Bowhunting Articles
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Pronghorn
Playground by Tom Nelson |
Tom Nelson, well know bowhunter, author, and host of Bowhunter Magazine's American Archer, seen on The Outdoor Channel |
| I had been keeping vigil in my box blind for nearly 4 days now. Finally an extra large antelope buck was making his way towards my water hole. It was almost high noon and the mercury was approaching 80 plus degrees. Although it was still the middle of September, Wyoming's open plains can be brutally hot on a clear and sunny day such as this one. The rut was in full swing and I was a bit surprised to see an antelope of this caliber coming to water without his girlfriends. I surmised that he was quite thirsty from defending his harem of does from rival bucks. I have often watched antelope bucks run themselves ragged herding their does and chasing off love starved bachelors. Surely his herd of does were not far off. I was hunting central Wyoming with outfitter Jim Van Norman. Besides being a top notch outfitter, Jim is an accomplished bowhunter with numerous animals listed in the Pope and Young record book. He knows bowhunting and what it takes, to get within bow range of big game animals such as elk, mule deer and pronghorn. Jim had several wooden box style blinds situated at water holes scattered across the Wyoming prairie. These box blinds were put out several weeks before season and the antelope were acclimated to them. Unlike natural pit blinds that offer minimal cover and no protection from the relentless prairie sun. Box blinds enable the hunter to sit in relative comfort and cover. Jim even had bucket seats from old cars placed in the blinds as seats. The only problem with Jim's blinds were that they were so comfortable that at times you wanted to doze off. All the blinds were situated as to afford the bowhunter 20 yard and under shots. This is important as pronghorn are as quick an animal as walks the earth. With these speed demons jumping the string is as natural as running through sage flats. By restricting your shots to 20 yards one can be assured of placing the arrow where it needs to be. I like to use a bow pulling around 60 - 65 pounds and fast carbon or aluminum arrows. Pronghorn antelope are not especially tough animals so any quality broadhead will work fine provided they are razor sharp. I had practiced in my backyard the month prior to my hunt sitting in a chair and shooting. Now this may not sound like it is a big deal, but I highly recommend that one practice shooting from a sitting position if he or she is going to hunt this way. |
Trust me, there is just enough difference between shooting a bow sitting and standing that practicing this style of shooting is critical to ones accuracy. The buck slowed to a complete stop as he neared the water hole. Water holes are dangerous places for antelope. This is where the coyotes wait in ambush and hunters lay in wait. To an antelope only fools rush in. The buck cautiously approached the water. He eyed the blind suspiciously. Twice he turned and started walking away only to stop and return. The power of the water was overwhelming. Finally after several tense moments he walked to the waters edge, head faked a couple of times and began to suck water.
Even at 20 yards I could hear him vacuuming copious amounts of water. Only now did I begin to draw my bow. Once a antelope commits to drinking, you can be assured of about 10 or so seconds to get your shot off without him spooking. I had already ranged the yardage to his drinking spot. Placing my 20 yard pin on his boiler room, I slowly squeezed the trigger on my release. At the shot the buck lunged forward into the water then reversed his course and headed out for the safety of the open plains. But after no more than 50 yards he ran out of steam. My shot had been text book perfect and my trophy was down in less than 5 or 6 seconds. |
