Nebraskaland

16 Nebraskaland • August-September 2019 You drew your first Nebraska Pronghorn tag, or you're planning on buying one when over-the-counter sales open Aug. 5. What now? Pronghorn, known for their incredible speed and vision, are one of Nebraska's most exciting big game animals. Bagging one, however, is no easy task. Here are a few pointers to help turn that first hunt into a success. Season Dates: Archery season is Aug. 20-Dec. 31. Muzzleloader hunters have from Sept. 15-30 to harvest their animal, and the firearm season is Oct. 13-28. Several units also allow late doe seasons. Firearms: Pronghorn see the world as if looking through wide-angle, 8x magnification binoculars. Bowhunters should prepare for confident 60-yard shots. Muzzleloaders vary widely in their capability – know the distance at which yours is powerful and accurate. With a rifle, be comfortable at 200 plus yards. Antelope will push your distance. Supplies: Like deer, pronghorn do not see color, so clothing that breaks up your silhouette works as well as desert camouflage. Dress rugged and lightweight, and do not forget your blaze orange for the muzzleloader and firearm seasons. High-powered binoculars will save you miles of trekking, though sturdy boots are still a must. Kneepads and leather gloves will protect your limbs when stalking your trophy through cactus-studded plains. A blind is also a good idea. Finding Land: Game and Parks has an online interactive atlas with downloadable map sheets and publishes the Big Game Guide, which can be found at OutdoorNebraska.org or sporting goods stores statewide. If you have permission to hunt on private land, communicate with the landowner about where you plan to hunt. Once you have an area figured out, put in the time to glass and locate animals. Look for parcels of land with at least 2 square miles of interior. Though they like being able to see for miles, they'll often disappear into gullies or rolling hills to get out of the wind, so do not rule out land that isn't dead flat. They will usually be within 4 miles of water, too. Tactics: Getting close to pronghorn is the real trick. Use everything in the landscape to your advantage. Line up the posts on a fence-line or get into a slight draw, stay low, and take your time. Play the wind as well, keeping them upwind and pushing closer during gusts. Get creative. Pronghorn are curious animals and more trusting of familiar surroundings, known to charge a white T-shirt waved just above the grass or to let several hunters walk into shooting range behind the cutout of an Angus. If stalking is not your game, use Google Earth to locate stock tanks near spotted animals. Set up a ground blind, bring a book and plenty of water for yourself and settle in. The hottest days are best for this strategy, especially if rainfall has been light. Additionally, antelope prefer to duck under fences instead of leaping them, and these places act like funnels. Setting up near an often-used high spot in the fence and letting other hunters push them to you has worked before, and will work again. Ask experienced hunters about their success, and take the time to learn the antelope hunting regulations found at OutdoorNebraska.org/huntingseasons. YOUR FIRST PRONGHORN HUNT By Emily Burch IN THE FIELD PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG

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