Antelope Hunting - Blind vs Spot-n-Stock w/ Decoy

nv-hunter · Jun 2, 2011

what unit are you hunting?

Stringmusic · Jun 2, 2011

If this is your first time I would go with sitting on a water hole as option #1. Spot and stalk is always an option if the location of the antelope is in a position where a stalk could take place. I would suggest you do some pre season scouting on the water holes in the area. If you know the area, then this isn't a big deal. But it happens to many times, someone thinks they have the best water hole, and they find out after two days of no antelope that another water hole was just over the next hill. Blind hunting will be your best chance at a antelope. Just hunt where you know the antelope have been coming in. Just because you find a water hole, doesnt mean the antelope use it. The blind will also hide more of your movement to give you a better chance of taking a shot with a bow.

Setting up your blind requires some thought as well. How far is dependant on your shooting range. I like to set mine up around 25-30 yards away. I know where the sun will come up in the morning as well. I don't want the sun shinning in the blind while trying to shoot. Try to set if off any mark trails coming into the blind. If it rains, go to option #2.

If your hunting in August, trying to decoy in antelope may not be your best bet. I suggest use the terrain to your advantage to get close enough for a shot. The other spot and stock option would be to use a newer product out last year. It's a company called Bethedecoy.com Its a decoy you wear. It looks funny at first, but I used it last year and it worked great. It can also be worn to get to the blind if you show up a little after first light. The antelope see what looks like another antelope going to water from a distance, and that gives them confidence to come in to water as well. Plus you will have the antelope hat in the blind with you, in case you get a spot and stalk opportunity. It's just another tool to have incase option #1 is not producing. ou can only use during a archery only season.

Hope this helps. I remember my first antelope hunt, and it was one of the best hunts of my life.

Pronghorn73 · Jun 3, 2011

Using a blind at a waterhole is the most productive way to take an antelope with a bow. From my experience once you pattern the goats they are quite predictable as to when they come in to water everyday and the way they aproach. As far as spot and stalk go's I believe this has got to be the ultimate challenge for taking antelope with archery gear. I have never taken one spot and stalk with a bow yet, but have had a good time trying..........be prepared for a lot of failed stalks, but with antelope hunting you usually get several opportunities a day, good luck!

Reflex · Jun 3, 2011

If you do a good job of scouting the waterholes out and know which ones they are coming to, I would leave the decoy in the truck or the blind. Although decoys work very well at times, they also can scare antelope away, particularly if you are using a buck decoy.

Stringmusic · Jun 3, 2011

Reflex said:
If you do a good job of scouting the waterholes out and know which ones they are coming to, I would leave the decoy in the truck or the blind. Although decoys work very well at times, they also can scare antelope away, particularly if you are using a buck decoy.

+1

I have tried placing a doe butt decoy inorder to get antelope relaxed enough to come in, but all they did was circle down wind. When they didn't smell what they wanted, they left in a hurry.

Pronghorn73 · Jun 4, 2011

Yes, save the decoy for stalking.

BigSurArcher · Jun 4, 2011

Good info here. Keep it rollin'!

Pronghorn73 · Jun 4, 2011

Alright here we go.................when using a decoy get as close you can, preferably 200 yrds or closer before raising the decoy (get in his territory), and make sure the buck doesen't see you put it up. This can be tricky and I know it's been said many times before but no matter how flat the country looks there is usually more contour than one would think. Study the lay of the land and go for it! I have attempted many stalks that were not ideal conditions, but like I mentioned earlier, with antelope hunting you can get many stalks in a day. The more you try, the more you will learn. Oh, I almost forgot, make sure you invest in a good pair of knee pads and pick up a copy of Mike Eastman's book, Hunting Trophy Antelope..............and don't leave home without it!

Drhorsepower · Jun 4, 2011

I know some guys that killed nice antelope with a bow out of that unit. They set up on water holes. Now is the time though to go scout and put your blind up to mark your hole. Good luck

nv-hunter · Jun 5, 2011

if you put your blind up now remember to put your name and phone number in it in a bottle so people can find out when you will be hunting.

Pronghorn73 · Jun 5, 2011

Another thing to consider when deciding wich way to hunt is the fact that when you sit on a water hole, you are more limited to the antelope that will frequent that hole. When you spot and stalk you can choose which goat you want to go after. Just something to take into consideration when looking for a trophy antelope. Not saying that the B&C bucks don't have to drink, but just something to keep in mind. The trick here if sitting on water would be to get some good scouting in to try to determine which antelope are watering at which hole, as they are territorial animals.

Stringmusic · Jun 5, 2011

If your hunting public land, just set your blind up the morning of your hunt. This is if your using a portable fold out blind. My experience has been the antelope don't care. Just make sure you have no moving pieces flapping in the wind when the blind is set-up. The quickest way to spook the antelope, is movement or sound of the blind.

Pronghorn73 · Jun 5, 2011

Your right on Stringmusic, last year about 20 head watched my brother and I set the blind up in the evening and the next day they came right in. The day after that we got to the blind a little late and they busted us getting in from about 1000 yrds, we watched them for 6 hrs and the buck pushed his does right in...........fatal mistake, my brother took him at 30yrds. The cool thing about this particular pond we sit on is it sits right under a small mountain and the antelope come over the top from the west in the morning and we have a perfect view of them as they feed down to the water. They get to the pond between 1:00 and 2:00 every time.

Joe Hulburt · Jun 5, 2011

I hunted pronghorn in Oregon out of a blind and in Wyoming spot and stalk last year with the bow. I would say the most productive way to get within easy bow range is out of a blind. It isn't as boring as I expected and I look forward to doing it again.

How pronghorn react to a new blind depends a lot on where your hunting and how dry it is. I tried to set up the day of the hunt last year and never had an animal come near the first three days and I watched them drink there from a distance the day before season. There was more water close by and given the option of accepting the new blind or going elsewhere they choose to go elsewhere. I was set up and in my blind in the dark so it wasn't that they caught me. I later moved to a much drier area and they came to water the day I sat the blind up. I guess it is obvious that to hunt a blind you want thirsty critters! THe thing is the best bucks were in the area with a lot of water....

DryFlyGuy · Jun 18, 2011

I spot and stalked my antelope (same antelope) at least 15 times before I sealed the deal. Great accomplishment for me, but I doubt I'll ever do that again. It just so happened that I was on a jobsite that allowed me to hunt every morning and evening.

I'm just not wired to sit and wait.

Antelope Hunting - Blind vs Spot-n-Stock w/ Decoy

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