Antelope hunting gear

[chiefgobbler]

Get a copy of Mike Eastman's "Hunting Trophy Antelope" book. Great tips as well as gear lists. Usually not many trees in Antelope country so learn the gutless method to clean your buck (great videos on this site). I like to use the Caribou game pack that has quarter bags and small ground cover. Easy to fit in the day pack and take care of an animal in the field. In some areas an extra spare tire is a must. Lots of ice and an ice chest to keep the meat cool. Watch out for rattlesnakes! I ran into one while packing my buck out in Wyoming last year in October on a sunny day after a cold front and snow. Thought they would be hibernating already. Scared the !##! out of me. If you want to have your trophy mounted, talk to the taxidermist and get advice on how to care for the cape. Hair slippage can be a problem with Antelope.

 

[ore hunter]

gps w chip,I third this,,,,also good spotting scope ,,another idea you may think about is a game hanger that mounts to your truck,,,sometimes trees are hard to find in some parts out there.

 

[6mm Remington]

Game bags are a given so you can skin them out and hang them to cool unless you have a meat cutter nearby in a town where you can take them to be dropped off. Still nice to have the game bags even at that. Gambrel's to hang them with is nice also.

 

[Work2hunt]

Good stuff. Thanks everyone. Maps check. Game bags check. I'm a gutless quarter type of guy so I'll definitely have my bags. I'll definitely need to make sure I have coolers with ice and jugs of water to help wash off the meat.

 

[zacii]

Is there a prioritized list of gear for some of us who can't afford to get everything the first time?

An example being: probably better to get a spotting scope before a gps, yes or no?

 

[BobT]

This is a pretty good thread about what to take,

http://forum.eastmans.com/showthread.php/8815-Stuff-you-forgot-to-pack!?p=114045#post114045

 

[Murdy]

Is there a prioritized list of gear for some of us who can't afford to get everything the first time?

An example being: probably better to get a spotting scope before a gps, yes or no?

Depends on your individual situation. If you are hunting an area with huge tracts of public land so trespassing is not a concern, gps becomes less important . If you have a lot of public intermixed with private, the gps will open up a lot of hunting opportunities (and help you avoid legal problems as well). If you're prone to getting lost gps also becomes more important.

 

[bdan68]

What are the best knee pads for antelope hunting? I forgot to pick some up last year for our antelope hunt in the Sheridan area. Luckily as it turned out we got our four does and never had a need for the knee pads. But we will hopefully be spending more time chasing antelope this year, and in a different unit, so I don't want to go without the knee pads this time. But I just have no idea what kind to get. We did stop at a couple stores in Idaho as we were driving to Sheridan, and couldn't find any knee pads that looked like they'd protect the knees from cactus.

 

[Hilltop]

What are the best knee pads for antelope hunting? I forgot to pick some up last year for our antelope hunt in the Sheridan area. Luckily as it turned out we got our four does and never had a need for the knee pads. But we will hopefully be spending more time chasing antelope this year, and in a different unit, so I don't want to go without the knee pads this time. But I just have no idea what kind to get. We did stop at a couple stores in Idaho as we were driving to Sheridan, and couldn't find any knee pads that looked like they'd protect the knees from cactus.

There are probably better ones on the market but I just use cheap construction pads. The outside is a hard plastic with padding inside to make them comfortable. You wouldn't want to wear them all day but for a stalk they work great.

 

[Againstthewind]

That's pretty much what I was thinking, tile guys and concrete guys always seem to have good knee pads, so go to a specialty store maybe, maybe they have better ones than the home despot or something.

 

[roknHS]

Check out Blackhawk knee pads. I just ordered a pair for antelope hunting. I don't think I'd like the plastic ones.

 

[libidilatimmy]

When you're looking at knee pads, look for ones that have the buckle style clasps instead of velcro. They're quiet to take on and off and adjust easier when you're wearing the. Also I think that they're overall more comfortable to wear.

 

[shootbrownelk]

I'd also say that the deboning and icing of the meat is a good idea if you have an any antelope tag. If you have doe tags you'll need to keep evidence of sex on the carcass. Some fellas I saw a few years ago found that out the hard way.

 

[bdan68]

I'd also say that the deboning and icing of the meat is a good idea if you have an any antelope tag. If you have doe tags you'll need to keep evidence of sex on the carcass. Some fellas I saw a few years ago found that out the hard way.

I think I read on here that it's okay to cut off the evidence of sex and keep it in a zip lock bag with the meat. Hopefully that's correct because that's what I intend to do this year with my Wyoming antelope.

 

[Work2hunt]

All good stuff. Thanks guys. My list is getting better.

 

[go_deep]

I think I read on here that it's okay to cut off the evidence of sex and keep it in a zip lock bag with the meat. Hopefully that's correct because that's what I intend to do this year with my Wyoming antelope.

I personally know a warden here in Wyoming and we've had that exact discussion. It has to be attached, unless you are hunting an any sex area and have an any sex tag, then you don't have to have a sex organ period. But if you're in an area where its any sex then after a certain day it turns to female/male only you'd better have a sex organ attached or hope you've been checked and had your tag signed by a warden.

So I just have the sex organ attached and don't worry about it.

 

[libidilatimmy]

I personally know a warden here in Wyoming and we've had that exact discussion. It has to be attached, unless you are hunting an any sex area and have an any sex tag, then you don't have to have a sex organ period. But if you're in an area where its any sex then after a certain day it turns to female/male only you'd better have a sex organ attached or hope you've been checked and had your tag signed by a warden.

So I just have the sex organ attached and don't worry about it.

Right, I think the letter of the law states that the proof of sex has to be attached to an eatable portion of the animal, or naturally attached, if you've quartered the animal.

 

[HiMtnHnter]

Right, I think the letter of the law states that the proof of sex has to be attached to an eatable portion of the animal, or naturally attached, if you've quartered the animal.

I believe they did away with the naturally attached rule. Evidence of sex just has to accompany the carcass.

 

[libidilatimmy]

Here's the regulation as written. I'd check with a warden to be certain on the issue of having to be naturally attached to the carcass and the definition of "accompany the animal".

RETENTION OF EVIDENCE TO IDENTIFY SEX, SPECIES AND HORN OR ANTLER DEVELOPMENT OF BIG GAME ANIMAL HARVESTED.* * Any person who takes any big game animal in a hunt area where the taking of either sex, species, or antler or horn development is controlled or prohibited by regulation shall comply with this section while said animal is in transportation from the site of the kill to the residence of the person taking the animal, or delivered to a processor for
processing.
(a) In hunt areas where the taking of any big game animal is restricted to antler point or horn
size by regulation, the antlers or horns shall accompany the animal as a whole, or edible portion thereof.

(b) In hunt areas where the taking of any big game animal is restricted to a specific sex of animal by regulation, either the visible external sex organs, head or antlers shall accompany the animal as a whole, or edible portion thereof.

(c) In hunt areas where the taking of a species of deer is controlled or prohibited by regulation, either the head or the tail of the deer shall accompany the animal, or edible portion thereof as evidence of the species taken.

 

[Hilltop]

I asked a warden last year as we were taking my wife's cow elk out. He told me I could keep evidence of sex in a zip lock in the cooler with the elk. He said I didn't have to leave it attached.