I would really like to get out and hunt pronghorns and New Mexico looks tempting.

I was talking to a guide yesterday and he said that many times you will have your pronghorn by noon on the first day! The big problem I have with this is that the cost was $2,500. That works out to about $500 an hour which is nothing short of ridiculous!!!

Also with pronghorn hunts close to 100% success rates how hard could it possibly be to take one?

I have no problem paying for the memories and experience of the hunt as well as the experience of the guides, but a 1/2 day?! That is not a lot of memories.

Am I missing something here?

The two things I know about Pronghorn hunting in New Mexico is this:

1) The guides/outfitter spend alot of time ahead of the hunt locating the quality animals on the various ranches (if you are hunting Private Land)

2) If hunting on Private Land - the outfitter I hunt with is paying his landowners $1500 per goat taken and then $200 a day for their services (3 days at $600) that is $2100 out of pocket and you still have lodging, food, fuel, other expenses and the outfitters profit.

I know elk hunts on private land are out of sight in NM and it is the private ranchers. Elk are worth more to them than Cattle and they kill 10 bulls on a 20,000 acre ranch at $5,000 a pop. $50,000 plus antelope plus mule deer plus bear et cetera.

quote:

Originally posted by GeoffM24:
I would really like to get out and hunt pronghorns and New Mexico looks tempting.

I was talking to a guide yesterday and he said that many times you will have your pronghorn by noon on the first day! The big problem I have with this is that the cost was $2,500. That works out to about $500 an hour which is nothing short of ridiculous!!!

Also with pronghorn hunts close to 100% success rates how hard could it possibly be to take one?

I have no problem paying for the memories and experience of the hunt as well as the experience of the guides, but a 1/2 day?! That is not a lot of memories.

Am I missing something here?

The only problem that I would have with the situation would be if the guide MADE YOU shoot the first animal that he found you. If the guide puts you on a "trophy" antelope within the first 15 minutes of the hunt, I could care less about his hourly rate.

Goeffm24,
You can also put in on your own. Therefore,bypassing the outfitter. For a couple of hundred dollars and some gas money, you can shoot a nice goat. Wapiti7

I'll second what wapiti7 has said. If you're willing to try the lottery and do just a little research into how to judge antelope you do not need a guide or outfitter to get a nice goat.

Shooting antelope with a rifle is about the leaset exciting "hunt" I've ever done. Don't get me wrong--I've taken three with rifle, but it is not much of a challenge and I personally would not pay half of what you were quoted to shoot one.

If you want more info on antelope in NM send me a PM and I'll answer any question as best I can.

I went on a hunt like you're talking abt. I really enjoyed. It was pretty easy though. If I go again, I'll just plan on holding out for a 80"+ buck, that would extend your hunt considerably. They don't grow on trees anywhere that I know of. Mark

I'm just looking for any buck, not looking to get my name in the record books, just have some fun.

If you're just looking for the hunt, skip the outfitter. Try the public draw, which has terrible odds (about 8% in most units in NM). If you're unsuccessful in the draw (likely), get the landowner license list (out in July) and start calling landowners. Many of them with just one or two tags don't sell to outfitters. You may be able to pick up a landowner certificate for about $800-1,000 and do it yourself. Like these guys say, it's not terribly difficult to get within rifle range of an antelope. The hardest part (at least in NM) is getting the tag. Feel free to shoot me a PM if you have any questions.

Good luck!

I put in for the public draw today in NM as well as Wyoming. If I don't get anything I'll think about land owner tags or waiting till I draw.

Geoff, there are areas in Wyoming that you could do a DIY hunt for a fraction of the cost of hiring and outfitter, and still come out of the deal with a 80" goat...easy. The SW portion of the state is dominated by BLM land, and the quality of the antelope there is excellent....just don't shoot the first good buck you see, that is why most folks are done the first day out.

Good luck,

MG