Montana Pronghorn

[Wild Bill]

I've never hunted pronghorn in Montana and am looking to change that this fall.

I've been kicking around some options and would love to talk through them via private message if anyone with experience would be willing to listen.

Thanks.

 

[TheGreek]

No help but one of these years I am gonna burn my points and do the same. It’s gonna just be an excuse to bird hunt new country for me.

 

[JohnBud]

Following along. I've not yet hunted Montana but I hope you keep this thread alive for those of us that might follow in future years.

 

[Lmartin5]

Following...

 

[Big Sky Guy]

Not sure if I can be of any help but I’ve had two tags filled one and then helped my wife fill one same unit following year. Feel free to message me.

 

[Pagosa]

Its kind of a circus. You will be amazed at the amount of pressure on public lands and BMAs. Ive been working in eastern MT and WY from 2016 to 2025. Wy got worse winter kill from 2022, but offers better hunting. If you can find/pay for access in MT its a slam dunk, public land not so much. Best of luck

 

[mtmuley]

Its kind of a circus. You will be amazed at the amount of pressure on public lands and BMAs. Ive been working in eastern MT and WY from 2016 to 2025. Wy got worse winter kill from 2022, but offers better hunting. If you can find/pay for access in MT its a slam dunk, public land not so much. Best of luck

I would never pay to shoot an antelope. You don't need to. mtmuley

 

[Deez Nutz]

I would never pay to shoot an antelope. You don't need to. mtmuley

Sssshhhhhh YES YOU DO

 

[mtmuley]

Sssshhhhhh YES YOU DO

I didn't blow up a spot though. mtmuley

 

[Pagosa]

I would never pay to shoot an antelope. You don't need to. mtmuley

I agree, but you better plan on having company and plan on shooting one at sunup opening morning. For a hunter coming from out of state and 4-5 years worth of bonus points and depending on what they expect for a hunt.
On public land expecf to have several other parties trying to slip into herds and get first shot at them. In areas of higher upland bird hunters they will push the pronghorn onto private before the rifle season.
Im mostly talking about Carter, Powder River, and Fallon Counties. Ive never hunted other areas. You should see Broadus, Miles City, or Baker in Oct.

 

[mtmuley]

I agree, but you better plan on having company and plan on shooting one at sunup opening morning. For a hunter coming from out of state and 4-5 years worth of bonus points and depending on what they expect for a hunt.
On public land expecf to have several other parties trying to slip into herds and get first shot at them. In areas of higher upland bird hunters they will push the pronghorn onto private before the rifle season.
Im mostly talking about Carter, Powder River, and Fallon Counties. Ive never hunted other areas. You should see Broadus, Miles City, or Baker in Oct.

We don't get that far East. mtmuley

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

It’s obvious what folks don’t know what days to hunt antelope.

 

[INMT]

In areas of higher upland bird hunters they will push the pronghorn onto private before the rifle season.

this. Find an area that doesn’t get pounded by pheasant hunters. Where I’ve generally been hunting the last 10 years or so or with friends if I didn’t pull a tag, the amount of pheasant hunters camping where no one used to is through the roof.

It irks me antelope and pheasant opener are the same weekend since they tend to live in the same habitat. Non stop shotgun blasts and dogs running around don’t seem to keep the antelope calm.

 

[8andcounting]

I’d get to the area you plan on hunting no later than 2 days before the opener . Pick out a herd than you can get on right away Saturday morning of opener and kill one. It’s going to get busy on public ground soon as the sun comes up with all the bird hunters and antelope hunters mixed together . This is what I plan on doing if I draw this year I applied for the northern portion of R7

 

[Hem]

Last year a friend of mine stopped to talk to a warden during antelope season. She informed him that the "big" bucks all get shot opening morning.
But he did see a 7 incher.

 

[OpenCountry]

I agree, but you better plan on having company and plan on shooting one at sunup opening morning. For a hunter coming from out of state and 4-5 years worth of bonus points and depending on what they expect for a hunt.
On public land expecf to have several other parties trying to slip into herds and get first shot at them. In areas of higher upland bird hunters they will push the pronghorn onto private before the rifle season.
Im mostly talking about Carter, Powder River, and Fallon Counties. Ive never hunted other areas. You should see Broadus, Miles City, or Baker in Oct.

I’ve started to avoid opening weekend and started hunting during the week following it. Avoid the craziness of the first weekend and have a better quality hunt with less people around. You’ll still have some pressure but nothing like the opener.

 

[DFS]

If you don’t have a bullet fly in your direction you missed out on the experience.

 

[Hem]

If you don’t have a bullet fly in your direction you missed out on the experience.

You forgot about the AR crowd.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

90% of the hunters are done opening AM. I’d venture to guess most the bigger bucks are not killed opening day as guys like to notch tags that day. That’s not exclusive to Montana.

 

[R.K.]

You can use the opening day craziness to your advantage- set up in funnels to catch moving animals, or just be willing to walk away from the road more than other people on bigger pieces. Terrain is a big help, as everybody wants to glass the big open flats and avoid anything resembling a coulee. But I suggest getting to your spot early, so as to not crowd anyone.

I haven’t seen much overlap in pronghorn and pheasants- those birds seem to like taller cover than the antelope. Sharptail and Huns are more of the birds you’ll see in the right areas.

Don’t expect a giant, but you can get on a buck if you’re willing to wait. Opening day is more of the “good enough, now I can go deer hunt the rest of the year” crowd.

I guess I just keep getting lucky- four to my name in four years of tags, but I’ve also helped friends and family fill their tags within two days. No, we’re not picky, just excited to get one of these cool critters- all these pictures are of “first antelope” for the respective hunter.