Need thoughts on Antelope hunting with a bow

[Rhino0427]

I recently won a five day, semi-guided, antelope bow hunt for August-September east of the Springs. I'm fairly new to Colorado and don't have a ton of experience bow hunting. Anyone have any tips/hints or research suggestions to get ready? Obviously I'll go to Sportsmans or somewhere similar to get the bow and arrows set up. I'm looking more for advice on the actual hunt or for resources to go to get "smart". Also, what should I expect from a semi-guided hunt? I've had guided bird hunts before, but never semi-guided or with big game.

I know these are some newby questions, but I'd rather ask stupid questions than take a stupid shot.

[gnihcraes]

Semi-Guided? Not sure what that really means. They will locate and drive you close to the antelope and let you go on your own from there?

They really are not an animal to "Stalk". For many years, my family has hunted them on "water" - meaning we setup a blind or tree stand on a water hole, water well, windmill producing water for Cattle. Sit and wait.

If the guide already has something like this setup, then that is good I would say.

I've heard of folks shooting fancy compound bows, over draws, light arrows out to a 100 yards and hitting the animals successfully. Equipment costs will be High I believe.

So, I'm not sure this is any help? Just depends on what the Guide involves.

[def90]

Guided hunts are like having a golf caddy. they will take you right to the animal and coach you on what to do down to pulling the trigger, they typically also clean and pack the animal out for you. A semi guided hunt is a hunt on private land where they will show you exactly where to go and give you a bit of coaching on what to do and what to expect but they are not there in person to direct you to the animal or coach you to the pull of the trigger, you will likely need to clean and pack your own animal. Semi guided hunts are often just like fully guided hunts in which you stay in a lodge and all of your other food and lodging stuff is taken care of for you.

A semi guided hunt is going to require that you at least know some hunting basics and have a bit of skill and experience with your firearm/bow of choice.

[4gunfun]

I've hunted antelope in Wyoming a couple times. Hunting them with a bow sounds crazy.

[Citizen_Soldier]

You're gonna be doing a lot of waiting... My roommate bow hunts antelope and deer. From what he tells me, I don't envy his antelope hunts one bit. Personally I might consider deer hunting with a bow, but pronghorn are just too jumpy and I don't have that much patience.

[TRnCO]

most archery antelope are shot over a water hole. IF that is what your hunt turns out to be, over water, be prepared for long hot days in a blind. When I say long, I mean you're in the blind before sunrise, and not out until you kill or the sun goes down. It'll test your patience.
Spot and stalk is very difficult, but also really fun. There are places in Colo. that the terrain allows some success, and then there are lands that you simply won't be able to sneak up on them because it's too flat. I've been successful twice and spot and stalk antelope with my bow. IF you go spot and stalk, be prepared for longer shots. If you go spot and stalk, look for single animals. It's much easier to sneak up on one than it is a herd.
I'm guessing that being guided, or partially guided, they'll put you in a blind. Take some books, plenty of water, food, a ipod, and anything else that you can think of that will help you kill time.

[CO Hugh]

I believe they make decoys for hunting them with a bow for stalking. I'd recommend searching you tube you may find some videos of people that were successful at it.

[wyome]

Most of my antelope/pronghorn hunting was done from a blind of some sort...near water.
One guy we hunted with in Wyoming, out by Gillette, used a couple cow shaped decoys we carried till we got close enuf for a shot...kinda fun, not always a guarantee of a kill...everything spooks antelope, except for cows

[Colorado Osprey]

I help guide antelope hunting east of Springs on about a dozen or two private properties.... I'm interested to know who's property you will be on. I'm betting T-Cross. (Which I've hunted lots of parcels many times)
Bow hunting by spot and stalk is some of the toughest hunting in the world but it can be done. Stock tanks (cattle water tanks) and blinds are the only way to have a chance with a novice bow hunter.
Unit 110 is currently highly depleted of antelope. The DOW has put high kill numbers on the area and the population has been easily cut by 2/3 in the last 2 years.
The largest population is on the Banning Lewis Ranch (BLR) which is over populated but the ranch manger does not allow hunting... the reason for the over population.
Properties bordering the BLR have huntable populations but they come and go into the BLR.

Good luck BTW.

My only wisdom that I can add... practice shooting from various positions including sitting. Shoot at various targets at elevation changes (up and down) and at unknown distances to get you up to speed on judging distances. When you get good at this you will be ready. There is an excellent range at the USAF Academy with unmarked distances to help practice. It is open to the public but you will have to join a membership to get access.

[denverco]

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/2012/08/how-execute-your-decoy-stalk

Good article from F&S.

[gnihcraes]

Some archery trophies to help you along:

Friend of mine:

http://worldclassbows.com/trophyroom/d/478-2/DSC00628.JPG

Friend of my Dad's

http://worldclassbows.com/trophyroom/d/75-2/Image8.jpg

Another freind of Dad's

http://worldclassbows.com/trophyroom/d/90-2/Image14.jpg

And my Dad!

http://worldclassbows.com/trophyroom/d/552-2/KC_Antelope2010.jpg

Plenty more where these come from. (Antelope and Trophy Photo's) :)

[Rucker61]

Wow. Those are all longbow/recurve kills. Doubly impressed.

[hunterhawk]

Awesome pictures! Antelope are a tough critter to hunt with a compound.. Even harder with a recurve/long bow.. I need to get one with my compound first..

Op if you are just starting out with a bow and going to try to hunt antelope I think you are going to hate hunting.. Antelope are crazy hard to spot and stalk.. I don't have the patients to wait in a blind all day but I'm sure it may be easier to actually get one! I would suggest a range finder for your first time antelope hunting. I kept shooting under them my first year.. Good luck though and wish you the best! Wish I could win a hunt someday!

[denverco]

From the limb design at least one of those bows appears to be a Wapiti.

[gnihcraes]

From the limb design at least one of those bows appears to be a Wapiti.

Well, all of them are. ;)

The man in the last photo made them too.

[denverco]

Yeah thats what I thought. I've got one. I knew the builder was local. Glad to know he's around.

[MileHighOutlaw]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd295/paintball_lovers/IMG_8136.jpg

This was my first antelope harvest taken last year. I spent three years spot and stalking before I took this one down at 47 yards.

[whistlepig]

Hello, I hunt Lope,s with a 54 cal muzzleloader. I have found what works for me is a flat belly crawl and I mean flat. get some elbowe and knee pads and slither up close. I have gotten as close as 60 yards but I am using a rifle and do not have to draw and fire. It takes a long time but is worth it in the end. Where are you going hunting at?

[Hummer]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd295/paintball_lovers/IMG_8136.jpg

This was my first antelope harvest taken last year. I spent three years spot and stalking before I took this one down at 47 yards.

My hat's off to any hunter who successfully takes a goat with a bow! Nice work, sir.

While I was a pretty good archer and have hunted with a bow, I like taking home the meat every year. Only about 15% of my big game rifle kills have been within bow range <45 yds. There's a reason why archery pronghorn tags are easy to get and success is around 5%.

Even hunting with a rifle, duck walking and belly crawling to get a shot on antelope is often part of the game.

My advice, assuming you'll be placed in a blind, take lots of water, a pack full of patience, and maybe a good book.

[battle_sight_zero]

I have no hunted them with a bow but my brother in law who has the TV show love of the hunt has. I watched him one year and he set up on some routine Pronghorn paths. In this particular area they ran a barb wire fence line through the day. I use this same tatic for them during rifle season. Yes pronghorn go every where pretty darn quick but I do notice that herds move the same way when pressure ed. If youcplan do use a blind put it out a month in advance. They pick things up pretty quickly as we all know.