My son-in-law and I have been talking about antelope hunting and were wondering where the closest good public access antelope hunting is too us. We both shoot .257 Wby Mags and do not really get a chance to test their abilities around here (we do some target shooting to 400 yds). We might consider a guide under the right circumstances. We live in SE Oklahoma. Is there any decent hunting in Eastern New Mexico or Eastern Colorado? What time of year is the most productive for antelope and is out of state hunting extremely expensive?

will take ~ 9 years to draw tag in CO. you'd be better off finding landowner tags in that state. don't know much about NM.

There is some fine antelope hunting in New Mexico, particularly the eastern portion of the state. However, the public draw is a real crapshoot. In a combined 18 years of applying, my wife and I have drawn one tag between us. There are plenty of landowner tags available, though they're getting more and more expensive every year. In the good areas they're probably over a thousand bucks now. That's with no guide or room and board. You can probably get a nice guided hunt, including room and board, for about $2,500 each in a real good area. There are several members of AR that sell NM antelope hunts for about the going rate. If you want to go it yourself, wait until about mid-July when the G&F posts the landowner lists. Then get on the phone and see if you can find a landowner that hasn't already sold all his/her tags to an outfitter. I got my wife a landowner tag in 2003 and we had a great hunt.

Red C.

In Wyoming on alot of private land you have to go through the draw process but it is only a formality as there are always plenty of tags. You will get drawn.

We can take two more shooters for '08 on a private ranch where you and your son-in-law would have the whole ranch to yourselves.

Antelope hunting is very good there and if you do your part you will get a nice buck. Price is $2450 and includes all food and lodging, 3 full days hunting for one buck antelope and assistance with meat processing and care of trophy.

I personally have hunted on this ranch and 2 others operated by the outfitters and had an outstanding hunt each time. He shoots only a few bucks each year and keeps the trophy quality high. On this particular ranch he will only take 5-6 bucks in a season. So I'm afraid your 257's will not get much of a workout as a long shoot will be 200yds.

Contact me anytime for further info and questions you may have.

Mark

Closest to you is the Texas Panhandle. Landowners have the tags, but are usually not quite as pricey as NM. Check with the Chamber of Commerce in Dalhart and Dumas. They may be able to direct you to a landowner with tags for sale. Some also offer guiding, but others will just show you the property, give you a little basic advice, and turn you loose on your own.

You can also start putting in for the Oklahoma panhandle draw permits. I've been doing it for about 6-8 years now, so don't expect one in the near future. You also might be able to find land owner tags out there but they are usually spoken for well in advance. Plenty of public hunting in the western portion of Cimarron county and private hunting in the eastern portion with land owner permission. So, far I've been lucky enough to kill two antelope in the panhandle. A buck from a friend of mine (landowner tag) and a deprivation doe last spring. They are by far better eating then the ones that typically feed on sage, IMO.

Good luck,

Stonecreek nailed it, the Texas/Oklahoma border in the panhandle.

Here is a link to a great outfitter up there. We hunted with him last fall. He is also the rancher:

Sagebrush Link

Bob

Here is a picture of the Oklahoma panhandle buck I took in 2005.



And the completed mount: