Colorado OTC pronghorn

[PredatoryProwler]

For those of you who have done OTC archery pronghorn in Colorado, how was it? How bad is pressure on public lands on the OTC units east of I25? Are some of the units out west of I25 worth it? Is it hard getting permission for private lands? I'm not looking for anybody's spots nor units just general advice would be appreciated. How far is the the average shot/shot opportunity?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I assume you are talking about Archery....as they are the only ones available otc.

 

[PredatoryProwler]

I assume you are talking about Archery....as they are the only ones available otc.

Yep

 

[Coveyleader]

I used to hunt OTC up north, it was great, easy access. Since then, it went to draw, and I've taken a drive around the OTC units in central east CO and from what I've seen the antelope are in pockets and it makes it harder to figure out where one should try and ask permission etc. I gave up, and I'm not one that normally gives up on anything hunting related but in the areas I drove, I just didn't see the numbers that would even drive me to sitting a waterhole.

 

[PredatoryProwler]

I used to hunt OTC up north, it was great, easy access. Since then, it went to draw, and I've taken a drive around the OTC units in central east CO and from what I've seen the antelope are in pockets and it makes it harder to figure out where one should try and ask permission etc. I gave up, and I'm not one that normally gives up on anything hunting related but in the areas I drove, I just didn't see the numbers that would even drive me to sitting a waterhole.

How bad was pressure back then on public lands? For private lands about how much were trespass fees?

 

[Coveyleader]

How bad was pressure back dthen on public lands? For private lands about how much were trespass fees?

No clue, on paid access, I have always got on just being myself. I rarely getvturned away for deer or antelope, but these days I don’t have a good antelope place. OTC here is a far cry from WY, There are very few properties out east that have real numbers from where I’ve spent my time. Up north in the 2000s it was nothing to see 100 or more antelope in a short drive. Now? If I see 10 it’s a good trip

 

[PredatoryProwler]

No clue, on paid access, I have always got on just being myself. I rarely getvturned away for deer or antelope

Noted. Would you usually stalk them or wait in a blind? Was there any problem with them jumping the string like you sometimes see with whitetail? If you did wait in a blind what would you look for in a good watering hole for them.

 

[Coveyleader]

I did both but most of the ones I killed were over water.

The number one thing to look for is a waterhole that is absolutely smashed with tracks. You’ll know when you find it. My days of sitting a blind on marginal setups are long gone. Sitting on slow days is torture, and I always try to sit when there is a series of hot days in a row, with no rain.


Antelope are very jumpy. I bet “jumping the string” was coined after hunting them early on with bows and arrows. Make no mistake their reflexes are impressive.