One of the guides in New Mexico drove through the ranch with his camera this weekend. I have a few AR guys hunting here this year, thought I would show some photos.

Keep in mind this is with a kind of crappy digital camera. Most of the shots are from 35-50 yards as it is tough to get within 50 yards of the real big ones. But there is one guy in here that is a very nice Goat.

Is the ranch anywhere near Fort Sumner??...sakofan..
Nice pics by the way...Thanx!!

[ 08-05-2003, 03:12: Message edited by: sakofan ]

How big is that one I'm headed to Ft. Sumner NM for my first Goat hunt. I was trying to judge him. What do you think he is?Any tips anyone has to offer ?

The last three picures are of different Antelope. The difference between them is a pretty good amount. Actually, all the photos are of different Antelope.

I know about what they measure, but I will let some people try to guess before I say.

I'll say that the middle of the bottom 3 (2nd from bottom) is the biggest, length-wise. No idea on mass or prong length.

"AR guys..."
First thing I thought of was using my new ArmaLite AR10 Special Edition rifle for shooting a 'Speed Goat'!!!

I'll venture a guess from top to bottom on the last three.15",17",and 16" Just a wild guess as I have no idea.I'm going by the ears being 6" long and the bend in the tip.

Any more guesses? I have a very good idea what the bottom three will measure (length only obviously) and if (when) we shoot one of these guys I will confirm it. We know where all these guys hang out and are just waiting for Sept 20 to roll around.

We will shoot one of these guys, the big one (if he doesn't elude us) and we may shoot the other big one if he turns out to be about what we think he is.

I think it would be fun to have a little contest. Any one want to play?

I'll say 14.5, 16.5, 15.5, top to bottom. I'll also say they'll score (gross) 75, 78, 77.

I'll guess;
third picture= 14.5
4th= 16.5
5th=15

Other ones are too fuzzy.

I swear T-Texan posted while I was typing!
I hadn't seen his estimates before I estimated.



I don't think they will make book (82?), but they're close.

[ 08-07-2003, 04:00: Message edited by: bog ]

Goats , antelope ? They look like american pronghorn to me. But seriously can someone tell me the top speed of these creatures, measured , no guesses.One paced us at 55 for quite a distance ,putting out no effort, then left us in the dust hitting perhaps 70 mph.

Mete,

I call them "Speed Goats" or "Prairie Racers". Not sure where I heard it or if I just made it up one day. But, yes, they are Pronghorn ... don't want to confuse anyone.

Good guesses on the length. I will hold my somewhat educated guess until the end.

Wendell,
Are you just out of Lovington, thats where I am and they sure have lots of big antelope...I am sold out of permits and may be able to send you some clients...give a holler

Thanks Ray,

No, I am up between Ft. Sumner and Santa Rosa. (that is where these pictures were taken)

This outfitter does have 189 sections not far from Lovington ... maybe 40-50 miles NNW as the Crow flies. We will hunt a semi-guided Antelope hunt on that place this year. In one drive through the ranch two weeks ago, he saw some real nice ones, 7 that are honest 15" and one other one that is a super-hog-daddy.

120,000 acres is a big area to roam around. I am sure anyone on this hunt will enjoy it quite a bit. Pretty inexpensive too $1000/hunter.

Nice to see antleope pictures.

As for size, give them a few years. None are shooters anywhere I can think of unless you are looking for some lope meat.

Those are all different bucks eh?

Wendell,
That is one heck of a deal, $1000 is basically unheard of these days....My hunts fully guided are $2400, but that encludes everything...

I'll bet your sold out or soon will be...I will refer my calls to you if you have opennings...

Wendell,

I am going to be hunting pronghorns just NE of Ft. Sumner at House, NM on a landowner permit. We are staying in Ft. Sumner with all of the NASA folks and their balloons. You said you had some AR hunters coming. Shoot me an e-mail. Maybe we can get together for a cup of coffee and some tall tales that weekend. I am staying over to call some coyotes and pop some prairie dogs.

Bob
bconnell@satx.rr.com

Ray,

Yep, $1000 was pretty good. I sat on these for a while, with a lot of interest and not much money coming my way. (Lots of talk and no action).

Yesterday, I guess the dam broke, I sold all 13 of them yesterday. With four more different requests for a total of 14 additional tags.

I guess that is what happens when you price them too low.

Bob,

I am not far from you. Whatever you do, do not shoot off to the Northwest, you might hit me or one of my clients!

There are quite a few coyotes in the area we hunt. Hope you have good luck with them.

A friend and I hunted with Wendell last year and it was a full house in camp. I think everyone got a nice goat except one or two guys who got multiple chances before we left on Sunday.

Our guide was a hard core varmint hunter. I think he would rather call in a coyote than kill a 400 elk.

I wish I was going back this September, but all my hunting coin is going to Tanzania this year.

Hey Wendell,

I will be carefull which way I point my 7mm-08. I know you are going to be going seven directions at once, but if some of you other AR hunters are going to be near Ft. Sumner that weekend, e-mail me and maybe we can share a cup of coffee and you can tell me "Wendell" stories! I am really getting excited about this hunt. Three of us have access to about 15,000 acres to hunt. We are going to get there a coulple of days early to do our scouting. Wendell's hunt is a great deal for a guided hunt in this area.

Good Hunting,

Bob
bconnell@satx.rr.com

Wendell, I'm hunting the same ranch as Bob on this Antelope hunt. We should get the AR guys together Sat. evening.

Hey Rob,

We are having a big BBQ on Saturday night. I have quite a few clients there so I will need to be present. I wish I could break away for while.

After I tag my Goat, I am getting out the muzzleloader and the spotting scope for the big Mulies he has on the ranch across the road. I will spend the rest of the 7 days hunitng Mule Deer.

Good luck on your Antelope hunt. I look forward to the pictures.