Archery Antelope Tactics

[WV Hunter]

Anybody have some pointers for a first time Antelope hunter who decided to make it harder by going during archery season? Should I pop up a blind near a fence crossing or try to find water and set up? Should I get a decoy and try my luck at a spot and stalk? Or all of the above? I feel good with my bow set up out to 50 yards.

If I decide to try and stalk one with a decoy, what decoy should I try? I see there is everything from a cow cut out to actually dressing up like an antelope (bethedecoy).

Should I just wait for todays OYOA episode and learn from ID?

[FAIR CHASE]

A blind at a water hole will be offer you the highest success rate while decoying (during the rut-Sept) is more fun. The key to decoying is to sneak within 100yds before showing the decoy. Antelope hunting with a bow is a blast so either way you will have a great time.

[Moosie]

I drew a Archery tag too... I'm guessing my fist bit of advice would be Shoot your bow. I haven't done that yet

[highmountian]

Moosie, that is because you are to buzy playing softball.... Good fun though! :-)

[highmountian]

I almost forgot, You have to be able to shoot out to 60 yards like Idahobugler. That sure helps!

[JohnCushman]

Sitting on water holes is really weather dependant. If you have alot of rain before archery season then water holes become pretty useless. I would suggest to plan on doing a little blind work as well as some spot and stalk. A generic cow decoy is pretty successful to hide behind while you stalk, but alot of places you find antelope you'll also find wind and that decoy can become a kite...lol

[TheTone]

I tried hunting them last year exclusively spot and stalk. It was frustrating, but also a blast. I found getting within 100 yards of them wasn't too hard, anything inside that is where it got tricky. I also found lone bucks or bachelor groups much easier to work with than large groups of does, fawns and bucks.

[psemuleys]

I'm debating back and forth on whether or not I wanna try the bethedecoy.com set-up during archery season. It's a Montana company, and at first glance it looks unsafe, but I think it might work...

[Moosie]

Originally Posted by psemuleys

I'm debating back and forth on whether or not I wanna try the bethedecoy.com set-up during archery season. It's a Montana company, and at first glance it looks unsafe, but I think it might work...

I don't know about unsafe... but the gals modeling he hats look like trouble

[psemuleys]

Ya...like I'll be in trouble if I get caught looking at them lol

[mixedbag]

WVHunter; please sit in another area of the resturant if you buy one of those Bethedecoy hats.Are those people serious??I see no way that they will work.They must get a good laugh over there everytime they sell one.What will they think of next???i'd like to see some live stalks done with this hat on on their site

[WV Hunter]

Originally Posted by mixedbag

WVHunter; please sit in another area of the resturant if you buy one of those Bethedecoy hats.Are those people serious??I see no way that they will work.They must get a good laugh over there everytime they sell one.What will they think of next???i'd like to see some live stalks done with this hat on on their site

Haha, may be able to pull some hot does in the club sportin that outfit. I don't think I could stop laughing at myself if I tried to stalk an animal in that.

[mixedbag]

In that case buy 2 and I'll get you the money when I see you,lol
Just learn to shoot good and as far as possible, and have alot of patience.Sooner or later ones going to commit to where your at.Make sure you can hit them when they do

[mthunter]

The antelope decoy hats from bethedecoy.com will be put to the test in less than a week here in Montana. It's just another tool to have. I've been messing around with mine, and I know it's going to work. I'm excited to try something different this year. I'm not even bring the blind with with.

[psemuleys]

Well let us know how it works...I'm gonna try straight up spot and stalk this weekend...it looks like its going to rain.

[mixedbag]

mthunter, please take videos of your stalks.I'd love to see the reaction of the antelope.I am being serious, not a smarta$$.i just can't see them working, but I may be very wrong
I just got my zebu cow decoy in the mail.Tried to get the special on here from Montana decoys but they are back ordered.Going to use mine mainly as a blind to hide behind at crawl unders.I will try a stalk or two with it and see how that goes.Attaches right to my bow and actually made my release a little more quiet.I'll have a blast being in Wy. anyway.Good luck to you mthunter

[danr55]

ONly guy I know who has taken a goat with a bow built a decoy that looked like a horse. He painted it up and snuck in behind it. Walked almost directly at the critters and shot one from 40 yards. ONly trick I know. Good luck.

