Archery pronghorn in the national grasslands

[SilentPursuit]

This will be my first archery antelope hunt. What’s my best strategy, hunt water, hunt fence crossings or spot and stalk. I’ll utilize all three but maybe some of you have advice. Between the cattle water tanks and how much rain we got this summer there’s bound to be plenty of water. Spot and stalk will be tough unless I head towards terrain features which it’s pretty flat in the Pawnee. I’m heading out this weekend to do some scouting and put up a camera somewhere. I have also heard getting permission on private for speed goat with a bow is a pretty good option so i may knock on some doors as well. Any advice is appreciated

 

[bkjastrebsky]

Are you hunting South Dakota? When are you heading out?

 

[KcRoyals85]

A former manager and I used to spot and stalk in very western kansas. We had to stay low and move slow but we could get within 60 yards for a shot if the topography was correct (very rare). I'd guess if you have access to their local watering hole that would be the easier and more fruitful way to do it.

 

[Sodak_Lewno]

I typically hunt the Grand River Grassland here in South Dakota for both archery and rifle (rifle is draw dependent of course). I typically glass, then spot and stalk closer. Sometimes, those gimmicky looking decoys attached to a bow work quite well. Other times still hunting by water works well, just like all hunting it is very much factor dependent.

 

[SilentPursuit]

Are you hunting South Dakota? When are you heading out?

No here in Colorado

 

[SilentPursuit]

A former manager and I used to spot and stalk in very western kansas. We had to stay low and move slow but we could get within 60 yards for a shot if the topography was correct (very rare). I'd guess if you have access to their local watering hole that would be the easier and more fruitful way to do it.

Thanks! I have been out scouting multiple times and found some decent terrain features I can use to stalk in. Water is everywhere for the cattle so it’s hard to narrow down one watering spot. There’s some decent bucks out there every time I go out. Gets quite flat in some areas so I’ll avoid them in august.

 

[SilentPursuit]

I typically hunt the Grand River Grassland here in South Dakota for both archery and rifle (rifle is draw dependent of course). I typically glass, then spot and stalk closer. Sometimes, those gimmicky looking decoys attached to a bow work quite well. Other times still hunting by water works well, just like all hunting it is very much factor dependent.

Thanks, after scouting a bit I found water to be pretty available due to cattle. I almost bought a moo cow Montana decoy because there’s so many cows around. They seem to not mind the cows and hangout near them. Which can be problematic with cows being so curious and blowing a stalk. I think I’ll be doing a lot of spot and stalk and burning through fuel with the truck.

 

[zrodwyo]

Follow up if you get one. It would be tough for a grasshopper to sneak up on an antelope in that country.

 

[SilentPursuit]

Follow up if you get one. It would be tough for a grasshopper to sneak up on an antelope in that country.

I will for sure! There’s water everywhere out there because of the cattle. So spot and stalk is probably my best approach.

 

[Page Master]

No here in Colorado

Send me a DM. I tagged out a few years ago doing that hunt.

 

[wytx]

Fence crossing, find a good one and see if you can set up on it.
They will mill around a bit before going under.
Cow decoy works, sounds like you have the right spot for one too.

 

[NMBigGame]

Just got back from my NE NM archery pronghorn hunt. Tag soup for me but had some opportunities. There was water everywhere this year but I noticed the same bucks hitting the same few tanks. If you have the patience to bear it and main goal is harvest, I'd sit water in a ground blind. Probably take a few days or more if the conditions are like what I dealt with but they're pretty consistent.

I don't have the patience or desire to sit all day. So I played the Spot & Stalk game. I had a cow shield from Montana Decoy and it helped. Doesn't allow you to just walk in on them but allowed me to get close a few times. Last day, a nice buck gave me an opportunity in P&J country and I just flubbed the shot. So many tough parts about Spot & Stalk antelope but one I didn't prepare for was the difficulty of having time to range and draw. I could range but then they'd move. If you're holding a decoy then you have one less hand to do everything. Lost an opportunity fiddling with the range finder and allowed the decoy to blow over.

I ate my tag but still had a blast chasing them and probably do it over again the same way versus sitting water. But that's just me.