My first try at a hunt report.

Why Antelope?
If you have not hunted pronghorn antelope, you owe it to yourself to give it a try at least once. The aptly-nicknamed ‘speed goat’ has a lot going for him. Pronghorns are beautiful semi-exotic animals that live where the scenery is very different from what most white-tailed deer hunters are used to seeing. Antelope country is rugged and remote but you don't have to be an Olympic triathlon contender to enjoy it. No need to worry about packing out hundreds of pounds of meat 10 miles at 11,000 feet of elevation.

The weather is usually pleasant during pronghorn season especially when compared to deer seasons in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Pronghorn are active during the daytime and are hunted all day long, not just in the mornings and evenings. Time afield is spent searching for, and stalking, game instead of sitting in a blind and staring at nothing for hours on end. Of course many archers as well as rifle hunters wait for pronghorn in a blind over a water hole but, even then, you are likely to at least see something on every outing.

On top of all that, success rates are very high - if you can shoot straight you'll probably come home with meat.

Speaking of meat, some claim that pronghorn meat is not good table fare. This is simply NOT TRUE. When properly cared for the meat is as good as - or better than - venison. It's sweet and fine grained. They key words are "properly cared for." If you shoot an antelope cleanly, promptly dress it out and cool it down, you'll have some fine eating. Chase one all over the county, gut shoot it and let the carcass bake all day in the back of pickup and the results will be all but unpalatable.

D.I.Y. VS. Guided
It’s been said that Wyoming has almost as many pronghorns as people and almost half of the state is public land. Other Western states can make similar, if less impressive, claims. There are programs to encourage private landowners to grant access for hunting and paying a trespass fee is another popular option. Every year untold thousands of successful D.I.Y. hunters take advantage of this [relatively] easy access and come home with their supply of “winter meat.”

Public land, plentiful as it may be, is not always good pronghorn country and everyone else has just as much of a right to be there as you do. Prospective antelope hunters from Maine to California pour over the same BLM and state land maps (and apply for the same tags) as you do.

There might be plenty of ‘elbow room’ available but the better areas can get lots of hunting pressure. This works in your favor in certain situations but in most cases the goats become very skittish after the first shots are fired and will flee at the first sight of your approach. (Been there, done that on BLM land in Montana.) With an expensive and/or hard to draw tag in hand some frustrated hunters are tempted to take those 600 yard running shots that you often hear about when antelope hunting is mentioned, with the predictable results of wounded and lost game. For some, the temptation to trespass can be overwhelming. If you do score, hopefully you’ve arranged some way to cool the meat down quickly. Not all hunters take this into consideration ahead of time and that’s where the “pronghorn meat is nasty” meme comes from.

For many, an outfitted hunt is a better option. Take into consideration high cost of travel, as well as the cost (and difficulty) of drawing a tag, along with the limited amount of free time many of us have available, and a guided hunt - even for antelope - makes sense.

Contrary to what some think, the guide does not “do all of the hunting for you.” They are neither babysitters nor instructors. A guide is nothing more – or nothing less – than a paid hunting partner who knows the territory. The hunter must know what they are doing, keep alert, keep up and be able to shoot straight if there is to be any chance of success, guide or not. In most instances – and especially with pronghorn hunting – the most important thing offered by an outfitter is ACCESS. Unfortunately some of the best pronghorn hunting is found on land that is all but off limits to the public. Many landowners prefer to deal with a local outfitter instead of every out-of-stater that knocks on the door. The reasons are many, ranging from liability concerns to just plain greed. It is what it is. . .

Why Hiland Outfitter?
Finding an outfitter for pronghorn hunting in Wyoming is about as hard as finding a Starbucks in a hip neighborhood. There are over 300 outfitters in the Cowboy State; most are hard-working and reputable but there are some are fly-by-night crooks that will take your money, promise the moon and deliver squat. (Read the “Record of Poaching” forum for some examples of what can happen when you hire the wrong outfitter.)

