Archery Antelope... August or September

[pointingdogsrule]

Going to try for these buggers with the bow once more in Wyoming. My schedule allows for the first week of the season August 15th - 21st or anytime between Sept 7th - 30th. This will be spot and stalk and decoy.

Any suggestions on which time would be the best? We can not factor in the rains, however, is the "rut" stronger during one period vs. another.

Thanks in advance.

good luck to all
the dog

 

[van franke]

My personal experience has been the later the better, Ive had the best rut activity the first two weeks of October. I usually hunt water holes early and decoy later in the season. Its a blast when they are rutting though. Have fun

 

[Khunter]

sept 30 in WY was gun season when I archery hunted there. Used a decoy to GREAT effect on Oct 1st a couple years ago but only after I was sure all the gun hunters had cleared out (it was the 3rd weekend of gun season if memory serves. Don't use a decy if you have any rilfe guys poking around...

. hard to beat spot and stalk for lopes. That sort of action is a blast versus sweating your butt off in a blind, IMO. And you can get in many stalks in a day or two of trying. fun.

 

[Mudranger1]

does the decoy not work early season? say in August?

 

[pointingdogsrule]

Sounds like you guys are suggesting late September. This may work out because my cousin is meeting me in Wymoing for the opener of rifle season on Oct. 1st.

Hunt the last week of September and go right into rifle season (without the bow or decoy, of course).

good luck to all
the dog

 

[mtlion]

Where I hunt (MT) the rut seems to peak around Sept 15. I can get good decoying action later in the season by shopping for the right buck in the right spot...Look for the one drooling and trying to keep that one last hot doe corraled, then get as close as you can before you show him the decoy.