Potential Antelope Hunt. Rifle and Outfitter recommendations?

[tinygnat219]

My father has expressed an interest in going on a hunting trip with me and when we started going through species and saying yea or nay, we finally decided that antelope would be best as he doesn't want to be clambering around in thick woods at 8-9000 feet looking for Elk, he's not too interested in Moose once I told him how big they get and how isolated they like to be, and he considers Buffalo hunting to be "not real". He hasn't hunted in over 30 years, but wants to with me while he's still able to.

So, I thought about it and said that the Antelope, or Pronghorn would be the best bet as their habitat is rolling plains which makes for walking, but nothing too strenuous, and they'd be easier to take back to the outfitter since they are roughly the size of a whitetail and they'd be a challenge since they can run 40 mph for hours on end.

So, my questions are:
What kind of caliber is good for these? My father's rifle collection is eclectic but mostly short range: M-1 Carbine, Ruger Mini-14 (in .223), Marlin 336 30-30, and an AK-47. Of these choices (which aren't good for most game) I think his .30-30 with the LeverEvolution ammo is the best option for a possible 250 yard shot. I elminated the M-1 Carbine for the bare reason of short legs, not enough "oomph" for taking a 200-300 yard rifle shot on an antelope. I eliminated the AK-47 for similiar reasons and for the lack of a scope. I also eliminated the .223 out of the Mini-14 for accuracy concerns and the .22 caliber bullet which is illegal to use in many states where the animals are.
I have a Remington 721 in .30-06 with a 24 inch barrel, so I figure I am ok. However, he's got 5 bad disks in his back, so recoil is a consideration for him. I also have a CZ 527 in 7.62X39 with an 18 inch barrel and was curious if that would be a good combination. This rifle can shoot rings around the AK-47all day, but I worry about the legs of the cartridge. The rifle's also nice and light.
The cartridge for a new rifle for him would have long legs, and produce acceptable recoil. I am not even really considering Magnum rifle cartridges as those would be painful to fire for him.

Some choices I am considering:
7MM-08, 25-06, .243.

Any recommendations are appreciated, budget for Rifle and scope would probably be 600 bucks. Anything more than that and he's gonna blanche, but it's still good input!

Any recommendations on outfitters would be fantastic as well. We are looking at a guided hunt since I know jack about Pronghorn, and don't want to waste sneaker tread if a still hunt is an option as opposed to a stalking hunt.

Also, any recommendations on glass are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Grumulkin]

I hunted pronghorn with 3 other guys in Wyoming this past fall. I have several suggestions:

1. Decide what kind of hunt you want and question your outfitter of choice to be sure his ideas of hunting coincide with yours. Pronghorn have very good eyes and where we hunted things were pretty flat. On some hunts you would spot and stalk and on others you drive like crazy over rough ground and have about 10 seconds to shoot after your kidneys have been almost shaken loose. On other hunts you ambush the pronghorns from some type of hide.

2. Shots are likely to be long and significant wind is to be expected. A 30/30 Winchester is not ideal but a 30/06 would be OK. Of us 4, there was one 240 Weatherby Magnum, two 25/06 Remingtons and one 300 Weatherby Magnum and they all worked fine. One guy took a fawn with a 500 S&W Mag. handgun. I believe my shot was the longest at a laser measured 292 yards. The shortest shot was probably 80 yards.

3. At least in Wyoming the smallest legal caliber for hunting pronghorn is .243. Some States .224 caliber firearms.

4. My "glass" for binoculars was el cheapo Simmons that someone gave to me years ago. Your guide will probably do most of the glassing and judging so it's not as important what binos you're carrying. My rifle scope was a Nightforce; I don't remember what the others were using.

 

[jameslovesjammie]

Pronghorn are my favorite game to hunt!

We've used .223, .243, .260, .270, .30-06. Also 7mm TCU in a Contender. I would say that .243, .260, or 25-06 are about as ideal as you can get.

We mostly spot and stalk. We spend ALOT of time glassing the area with binoculars and spotting scopes. Be prepared for sneaking, belly crawling, and kneeling in cactus. Also, be prepared for a 300 yard shot. This isn't saying that you can't sneak closer...but sometimes the opportunity doesn't present itself. We've been on sneaks over a mile long on flat, open plains. The fact that it is so open makes it difficult to sneak up sometimes. As stated above, pronghorn have excellent eyes, and if you get upwind or the wind changes direction...they run. At 45 miles an hour. They don't start walking away...they trot or run...like a rocket.

