Antelope Trifecta

[Big Flounder]

Sounds like a fantastic hunt right there! Congratulations!

 

[WI Shedhead]

And a lot of good eating!!!!! Smoked antelope hindquarters bone in is a “not to miss” meal at our place

 

[NW_Whitetail]

Despite the generally declining numbers and the added challenges of drought and disease, this was a very good year for antelope. I am an equal opportunity hunter, but a little more opportunistic in looking for a pronghorn.

Wyoming
Mostly young bucks were seen which bodes well for the next couple of years as they grow up. This guy was hiding in the last corner possible with a large harem. They moved off a bit and I took advantage of the pause when he stopped to look back.
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Colorado
I drove straight to my unit in Colorado to give myself a few days of scouting. It was disappointing to see so few antelope. In years past, you could toss a rock into he air and it would land on one. I struggled for five days before I was able to finally stalk in to 120 yards on this buck.
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Montana
Coming back home didn't mean the hunting was easier. My parents had their first antelope tags in decades and I helped them to find theirs. Then a return trip back across the state and four days later finally filled my tag. This was one of my favorite experiences being able to watch him for nearly an hour before he presented a shot.
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The theme this year seemed to be perseverance. Pushing on until there was no more light, no more time, no more to give. What waited for me were beautiful bucks and a season full of experiences.

Congrats on an awesome season for you and your parents! Very nice lopes.

 

[robertpaulsen]

Great season! Good eats!

 

[Dzhunt]

Way to go! Good job.

 

[wytx]

Very cool !!

I did a multi state one year ; NM, Colorado, Texas and here in Wyoming. Learning some different behaviors down in NM was interesting- they jump fences like they aren't there.

 

[dwhite0622]

Awesome work. Pretty sweet to triple in a year. It’s getting harder to even pull MT tags.

 

[gsiler23]

Very cool !!

I did a multi state one year ; NM, Colorado, Texas and here in Wyoming. Learning some different behaviors down in NM was interesting- they jump fences like they aren't there.

Interesting. In the past, I've read that they don't jump fences at all. Must be a mind over matter deal or required to survive in NM.

 

[406life]

Interesting. In the past, I've read that they don't jump fences at all. Must be a mind over matter deal or required to survive in NM.

They definitely don't like to do it. Their two middle toes are their hooves, so imagine jumping on just your two middle toes. They much prefer to outrun their danger. I have video of one doe who was trying to avoid a buck during the rut. She jumped the fence he sat there stymied. Eventually ran about half a mile before he crossed under the fence.

 

[treydfoster]

They definitely don't like to do it. Their two middle toes are their hooves, so imagine jumping on just your two middle toes. They much prefer to outrun their danger. I have video of one doe who was trying to avoid a buck during the rut. She jumped the fence he sat there stymied. Eventually ran about half a mile before he crossed under the fence.

How is that different than any other cloven hooved animal?

 

[gsiler23]

They definitely don't like to do it. Their two middle toes are their hooves, so imagine jumping on just your two middle toes. They much prefer to outrun their danger. I have video of one doe who was trying to avoid a buck during the rut. She jumped the fence he sat there stymied. Eventually ran about half a mile before he crossed under the fence.

Fascinating! Makes me want to hunt NM for antelope!

 

[406life]

How is that different than any other cloven hooved animal?

The short story is that their bones are elongated and thinner to enhance their running adaptation, vs something more bovine or cervine. John Byers book Built for Speed has some very good reading on this.

 

[treydfoster]

The short story is that their bones are elongated and thinner to enhance their running adaptation, vs something more bovine or cervine. John Byers book Built for Speed has some very good reading on this.

Yes I understand their skeleton, especially their leg bones, are built for speed, but the two toes explanation seems to fall short.