Antelope in rough terrain

Swampyak

FNG
Joined
Feb 21, 2020
Messages
73
Does anyone hunt antelope in rough/broken terrain on foot? Have you had much success doing so?
Thanks
 
Does anyone hunt antelope in rough/broken terrain on foot? Have you had much success doing so?
Thanks

I hiked a couple miles from the road over some rocky bluffs in 2018 and found some unmolested antelope that you couldn’t see from the truck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You might not be able to spot them from 5 miles away, but rough/broken terrain is great for getting close to them if you use it to your advantage.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The name of the game if you are interested in trophy antelope is to cover as much country and look at as many bucks as possible. Although monster bucks may be in isolated country off the beaten path it often is possible to glass these areas from high points to speed things up and cover more ground.

Obviously in areas with lots of hunting pressure it is likely worth spending time in rougher country where bucks may get pushed. In lightly hunted areas it may be more of an advantage to cover more ground. Not many antelope hunters leave their trucks so there is a definite advantage in high pressured units to get off the beaten path.
 
Does anyone hunt antelope in rough/broken terrain on foot? Have you had much success doing so?
Thanks

All the time. It’s all relative, I’ve never seen one in a tiny gully or washout, but many of them in small draws, even along the edge of trees here and there. In my favorite spot I have a pattern where I check out broken terrain, small draws, etc, and almost always see them.

I do see more in the wide open for sure, but it’s nice when you can get closer when they’re tucked into a smaller place. Challenge is how to not skyline yourself for finding them, then setting up a shot.
 
Thanks for the replys
Always wonder when hunting antelope if I should be trying to spend more time looking for spots that cant be seen from roads.
On my oldest son and I last doe hunt we came across a very nice buck with a doe on a bluff on one of our walks
 
Yes, I have often seen the in rough terrain, in the junipers, deep canyons... but generally they prefer big open country. My first bow kill antelope was in mixed open and pines.
 
Has anyone noticed a tendency of bigger bucks in the broken country in average to good units?

Does it seem to matter if its early or later in the season?

In average to good units have most people found covering ground still the best option even later in the season
 
Has anyone noticed a tendency of bigger bucks in the broken country in average to good units?

Does it seem to matter if its early or later in the season?

In average to good units have most people found covering ground still the best option even later in the season

No notice of bigger or smaller bucks regardless of terrain, at least from my observations.

Late season if it has been snowing, they group up into larger herds and the hunting, IMHO, isn’t near as good.

I hope you draw a good tag and just head out and start walking. you’ll have a blast and learn a ton regardless of the terrain.
 
Back
Top