Drought

[00BUCK]

I have been looking over the antelope units and it looks like many of the premier antelope areas on the western part the state are currently and have been experiencing severe lack of rainfall. I was wondering what some of you think of the effect this will have on heard quality and trophy potential? Many of these units still reported was seem to be good horn length last year.

 

[velvetfvr]

They'll be more predictable and you can still find a big buck, just may take a little more work

 

[ore hunter]

I think horn size may be down some this year if the spring green up doesn't green up,,,but im still putting in as drawing the tag seems to be the hardest part.

 

[Musket Man]

There were alot of dry springs last year when I was hunting antelope. Try to avoid areas with tomany wild horses because they will overuse what water there is and other animals will tend to get pushed out. Horn growth is usually better on a good year but the time to hunt antelope in Nevada is when you draw a tag!!!!

 

[Awise1]

I found good hunting two years ago on quality bucks, hunting BLM land adjoining a 4000 acre ranch. This ranch has 70+ 40-acre alfalfa pivots and every morning, huge herds were exiting the fields for the BLM sage and slopes. They had all the feed and water they needed and were in excellent shape. Google Earth any units you're interested in and you will most likely find similar scenarios.

 

[00BUCK]

Thanks for the great responses.

 

[Gr8bawana]

I found good hunting two years ago on quality bucks, hunting BLM land adjoining a 4000 acre ranch. This ranch has 70+ 40-acre alfalfa pivots and every morning, huge herds were exiting the fields for the BLM sage and slopes. They had all the feed and water they needed and were in excellent shape. Google Earth any units you're interested in and you will most likely find similar scenarios.

The antelope I got in 2013 came from one of those pivot fields also they were there every day.
I hunted in the Ruby Valley of NV and even though I know we are in the midst of a long dought I wonder how much those giant pivot fields affect the Ruby Marsh. There is very little water left in the marshes and the pivot fields run 24 hours a day so no telling how many millions of gallons of water they use that doesn't make it to the marsh, and their are a lot of alfalpha fields. This dust storm is rolling across what used to be the north end of the marsh.