Well I just got back from my first pronghorn hunt, set up by our own Ray Atkinson--Thanks Ray. I was happy for my first antelope, the Outfitter was right, there were a lot of goats, and the quality was good. My goat is 15" with really good mass. The outfitter socred him right at 70 inches, which I think is a pretty good first goat. I'm trying to attach a few photo's.

http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2120512306

http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2120512306&idx=4


http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2120512306&idx=1

Sorry if the photo linking is a bit retarded, I'm still trying to get the hang of that. The hunt was about an hour west of Albuquerque, near a little town called Moriarty. It was a real charge, I'll be going back sometime!

Congratulations, it's a kick getting your first one especially when it's a big one!

Congrats on your speed goat. I had a blast this past weekend hunting them as well.

DTH

You didn't fly in on Friday evening did you? Ii came in on a Southwest flight from Dallas.

Nice goat. Glad we both had a successful weekend in NM.

Chuck Nelson, thanks for your help with the photo's. I'm still learning! PM sent.

Marcus, I did in fact come in Friday evening from Atlanta. Got out to the Ranch and confirmed zero on rifle, and then hunt started Sat. morning. Great goat for you! Congrats!

great pronghorn there.....congratulations.

Great goat, first or last!

Very well done. Looks like there were some nice antelope taken in NM this year.

Nice goat.

MG

Thanks fella's. The outfitter said because of all the rain in NM that there were goats in places there normally were not, and that the quality of the Bucks was really strong. Based on the goats seen and harvested, I'd say he was right!

Nice goat!

Very nice! They're a lot of fun to hunt, aren't they?

Vert nice goat!!

Good for you!!

Nice PRONHORN I wish I could hunt them this year. I don't know why so many people call them "goats" as they are not goats or even relatede to goats.

I like to call a spade a spade. And a pronghorn a pronghorn (or an antelope as long as one is not talking about African antelope in the same breath)

Robin

Duffy4:
Thanks for the correction.

I call a spade a shovel.

The Pronghorn is the only living member of the Antilocapridae family. It is not true antelope but it is called the "American Antelope".
They are called "goats" because the "capridae"are goats in Latin.

Guys, interesting info. on the Antelope (or American Antelope). I am currently studying a bit more on them. I had watched a few videos to learn what I could before I left for this first hunt.

Having a good set of binoculars was/is a must, one of the fellows I hunted with had a nifty little 25X spotting scope on an integral tripod, which really helped discern the shooters at long long distance, I might have one on my next hunt.

They are interesting critters for sure, and the hunting is just flat fun!

Hi Fish30114 I'm the guy that was with you on the hunt. The spotting scope was a Leupold 25xcompact with built-in cross hair. They are great scopes and work very well on spotting game. The tri-pod was Leupolds compact which stores inside it's self. It is no longer avalibale new,so you have to find them used. I did not take an Antilope but had a great time anyway. Lots of animals. Ter55409

fish30114,

I was also with you on the hunt. I enjoyed spending some time with you. It looks like my little camera took some good pics. We did pretty well on Sunday after you left. I got one that I am proud of, not quite as nice as yours. That was a good hunt with some very nice people. Thanks to Ray who set up my hunt as well.

Doug

That's a dandy buck !! Hope you are doing a shoulder mount. You'll be hard pressed to get a better one. Any hair slipage? Antelope hair likes to fall out. CB

Hello Terry and Doug. Good to hear from ya'll. My family had a bit of a scare while I was out in New Mexico, when I got back to the hotel Saturday afternoon, I checked in and was stunned to learn that my brother was in the hospital. He had a heart attack and needed open heart surgery immediately. This was amazing to all of us as my brother and I are both adopted--he looks nothing like me--as ya'll know I'm 5'11" and 40 lbs. overweight, he's 6'1" and looks like a NFL cornerback, ripped and trim. We are all very thankful, he had a great result after his surgery--which was a quadruple bypass! He is already back home, I left that night to get home to be with him at the hospital.

I missed getting to visit with you guys some more, I'm glad you had such a good time. Doug--thanks again for the camera--and Terry--you were like having a bonus guide, I appreciate your help so much. It was nice to meet you guys.

Oh yeah, one other thing, in my hurry to get to the airport, I lost my contact info for Dale, do either of you have it? I haven't asked Ray yet, I know he does. I guess I'll PM him later.


Take Care --Don

Colorado Bob, I am indeed getting a shoulder mount done, I entrusted it to our outfitter, Dale. To be totally honest, the fellow that the outfitter had there helping cape out/skin out the pronghorn, seemed to pull a bit much on the hide while caping, a fair amount of hair did seem to come out. I pretty much took over the job, and skinned more than pulled on the cape, so I hope it comes out OK. I intend to speak to Dale who is going to do the taxidermy, and although I sure would like to have his actual cape, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a new cape if Dale says I should. I'm proud of him, I'll be looking for others like him again!

Regards--Don

Glad you guys did well, just now wondered over here to see this thread...Jim told me thty sh0t 2 17 inchers and one or two 16 plus antelope this year...Another rancher friend of mine said they shot an 18 plus a tad on his 200,000 ac. spread and several over 16..both ranches are in the same general vicinity of New Mexico...

Well, he scored better than we thought, I just got the official net score on my first 'lope, it was 81 2/8, right after telling me the score, the scorer told me Boone & Crocket minimum was 82! I was tickled he was that close to a 'book buck'.

Just thought that was interesting!

Nice Buck

Congrats!

How tall was he?

Riodot, he was 15 1/2 inches. I hope I can get one this good on my next hunt!