[2rocky]

Mixed bag, A Zebu Cow might scare away those critters north of NM/AZ/TX. When you see those Mommas with ears it's usually their tail and a cloud of dust...:-D

PS... After looking it up I See it is a Hereford cow....I pictured This....'

[r-22 pilot]

I'm a big fan of the spot and stalking. It's pretty much nonstop action all day. What I've found works really well is find the heards and hunt the satalite bucks. If you can hunt some areas that have rolling hills or areas you can move fast; try to cut them off while they make their way to the herd. Or, get the herd buck while he's on his way back to the doe's. Also don't be afraid to move fast and get to a point where you can cut them off. I've never tried the cow blind, but it looks awesome and as soon as the season opens back up in ND I'm giving it a shot for sure!

Good luck!

[mixedbag]

That picture reminds me of last years hunt when the cows all grouped together and chased me back to my truck,lol.Wasn't real funny at the time though.The main bull in the group was pretty unhappy.Now I just hope he doesn't try and mount me being as I look like one of his girls

[mthunter]

Originally Posted by mixedbag

mthunter, please take videos of your stalks.I'd love to see the reaction of the antelope.I am being serious, not a smarta$$.i just can't see them working, but I may be very wrong
I just got my zebu cow decoy in the mail.Tried to get the special on here from Montana decoys but they are back ordered.Going to use mine mainly as a blind to hide behind at crawl unders.I will try a stalk or two with it and see how that goes.Attaches right to my bow and actually made my release a little more quiet.I'll have a blast being in Wy. anyway.Good luck to you mthunter

I'm hunting with two other guys. We have three cameras so we should have plenty of footage. Plus in Montana, you can buy two doe tags. So I have three antelope tags in my pocket. I can't wait.
Here are a couple of videos on you tube I found. It looks as if they are just testing the reaction during the off season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6GgusBl8ng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DScUvu7utkY

The cow decoy will work great. The cow can be used out side the rut, while the standing antelope decoys work best during the rut. The only thing I like about the hat is it will stay on my head when the Montana wind is blowing like crazy. I can also take off running to cut off the antelope if needed with out folding up the decoy.

I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. More rain forcasted this week, so spot and stalk maybe the best option.

[fowladdict1]

Looks like it needs a chin strap!!

[mthunter]

Originally Posted by fowladdict1

Looks like it needs a chin strap!!

It may not have been fitted to his head. It came with foam insert pads which stick to the inside of the hat. I cut a few to fit. My hat will not come off without force. Chin strap maybe a good idea anyway.

[mixedbag]

From what I saw everyone spooked.Maybe I don't know camera yardage, but looked like a real LONG shot from where he was.I hope your able to do better.Looks like it may work if you have decent brush around to hide your body.Where I'm hunting all the brush is 1/2" high;grass.Love to see you actually connect on an antelope with that.Would make a believer out of me

[mthunter]

Originally Posted by mixedbag

From what I saw everyone spooked.Maybe I don't know camera yardage, but looked like a real LONG shot from where he was.I hope your able to do better.Looks like it may work if you have decent brush around to hide your body.Where I'm hunting all the brush is 1/2" high;grass.Love to see you actually connect on an antelope with that.Would make a believer out of me

I don't think the shots looked to far. The one thing I noticed is how they antelope only backed up 10-15 yards then stopped. Anything under 70 yards will be shot at. I practice out to 90 all the time. They also did not leave the county when they took off. By hunting more rolling hills and using traditional spot and stalk tactics, this hat will give me the extra 5 - 10 seconds I need for the shot. 5 seconds can be the difference between filling your tag, or not.

I'll be sure to let you know. I'm hoping to become a believer also.