I’m Never Hunting Antelope With a Bow Again…

K.C. Smith Aug 21, 2024

I’ve been driving through antelope country my whole life, often on the way to hunt other game. I’d see them out there, walking through the sea of grass, staring blankly into the distant horizon. And not just one, but hundreds. It almost seemed like they weren’t worth pursuing for fear of ease, as if I should just pass by to pursue more challenging game.

I figured they’d be there when I decided to give them a go. Just waiting on me. Those years of casual observance built an undeserving confidence in my ability to close the distance on them as a predator. But they’re a prey species perfectly made to survive in barrenness. They always seemed so nonchalant. Careless. Less than wary.

I’m a die-hard archery hunter—a little overconfident with a lot of will to make it happen. So when the opportunity to chase pronghorn antelope came up, I thought, “Why not?”

Have you ever been so loose for the big game or an important presentation that you went out there and got walloped without knowing what hit ya? That was me. It was all cut-ups and smiles as we drove to eastern New Mexico. The grass was tall and green for August, water holes were full, and everything from bug to bovine was in good shape from a rare wet summer.

As we heard the familiar vrrrrrrrrp of a well–used cattle guard, a beautiful, heart-shaped charcoal face buck greeted us not 90 yards from the two-track, tending his small harem. A perfect start to a presumably easy hunt…

I’m never hunting antelope with a bow again. They're impossible! Their eyes are too good, their senses too keen, the terrain too difficult, and the temperatures too hot. The stalks are bound for failure. The days are so long. It is an endless supply of worthy targets with an absurd probability of not hitting the mark. Days on end of the same exact scenario will drain your existence, boiling you down as a hunter. All that's left after a week is muscle memory and a drive to succeed.

Ok. Thinking about it this way, I'll definitely be back next season.

Appropriate gear decisions improved an otherwise very difficult hunt. Good boots, appropriate layering, and some quality optics are key aspects for attempting to harvest a pronghorn with a bow. The Wick Hoody is the perfect mix of sun protection, camouflage, and heat management. It along with some other great gear are on sale right now for First Lite’s Season Opener Sale, click here to check it out.

Want to learn more about hunting antelope? Check out these articles: Bowhunting Pronghorn 101, A Guide to Hunting Pronghorn Antelope, and 5 Best Antelope Cartridges.