Most Important Antelope Gear

[DABAU]

Well I just got done scraping ice off my truck here in Georgia. I don't exactly get to do that every day and being stuck at home being completely unproductive trying to get some work done, I figured I would ask the following question just to see what everyone thinks:

If you had to name only one piece of equipment what would be the single most important item in your arsenal for antelope hunting. Guns don't count.

 

[QuazyQuinton]

Toilet paper!

Seriously, if guns don't count, then binoculars are at the top of the list. No question.

QQ

 

[chow hound]

GPS with landowner chip. 2nd would be a range finder capable of ranging and animal to 500 yds - being from the East, I didn't realize when a range finder says 500 yds range that they are talking about something like a stop sign. An animal is probably 1/2 the stated range.

 

[DABAU]

Toilet paper!

Seriously, if guns don't count, then binoculars are at the top of the list. No question.

QQ

I figured it would be binoculars. I may have to add that to the list of items that don't count.

 

[Musket Man]

Good optics would be #1 on my list in an area with lots of public land, if there wasnt alot of public land gps and chip would be #1.

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

No doubt…optics, but then again bullets would be high on my list. Then again, an antelope tag would likely trump all.

 

[Elkoholic307]

Rangefinder

 

[libidilatimmy]

Assuming you have the essential hunting items (bullets, optics, etc.), always take a bipod/shooting stick to rest on. Where the antelope roam, there are very few plants tall enough to get a good rest on.

Next would be a couple coolers packed full of ice. Given the time of year most of us are hunting speed goats, it's essential, in regards to meat quality, to make sure the carcass get cooled down rapidly after taking the animal. On every antelope I shoot, I skin, quarter, put quarters in plastic bags, and put meat in the coolers within 30 minutes of taking the shot. Never ate a bad antelope using this method.

 

[hardstalk]

Optics and knee pads. Comfy ones!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Optics and knee pads. Comfy ones!

Don't forget the gloves too! I hate those damn small cactus that I always seem to put my hand into.

 

[QuazyQuinton]

Assuming you have the essential hunting items (bullets, optics, etc.), always take a bipod/shooting stick to rest on. Where the antelope roam, there are very few plants tall enough to get a good rest on.

Next would be a couple coolers packed full of ice. Given the time of year most of us are hunting speed goats, it's essential, in regards to meat quality, to make sure the carcass get cooled down rapidly after taking the animal. On every antelope I shoot, I skin, quarter, put quarters in plastic bags, and put meat in the coolers within 30 minutes of taking the shot. Never ate a bad antelope using this method.

If I'm not allowed to pick binoculars, then I'm going with this. Rangefinder yes, but I do love antelope meat if it's taken care of. I still think TP is important though.

QQ

 

[Umpqua Hunter]

I would want my iPhone app that automatically estimates the antelope's score from a picture. Not really, but it WOULD be cool.

 

[DABAU]

Lots of good items listed. Looks like I'm going to have an early Christmas wishlist this year.

 

[packer58]

I would want my iPhone app that automatically estimates the antelope's score from a picture. Not really, but it WOULD be cool.

What the hell...........There's not an app for that !!!!!!

 

[packer58]

For me, the critical "must have" equipment for locating and evaluating Antelope are:

1- Good binoculars
2- Good spotting scope / tripod
3- Folding lawn chair to set comfortably behind the spotting scope, doesn't seem like a big deal till you don't have one !!!!

 

[JEandAsGuide]

Gps and chip!!

 

[480/277]

1 binocs
2 spotter
3 gps with chip
4 coolers/ice
5 pack/ knife / game bags

 

[Plainsman]

Another vote for optics! Good binocs are just that- good to have. If it's feasible though, I will carry the extra weight on a pack to have a spotting scope with me. My biggest reason is not only greatly extending the distance I can see, but also for giving me the best chance to field judge the critter.

 

[4corn]

just did antelope hunt this past november. shooting sticks were most important item to me.

 

[mcseal2]

We spent a LOT of time on our spotters judging antelope on our last trip. I'd almost put a good spotter ahead of binos for antelope. We went to our unit 3 days before season to scout, spent a lot of time in the vehicle before season glassing.

I'd go:
Spotter (we had a Nikon ED50 and a Vortex Razor 20-60) good tripod and window mounts
Binos (we had Zen Ray 8x, Zeiss 8x and 10x, and Steiner 12x) I think a good 15x would really be good here
Rangefinder (we had Leupold 1000 and Bushnell 1200) Next time I will have a 1600yd Leica, really want a better rangefinder
Shooting sticks/Bipod (we use Stoney Point rapid pivot, now marketed as Primos Polecat)
GPS with area map showing public/private, roads, etc.

Other gear we used

Giant cooler with dry ice, smaller cooler with food and drinks
Shovel (front bumper receiver hitch dug into a ditch, had to dig a little)
Gerber hatchet to bust joints when removing quarters at truck, save edge on our knives
Good boots that hold up to cactus
Eberlestock X1A1 and J34 packs
Blackhawk knee pads
Havalon knives