EliAGrimmett
Member
How To Not Waste Time: By Eli Grimmett
Close the distance as fast as you can. Most hunters treat antelope hunting like Elk and Deer and they just sit and scope far too long.
Example:
Several years ago we were approached by a guide who found a buck he thought was over 88" and wanted us to consider it for the NM auction tag hunter. We asked for video of the buck so we could determine if it was going to be worth our time to even go look at. The guide didn't have any video, but was confident in his assessment. We asked why he didn't have any video and how close he was to the buck. He said that he didn't want to spook the buck and that he watched the buck for well over an hour from nearly a mile away. We immediately dismissed the buck as a candidate until the guide could provide us with video or photos that might convince us otherwise.
Had we found that same buck we would have looked at it through our scope for about 10 seconds before trying to close the distance. First, we would have tried to get closer using our truck and just driving as close as possible. Second, if there were no roads and we thought the buck was worth it, we would have started hiking.
Back to the story - the guide finally agreed to get closer and sent us some video he took at about 200 yards. The buck looked like a 84" buck to us (and in an area known to produce tiny heads and ears and horns) and we saved ourselves a ton of time.
We do this very thing in WY and it's one of the reasons we cover so much ground and have been able to find such big bucks.
This is also the reason I recommend using high power binos. I use 15x Swaros. That way, if we start getting too close in the truck and the buck spooks, then I can get a reasonable look in my binos before the buck runs over the hill. I have almost always been able to determine if I needed to pursue the buck further even when I get just a glimpse because I get so close to the buck before it runs off.
There are many other techniques we use for scouting efficiently and I was planning on writing about some of them in the book - if I can ever get it done.
The main thing to remember when antelope hunting - efficiency rules! Above all things, be fast in everything you do, except pulling the trigger.
Close the distance as fast as you can. Most hunters treat antelope hunting like Elk and Deer and they just sit and scope far too long.
Example:
Several years ago we were approached by a guide who found a buck he thought was over 88" and wanted us to consider it for the NM auction tag hunter. We asked for video of the buck so we could determine if it was going to be worth our time to even go look at. The guide didn't have any video, but was confident in his assessment. We asked why he didn't have any video and how close he was to the buck. He said that he didn't want to spook the buck and that he watched the buck for well over an hour from nearly a mile away. We immediately dismissed the buck as a candidate until the guide could provide us with video or photos that might convince us otherwise.
Had we found that same buck we would have looked at it through our scope for about 10 seconds before trying to close the distance. First, we would have tried to get closer using our truck and just driving as close as possible. Second, if there were no roads and we thought the buck was worth it, we would have started hiking.
Back to the story - the guide finally agreed to get closer and sent us some video he took at about 200 yards. The buck looked like a 84" buck to us (and in an area known to produce tiny heads and ears and horns) and we saved ourselves a ton of time.
We do this very thing in WY and it's one of the reasons we cover so much ground and have been able to find such big bucks.
This is also the reason I recommend using high power binos. I use 15x Swaros. That way, if we start getting too close in the truck and the buck spooks, then I can get a reasonable look in my binos before the buck runs over the hill. I have almost always been able to determine if I needed to pursue the buck further even when I get just a glimpse because I get so close to the buck before it runs off.
There are many other techniques we use for scouting efficiently and I was planning on writing about some of them in the book - if I can ever get it done.
The main thing to remember when antelope hunting - efficiency rules! Above all things, be fast in everything you do, except pulling the trigger.