Here in Montana, our antelope are quite a bit smaller than our deer, but our deer are some of the biggest bodied in the nation.

For glass, I would recommend that you get a pair of 10x50's of any reputable make. Any bigger than that is difficult to hold steady. For scope, I think most guys come over glassed. Two of our rifles sport 4x Weavers, and the others sport a 3-9. My .270 short mag has a 4-16 on it, but in all honesty it's overkill. I like the mil-dot reticle, but the Burris Ballistic-Plex is another good one.

 

[tinygnat219]

Thanks!

I appreciate the feedback folks!

 

[MCgunner]

Dont' know much about outfitters, of course, but I'd use the .25-06 for the rifle. Actually, I wouldn't, I'd use my .257 Roberts, but if I were you and wanted to pick up an antelope rifle, I'd get a .25-06.

 

[NCsmitty]

jameslovesjammie:

I would say that .243, .260, or 25-06 are about as ideal as you can get.

Totally agree, especially with recoil considerations.

NCsmitty

 

[dakotasin]

all my hunts are d-i-y so i can't reccomend an outfitter.

antelope and mule deer are my favorite hunts. pretty tough to like one better than the other.

for rifle i suggest a 25-06, and for glass i suggest a leupold 4-12. that combo should be budget friendly. you would be well advised to get great binoculars. i'm partial to 10x50's and a decent spotting scope that will have a top end above 30x (sometimes wind and mirage can be so bad that you can't get the scope much above 30, but for when you can, 45x or even 60x is useful - something like a 15-45 or 20-60 is about right).

you are going to want to move fairly quickly on getting your hunt nailed down. here in wy apps are due very early in the year, so you will want to at least know what state you want to hunt in.

good luck!

 

[cliffy]

Antelope Hunting

Generally 250 to 300 yard shots, require a FLAT-SHOOTING bullet for best results. Antelope have learned to stay well out-of-range unless they think you are playing with them. I've played with them in Utah, and they try to tip a Jeep at 45 mph by staying JUST ahead of us. They turn on a DIME and make one crazy. They play with us, toying humans. 90 grain Swift Scirocco IIs in .243 Winchester quickly make antelope play into sudden death. They will learn swiftly, as they always do, if one trys in earnest to shoot them. Love playing with them, so I'd never fire upon a "playing" antelope. Just seems so unfair sportsmanshipwise cliffy, antelope player, who realizes antelope taste like pooh compared to a delicious whitetail or feral hog.

 

[Harve Curry]

If you want to hunt New Mexico the web site for NMG&F is:
www.wildlife.state.nm.us
Except for archery the seasons are 2-3 days hunts. You can get contacts of outfitters off there as well.

I think the 25-06 is your best choice.
Usually there is some high ground, rises that you can spot from. Look for water and wait for them from a distance. Your binoculars and spotting scope will pay off there. A place where you can know the range beforehand, be rested and make a good shoot. If the winds not in your favor they won't come in to water.

Another option to hunt is ORYX, a very large antelope. A non resident tag is about $1600 and you hunnt them on the WSMR for the population reduction hunts. If you get called the hunt come with a base security guard as a guide/ The security guards I've met were real nice guys, hunters themselves, and let you pick which and your shot. Not as easy as it sounds.The meat is excellent.
The oryx is one tough creature. I was forwarned here on THR and found out just how hard they are to kill. They have a very small kill area to hit, pretty much all behind the front shoulder. I found out 45-70 was quite marginal with my handloads and had to use my 30-06. Mostly a 1 day hunt, close to Las Cruces. But it was alot of fun.

Do a search here for more info on binoculars and the oryx if your interested.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I've killed pronghorn with a 30-06, a .270 and a 25-06. My 25-06 with a good clear 3-9 scope (mine is an old Weaver Wide-View) is my favorite.

I've seen pronghorn killed with a 300 Win Mag and a 7mm Rem Mag. Not my first choice, but if that's what you have, it will work. Those guys were both handloaders, by the way.

The 30-30 would be OK if you can get within a distance you are comfortable taking a shot. My great-granddad was a legendary goat killer with his Winchester 1895 in 30-40 Krag.

Oh, pronghorn meat is some of the best I've ever eaten, provided you don't chase it around with a pickup before you shoot it.

 

[swampshooter]

pronghorn

Table mountain Outfitters are very good. They have private land. For a possibly single hunt I'd look real hard at a Savage bolt action .243. You'd be fine with that and could probably get a combo w/ scope around 300-350.