I'm getting pretty serious about booking an antelope hunt and am looking for a good outfitter/guide. Anyone have recommendations?

Michael

MBundy,
I have two antelope permits in New Mexico, just across the line from Midland, Tx. Some really big antelope on this 200,000 acre ranch...you can stay in town and drive out and hunt on your own each day or they will furnish a guide, or guide and cooks...I doubt that you would need a guide, I wouldn't..I would look the bucks over until I saw a 16.5" or better, and if I didn't see one that big I would go out the last day and shoot one of the lesser bucks...simple as that.

I don't have the cost handy and can't find them but they run from $2000 to $3000 depending on your requirements....Give me an email if you or anyone else is interrested and I will get you the details...I have maybe 4 permits left or at least 2....It is a good hunt.

You might try Rocky McBride in Alpine, Texas since you are from Texas. His number was (915) 837-3134.

I hunted with him in 1997. He did me a good job. They had a drought, and the heads were a little small (15") that year. I understand they've gotten a little more rain lately, and probably a better fawn crop the last few years. There was no shortage of antelope. Rocky was very good company and had access to some good ranches.

We hunted during the peak of the rut, and saw some great interaction between competing bucks, and bucks and does from a high vantage point. It was a very enjoyable hunt. Back then it was $1,750 for two days.

The last afternoon I got jumpy and missed a buck at about 125 yards, he caught up to his does and stopped at 328 yards, broadside, and I spanked him with 120 gr. Sierra HPBT in my 25.06. He went down like a sack of potatoes dropped off the tailgate. I've got his head hanging on the wall right next to me.

Michael,

I have an outstanding Antelope hunt in New Mexico, but I am sold out for this year. $1850 + license. They are shooting 16" + Antelope on this hunt. Out of 16 permits, someone will take a 19" goat every year and another 3 or 4 between 17-19".

It is way underpriced for the quality. If you can wait till 2003, this is a darn good bargain.

If I were you I'd go with Ray's offer here. I agree with him that you shouldn't need a guide unless you really don't know and/or couldn't learn anything about judging Antelope, which isn't all that hard to do. It should be a great hunt.

i have only hunted them twice.....but i can tell you that they can fool you very easy...unless you have years under your belt of spotting goats and you want a real good one ,go with the guide.

i was happy with the boone & crocket goat that my guide put me on....i can honestly say that i would of past this goat up if my guide hadnt of said to me...."you better shoot this fuggin goat"....it was still early in the hunt, and i got a desent goat the yr b-4 ...i figured i would hold out till the last day.....this goat was standing all by himself, so i didnt have the benifit of other goats around to compare him to. i figured he was a good one but had no idea how good he was......im surprised to hear you guys say that they are so easy to judge.

PREDATOR

Wow, terrific response! I was hoping someone from Wyoming would respond. This was going to be my excuse to get up to that part of the country (for the first time)!

Only downside to Alpine is that I would have to drive there...Such a scenic drive...

Michael

I can send you to Wyoming, but it is a draw hunt state wide and its too late this year I think the draw deadling is Jan.31....

3 days hunts run $1000. for camp hunt and $850 for motel hunt....

Have some openings for 2003.

mbundy ---If you want to hunt Wy. it's likely there will be some left over permits on sale later this summer ......check WY G&F website for areas and availability . Most likely the leftovers will be in an area of private land so you will have to deal with trepass fees , check with a local chamber of commerce once you pick an area , they will have a list of landowners that take in hunters.......and realistically you won't find 16 inch goats , these areas seem to run to quanity not quality . Still a fun hunt though .

I have a few spots left on my New Mexico hunt. We stay in a motel or on the ranch, and we consistently take very big Pronghorn on this hunt, with the average pushing 16". Hunt is based out of Fort Sumner. Hunt cost is $2,000 plus the $201 license. Call or e-mail for details.

