Washington Pronghorn / Can they jump a fence?

[fishing4sanity]

I'm sure we've all had those experiences of witnessing something and wishing we had it on video. Today, I saw a coyote racing through the sagebrush and hot on his tail was a pronghorn buck. The coyote came to a barbwire fence and went through without even slowing down. I was wondering if the pronghorn would go over or under. I've heard people say that pronghorn can't jump a fence. I've seen them jump a fence before, but I think they often prefer going under. Well, the pronghorn didn't slow up a bit either and cleared that fence with ease, long jump in distance and plenty of height. I would love to have caught them on video! At the top of this gully they crossed, the coyote disappeared and the antelope stopped to watch me. All I had was a cell phone and he was quite a ways away. My son was a few minutes behind me bringing a truck to some farm ground we rent. I tried calling him, but phones are very hit-and-miss in that area. When we met at the field several minutes later and he was excited to show me a phone video of a pronghorn that ran down the hill towards him and just ran with the truck for a few seconds, then jumped the fence again. He didn't seem to care at all about the truck. Poor quality pic and video, but it was sure awesome to witness.

 

[NECALI]

Cool video. I’ve seen them jump a fence before also, but like you said they seem to prefer to go under them.

 

[Brittany Chukarman]

Very cool. Are they doing well up there?

 

[fishing4sanity]

Very cool. Are they doing well up there?

I think they're doing fairly well, numbers aren't climbing real fast, but increasing. I'm hoping to see some fawns fairly soon, might still be too early right now.

 

[ashersdad]

That’s awesome!

 

[1_pointer]

Very cool!!!

 

[kwyeewyk]

Cool video, curious if you've been seeing them frequently down that away?

 

[Irrelevant]

Super cool. I haven't seen any of the Toppenish herd in quite a while. And I still haven't seen any of the Omak herd (I'm also heard it referred to as the Mansfield herd).

 

[2rocky]

Somebody here has a picture of a Buck midair jumping. I think it's one of the Mule Deer Slayers...

 

[MThuntr]

I've seen enough of them hung up on the top 2 wires to know plenty try and don't make it.

 

[fishing4sanity]

I've seen enough of them hung up on the top 2 wires to know plenty try and don't make it.

I agree, I've found dead ones in the fence and usually see them go under, but this guy cleared it when he was running by a lot. I just wish I'd been ready with a camera.

 

[fishing4sanity]

Somebody here has a picture of a Buck midair jumping. I think it's one of the Mule Deer Slayers...

I was sitting on the side of the road in my truck several years ago trying to use my phone in one of those 3'x3' coverage areas, when this guy walked across the road and hopped over the fence.

 

[fishing4sanity]

Cool video, curious if you've been seeing them frequently down that away?

I wouldn't say that it's frequently, but fairly often, usually in spurts. A couple of years ago I was seeing a buck, a doe and twin fawns in the same area for several weeks and then they moved on.

 

[ClearCreek]

They don't necessarily need to be running to jump a fence. I saw a buck antelope, from a standing position, nearly clear an 8 foot high solid "fence". He got his front legs and enough of his torso over to be able to tip his body over and fall down the other side of the "fence".

While they seem to prefer to go under a fence, they are very capable of jumping.

ClearCreek

 

[Gr8bawana]

I've seen them jump over a fence but more often I see them go under fences.

 

[kwyeewyk]

Finally saw some of these buggers in the Mansfield area today, 3 separate individuals, they all drove off about 30mph shortly after we saw each other and wouldn't let me get any pictures.

 

[WYWINCHESTER]

WYOMING'S can. there should be no reason WA couldn't. Unless you have really tall fences.

 

[Oak]

 

[hank4elk]

Ours do with an incline to help,just like this

 

[PrairieHunter]

I had one running in the ditch a few year ago and I went ahead and passed him. I glanced in the rear view to see him cross the road and jump the fence on the other side, then a hoof caught on the top wire and he tumbled to the ground.

It seems they can jump fences but are not really good at it.