SPEED GOAT GUARANTEE
Pronghorn are one of Canada’s most coveted big-game animals, so when you get a tag, you want to make the most of the hunt. Here’s how
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Search for distant animals, then plan a stalk#1 ANTICIPATE THEIR MOVEMENTS
I’m a spot-and-stalk hunter at heart, and antelope offer the ultimate challenge—if they spot you before you spot them, you may as well forget about even attempting a stalk. With the right terrain, it’s sometimes possible to sneak to within shooting distance of a bedded or feeding antelope. In most situations when they bed down, however, antelope will ensure they have an unobstructed 360-degree view for several hundred yards. As a result, stalking is often impossible. Antelope rarely remain stationery for long, though, so often the best tactic is to figure out where they’re headed, then get in front of them undetected and wait in ambush.
On an antelope hunt a couple of years ago in southern Alberta, my partner, Vanessa, and I spotted a nice buck about a kilometre and a half off the trail. He was with several does, and a few smaller bucks were hanging around. The rut was just winding down and there was obviously one hot doe left in the group that had the bucks’ attention. They were hung up in a big dry slough, and there was no way of getting within a kilometre of them without being seen. There was nothing to do but wait and watch the herd.
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After 30 minutes or so, it became obvious they were slowly moving to the west. The terrain was a bit more undulating in that direction, so we decided to use it to our advantage to try to get out into the middle of the field, hopefully on an intercept course. It took us about two hours of duck-walking and crawling, but we finally found ourselves at the base of a small rise, where we figured the antelope would eventually pass.
No matter how flat the terrain appears, there is usually enough undulation for a stalk
When I crawled up to the top of the rise, I was surprised to see the antelope right in front of me, about 400 yards out. I found the big buck in the scope and let him walk about 120 yards closer before dropping him on the spot with my 6.5 PRC. Our plan had worked flawlessly, as it had many times before.
No matter how flat the terrain appears, there is usually enough undulation to permit this type of stalk. While sneaking directly towards antelope will typically send them running, they seem less aware of movement that is a fair distance away and not coming directly toward them. That doesn’t mean you can just start walking in plain sight, but you do have a bit more latitude when it comes to staying concealed.
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If possible, begin your stalk a kilometre or more away from the antelope, and get to a position where you believe they’ll ultimately end up. It may take them several hours to get to you, but once you are on their path of travel, you have the upper hand. Patience is essential. Try to find a spot where you can keep an eye on the herd in case it changes direction, and you need to readjust. I’ve taken the bulk of my bucks using that very technique.