How Much Ground Can I Cover

[NEWHunter]

I'll be headed out to Wyoming this fall for my first antelope hunt. Wondering if any of you experienced antelope hunters could tell me about how much ground you can cover per hour on foot. Just looking for a rough miles/hour average assuming average antelope habitat in an average unit. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[go_deep]

3-4 if your in really good shape.

 

[CODAK]

3 no question, but just depends on how often you stop to stare at all the white asses running away from you if you hunt that fast

 

[JimP]

Walking, jogging, or running? Are you just going to cover ground and not glass or walk and glass?

 

[dirtclod Az.]

Didn't know hunting was a race.Take your time,use your optics and move when all else fails.If you want to cover ground,run a marathon.

 

[JEandAsGuide]

One thing I had to learn when I started hunting Wyoming was not worry about getting to a certain spot by a certain time to start hunting. I guess growing up in a tree stand had me thinking I had to get to spot X. After several trips I have finally learned to hunt my way in which has paid off. I wouldn?t worry about rushing to get to a spot, especially antelope hunting because they will likely be visible all day. You could probably cover 1.5 miles an hour on an antelope hunt because they are typically easier to spot than say a mule deer. Now if you can?t hunt your way in for whatever reason like too much private land, I would think 2.5 to 3 miles.


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[shootbrownelk]

Buy the best optics you can afford, and use them. It'll save on boot leather. Spotting scope optional, buy very handy when sizing up bucks from a distance and determining if a stalk is in order. Use your eyes, not your feet.

 

[kidoggy]

Buy the best optics you can afford, and use them. It'll save on boot leather. Spotting scope optional, buy very handy when sizing up bucks from a distance and determining if a stalk is in order. Use your eyes, not your feet.

yup! let your eyes do the walking

 

[wy-tex]

A lot depends on how flat your area is. If it has some terrain use it and you'll not have to cover miles on foot.
Use those binos and spotter too before you take off after a buck, make sure he's worth the stalk.

 

[mcseal2]

Where I've antelope hunted a vehicle and a window mount with a spotter on it can save a huge amount of walking and let you cover the ground necessary to find the buck you are after. We glass from the truck or walk from the truck up to good glassing vantages and use the spotter there on a tripod to evaluate goats. We seldom start on a long hike until we have one we want a closer look at spotted. Goats are different to hunt than other species.

 

[Gr8bawana]

If you're just walking around in antelope country they will see you long before you see them. Take advantage of any high points to glass from and save yourself a lot of miles.
Like others have said spot from the road and find something you want to get a better look at. No need to hike several miles from the road just to start looking.

 

[NEWHunter]

Thanks for the responses guys. Based on the comments, here’s a bit more background on the question: I pulled my second choice unit, which I chose because it has some big chunks of public land with very few public access points. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that means I’ll be on foot the entire time. The unit also appears to have a bit more topography than your average WY antelope unit. I’m hoping those factors will allow me to get away from the opening weekend army and find a nice buck. I’m also ready to spike out for a few nights if need be to up my odds.

I’m going to be out there a day or two before the opener to scout. Hoping to find a buck in the mid 70s, and from what I’ve read, that will likely be a big challenge on public land in a unit which would likely be given an overall rating of D or F in the MRS because of pressure, etc. I’ve scoured my unit via Google Earth and other sources to locate every waterhole on public or on private near the public. My plan is to focus my efforts around those areas and check the nooks and crannies that others might miss in hopes of finding what is likely a top end buck for my unit. Some of these spots are almost 15 miles in. I figure the more ground I can cover the better chance I’ll have of finding what I’m looking for. I feel like my plan is kind of a modified version of Guy’s strategy in the last EHJ.

The miles/hour will help give me a rough idea of how much of the unit I can get to. I just figure there can’t be antelope everywhere in this unit and I’ll likely have to focus my efforts around the best spots/habitat. If I’m bumping antelope left and right, I’m going to slow down and sneak up to ridgelines behind rocks, etc. If there’s a good spot to glass, I’ll stop and do so. I’ve got the best spotting scope (Vortex) my money ($0) can borrow. I’d rather not walk 15 miles in and/or spike out, but I figure I’ve got a pretty lofty goal and I need to be ready to put in the effort to get there. Keep the info coming guys – thanks again.

 

[Yell Co AR Hunter]

First off not knowing the unit you drew, but if a unit you could draw on a 2nd choice. I would assume access will be some what limited. I think the key to limited access is the access not the limit on public land available. Some of the limited access units have a lot of public land to hunt for those willing to walk. You also need to consider connecting land owners have access. Look for areas without a road network that comes off private land. Nothing worse than hiking in many miles only to have a truck drive up on you. I think you will find the more you walk the less likely you will encounter other hunters the deeper you go. One major concern will be meat and hide care depending on the high temperature. There is a lot of antelope in many of these units and you might could kill a good one a lot closer than you think. Most of the crowd will tapper off at about a mile and past two miles not many will endure. The ability to put in more effort can reap rewards. Good luck and safe hunting.

 

[wy-tex]

A decent tripod then is what you need. Get some elevation and use it for your legs. Antelope will be where they can see for miles.
If you're back in and take one , get it quartered out a lay it up on a sage bush for air flow.
Don't be afraid to make some phone calls and ask about access to the public land. Sometimes access through private is easier to get than access to the private for hunting.