Help age this pronghorn - or my 2025 pronghorn adventure

[Bluffgruff]

Wonder how much bigger it would have been at 3, 4, or 5?

I think the main take home point of these studies is that pronghorn don't necessarily follow the plan that elk and deer and most horned game follow. They're geared to take advantage of good conditions when those are present, more like a small game animal, and survive poor conditions by being ready to breed at a very early age. Given that they're more stimulated at early age by proper conditions, the Gallo buck might have been 96 and 6/8ths, or 92", or 85" the next year.

I don't disagree with your about trying to find older bucks being admirable, but I think it's hard to pick them out once they're in or passed their 4th or 5th year. My one 8 year old buck scored a whopping 67".

 

[BuzzH]

I think the main take home point of these studies is that pronghorn don't necessarily follow the plan that elk and deer and most horned game follow. They're geared to take advantage of good conditions when those are present, more like a small game animal, and survive poor conditions by being ready to breed at a very early age. Given that they're more stimulated at early age by proper conditions, the Gallo buck might have been 96 and 6/8ths, or 92", or 85" the next year.

I don't disagree with your about trying to find older bucks being admirable, but I think it's hard to pick them out once they're in or passed their 4th or 5th year. My one 8 year old buck scored a whopping 67".

If you're looking for a B&C buck in Wyoming you're going to be hunting bucks 4-7 years old.

I also dont see dominate bucks that are 2-3 years old, no matter what their horns score. That 2 year-old buck I killed that scored 78 was getting his ass kicked by a 13-14 inch buck that was 4+ years old.

I dont think those younger, higher scoring bucks are dominate and I don't think they do much breeding. Another reason I wish people would hold off killing them until they reach 4+.

 

[Bluffgruff]

If you're looking for a B&C buck in Wyoming you're going to be hunting bucks 4-7 years old.

I hope to prove you right this year

 

[BuzzH]

I hope to prove you right this year

I'd bet a lot of money on it.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

it could be the current conditions and feed and water cycles its been thru..the first buck definately looks older than the other buck..one thing ive noticed is that nevada pronghorn that ive seen and hunted once tend to be a bit taller horned and less mass,then the wyoming antelope ive hunted that tend to be a bit shorter but alot more mass.could just be a bit of a regional genetics thing too.

 

[mevertsen]

A couple other prospects. I like the one on the right. Ive seen several that look like the one on the left.

 

[mevertsen]

My muzzle loader tag opens August 15. 7 day season,

 

[mevertsen]

The two above bucks. Better pics.

 

[mevertsen]

Another thin horn, but fairly tall buck.

 

[mevertsen]

Scouting today. I saw the one from just above again, in a spot I can deal with.

Saw two more good ones. One at 8000 feet with the sheep (bedded)

And one, the biggest I've seen this year, with about 30 does and fawns. (Standing)

The high one might be hunt able.

The big one? He'll be tough. And they are over an hour's drive away from each other.

 

[Khunter]

@mevertsen thx for sharing all this. I hit NV south of Elko and Wells later this week for lope. Can’t wait. Not sure what I will find. Hoping some landowners let me stalk around their irrigated fields. Seemed to be a ton of lope there and did not have time to scout the BLM well in my one long day driving perimeter of my units. They sure make ginormous unit groups in NV.

 

[mevertsen]

@mevertsen thx for sharing all this. I hit NV south of Elko and Wells later this week for lope. Can’t wait. Not sure what I will find. Hoping some landowners let me stalk around their irrigated fields. Seemed to be a ton of lope there and did not have time to scout the BLM well in my one long day driving perimeter of my units. They sure make ginormous unit groups in NV.

Don't need to focus on agriculture.

Not sure on your specific units.

The bedded antelope in tbe post above was at about 8200 feet.

Deer just below. And a a few sheep above.

My unit, and most units I know of in NV that ive hunted for various game over the years, ive seen antelope from the edges of the alkali flats, to the sage, alfalfa, PJ, Mahogany, and all the way to above tree-line at over 9000 feet.

pm me, and I can probably give you some pointers if youre going in blind.