Antelope in back yard, so what the heck! Tons of questions

[rocktot]

+1, out of respect for the landowner and the sport do not go trespassing for sake of an antelope. There are available GPS programs with county platte info that you can buy and will show you who owns what. Otherwise just knock on some doors and someone will get you squared away.

Ok, thanks. With respect to what you are saying, the landowners are weekend campers for the most part and most of the land is vacant, mostly undeveloped 5-10 acre plots on open land. No one would know, nor care unless its on their land with a house on it, further in than I am. This is mostly unfenced land. And cattle graze it so the lopes are competition, but maybe I can come up with a call-list I guess. I'll ask about it because of the penalty issue. Don't need that.

So, I guess its also illegal to use a dog to softly cajol the lopes onto your land or Fed land? (herding dog) - really, I don't know.

[birddog]

Ok, thanks. With respect to what you are saying, the landowners are weekend campers for the most part and most of the land is vacant, mostly undeveloped 5-10 acre plots on open land. No one would know, nor care unless its on their land with a house on it, further in than I am. This is mostly unfenced land. And cattle graze it so the lopes are competition, but maybe I can come up with a call-list I guess. I'll ask about it because of the penalty issue. Don't need that.

So, I guess its also illegal to use a dog to softly cajol the lopes onto your land or Fed land? (herding dog) - really, I don't know.

Not 100% sure but I'm pretty sure the pup would be considered "harassing wildlife."

[MileHighOutlaw]

1. Whats a good size gun for antelope? Not looking to upgrade, or 400 yard shots. I can get close to 100 yards or less, (for now) but say 200-300? (I may be looking for a good used Savage or something with a wooden stock)

I have used my .270 for several different animals since I moved here.

2. What is the deal with hunting on private property? Alot of the land is owned but unused.

Do your self a favor and get permission. I shot my antelope on our private land this year and it ended up on another persons land that had no building on it just open land. I retrieved it and within an hour DOW was pulling us over. Thank god he was super cool with us,just took my info and gave me a nice verbal lesson!

3. How much is license, tags etc? I will only need one antelope.

If I remember it was right around $45.00 you are living in a land that is pretty hard to draw a rifle tag in. I hunted it 2 years ago with a bow and it was OTC but not anymore.

4. Processing: I would like to make steaks, and mainly ground antelope, is there any special prep, I want to try to can some to last all year. Is canning game meat acceptable if done properly or does it get really gamey??

Gamey? I heard stories after stories of how gamey it is but I tell you what it is damn tasty! I recommend to process it as fast as you can and cool it down. My antelope this year gave me 65lbs of meat including steaks and three types of ground. Regular,Breakfast,spicy. If you would like I can give you a 2lb brick of plain ground adn you can taste for yourself. I made tacos the other night from it.

5. Do you go for doe or buck or what is the deal? Don't really like the idea of taking out the top end of the gene pool.

Meat is meat

6. Whats antelope taste like compared to beef or buffalo? Some good ways to prep it??

I shot mine up near Wy and lot's of sage around. I didn't taste the big sage taste like others claim it has. I think it tastes like wild game. Medium rare on the steaks is the way to go I tried medium and well done and didn't care for it as much but I like my beef steaks medium rare so that was probably it.


7. Basic tools for beginner (processing, etc) ?

I pretty much used my swing blade for the entire process except when I split the pelvis and then used a Wy saw.

[TRnCO]

[QUOTEMy antelope this year gave me 65lbs of meat ][/QUOTE]that must've been one damn big antelope to get 65#'s of eadible meat.

[spqrzilla]

Dogs seen chasing wildlife can be legally shot.

And don't hunt on private property without permission. Beyond the penalties, which are substantial, it gives us hunters a bad name. In the field, I'm happy to report anyone I see doing it.

[budda]

I process my pronghorn myself takes a few hours but I do it to save $. Try to not let it hang to long. The last few years I let it hang over night before I started. My buddy that I went with last year took his to a processor and the processor had to let it hang for almost a week before they were able to get it processed and his had a lot stronger game flavor. I process it like a deer in the way of cuts. I watched some youtube vidios on it and it took me about 12 hr the first time but I was also learning and went over bourd with trying to get every last peice of meat. This year it took be about 6 hr but I also decided to learn to make my own sausage this year so next year it should be quicker.

As for prepping and cooking it. Two words: Apple Cider. I think pronghorn has slite sweat flavor and making filet mignons from the backstrap after soaking in apple cider over night and then cooking medium-rare to medium is fantastic. (ooo god now I am hungry). My wife marinated the ribs in cider this year then stuck them in the crock pot and when they were done pot BBQ sause on them and broiled them for about 20-30 minutes and they were also good. Sausage wise I like german and chorizo sausage and if you feel like making it your self I was able to get pork and beef fat for free from the supermarkets here in Greeley.

[MileHighOutlaw]

[QUOTEMy antelope this year gave me 65lbs of meat ]

that must've been one damn big antelope to get 65#'s of eadible meat.[/QUOTE]

Indeed it was a big beast. Also bow hunting leaves no bullet trauma to the meat.

[birddog]

that must've been one damn big antelope to get 65#'s of eadible meat.

Indeed it was a big beast. Also bow hunting leaves no bullet trauma to the meat.[/QUOTE]

nor do head shots, under the right conditions of course.

[BladesNBarrels]

Please request permission in advance from the land owners before you cross or hunt their property.
If you are starting at your property near Fairplay, you can go to the Park County Assessor's website and start tracking the owners around you from those records and maps.
By contacting the owners, you will also be meeting your neighbors.
Treat them the way you would want others to treat you and your private property.
I have rarely heard no when I asked.
When there is a no response, it is usually because they have already given permission or are hosting other hunters at the same time.
Good Luck with your hunt!

[Larry Ashcraft]

Pronghorn as related to goats should be treated and cooked as such.

Uh, no. Pronghorn aren't related to anything. They are their own species.

And the meat is delicious, if treated right. I've killed 7 or 8 of them over the years, and the only gamey ones were the ones that got chased around before being shot.