Pronghorn hunting INFO needed

[Kodiak]

I am wanting to hunt some pronghorn in the dakotas, i prairie dog hunt out there but i have a hankering to go for some pronghorns. what time of the year do they hunt them? is there public land you can have success on? what do i all need and what are some average liscensing costs? i know i am not going to be lazy and not do any research but i was just wanting some advise from someone that has done it before with success.

thanks,

J

[marine_man]

I can't help you out too much on SD.. but I know that ND does not sell NR Pronghorn licenses except for bow hunting... so you're out of luck there if you're thinking of rifle hunting.

iffwalleyes should see this and will be able to fill you in as he pronghorn hunted in SD this year.

marine_man

[iffwalleyes]

SD pronghorn isn't too tough of a draw. I got mine the first year I applied being this year. They usually have a early season and a late season. I applied for the late since that is what my SD friend has done the last couple years. There is a ton of public walking hunting especially in Harding County where I hunted. What I found especially the last week of the season is they were very wild with the hunting pressure. You couldn't stalk with in 500 yds of them. So next year I will probably apply for early season. The other thing I am going to try and do is talk with some of the land owners out there to try and line up some private land to hunt on. I saw lots of private land with antelope on them but then you couldn't find out who's land it is to contact them. So I plan to do some more research next year. As far as tags you can only get double tags. Option 1 is a any antelope tag with also a doe/kid tag this will run you about $250. Option 2 is for two doe/kid tags this is only about $80. I didn't fill my tags this year but not because of not having chances. I passed on several smaller buck because I had already shot a decent buck in ND so I had meat for the table. Then the last weekend of the hunt I couldn't even get close enough to ever shoot they were so wild.

[Kodiak]

what do you suggest for a caliber for hunting pronghorns?

[iffwalleyes]

A .270 will do nicely that is what I used. A .243 25-06 also would be alright. I ran into a guy using a .300 mag now that is a bit over kill but it will knock them down and gut them all at the same time . Even a 30-O6 would be ok. You will want something that is pretty flat and will reach out to 500 yds. Typical shot is in the 200-300 yd range especially on walkin. Anymore question just ask.

[Kodiak]

how about a 22-250 or a 308 i have both of those i use out there for varmint hunting.

[Bushwacker]

I would think that a 22-250 would be on the small end. I would check the regs to see if that is a legal caliber for big game in SD. We go to Wyoming and our party uses .243, .270, 30-06, and 7mm. They all work, but if I picked one it would definitely be the .270. It is an awesome caliber for speed goats. I have a 30-06 and that is on the upper end of calibers for them, but I use the smallest grain bullets I can buy. 125 grain last trip and that worked very well. Of your two rifles, I would use the .308, and look for the smallest grain available. Pronghorn are my favorite big game animal to hunt. You will have a blast.

[Jackpine Rob]

The 22-250 is a legal big-game caliber in South Dakota. I took a pronghorn a couple of years ago with mine, and he dropped nicely. Double-lung. Bullet was found against the skin, no exit.

That said, I think its a little light. I had a personal 200 yard limit on myself, meaning no shot would be taken beyond 200. The goat I ended up shooting was lasered at 197 yards by the local warden who had been watching me try to position for the shot and helped me drag it out (after checking my tag). He also took some pictures for me.

Lots of guys shoot goats with 22-250 and .223 in South Dakota. It works - but unless you're really comfortable with the gun and your own patience level, I'd go a little bigger. If you do decide to use the 22-250, make sure the bullets used are up to the task. The "varmint" bullets aren't going to cut it. A good stout 60 gr. will work well, and some of the 55 gr. bullets also. A little researching and experimenting goes a long way.

[woody1975]

If I draw a Pronghorn License, from what I read, then I can shoot coyotes as well. Is this correct?

[iffwalleyes]

Nonresidents must either possess a nonresident predator license or any other valid South Dakota nonresident hunting license.

Right off the South Dakota Game and Fish HSOforum. So I would say yes you would be able to shoot yotes with a non resident pronghorn license. But you might want to give the game and fish a ring just to verify.

[Blair Nelson]

Big Drift and I hunted prairie goats in NW SoDak this fall. FWIW, I shot my buck with my 25-06 @ 360 yds and doe with 6.5x55 at 175 yds (needed to bloody the back up gun). BD used his 280 on both his ~ 270 yds.

Very fun trip! We got into a place that looked like the plains of Africa ... had to have been 500 - 1000 of them on that ranch. I counted 200 while sitting in some hay bales one morning.

Your .308 would be fine ... In particular thinking a 130 TSX out of one would be a fantastic p horn boolit.

[Mr.Seaguar]

Pronghorn hunting is awesome. I wouldnt feel undergunned using a .22-250 on them. Its all about bullet placement anyway. You can find plenty of antelopes on public ground. Pick a place where they eat grass or alfalfa and they taste great too. I will warn ya, they stink. I mean STINK. Its almost too much. Good luck.