Antelope in the Rain?

[Jack321]

Heading on my antelope hunt here next week, and the forecast is calling for rain and storms one of the days.

This will be my 3rd antelope hunt in the last 5 yrs, but Ive never hunted them in the rain/thunder/lightning.

Was wondering how that effects them, if at all? I'm experienced enough to understand "they gotta eat" mentality, but I also understand antelope are normally out and about pretty much all day; roaming, grazing. (Not like muleys or elk that can sometimes be more morning/afternoon hunts.)

Planning on bringing a blind and some chairs if it gets to be a down pour.

But just wondering how much it may effect them?

 

[voltage]

The biggest issue is the mud that the rain can create, and it can make travel difficult. Additionally, the rain can disperse antelope because there may be additional water sources to pick from.

Generally speaking, you will be just as successful as long as you are not the Wicked Witch of the West.

 

[Jimss]

I agree 100% with voltage post above. If there is much rain in gumbo mud country you may not be able to venture far off the main roads. A lot depends on the soil type and if there is rock.

 

[Jack321]

The biggest issue is the mud that the rain can create, and it can make travel difficult. Additionally, the rain can disperse antelope because there may be additional water sources to pick from.

Generally speaking, you will be just as successful as long as you are not the Wicked Witch of the West.

I agree 100% with voltage post above. If there is much rain in gumbo mud country you may not be able to venture far off the main roads. A lot depends on the soil type and if there is rock.

Ok, so it doesnt effect their behavior any? They'll still be out, about and moving?

Its not like other animals that may go lay down under a fern tree to escape the rain?

 

[S-3 ranch]

I have hunted pronghorn many times in the rain , yes mud is the only problem
Until the wind dries up the roads

You never said where you are hunting?

Where I hunt is kinda rocky or sandy

 

[Indian Summer]

I agree 100% with voltage post above. If there is much rain in gumbo mud country you may not be able to venture far off the main roads. A lot depends on the soil type and if there is rock.

I know you don’t want to miss a day of hunting, but the posts about the gumbo or real! You could literally get stuck in one spot on level ground. If you have never experienced it, you cannot imagine.

It’s just antelope. Take the day off and stay on the asphalt. Either that or park on the blacktop and cover all of your ground on foot.

As far as the antelope, business as usual. Glass glass glass. Bring extra toilet paper to dry your binoculars.

 

[Jimss]

Antelope are actually tougher to find in high wind. Rain doesn’t do squat to antelope. They’ll hang out on the downwind side of ridges and low in draws on windy days (which is around 75% of the time in WINDY Wyo).

 

[TaperPin]

Bring tire chains for the mud and accept that you can literally be miles from where a 4x4 tow truck won’t want to go, so don’t get stuck. Gumbo mud education is sometimes painful. Many of us don’t want your muddy boots in our nice clean truck.

As for hunting, antelope seem easier to sneak up on, but crawling through mud between sagebrush isn’t fun, and you will have a much harder time spotting a good one with optics. Luckily a lot of storms in antelope country aren’t solid non stop events. Wait for it to clear for a bit, glass from the truck and move around while you can. Ideally you find one and a little weather makes it easier to sneak up on them.

The old guys wait for a rain cloud to pass, even if it takes hours, young guys want to get out in the rain and by the time it clears up they are done and want to leave.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

If there ends up not being much rain or after it quits, cloudy conditions are my favorite for glassing antelope.

Yes, mud will be the biggest obstacle most likely. Hope for more rocky/sandy soil.

 

[wapitibob]

Saturday will be a downpour in WY. If you can’t drive, you can’t walk either; you’ll have 6” of mud stuck to the btm of your shoes. I’m planning on road hunting from the pavement. Should dry out Sunday some time.

 

[Rogue Bay]

On my wife’s pronghorn hunt this year we sat in a wicked thunderstorm for two hours waiting for a bedded buck to stand. It was wild; lightning, thunder, rain, hail, screaming winds. They didn’t seem to mind one bit. I kept telling my wife he’d stand eventually and shake off but he didn’t move until one of his does got up and started to wander off. That was my first experience with pronghorn in anything other than clear, sunny weather.

 

[Jack321]

Thanks guys--this info is helpful.

 

[NVmule]

I have found overcast to be a double edge sword, I remember reading a while back that their vision suffers greatly on overcast or stormy days, this obviously makes it good as it hampers their sight a tad allowing easier stalking from a detection standpoint. The downside is they seem to become that much more weary and skittish because of it. The last one I killed was in 24 on a pretty cloudy dark day. Using open sight muzzloader I wanted to get inside 150-100 yards, I ended up getting to about 120ish when he must have sensed me and just bolted, played that game with the same one 2 more times and about the same distance, just never got a good broadside, and from watching him you could tell even before the first bust he was just on edge. Finally later in the afternoon the clouds broke, turned to a super bright Nevada day and his demeanor visibly changed, and he clearly was picking up on me even further out but just didn't care, was able to get to almost 75 yards doing a zig zag walking pattern trying to not act suspicious, he saw me the entire time but didn't react, just kept feeding a long the fence line I had him stalled at. When I did finally shoot I had to make a few noises and hisses to get him to look up and pause. I would say if it's overcast use it to your advantage, but man if you can find a good buck and weather is breaking intermittently, get on him and just watch him, stay close but not close enough to bust it so you don't keep playing cat and mouse, wait for a good break in weather then pounce once hes relaxed and starts going into less stressed feed mode. Sorry for the long winded rant.

 

[earrow]

Q neighbor neighbor, a good group of friends around me

Saturday will be a downpour in WY. If you can’t drive, you can’t walk either; you’ll have 6” of mud stuck to the btm of your shoes. I’m planning on road hunting from the pavement. Should dry out Sunday some time.

coming from the gumbo country this is very true. You can get 6 inches on your boots. Just getting the gate, PS if you get stuck and go to put your chains on, let me know cause I wanna come watch