2017 Montana Archery Antelope Hunt

    In my opinion, Pronghorn Antelope are one of, if not the most underrated animals to hunt in North America. The terrain these animals live in, along with their keen sense of sight makes for a real test of a hunter's patience. With only a few failed attempts at sneaking on these critters, a hunter realizes the importance of capitalizing on any opportunity. The anatomy of these animals is amazing. Their abnormally large eyes make for some of the best eyesight in the animal kingdom. With each animal supporting a very nice set of eight power binoculars as vision, they make sneaking up on extremely difficult. That in addition to the location of the eyes on the animals head, they can see nearly 360 degrees around them. Making the antelope one of the toughest spot and stalk hunts in North America.

Ever since I was a young boy, hunting antelope was always one of my favorite hunts of the year. Opening day of Montana archery antelope season starts a few weeks before general archery, meaning an exciting kick off to the beginning of our fall hunts. The challenge of harvesting an animal in its natural habitat has always been exciting for me. Hunting an animal that is made to survive in its given environment brings extra meaning to a hunt. I love taking trophy animals, but I find that the harder the hunt, the greater the satisfaction of taking even the most average of animals. So the challenge is what I chase, and that is why I love antelope hunting with a bow. This particular hunt was about as lastminute as I was able to throw together. Leaving my house at well after 1pm, just to make the 3 ½ hour drive to my antelope hunting area where I could only spend the evening, and part of the next morning hunting. Being the middle of September, I knew the rut was well underway on the prairie. My first encounter was with a small buck, no more than 6 inches from base to tip. With such short time to hunt, normally I would have tried to

harvest the buck. But thoughts of a bigger antelope kept my release from grabbing my string, and elected to keep moving insearch of something more mature. As I began to continue covering ground, I came to a herd of 6 or 7 antelope. All does and one solid rutting buck. Glassing them from a half mile away or so, I knew there was no way to get to the buck. With his does spread out running every which way, with him diligently following behind in an effort to keep them together, I figured there was no possible way to get within bow range. There was no terrain to sneak up, or any brush to hide behind, so I elected to keep moving, with hopes that if I returned later they could be in a more favorable position. I drove past the antelope nearly a mile before looking back. Buck chasing does more frantic now trying to keep them together. I decided to head back and give it a try. There was a doe that had separated from the group, and I figured I could possibly make a move on her. I drove back to a washout ditch that led to the base of the big hill the antelope had been perched on. Working my way down the ditch, I could see the buck running back and forth in a 300 yard line in an attempt to keep his ladies together. I decided my best option was to get as close as I could, and hopefully catch the buck running his does, and maybe get a shot at him. I waited until all antelope were out of sight, and made my move. Climbing over a little rise I got to a patch of taller sage brush to hide my

outline. Perched along a fence line I knew this could be a likely path for the antelope to go. The only problem was fairly limited sight. I had no idea when or if the antelope would even come my way. As soon as I was thinking about the odds still definitely stacked against me, I saw a doe running directly at me through the shallow draw I was sitting above. My arrow was knocked, release on the string. The doe came into 30 yards, but I elected to pass and wait. Thinking back I may have even drawn back, but she wasn’t the one, and took off the other direction.

Waiting a few minutes with nothing happening made me think they had possibly moved off. I elected to climb this gradual hill, and see if I could locate the antelope. Dipping into the bottom and gradually going up the other side, keeping a sharp eye around, I slowly moved up the other side. I happened to be looking right, when over my shoulder to my left I heard the familiar sound of an antelope buck grunt. Whipping my head around this antelope buck was parallelling me, going the opposite direction I was. Immediately confused about what was happening, the buck was not even 60 yards out. To my knowledge, he never even looked at me. It could have been the Kryptek Highlander Valhalla series camo I was wearing. Between that and the rut I guess I was nearly invisible. The buck ran right to the trail the doe had taken maybe 10 minutes earlier, presenting me with a beautiful broadside shot at 74 yards. One well placed arrow is all it took and the beautiful animal expired within seconds.

    Experiences like this are what make my anticipation of pursuing the prairie goat one of my favorite hunts. Never knowing what will happen. In open country there’s a million things that can go wrong. But every once in a while there’s a slight bit of luck on your side. That is what keeps us coming back for more. The anticipation of what lies beyond this animal, and what the next could possibly bring. Gear Used: Kryptek Highlander Camo (Vahalla Series), Bowtech BTX 31, Gold Tip Arrows, Slick Trick Broadheads, Cabela's Stalker Boots