Antelope Hunting On A Budget
Deer season is right around the corner. Many bowhunters are counting down the days until whitetail season arrives. Whitetails without question are the number one animal that bowhunters chase each fall, but for those who want to go on an adventure and do it without breaking the bank, they should consider bowhunting antelope.
The majority of the antelope population can be found in the Western United States but states likes Nebraska and South Dakota also have an antelope season. My favorite state to hunt antelope is Colorado because I love how beautiful the state is.
One of the reasons bowhunters should consider chasing antelope with a bow is because the success rate is extremely high. Mike Disario, owner of Charge Adventures, has a success rate over 70%. “Most guided or semi-guided whitetail hunts have a success rate well below 50%. Many whitetail operations have a success rate of about 30% or lower.”
A guided antelope hunt is typically about $3,500 or less which is less money than a guided whitetail hunt. Those who want to chase antelope without spending much money should consider hunting in states with over-the-counter tags and hunt public land or knock on doors.
Joel Maxfield from Mathews Archery typically kills several antelope each year with his bow. “I knock on doors, hunt public land, and hunt on private land. I rarely have to spend much money to hunt antelope,” Mayfield said. “The awesome thing about antelope hunting is it really is a great hunt for the bowhunter on a budget.”
A trespass hunt is an option I have chosen over the years. A trespass hunt is a hunt that consists of a fee to hunt a rancher’s property but you hunt on your own without a guide. This type of hunt usually costs less than a couple thousand dollars and the hunt can be fun because the hunter gets to choose the style of hunting they want to do.
The two most popular ways to hunt antelope is spot and stalk and hunting over a waterhole. Hunting over a waterhole is a hunt that requires a lot of patience. An antelope doesn’t come to a waterhole ten times a day. They typically only come when it is hot and the antelope needs a drink. Many hunters who hunt over waterholes sit on waterholes for days at a time in hopes of getting a shot at one good buck. The upside of hunting a waterhole is the typical shot is only 20-30 yards, which is similar to a typical archery shot on a whitetail.
Spot and stalk antelope hunting can be fun but it requires most bowhunters to take shots that are 50 yards and beyond. Most antelope hunters that spot and stalk use an antelope decoy in hopes of decoying a nice buck within bow range or they use a beef cow decoy and try to stay behind the decoy and sneak within shooting distance. Spot and stalk hunting can be fun but most hunters who choose this method often spook multiple bucks before they pull off a successful shot.
If heading out west to hunt an animal that you have never hunted sounds like fun, give antelope hunting a try. It isn’t nearly as expensive as elk hunting, the success rate is higher than almost any other type of big game animal, and you will get to come home with a cooler full of meat.
Many hunters I have talked to over the years have complained that antelope meat doesn’t taste very good. I have found that an antelope that is killed with a bow during the early season tastes great. Most antelope seasons open mid-to-late August which is the best time to go hunt them, especially if you want to hunt over a waterhole.
