You finally drew a pronghorn tag! These 3 proven tactics will help you make it count

#3  TAKE LONG SHOTS

I appreciate long-range shooting is a controversial subject, but there’s zero argument that being proficient at it will make you a more successful antelope hunter—especially if you’re targeting a particular buck. That said, we always strive to get as close to our quarry as possible and would never take a long-range shot just for the sake of taking it.

There are times, however, when as close as you can get is still far beyond normal hunting ranges. Of the numerous antelope I’ve taken, the majority of shots were in the 300- to 400-yard range. While that’s not overly far by western standards, it can be daunting for hardwoods hunters visiting from Eastern Canada, where 300 yards is considered long range.

The important thing here is to use the proper equipment and make time for loads of practice. There’s no need for high-speed magnum cartridges—a good old .30-06 Sprg. or .270 Win. will do the job just fine out to around 500 yards. Just be sure to use a scope capable of ballistic compensation, whether with adjustable turrets or a ballistic reticle; both systems are equally accurate when combined with a laser rangefinder.

Today’s technology has made compensation for bullet drop as simple as pushing a button on the range finder, then using the appropriate hashmark in the scope or turning the turret the appropriate number of clicks. What modern technology cannot do, however, is make you shoot well. That still requires good old-fashioned practice.

An antelope’s kill zone is roughly eight inches in diameter, so the goal is to practice at 400 yards until you can place 100 per cent of your shots into an eight-inch circle. If you can’t do that, you’re not ready. Our antelope rifles are equipped with bipods, and most shots are taken from the prone position, so that’s how we practice. Sure, many antelope are taken at closer ranges each year, but when you’re only hunting large bucks, being able to shoot out to 400 yards will vastly increase your odds of success. And put that precious tag to good use.

Alberta’s T.J. Schwanky is a long-time Outdoor Canada contributor. 

PRONGHORN PRIMER

Although its scientific name Antilocapra americana means “American goat-antelope,” the pronghorn is neither species. It’s actually the only member of the Antilocapridae family of North American ungulates, and while it may resemble the antelope of Africa and Asia, there’s no relation. It gets its name from the shape of its horns, with their forward-facing prongs. Of note, the pronghorn is the only mammal on the continent with branched horns instead of antlers.

The planet’s second-fastest land mammal after the cheetah, pronghorn range from the grasslands of southern Saskatchewan and Alberta down to the American southwest and northwestern Mexico. A typical adult stands approximately three feet tall at the shoulders and measures 4½ feet in length. An adult buck weighs roughly 110 pounds, while a doe will come in at around 80 pounds.

At one time, there were an estimated 30 to 40 million pronghorn in North America, rivalling bison in numbers. As settlers and livestock began encroaching on the grasslands, however, the population plummeted to less than 30,000 by the early 1900s. Wildlife managers responded with significant protective measures—right up to today’s limited-entry draws—putting the current continent-wide population at between 500,000 and one million animals.