Hunted Wyoming back in 1985 for antelope and had a great hunting trip unguided. As this was kinda expensive at the time ( think it was $105 at the time) we did a lot picture looking to try to pick good heads from also rans. If you can afford a guide get one. 2 or 3 inches @ 300 yds. is kinda hard for mere mortals. But did get a 14 incher after looking at about a 100 bucks. Saw tons of mule deer bucks.... mostly big three points and some smaller 4pts. Guess these Wyoming guys onl;y shoot the bigger 4 pts. Got the impression that the locals don't hunt antelope. Went into a gas station to fill up, asked the attendant if we did good (got to remember that we were dumb tourists) and he said if you have to eat one shoot a young dow. After I got home.....the local was right. These bucks where gutted and skinned within 20 minutes of the shot, boned out and in the ixce chest 10 minutes later. Not the best meat I ever ate, but makes good sausage.

My wife & I are going for Oct 1-3 in Wyoming
area 25.Will let you know when we get back.As
Ray said Wyoming is a draw state.Been to NW
Wyoming for elk and loved it.Wyoming is one of
my top 3 states.
But for Big goats NM probably is a better bet.
Jeff

Does New Mexico have over-the-counter antelope licenses, or do guides buy tags for later use by clients?

Tom,
Over the counter in N.M.

I checked and I have 4 antelope permits in New Mexico...ranch is 189,000 acres and is 22 miles East of Roswell, New Mexico and we have some really big bucks on that place, and lots of antelope....Stay in a motel and hunt on your own is $2500. and a fully guided hunt is $3000.

I have been talking to several prospective hunters the last day or two so now is the time to book as permits are about sold out everywhere I understand...

I have two opennings for Mule Deer across the line in Texas and some monsters, I mean real monsters are on this ranch, but they are bloody hard to hunt and sucess rates run low, but you will more than likely see some that will take your breath away.

Ray, how much are the deer hunts?

You don't need a guide in Wyoming to hunt Antelope if you select an area with a lot of public land. I have taken 4 goats there, and I always pass up a bunch to take a bigger one.
A hint that I can give you is to get out and walk. I have found that Wyoming hunters hate to get out of their trucks when hunting goats (Let the flames begin . I am surprised how often I have glassed empty country, only to walk over to a wash or up a ridge and have it chuck full of goats.

Toomany,
the deer hunts run $3000 and $3500 with guide...you can sit on top of the only hill on the place and spot these big boys and watch them go lay down, then all you have to do is walk them down...These are 225 and up B&C bucks, and it ain't no cake walk...There is probably one or two in the area that you would be hunting, in that 230 plus class.

The rancher has been working on these big bucks for 5 or 6 years and only wants dyed in the wool trophy hunters who won't be shooting 26 and 27" bucks. I would give a good hunter thats tough and can walk in that sandy loam all day long and stay on a track a 50% chance of killing a B&C buck..This ranch is about 250,000 acres...

Toomany tools,
I posted a photo of one of these deer on here a month or so ago....

Hi Ray

Interesting, not many western places left with over-the-counter tags. I'm broke this year, but will keep this in mind. The Post Office lost our party application ( in the two-day mail ) for Wyoming last March, then we didn't find out about it until we logged onto the web site to peruse the drawing results. I guess Federal Express costs $14 because it's worth $14.

Tom

I did two do-it-yourself hunts in Wyoming about 60 miles outside of Rawlins for combination mule deer/antelope. First time in 92 I only drew a doe tag for antelope, so I went for the biggest bodied one I could find. I tageed a decent mulie then too.

The second trip, same area, I got a nice big bodied 15" antelope with white ivory tips on the last day of the second week of the season. and a nice 8 point mulie (eastern count)... all on public land.

We rented a travel trailer locally and camped in Medicine Bow. Went to the truck stop (Rip Griffins) in Rawlins for a shower every couple days to keep the stink down.

Both trips did not exceed $1500 each for 3 guys. This included airfare, licences, truck rental, etc.

The only thing I didn't like about Wyoming is that landowners are not required to post their land, And just because there a fence there, doesn't mean it's private land. The point is if your going to do a "self-hunt" in WY, you had better know how to read a map, and use a compass or you could find yourself trespassing with the potential of a fine or worse. BUT! I would do it again in a heartbeat!

I hope this helps.

Frank