Antelope Behavior Question

[wy-tex]

Those pics were taken from feeding antelope close to the road.They can bunch up if spooked , just before they take off, then as JimP says they usually single file out . I have seen pressured antelope group up to take off too.
They tend to spread out to feed but still stay in a herd group.
The rut can be the hardest time to get a good shot on a mature buck. He will either be chasing off insubordinate bucks or pursuing a doe relentlessly until she will submit to being bred.

 

[Rich M]

Thanks, guys.

 

[Rich M]

Two more questions...about shooting.

The white of the underbelly comes up on the side and has a corner at the shoulder. Is that the best place to aim? or will it hit the shoulder and mess up the meat?

Next question - is an attachable bipod a good way to go on the rifle? I have a trigger stick bipod (large size) but am wondering if it will be as usable as I imagined.

 

[JimP]

That is the nice thing about pronghorns, they have a natural target on their hide right where the brown and white make that corner. You won't loose that much meat even if you hit one in the shoulder since most people use that for burger anyway.

As for a bipod, how do you shoot now? Most bipods are designed for a prone position where a trigger stick type are designed for a more upright position.

 

[Hilltop]

Rich,

I have gun mounted bi-pods that I can shoot prone or sitting and a tall, 3 leg, trigger stick. My preference is to shoot from the bi-pods but occasionally there is too much in the way at ground level or the sitting position so the trigger stick allows for a steady rest if standing. I also use the trigger stick when glassing and recently for my spotting scope. Whatever you decide to go with, practice all potential positions and shots. There are times you may have to shoot over 4' tall sage or fairly steep uphill/down hill shots. The downhill can be tricky if your bi-pods legs are too tall- make sure you get one's that fit you.

 

[Rich M]

That is the nice thing about pronghorns, they have a natural target on their hide right where the brown and white make that corner. You won't loose that much meat even if you hit one in the shoulder since most people use that for burger anyway.

As for a bipod, how do you shoot now? Most bipods are designed for a prone position where a trigger stick type are designed for a more upright position.

I used to shoot prone on an NRA team when was younger. Used slings.

Use the trigger stick to help me while shooting out of tree stands down here in FL/GA. Easier to make a 200 yard shot from a tree stand with a decent rest. I'm good for 100, maybe 150 standing with the trigger bipod. 250-300 I would feel better with a better rest - pack or whatnot.

I was also considering the bipod for glassing - 10x gets shaky quick - some days I'm extra shaky.

Have 3 or 4 more range days before the trip. I'll be using them wisely.

 

[wy-tex]

Harris bipod that works for prone and sitting if possible. Sage and your pack can make a nice prone rest too just watch out for that cactus !!
You may find a fence post in some spots but don't count on one.
You will want something for long distance glassing, spotting scope with window mount or tripod is best.

I would bet almost 90% of my antelope have been taken from the prone shooting position, the rest from sitting or kneeling.

 

[Rich M]

What kind of length are we talking about for sitting? 12-25 inch size? I'm 5-10, so not one of those big guys.

Prone would definitely make me a better shot.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

just watch out for that cactus !!

I always take some GI type knee pads and good heavy leather gloves. Too many times I have spent time picking cactus spines out of my hands and knees to count.

 

[Hilltop]

What kind of length are we talking about for sitting? 12-25 inch size? I'm 5-10, so not one of those big guys.

Prone would definitely make me a better shot.

Rich,

You should test fit them to you imo. I am 6'2" but actually like shorter pods. I have an off brand pair (can't remember the name) that is 11-24" that I like better than my 12-25" Harris. I bought them at Scheels.

 

[Rich M]

Y'all have me paranoid about cacti.
Gloves - check!
knee pads - check!

Will see what we have available local for bipods. Get my wife to measure me w/gun to see too.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

If I had a $1:00 or 2 for every time I've stuck a hand or knee in those little buggers in the last 40 years of hunting goats in Wyoming, I could almost pay for a NR tag!!! Not paranoid, just savvy!

 

[JimP]

The first time that you sit, knell, or stick your hand in one you will understand.

I hunt in southern Arizona a lot and everything there has a thorn or needle sharp spine to jab you with. You quickly learn how to avoid them.

Also a pair of tweezers comes in handy

 

[Rich M]

It will happen when it is least expected, I'm sure.

 

[Againstthewind]

The first time that you sit, knell, or stick your hand in one you will understand.

I hunt in southern Arizona a lot and everything there has a thorn or needle sharp spine to jab you with. You quickly learn how to avoid them.

Also a pair of tweezers comes in handy

Duct tape, too. Those really fine needles that seem to work farther into your hand and knees as you go come out with duct tape, but so does any hair, and a layer or so of skin. I wonder if that blue painters tape is better? Higher soled (where the rubber goes up a little bit higher on the boot if that makes sense) shoes while we are on the topic. I tend to get the needles in the sides of the boot or they go right through tennis shoe soles. Maybe even spray that urethane stuff on the sides if you didn't mind ruining your boots. Just another thing to watch your step for I guess. Grass is kindof tall it seems like this year, so the cactus are a little harder to see I think, but the needles aren't as big as Arizona pokey things from the pictures I have seen.

 

[Work2hunt]

Y'all have me paranoid about cacti.
Gloves - check!
knee pads - check!

Will see what we have available local for bipods. Get my wife to measure me w/gun to see too.

I wanted a leather welders apron after my last hunt. Army crawling up to a shot got me a belly full of needles. I didn't crawl over any cacti, but there were plenty of needles in the dirt that had been blown around.

 

[Rich M]

Someone told me (Hilltop? WyTex?) to get KGs Bootguard and use it around the entire bottom of the boot. It is on order. (I did some scouting in a burn down here and chewed up my new Pronghorns on some saw palms - like taking a knife to 'em.)

The cactus spikes seem like a guarantee. duct tape and tweezers...

 

[Againstthewind]

Someone told me (Hilltop? WyTex?) to get KGs Bootguard and use it around the entire bottom of the boot. It is on order. (I did some scouting in a burn down here and chewed up my new Pronghorns on some saw palms - like taking a knife to 'em.)

The cactus spikes seem like a guarantee. duct tape and tweezers...

Thanks I should look at that boot guard too. I was thinking that bed liner spray stuff but an actual boot product would be much better.

 

[Rich M]

Another question!

How bad are the bugs? Someone just came back from a vacation in WY and said the bugs are horrible.

Will the airborne blood suckers be around come Oct 1?
Are there any ticks to worry about?

 

[Againstthewind]

Another question!

How bad are the bugs? Someone just came back from a vacation in WY and said the bugs are horrible.

Will the airborne blood suckers be around come Oct 1?
Are there any ticks to worry about?

Yeah, good thing to bring up. The mosquitos have been pretty bad this year around here it seems like. The wind does help with that, but calm mornings and evenings have been bad. The ticks were bad this spring, we found quite a few on the dogs and pants, but I haven't found any in a month or so. I think the mosquitos will be around Oct. 1, I think it takes a couple good hard frosts to knock them down. It could happen, but sometimes its in the 90's in Oct. Don't pray for frost, wife has a lot money in tomato plants, lol.