| Show The pronghorn antelope is isa creature all by itself By Start Wixom Vernal Express Outdoors Writer Most big game have an opportunity some time within their allotted life span to hunt a unique American target the pronghorn antelope The elusive creature is pursued on a only draw basis In the Beehive State the season opening Sept 25 this year In some states like Wyoming it is possible to hunt by plunking down your money in units However before your quest begins you will want to know more about the animal not only found exclusively in North America but wl ch has no close relatives anywhere In the world Technically biologists biologists tell us the graceful prairie pronghorn is not al ar antelope at all with few real similarities to the African gazelle or impala It probably makes little difference for hunters have called it an antelope in the past and they will do doso doso so In the future What the nimrod is mostly interested in is the animals animal's top speed of over 60 miles per hour often oCten cruising for miles at 40 30 with seemingly little effort Eyesight is so keen pronghorns ns can spot movement above sagebrush a mile away It is is true th the critters may inay move in to investigate te a handkerchief ef h ld up on a astick astick stick bit when your whereabouts is revealed for certain the bucks in particular are Off in a cloud of dust Like grouse first shot of the season may keep them In perpetual motion Then to have a chance at them you'll have to m maintain a low profile on the sagebrush floor One advantage the nimrod has is that unlike deer or elk an antelope floes does not seek out cover and with good binoculars or or sPotting scope the quarry can be at leaSt kept sight most of the day That does boost moral but it is something ng else to connect with this footed fleet desert goat To prepare for my first pronghorn hunt I practiced at distances up to yards on rolling tires We spotted bucks immediately just after dawn southeast of Kemmerer but I was happy Id I'd drilled long and hard on the pre hunt range My foster Navajo boy John told me he think anything run could could run so fast Later that morning my tag was affixed to horn and a just inch we did the same later with the guides guide's buck east of Opal If If hunting Utah I would favor Parker Mountain south of ofFish ofFish Fish Lake Bonanza Daggett West Desert for big bucks However the quest for more information about our quarry was not done with conclusion of the shooting It was interesting to discover that the pronghorns pronghorn's speed and endurance is due to a wonderful preparation by nature lean muscled but light body frame a factor wl which ch also makes it easy to drop a pronghorn with a grain slug from 30 06 or comparable rifle oversized heart and lungs and cushioned rear edge of hooves on front legs to absorb ground Impact Light coloring allows them to reflect heat of the desert sun hollow hair creates Insulation for rugged winters in inthe Inthe the open and summers away from cover or shade with little variation in inbody inbody body temperatures whether weather is minus 40 or Food is primarily a commodity in vast supply sagebrush They need so little water that morning dew on sage is nearly enough Eyes are set high in the head allowing them to see predators even when browsing Young can run quickly soon after birth Since twin fawns are the rule herds can build rapidly On the negative side antelope are very susceptible to diseases of domestic animals and they do not seem capable of coping with fences They will not migrate normally when when new fence is thrown up between winter summer ranges attempting to crawl under but rarely trying to jump over They need considerable space to survival They have it pronghorns are perhaps more suited to successfully sustain themselves than many other wild animals Incidentally reports of poor table taste are frequently due to poor poor care of meat in garly arly season warm temperatures It is not so surprising that one of American IS its it's pride in those long legs If you startle a group of pronghorns while in your vehicle it means a race They will usually make sure they cross over in front not behind you That's your clue to prepare well ahead for them if planning on a hunt |
