Got My Pronghorn Tag

[iffwalleyes]

I applied last week for a non res. pronghorn tag and by this week already the lottery was done and I got one. First year of applying. I have been applying for the last couple years in my home state ND and no go and don't expect one this year. I am pretty pumped to go and get me a speed goat. I will be hunting with a good friend in SD and hopefully thing will come together. All I know is the ND GNF could learn something from SD on how fast a lottery can be done. 5 days from the time apps were due the lottery was held not the typical month ND has taugh me to expect.

[percherman]

Eyes: That Great News!! I drew mine also.

What county will you be hunting? Are you hunting private or walk on ground?

The county I drew has a unlimited supply of walk-on land which according to the ranchers is overridden with goats.

I can't wait to get out to God's country and watch them chase each other around. I love the warp speed the dominate bucks use to chase those satellite bucks off with. Kind of reminds me of the old roadrunner/coyote cartoon.

[iffwalleyes]

35F East Harding late season. We will be doing alot of walking. I didn't hunt there last year with my buddy but last year he and one of his friends hunted some land owned by SDSU I believe and they both got goats with 14" or better length. I am sure we will try to get on there again but it sounds like there is lots of public land in Harding Co. I am just kind of along for the ride and don't really know what to expect for sure till I get out and do it. If everything goes right maybe we can go get our goats on Sat. and be back to Mobridge where he lives and pick up a limit of walleyes on Sun. Now that would be living.

[percherman]

Eyes: I will be hunting 35B the earlier unit east Harding.

I have been hunting a ranch out there since the 80's. The rancher said he hasn't seen #'s that high out there since B4 they got wiped out that bad winter back in 96-97.

I will be hunting on the east side of the Buttes, and you will be hunting on the west side of the buttes. SDSU has some beautiful land to hunt out there, we always see big goats roaming around out there and think, lucky ba*&^*s!!

You are right, tons of land to hunt, walk around all day on a walk in with out hardly running in to another hunter.

Have your buddies take you for a drive to the top of the buttes on a clear day. It is a little piece of Heaven SD has to offer. Purely aweinspiring, I can see why the natives used it for rituals.

Have a great trip and make sure you stop in for a cold one and visit with Joe at the Reva bar. Have him tell ya a few stories.

[big drift]

My boss and I also were drawn for Late season west in Harding County. Sounds as if we may have pretty good access through some friends. The inlaws took our kids out that way last week and saw some nice goats off to the side of the road after leaving Custer.

I can't wait.

bd

[percherman]

Eyes&Big Drift There are still a heck of a lot of double doe goat tags left for the late season. $80.oo to double your shooting pleasure and fill your freezer full of the finest venison you can put your lips and peristalsis around.

Have you seen the new technique on packing an animal out without gutting them? We plan on bringing backpacks and large zip-lock bags with us while we hunt. When we down a goat we will strip the meat in its cuts, place them on the exposed side of the skin to cool, put them in the zips,and into the backpacks and out we go. No more dragging our meat through dirt, dust, cactus, and who knows what out there.

Plus, my old back just ain't what it used to be, even if they are just little farts. Dragging a 100# goat a mile on some walk-in up hill, down hill, in 75 degree heat can ruin a day pretty fast for us old farts.

[Mr.Seaguar]

I got some Pink Mail also. I have purchased the antelope tags, some turkey tags and will get some deer tags also. My wife was asking who was going to eat all this stuff. I told her that, I think you are complaining, but what I hear is that you think I am a good shot who always brings home the game.

[iffwalleyes]

I don't need anymore goat tags this year. I have a double buck and doe tag for SD and then I got drawn for a buck in ND. If I ended up with 3 it will be plenty 2 would probably suit me fine too. Plus deer in MN and ND if all goes right the freezer should fill up nicely.

Not sure I understand you method for packing out. Am I reading it correctly that you quarter you animal right on the spot of kill? Or are you skinning it and more or less just processing it on the spot? I was looking at getting one of Cabela's aluminum game carts that folds up into a back pack and using it. In ND I will be private land so I will probably bring my 4 wheeler along for here.

[percherman]

Eyes: I know exactly what you mean. My freezer is empty now but buy the end of hunting season I will be cramming meat into every inch of freezer in the house, garage, and basement.

We basically do butcher them right in the field. It really is simple and fast. You do have to make sure you cut with the way the hair lays, or you will have hair all over your meat. One guy usually carries all the meat out in his back pack or hunting vest, and the other carries the cape or doe head and leg with the tag on, for ID, out with him.

I have used the carts in the past. Was a pain to carry like a backpack while hunting. Tried leaving it in the truck while we hunted, had to walk two miles back to the truck to get the cart, wheel it out, wheel it back with goat. A lot of walking and it was about 80 degrees that day. That kind of convinced me to try this new method I had been hearing that Elk hunters have been using and put my own little twist on it.

Good luck on the hunt!

Remember shovels to the top or above the ears...WHACKEM!!!

[Mike Walerak]

Just a reminder to those that will be driving on private land. Don't forget a few buckets of water and some shovels for use in the event of a fire. Most ranchers will really appreciate it if you take some extra precautions!

mw

[buzzsaw]

So let me ask, I have interest in doing a Pronghorn hunt maybe as soon as next year... I have no connections anywhere out there, who would I contact to find out what public land I could hunt on? Would you process a Pronghorn like a deer? I guess if anybody has time to elaborate on the process I would be obliged.

[David Frank]

Before this year, I had only hunted Pronghorn one other time. That was an archery hunt with some archery buddies about 5 years ago. I drew this year, with the plan on hunting on the land of my buddy's fiance's grandparents (hopefully that makes sense). Well, long story short, between the time that I drew the tag and the time hunting season came around, the two of them had broken up leaving me with no place to hunt. With no connections, I felt my best bet would be to check out the public hunting land atlas. I was going to take a stab at a do-it-yourself public land hunt. I planned to camp out and live out of the tent for a few days. Luckily, I was set up with a rancher in my unit whos wife used to work for my dad and I was successful in harvesting the antelope pictured below on their ranch. While doing my research, I realized that there is a lot of public land to be hunted by anyone. It would take some walking as no vehicular travel is allowed, but there are an abundance of antelope on public land for those willing to work for them. I have also been told that many ranchers do not like antelope around. Because I didn't have to try knocking on doors, I can't personally confirm this, but it may be as simple as knocking on a few ranchers doors. You could also try contacting the Game Fish and Parks or DNR in the state you wish to hunt to see if they have the names of any ranchers who want some antelope taken off of their land.

Score: 77 3/8"

Hope this helps you out and good luck.

Dave Frank

[buzzsaw]

Thank you David, I appreciate the feedback and may just have to make a few calls to see what I can get set up for next year. If anybody else has anything to add, please do so.

[big drift]

Buzz,

Where we were at was a ton of public land with a ton of guys on it and less antelope. We ended up spending a day knocking on doors. Some only allow specific people others charge a access fee, and still others want them all dead. We hunted a ranch where he asked for $200.00 fee on bucks and no charge for the does. For me it was worth it to get a great animal without dodging road hunters and haveing extra guys hunting the same animal. Spend some time before you hunt driving the area talking to folks and get yourself set up right.

Good luck,

[Moses2531]

Is there a nice population of Pronghorn to hunt near Philip? Public land? Ranches?