With 10x Vision and land speeds of up to 65 mph, archery antelope hunting is a true test of a bowman’s abilities. Even the most experienced archery hunter may find it difficult to come into bow range. If you want to tag one of North America’s most unusual species, be ready to sweat, avoid rattlesnakes, and possibly shoot a long distance. With my bow, I’ve been fortunate enough to kill three antelope, and over the years, these hunts have taken me through many emotional highs and lows. If you’re one of the fortunate ones who gets to chase this unusual species this fall, here are some advice for you!
Hunt All Day
Pronghorn tend to reside in open areas where they can use their vision and speed as an asset to protect themselves from predators. While this makes stalking into bow range difficult, it also makes them easier to spot during all times of the day when other game like deer or elk will be tucked into thicker cover. While it can sometimes seem futile, every stalk is a possible opportunity for that one chance you need. Stay after it!
Take a Drink of Water in the Middle of the Day
Bucks need to hit the water regularly because of the high levels of activity during the rut and the hot weather during archery season. Bucks frequently gallop from one end of the landscape to the other attempting to steal a competitor buck’s does or chasing off other bucks from their does. One of the best bow hunting techniques for antelope is sitting water, but you’ll need to work up a sweat in the blind. The middle of the day is just as excellent as or better than any other time of the day, so don’t skip it. Just be aware that bucks can arrive out of nowhere. Before climbing in, make careful to inspect your blind for snakes!
Put forth every effort
We would advise attempting a variety of strategies; we have used decoys with success and failure. Although it appears that occasionally they will flee upon spotting the decoy, in 2013 my colleague shot his antelope after a buck charged his bow-mounted decoy and stopped at a distance of 40 yards. I also successfully shot one of my antelope at 11 yards using a Moo Cow Decoy that my buddy was carrying while he was strolling in front of me. I previously had a longer shot that I missed because I tried to crawl into open territory while wearing knee protectors.
Having Faith in Your Bow
Being skilled and secure with your bow is crucial for any bow hunt. Since antelope are considerably smaller than mule deer or elk, you probably need to take a longer shot. With broadhead practice, you can improve your accuracy and ensure that your arrows fly straight. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that since I only have one shot during an archery big game hunt, I had better make it count.
If you are one of the fortunate ones hunting antelope this year, I wish you luck. It can seem impossible at times, but when you eventually connect, the taste of success is even better.
