The wife and I just got back from a New Mexico Pronghorn hunt with our buddy Wendell and had a great time. We also met a lot of great folks along the way.

The ranch we hunted was enormous and there were a lot of Pronghorn in the area. The horns size was slightly down due to an extended drought condition but the hunting was still great. The big boys were a bit spooky so you had to work to get within shooting distance but that's typical for any mature animal. They don't get that way by being dumb.

I took mine with a 270 using 130 gr Ballistic Tips from a distance of about 140 yards. It was a great stalk and something I'll never forget. The highlight was when the buck turned and started walking towards us, I'm guessing, due to his curious nature.

My wife took hers with a 270 using the same bullets at a distance of around 180 yards. They spotted him and stalked within shooting distance but then had to wait patiently since he walked into a thick cactus mot.

Their patience paid off after a LONG 45 minute wait when he finally stepped out. Man, was she excited.

All in all, we had a great time, learned a lot and couldn't be happier with how Wendell handled things throughout the planning and the hunt itself. I'll post photos later today.

[ 09-28-2003, 00:58: Message edited by: DavidP ]

Sounds great David!!! I've only hunted Antelope once, but love'd it. I'm planning on taking my wife next year. Can't wait to see the photos

Hey David,

Congrats to both of you!I know Wendell has some very good ranches for pronghorns. I am glad you two had a good hunt.

With your recent hunt in Texas and now this one, your taxidermist is going to be busy!

I know Ms. P had her camera with her,so.....where are the photo's??

Bob

[ 09-26-2003, 17:43: Message edited by: Bob in TX ]

Sounds like a good time had by all.Congatulations.
Awaiting photos.

Jeff

Good job David! Seems like it was a good year to hunt antelope here in NM. My wife got her first (but probably not last) pronghorn buck last weekend too. Congratulations to you both.

Thanks Guys, the hunt was great! Here are the photos as promised, hope this works...





[ 09-28-2003, 00:57: Message edited by: DavidP ]

Great goats David! What area were you hunting, anyway?

-Steve

Y'all did good!!

Bob

Thanks for the photos. I have a 'lope that is almost that good.....

Put it on the wall and enjoy it for life.......it's a great heritage.

Steve,
We were hunting about half way between Ft Sumner and Santa Rosa. The area as much of NM has been suffering through an extended drought but of course it rained like cats and dogs almost all of Saturday afternoon. Go figure.

I shot mine Sunday morning around 10:30. We had spotted him early that morning but held out trying to locate a big bruiser. We then worked our way back and located the ol' boy again and the rest is history.

Lou shot hers Sunday afternoon. She's been dreaming of Pronghorn hunting for as long as I can remember so obviously she is just thrilled.

We had done a free range Blackbuck hunt with Bob in TX the weekend before and I'm glad we did. We realized during the hunt that both of our rifles were off a bit and I had to resight them in. Both hunts were a lot of fun.

David,

We were hunting a bit south and east of you, 20 mile east of Roswell and shot mine at 9:30 on Saturday and my buddies a bit later in the day.
I posted our photos in another thread.


The ranch owner and hands also were concerned about the lack of rain over the past two years. They had some rain about a month back, that kind of cut a swath through the ranch. This greened up the grass in those areas. Most of the does, and thus the bucks seemed to be concentrated in this swath.

We watched that rainstorm that hit you Saturday as it went across the horizon. It was enjoyable to watch as it got dark.

Congrats to you and your wife!

Take Care,

-Steve

Congrats to you and your wife. It must be nice to have a wife that enjoys the great outdoors and hunting. Glad to see more females out enjoying the sport of hunting.

Don