Bowhunters - not a big impact?

[cgasner1]

I shot my doe antelope at 114. She didn’t go 20…. I’d had multiple shots at <45. One of them, as soon as I hit the release the goat whirled and it paralleled his body at like 25 yards… I was so upset at such a slam dunk MISS. Idk what possessed me to take the shot but I felt good, and it was finally the first shot i took where the antelope had no idea I was there… I’m sure that’s the golden ticket and that’s what I strive for with any archery stalk/shot now on any species. I’ll never do it again, but I’m not afraid to be honest and tell ya what happened in my experience, or what i learned from it….

“…the difference between a wise man and a smart man…”

If your shooting instincts are good enough to kill a antelope at 114 yards you should probably quit building those 300k dollar houses in Bozeman and start filming yourself.

 

[bigsky2]

https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content/assets/fwp/commission/2025/december-4/wildlife/antelope/r3---antelope---remove-r3-900-20-and-add-900-xx.pdf

"Estimated annual average harvest, resulting from 900-20 licenses across Region 3, increased from 124 during 2004-2005 to 277 during 2023-2024 (Appendix I; Figure 3). Applying the average annual statewide harvest rate from 900-20 licenses (18%) indicated that 900-20 license holder participation across Region 3 increased from 653 during 2004-2005 to 1,539 during 2023–2024. During that period, allocation of either-sex rifle licenses across Region 3 was reduced by approximately 25%. Relative to the most recent peak in 2011, either-sex rifle licenses were reduced approximately 50% (Appendix I; Figure 4). Those reductions were in response to declining antelope abundance. In 2024, 900-20 licenses comprised an estimated 37% of all antelope licenses used in Region 3. That compared to 13% in 2004. The current level of harvest resulting from 900-20 licenses across Region 3 is reducing the number of either-sex rifle licenses that can be issued.

 

[sclancy27]

I used to archery hunt R3 alot for goats but haven't in 3 yrs for this reason. I love hunting August but I wonder if we could cut the antelope pressure pretty significantly by cutting the Aug 15 start date and confining it to normal archery and rifle season. It would take away a lot of the incentive of that tag.

 

[bigsky2]

I used to archery hunt R3 alot for goats but haven't in 3 yrs for this reason. I love hunting August but I wonder if we could cut the antelope pressure pretty significantly by cutting the Aug 15 start date and confining it to normal archery and rifle season. It would take away a lot of the incentive of that tag.

I bet you're right. I put in for that tag as a way to get some hunting in before elk season opens, or as insurance in the event that I don't draw an elk permit.

 

[sclancy27]

I bet you're right. I put in for that tag as a way to get some hunting in before elk season opens, or as insurance in the event that I don't draw an elk permit.

It used to be that way, I can't remember when they started the Aug 15 opener.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

I used to archery hunt R3 alot for goats but haven't in 3 yrs for this reason. I love hunting August but I wonder if we could cut the antelope pressure pretty significantly by cutting the Aug 15 start date and confining it to normal archery and rifle season. It would take away a lot of the incentive of that tag.

Fact.

Best time to bowhunt antelope is when all the 900 guys are done crippling antelope with their tricked out archery set-ups and have moved on to chasing elk with their 3rd pack of expandable heads for the season.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

That bull definitely lived - and you knew that. I've pulled broadheads and sections of carbon arrows, high like that, on 3 different bulls that had no signs of any injury, and maybe had been in there a few years.

Bull #4. Pulled this out of my AZ elks ass this year. He was a fighting machine and showed no sign of an old injury.