Scout Early and Often:
- Learn Their Patterns: Antelope are creatures of habit and often have predictable patterns for feeding, watering, and bedding. Scouting well in advance helps you understand their routines and identify key locations.
- Use Trail Cameras: Setting up trail cameras where able can provide valuable insights into antelope movement and patterns, allowing you to plan your hunt more effectively.
· Understand Their Behavior:
- Be Aware of Their Senses: Antelope have excellent eyesight and are quick to detect movement. They are also sensitive to changes in their environment. Being stealthy and minimizing movement is crucial.
- Utilize the Wind: Antelope have a strong sense of smell. Always hunt with the wind in your favor to avoid detection. Use wind indicators to keep track of changing wind directions.
· Stop and Stalk Hunting Techniques:
- Early in the Archery Season: Spot and Stalk bucks during the heat of the day when they are bedded. Picking and choosing your stalks is very crucial. Antelope have incredible senses, and you want to ensure you have the best opportunity for an approach.
- Use Terrain to Your Advantage: Antelope mostly live in open, flat landscapes, making it challenging to get close. Use terrain features like hills, ditches, or vegetation to conceal your approach.
- Move Slowly and Steadily: When stalking, keep your movements slow and deliberate. Avoid sudden movements that could alert the antelope. Sometimes it’s best to close the gap and then let the animal make the next move (mess up!)
· Other Effective Strategies:
- Sitting Water in a blind: This can be an effective way to Archery hunt antelope. Antelope are very reliant on water and will go to water almost daily. Try to find a few water sources in your hunt area and place a blind. Every area is different, but we have seen is most Antelope will water from 6-10am or 5pm-dark. During the rut you may get activity on that water hole throughout the day as bucks are more active chasing does or fighting. Blind position is also key, face the blind north or south to avoid sun washed angles.
- Decoy Setup: Using a decoy can be very effective, especially during the rut when antelope are more territorial. Place the decoy where it’s visible and where you expect the antelope to come.
- Decoy Positioning: Ensure your decoy is placed in a spot that encourages the antelope to come closer, ideally within range of your bow. Make sure you are well-hidden and ready for the shot.
· Prepare for the Shot:
- Practice at Distance: Antelope are often shot at longer ranges due to their speed and the open terrain. Practice shooting from various distances to build confidence and accuracy with both archery and rifle equipment.
- Know Your Equipment: Ensure your bow is properly tuned and your rifle is dialed for the elevation. Familiarize yourself with how wind and distance may affect your shots.
-Shane Wolfe
