to 14-inch category, and a very respectable first-time buck for any hunter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

If you don\u2019t spot a buck that you wish to try for, keep moving and repeat the process until you find a buck to your liking. Be sure to glass thoroughly. In years where the grass is high, a buck will often bed in the middle of these grassy areas. You may only spot the black horns poking above the grass line, rather than seeing the whole animal.<\/p>\n

Once you have pinpointed the buck you want, a stalk may be in order (keeping the wind in your face). In some cases, you may be able to move in a vehicle (staying on established roads of course) until you can close the distance. As mentioned, pronghorn have excellent vision and can run like the wind, so your approach and stalk must be cautious.<\/p>\n

Pronghorn Strategy<\/h2>\n

Pronghorn display a great deal of curiosity at times \u2014 a trait you may be able to use to your advantage. By raising a flag of some sort, you may in fact be able to get pronghorn to move toward you. I have never taken a buck in this manner. However, as an experiment, I have concealed myself in tall grass or a low spot in the terrain and waved a cap or neckerchief when pronghorn were already watching me. On more than one occasion, the pronghorn moved closer to me out of curiosity.<\/p>\n

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\"hunter
A nice buck in the 14- to 15-inch category, taken with an AR platform rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Archery hunters will most likely need to make use of a ground blind of some sort. In most states, archery<\/a> hunts begin in later summer or early fall, making setting up around or near water (where legal) an ideal tactic. Pronghorn will utilize watering areas especially during the warmer months giving the archery hunter a chance within bow range.<\/p>\n

Judging Trophy Class<\/h2>\n

There are three factors that make up a true trophy class buck \u2014 horn length, prong length, and the circumference of the horn, or mass along the length of the horn itself. Factors such as age, food, and genetics all play a role in a buck reaching trophy class status.<\/p>\n

Without question, both a good pair of binoculars and a spotting scope are critical, especially when trying to determine horn length. Using these optics<\/a> look for a buck with prongs well above the ears and lots of horn length above the prongs, particularly those with good hooks on top.<\/p>\n

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\"HUnter
A trophy class buck, over 16 inches with nice prongs and deep hooks on top.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Although the quality of the buck \u2014 when it comes to trophy horns \u2014 is in the eye of the beholder, the following guidelines give you a general idea.<\/p>\n