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I bought a cheap, blemished Rinehart deer target some time ago and "converted" it into a pronghorn buck target for under $100, as opposed to paying $449 for a new Rinehart. I believe that Ermine posted a similar thread some time ago. (Great idea, Ermine!!). I also picked up a Flambeau hard plastic decoy on the cheap, and made it into a pronghorn doe.

Now, I have a Plan B and a plan C.......waterholes, fence crossings (with a decoy), and even a rut scenario that might make a buck jealous....and I have removed the weather from possibly affecting the chance for opportunities...because regardless of precipitation, the bucks will be horny (see what I did there....horny.....pronghorn...get it....Ok, Ok, so I am a little bored waiting for my first hunt....give a Bowsiter a break, will you?!!)

I intend to spray paint one of my blinds a light brown color by spraying it through some grass or reeds...kinds like spraying a gun or bow with paint by holding a fern leave in front of the weapon while spraying. Hopefully, it won't "blob" as much as a darker colored blind would.....

Let's play devils advocate, and assume it is wet, and the antelope aren't coming to water with any frequency. I would default to a fence crossing alternative...because even rutting animals will still be crossing fences, and I can "double-up" on opportunities.

Here's my question......do I put only the doe decoy near the fence crossing (like Cityhunter posted a photo of, in a related thread).....or do I put the buck near the fence crossing WITH the doe? A solitary doe will bring in ANY buck looking for action....while having a buck near the doe, might scare away smaller bucks. I am going to pass on smaller bucks.

I have actually have two sets of horns. One set to replicate a mature animal.....and one set of rather small horns. The mature set might "filter" out all but the biggest and baddest of bucks.....the smaller set might draw them in because it looks like an easy fight to win (kinda like Pat versus Chicken salad or Bratwurst....hint....bet on the food every time). I should also mention that the ears of the deer doe decoy are huge....so I opted to make some much narrower ears for the pronghorn doe. Took all of one minute to "whittle" two ears out of some foam, and another minute or two, to paint them.

Any thoughts from my fellow Bowsiters?

You did a great paint job on that target and looks like you have your bases covered ! What unit are you hunting Jake ? We'll be in 26 about the middle of September. Good luck to you !

I'm getting ready as well. Pounding that foam at all ranges. Here's a 70 yard group that made me smile the other night'

Let's hope that BB adds his two cents!!

Drycreek,

I'll be in unit 21 from 9/17 - 9/21. FYI....I didn't actually shoot in the garage. It started to rain, so I put the decoy and target inside before pulling the arrows. That was my grouping at 25 yards...the nocks weren't in that much trouble....

Ermine,

By the time that we go on our hunts, we're gonna need to touch up our paint jobs!!

Richie,

I agree, those stabilizer mounted decoys are the bomb. I watched a mule deer video where a guy used a mule deer doe decoy on his stabilizer with ridiculous effectiveness. Who did you buy your stabilizer mounted pronghorn decoy from? Is it a buck or a doe?

On a related note, if someone wants to borrow my doe decoy for an August bowhunt, feel free to contact me....all I ask is that it be returned before September, when my hunt commences.

Who makes them? I'd like to check them out....

I have already hunted pronghorn using spot and stalk.

It was enjoyable....but I will also enjoy trying a new tactic (or combination thereof). Since I have never hunted antelope at a fence crossing, and I have never hunted the peak of the rut, my efforts are directed in a different direction.

I want to get some really good camera footage of my future hunts. I believe that the blind will give me a great opportunity to take Nancy along as my videographer, allowing me to get some great video footage, while also sharing the hunt with her.

Thanks....I had searched under Heads up....but had not searched under Heads Up Decoy.

I know that a lope's #1 sense is sight. I also know that a recently position pop up blind on a waterhole can create caution and concern to a lope. Will recently placed & "painted" popup be too much for the animal's sight cautiousness and smell?

Just don't burst into hysterical laughter as you are about to shoot, like Cityhunter did!!!

Teeton,

Please keep us posted as to your results and experiences!!

Buffalo1,

The blinds will be set up before the season opens, so the antelope can acclimate to them.

Heat,

Thanks for the well wishes.....

BB told me that he never sets up an antelope blind with any regard to wind. He says that while they do smell you that they trust their eyes 100% and if their eyes give the OK, it is OK.

I use a Sage Scent one can purchase and spray it around the shooting windows so if my scent does head in the wrong direction, it will help mask my odor. It has worked for me.

My best, Paul

PM sent.....

I haven't hunted antelope in quite a while, and while I have three with my bow, the biggest one is a tad short of 70." I'd like to get one considerably better and this buck would certainly qualify.

He's been coming in for a drink mid-morning every other day. But it's back to 100 degrees in the afternoons now, so he may start coming in every day. I hope so, because sitting in a blind in 100+ degree heat is not my idea of a good time.

If that darned feral horse fence you see doesn't get in the way of my arrow, hopefully I'll be able to put my tag on him.

Yup, that's what we are looking for!!

Did you take that photo with a lens, or is it from a trail camera?

