Elkcrazy8

Last year we got a lope in to 60 yards with the rag trick. I don't know how it would work getting them within bow range, I killed 2 lopes over water last year and that is your best bet. They were both within 20 yards. Once you figure out the water hole tricks, you will find that they are one of the easiest animals to kill with the bow.

Here is my best tip, if you are hunting a large water hole, string twine on stakes to funnel them to where you can get a shot, they wont cross the imitation fence!!!!!

skeeter 7MM

First antelope buck I killed with the bow a compact mirror was used to draw him in. He was a searching solo and came on a rope, I ended up getting a shot at shade over 40 yards.A few years later Iused white flagging in combo with a decoy to harvest my second antelope with the bow, as did my2 hunting partners on the same trip.Our antelope tag system changed shortly after that and is limited draw only soI haven't had the opportunity to bow hunt them for a number of years but itworked then.

IMO pack the white rag and if legal a decoymay help to suck them in closer ortoa better shooting position.

game4lunch

My problem with the waterhole-trail crossing the fence-in a pop up blind method is I have a lot of trouble just sitting there all day. I got to be out and moving around. Mind numbing borring. I've tried it. Probably will try it again! I've spot and stalked withmy Renzo's and missed a 45 yarder last year. But I'm going to carry a rag with me this year!
Great suggestion on the twine!
They are dumn ****s aren't they. They won't even jump over a fence! They'd rather run miles up & down it to find a spot to crawl under. Only seen two ever jump in all my lope years.

Elkcrazy8

Make sure that your time in the blind is spent comfortable. I set up my blind early and put carpet on the floor. I use a large folding lounge chair to kick back in. Bring plenty of food and water and a good book with you.

Sitting can be crazy at times, but when you have an active hole, who knows what can happen. Blind hunting during the rut seems to work well. I have noticed that the bucks will come to water more often throughout the day as they are running stupid.... Make sure that you are blacked out well in the blind, turn a black t-shirt inside out and wear a black hat. Shoot through netting works well and keeps them from seeing you, the only thing that will bust them quick at this point, is making noise. Make sure that everything is set up for a quiet draw and release. I do a couple of dry runs to make sure that I am not making any noise while grabbing my bow and positioning myself for the shot.

I don't play dirty pool while on public land, but know of methods to keep the goats from watering at adjacent holes when hunting private land, this will increase the odds for lopes watering at your hole.

You can make your own crossing points on fence lines, but you need to make sure that you wont be interfering with cattle operations, It is possible to train their habits to benefit you.

I guess that I am more prone to hunting water holes in our area as there is slim pickens when it come to vegetation, check out the background in our photo, you can see that spot and stalk is out of the question!!!!

Elkcrazy8

Here is another with little vegetation, shot from a blind also!!!

Elkcrazy8

This area had more ground cover, but I stuck with the old methods!!!

Elkcrazy8

Here is a booker that I killed in MT last year from a blind. 71 1/2. Sorry for the lack of field photos, The batteries went dead in my camera. That wont happen again!!!!!

snip

I outfit for antelope and flagging works much better for the rifle hunters than it does archery hunters. When you flag them they are already alert and it is really hard to draw on them. Water holes work much better at least for me. If your rifle hunting most of my clients much rather prefer stocking them anyway.

Elkcrazy8

If I were to try it, I think that I would try it with 2 people and have the shooter 60 -70 yards in front of the flagger.

I would try decoying first. I know of some guys who do that with great success.

snip

Using a decoy works great but you only have about a 10 day window to really be successful and talk about exciting.