Found out this morning that I drew my first antelope tag......since this is my first speed goat hunt, I need some pointers on judging a good buck..... tell me what I should look for..... photos with examples of strong and week points would be especially helpful!

Thanks, Mark

First off, congrats. Hopefully you will find a goat worthy of you pulling the trigger. A good buck is in the eye of the beholder. So these comments are just general notes.

1) Look for mass. Those with big bases tend to really help the score.
2) Look for high prongs, the higher the prong is, the better it will score.
3) The ears are about 6" in length, so look for horns at least twice that long.
4) A buck with a score in the mid 60's would have 12" horns, 4" prong and 6" bases and ~11" of mass measurements.

Sony image station is having problems displaying pictures so I won't link yet until they get that fixed. I have pictures of harvested antelope that my family and I have taken which score between 66 4/8(just over min P&Y) and 86(just over min B&C).

If the web page doesn't work, I can always email them to you.

Snake

Snakelover is right about the mass being important. If you divide the horn into 1/4s, you take mass measurements at 0, 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4. If the 3/4 falls anywhere perpendicular to the protrusion of the prong, you take the 3rd measurement immediately above the prong. Almost all pronghorn fall in this category, as few have prongs high enough to allow the 3rd measurement to be taken below the prong (where there's much more girth). Mass above the prong is important because you most likely will have two measurements above the prong.

Be VERY careful when judging the prong, as some protrude straight forward, some inward, and some outward.

Be VERY careful when judging the tops, as some curve sharply, either inward, outward, or straight back. Some don't curve at all.

Overall, this is one of the hardest animals to judge that I've found. I'll try to post some pix with scores--although they all look the same to me.

[ 07-22-2003, 04:04: Message edited by: TrademarkTexan ]

Mark--where did you draw? Are gonna do this yourself or are you gonna hire a guide?

Lastly what type of critters does the country where you drew? This is important in order to set your goals for the trip.

Tell us some more about what you are looking to do with the hunt and where it is at.

Thanks for your time

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dog

OK, I quickly scanned some pics from my photo albums and created a image station album. Sorry the quality may not be the best.

First, are two Colorado bucks from 1993. Mine on the left was 12" score 66.5 and my brothers buck was 13" score 70.



Then my WY buck from 2000. Horns right at 14" score 74.



Then my brothers SD buck from 1993. Score 77.



Then my dads WY buck from 2000. Horns 16.5", score 79.



Finally, my brothers 1995 WY buck. Horns 16"+, score 85.



Any of these bucks could be considered good for the area you are hunting.

Hope they help.

Brad

[ 07-22-2003, 06:48: Message edited by: SnakeLover ]

Something screwy happened, the images don't appear within my prior post. Try going right to my album if I can't fix this.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4289612855

Mark

I drew one of the 50 antelope tags issued in Oklahoma this year. I am fortunate to know a few people who have hunted antelope in Oklahoma and I'll be contacting them for help on where to go. I'll make a scouting trip to the area before the hunt so I can secure landowner permission and find the antelope.....just wanted some ideas of what to look for in a buck.

One of the first things I'd do is talk to some F&G people as well as taxidermist to see what the area has to offer.
The I'd go about trying to figure lout how to judge them as well.

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dog

Be aware they can be deceiving if you are looking at them face on. Their black face seems to make the length and mass of their horns look bigger than they really are.

Others have given good advice as to using the length of the ears as a guideline when estimating horn length up to the prong or cutter as it is sometimes called.

I can't add much to the wisdom listed by the others. I recommend trying to score them as your scouting them. It won't take long before you'll become pretty good at picking out the keepers.

The length from the base of the horns to the nose should be the same as from the base of the horns to the first prong. Look for that first.

Then the length from the first prong to the top and around the cuve. ..if the second measurment is even close to the first, it will be a good buck, in the 16" area....The curl is creme de creme and will really add to its size so take that into carefull consideration.

This is fast and practical and can be observed quickly in the field. It takes a little practice and may vari from area to area, depending on antelope size...Where I book it works well as we have 16" antelope and a number in the 17 inch catagory...

After awhile you just try to find an antelope that is the same from base to prong as he is from base to nose at about 9 inches. You can do this automatically with a little practice...So now all you do is try to find an antelope with top curl measurment to match the bottom or come even close around the curve...most won't, but if they do shoot quick..