Pronghorn Hunting

[Crow31]

I am considering an early season pronghorn hunt. I'm looking at CO and KS. CO tag is around 200, season starts Aug 15. KS tag is a little over 300, and season starts around Sept 20. Right now, I'm leaning towards CO b/c season starts earlier and cheaper tag. I'll be doing this diy style. The thing is, I don't know that much about pronghorns. It's gonna be hot that time of year, so I'm thinking that hunting watering holes in the morning and evenings will probably be productive, glassing shady areas through mid-day. What do you think? Is this a good time of year to use decoys? Are pronghorn semi-nocturnal like whitetails? Do you think CO and KS?

[cmill20]

Aug. 15 would probably not be a good time to use decoys since the rut probably will not be started. From my experiences...the rut really gets going up in North Dakota around late September and early October. Your best bet will probably be hunting a water hole!

[iamyourhuckleberry]

I am considering an early season pronghorn hunt. I'm looking at CO and KS. CO tag is around 200, season starts Aug 15. KS tag is a little over 300, and season starts around Sept 20. Right now, I'm leaning towards CO b/c season starts earlier and cheaper tag. I'll be doing this diy style. The thing is, I don't know that much about pronghorns. It's gonna be hot that time of year, so I'm thinking that hunting watering holes in the morning and evenings will probably be productive, It can be. It really depends on the area you are hunting and the water supply in that area. Weather can be a factor as well. An antelope has absolutley no problem drinking from a mud puddle. Sitting at waterhole can be productive, but they also can be a waste of time. glassing shady areas through mid-day. There are no shady areas and the antelope prefer to be in the openwhere they can rely on their incredible eyesight!What do you think?I would hunt Coloradosince there is an abundance of public land. I would come readyand willing toadapt to any situation Iencounter. Speedgoats are not as easy a foe as they are made out to be.this a good time of year to use decoys? NO.Are pronghorn semi-nocturnal like whitetails? No...you will see them all day long. Killing one is another story. Do you think CO and KS? Co...best of luck!

[Crow31]

Thanks for the info. Any other thoughts on decoys? During the rut. Late sept, early oct for CO also? Any other thoughts on public land in CO?
I'll be plenty happy if I just see some, or attempt a stalk. I just like knowing all the options.

ORIGINAL: iamyourhuckleberry

I am considering an early season pronghorn hunt. I'm looking at CO and KS. CO tag is around 200, season starts Aug 15. KS tag is a little over 300, and season starts around Sept 20. Right now, I'm leaning towards CO b/c season starts earlier and cheaper tag. I'll be doing this diy style. The thing is, I don't know that much about pronghorns. It's gonna be hot that time of year, so I'm thinking that hunting watering holes in the morning and evenings will probably be productive, It can be. It really depends on the area you are hunting and the water supply in that area. Weather can be a factor as well. An antelope has absolutley no problem drinking from a mud puddle. Sitting at waterhole can be productive, but they also can be a waste of time. glassing shady areas through mid-day. There are no shady areas and the antelope prefer to be in the openÂ*where they can rely on their incredible eyesight!Â*What do you think?Â*I would hunt ColoradoÂ*since there is an abundance of public land. I would come readyÂ*and willing toÂ*adapt to any situation IÂ*encounter. SpeedÂ*goats are not as easy a foe as they are made out to be.Â*this a good time of year to use decoys? NO.Â*Are pronghorn semi-nocturnal like whitetails? No...you will see them all day long. Killing one is another story. Â*Do you think CO and KS? Co...best of luck!

[MeanV2]

Of the 2 states you mentioned I would pick CO., but WY is king of Speed Goats.

Water holes are your best bet that time of year, and like others have said Decoys would more than likely be a waste of time.

Dan

[TEmbry]

I personally would go with SD or WY...but CO is an excellent place as well from what I hear. Don't worry about early morning late evening watering holes, if it is a dry area, and it is hot (august)...sit over a waterhole all day...Mid day can be your best time for them to come in for water. Like Will said, shade doesn't exist. Give a water hole a day or two, if nothing is showing....switch it up, like he said...all it takes is one tiny seepage or puddle out in that prairie to eliminate nearly all chances of one coming in to your tank/pond to drink. Decoys would be useless, but Spot and Stalk can work....just can be difficult. Find more rugged terrain where possible. watch em and where they bed down, where they are feeding to, etc....look for breaks in terrain such as a ridgeline, creek bed, scrub brush, etc....ANYTHING for you to use as cover to close the difference. We found out our best chances stalking, were to find bucks bedded at the tops of hills. They seem to like to get higher to have a sight advantage...by crawling over from the other side and playing the wind right, we got to 20 yards several times...Getting in bowrange is hard enough out there, getting a shot off can be even tougher.

Just pray you have a dry year and dry area, and whatever waterhole you can find...will be golden. Won't call it easy, but if they are hitting the water it just becomes a waiting game.