I'm planning pretty much that. I'm bringing a small Playboy cooler and will fill it with ice, Gatorade and water every day. Then I'm packing a bladder to wet the wash cloth.

With luck, this will be a one or two day hunt and I'll be home before the weekend is over. (It's only a 2:30 drive.)

Trail Cam.

Just this one.

Louis-- What organ are you cooling in that blind and how long do you cool it ?

LOL!!

I was wondering that myself only I was afraid to ask!

Yesterday I shot two broadheads in the center of the kill zone from 40 yards and quit. I can't improve on that and I didn't want to mess with my confidence.

This afternoon, same thing.

Confidence in your shooting is 90% of the deal. And so is the other 10%!

Looking forward to some pix from you tomorrow......regardless of outcome.....

If that buck would be as kind as to come into the water in the morning, I could very well be home sometime tomorrow afternoon.

If so, please post a photo or two throughout the day.....

But, when using Goofy, do not go right at a pronghorn buck who might be bedded or solo.

Take lots of time to get close and cris- cross back and forth, moving slowly like a grazing cow. May take an hour or more.

I have the cow Montana blind and made the mistake of going right at the buck and moved too quickly. The buck became uneasy with the quick approach and got up and left.

Hope this might help. Paul

You probably been in the blind for at least an hour or two.....where's our update?...LOL

I am hoping that we get an update from Zackman, too....(small hint, Zackman!!)

In the event that I am hunting from a blind, I have often wondered how many Bowsiters shoot through mesh, compared with how many Bowsiters roll up the mesh, eliminating any obstructions, and dress in black/darken their face.

Based on that curiosity, I recently found the attached article quite interesting....

Is the weather really hot where you are hunting?....or has there been recent rainfall? Good luck today....

It was 93 @ noon yesterday with a little bit of air moving. I was surprised I really didn't get even a little bit uncomfortable. The afternoon looked like it might rain, but none fell.

Today has been cloudy all day and when I left the blind @ 1:00 it was only 77.

Other than the buck I shot at yesterday morning, I haven't seen even one other antelope. It must be the weather has them bedded all day.

The forecast is now calling for daytime highs the rest of the week between 86 and 90. So sitting in the blind won't be uncomfortable at all. I'll try the same blind again tomorrow because that's where the BIG buck has been watering.

Can they go without water that long?....or do you think that he watered elsewhere for the past day or two, and he just hasn't made the "rounds" back past you yet?

Did you sit all day yesterday? If not, did you check the trail camera? I wondered if he might have come in while you were away from the blind.....? Are you sitting the blind all day, and responding by phone....or are you back at camp now?

They must be planning to mob my waterhole in the morning!

If not, Tuesday I'll move to another spot where four or five bucks have been watering regularly.

I've also seen them go days without watering.

As I said, they are not watering at all in the afternoons or evenings. Multiple trail cams have been out for several weeks and not one of them shows even one goat coming in.

OTOH, I've hunted SE Wyoming three times and like you, have seen regular and significant watering in the evenings in particular.

Weed wacking a path to the water hole.........Dan, that is a damn good idea for water with high grass around it!!

Open it up and swing it like a scythe or machete. Works great!

Tomorrow, a different water hole!

How many blinds (and trail cameras at those blinds) do you have set up?

He didn't come in today, but hopefully he will tomorrow.

Did he happen to walk close enough to the trail camera to have his picture taken? I like to see a photo of a 82" pronghorn buck!!

He did for sure. Yet the trail cam didn't get a photo of him, for whatever reason.

Hopefully you'll be able to start a thread. Good luck either way.....

In Nevada!

In August!

It's coming down in buckets!

At 6:10 this morning, a yearling buck came into the water and drank. At 6:25 AM. a doe came into the water.

So I'm thinking, "There's ~ 15 goats out there with two outstanding bucks and only one has had a drink in at least three days. This is the only water for 15 miles and they have no other option. This is going to be good!"

An hour later, unfortunately, a thunderstorm cell came in and it rained for an hour, torrentially or so for :10.

An hour later, we got Round Two of the thunderstorms. This one also lasted an hour, and while it did not rain in torrents for :10, it did rain heavily for :20. To make matters worse, at 11:00 it was only 63 degrees. As soon as the second cell hit, I knew I was screwed.

So I bailed and left as the second thunderstorm ended. More cells appeared to be forthcoming later in the day, so my plan is to go back later once things have dried out and the days are much warmer.

Kyle going to get hot again, get back out there...

I got back here yesterday evening and went out this morning only to find there must have been a pretty good thunderstorm during the night, as there were wet roads and lots of puddles in the area I'm hunting. Needless to say, nothing came into the drinker. RATS!

It is hot again today and I think the puddles will be gone before dark.

Hopefully tomorrow!

No doubt the big buck will come I tomorrow when I'm not there.

The 82" buck came in right after daylight Wednesday AM.

I may go back the last two days if I can. The season ends on the 20th.

Good luck to all pronghorn hunters and keep the updates of each hunt rolling!

Mark