I wholeheartedly recommend Tom Kessel and Terri who run Hiland Outfitters. Most reviews are based on a single, outstandingly good (or bad) experience. Mine is based on 3 hunts over the past 2 years. Here’s what Tom and Terri have to offer:

Quality of Accommodations:
Hunting accommodations, if provided, can range from a primitive campsite, to a motel, to a deluxe lodge. Hiland’s Medicine Bow camp is right in the middle. It is a post WWII vintage suburban tract home that was trucked in and set down (literally) in the middle of nowhere. The nearest neighbor is several miles away. The camp is clean and comfortable, has electricity and plumbing and is used for various purposes on the ranch nearly year round.

This isn't the sort of place you’ll find advertised in the back of a Cabelas catalog nor is it a vermin-infested hellhole. It's just right, in my opinion. There is no landline telephone or internet access; cell service is all but nonexistent (unless AT&T is your carrier. Tom and Terri both have AT&T cell phones in case of emergency.) There is no broadcast or satellite TV reception but there is a small TV and DVD player. This is all to the better in my opinion but if you’re truly addicted to the ‘net, your (non AT&T) mobile device or the boob tube you may go a bit stir crazy.

The meals are basic, home cooked, delicious and plentiful. If you go hungry, it’s your own fault. Bottled water and soft drinks are provided. If you want to imbibe a little (after the hunting is done) you’ll probably want to BYOB.

Quantity of Game:
Pronghorn are plentiful of this 16,000+ acre ranch. They’re all over the place even though the population is said to be on the down side. It’s not unusual to see 100 or more on the 30 mile ride from town to the ranch. If you blow a stalk, don’t worry - there will be plenty more opportunities.

Quality of Game:
There are some nice pronghorns to be had on this hunt. I’ve seen lots of decent typical and non-typical horns. That said, if you’ve really got your heart set on something that will “make the book” you might be a bit disappointed here.

Quality of Equipment:
Transportation on the ranch is provided by F-250 pickups. They’re not brand new, freshly detailed King Ranch or Platinum models nor are they broken down wrecks. Expect to get bounced around in a dusty ranch truck that will make it back to camp every time. A freezer is provided for your meat and cape.

Services Provided:
Tom or Terri will do what they can to put you on a good pronghorn buck. If you want to sneak up on your goat by belly crawling through the sage and cactus, go for it. If you (like me) have some medical issues you can hunt closer to the vehicle. It's up to you. Of course there are no guarantees but you can expect a standing shot at a reasonable (<200 yards) distance. Your animal will be dressed out, skinned, quartered and frozen. Or you are welcome to do any (or all) of these tasks by yourself if you so desire.

The Down Side:
There are 2 problems, the first being tags. Even though this is private land it can be hard to draw a tag and Wyoming has what amounts to a scam going on. The “any antelope” tag costs about $250 but for an extra $250 you can enter a “special” drawing that virtually guarantees a tag. I hate to admit it but I fell for the scam and paid for the special tag. It isn’t fair and it isn’t right but my thinking isn’t always rational when it comes to hunting!
The other problem is a happier one: the hunt is usually over the first day.

In Summary:
This hunt is not cheap at $1,650 and you can expect to pay $2,500 - $3,000 all-in. If you want a real wilderness experience, sleep in a tent and eat cold Spam for dinner on a windswept ridge this hunt isn't for you. If you want to be wined and dined in a log lodge by a roaring fireside, with a hot tub and game room, look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a fun, low stress and productive hunting experience Tom and Terri have it.


The Camp


Inside View


Antelope and Fences don't mix well.

That's a heck of a write-up! excellent detailed information. thank you!

Antelope are on my list, and perhaps when my daughter has a couple home-state hunts under her belt she might like to go, too!

An antelope hunt would be an excellent choice for you and your daughter. The best part about antelope hunting for a beginner is that they will usually see a lot of game. This keeps the interest level high, especially with youngsters who tend to have short attention spans.