Pronghorn from ground blind?

[Treeshark]

How early before the hunt should I set the pop up on a water hole? Do I shoot through the mesh or does it matter? I have an opportunity to hunt pronghorns in eastern Colorado and I’m trying to formulate a plan.

[Texans42]

I normally can only do it the morning of. Nervous yes, but thirst normally wins

[Aggiehunter08]

The earlier the better. The main thing is don’t let them see you walk to it and get in. I personally would never shoot through mesh. I’d pack a lunch and sit all day.

[Treeshark]

so is it important to get in before daylight?

The earlier the better. The main thing is don’t let them see you walk to it and get in. I personally would never shoot through mesh. I’d pack a lunch and sit all day.

[Aggiehunter08]

so is it important to get in before daylight?

Yes

[Texans42]

so is it important to get in before daylight?

helps but not mandatory, they water throughout the day, thus why you need to set all day. just do what you can and go from there. Don’t over think it.

[L.T.K.56]

No help at all but like to know if they are good to eat.

[wytex]

Pronghorn are excellent eating. Folks that don't like them have usually chased them all over the country before a shot and then don't take proper care of the meat. I watched a guide dressing some old guys antelope down in Texas one year, he spilled pee all over the back quarters and then told the old guys they were only worth sausage making anyway. I bet they never shot another one after tasting that meat.
Skin it and get it on ice asap if it's hot out. Getting the skin off really helps the meat start cooling even if hot outside.

Up here we see them watering about mid morning for the first time, then later in day after feeding. get in the blind before daylight. Shoot through mess is not needed.
Pit blinds work well too, we have dug a hole in the sage just deep enough to conceal when you are sitting with sage bushes around it They look natural.
Watch for snakes in the pit though.

Good luck !!

[diamond10x]

Pronghorn are excellent eating. Folks that don't like them have usually chased them all over the country before a shot and then don't take proper care of the meat. I watched a guide dressing some old guys antelope down in Texas one year, he spilled pee all over the back quarters and then told the old guys they were only worth sausage making anyway. I bet they never shot another one after tasting that meat.
Skin it and get it on ice asap if it's hot out. Getting the skin off really helps the meat start cooling even if hot outside.

Up here we see them watering about mid morning for the first time, then later in day after feeding. get in the blind before daylight. Shoot through mess is not needed.
Pit blinds work well too, we have dug a hole in the sage just deep enough to conceal when you are sitting with sage bushes around it They look natural.
Watch for snakes in the pit though.

Good luck !!

This has been my experience with people who don't like pronghorn, usually treat them like crap and it's no surprise they didn't taste good.

One thing I'll add, since they have such great eyesight during the day, their vision in low light is pretty poor. With bad low light vision they tend to stay bedded quite a bit later in the mornings and bed earlier in the evenings than most other ungulates. They almost seem to wait until the sun hits them directly to get out of their bed and start to bed as soon as the sun starts to fade on the horizon. You don't have to be in the blind before daylight but it doesn't hurt. Just know they aren't like hunting whitetail in TX where you make sure you're in before daylight and out after dark.

[Outback]

I hunted with a guide in southeast Colorado. He dropped me off an hour before first light and picked me up 15 hours later an hour after last light. He told me if they see you going in or coming out of the blind, they will stop using that waterhole for up to a week.

[Treeshark]

Very good information here! Keep it rolling cause I have no experience w antelope. Thanks

[Slew]

I hunted with a guide in southeast Colorado. He dropped me off an hour before first light and picked me up 15 hours later an hour after last light. He told me if they see you going in or coming out of the blind, they will stop using that waterhole for up to a week.

Hat's off to you!!! There's no way I could do that! I can't last 2 hours in a box blind with snacks and WIFI!

[Bisch]

The earlier the better. The main thing is don’t let them see you walk to it and get in. I personally would never shoot through mesh. I’d pack a lunch and sit all day.

I bet I’ve shot 150 or more critters thru mesh. If you set it up correctly, it’s the bees knees!!!!!!

OP, I agree with don’t let them see you walking to/from the blind. It would be better to have someone drop you off in a vehicle and drive off. They are used to seeing trucks driving around the pasture, but ppl walking will spook the heck out of them.

I hunted with an outfitter in WY that screwed the door to the blind shut after you get in because he had too many ppl get out and screw up the hunting.

Bisch

[Lampasas]

I’ve done the waterhole deal in a ground blind all day. Under no circumstance would I ever do it again. It’s pretty brutal. Also it’s usually in the 90’s mid day.

[Texans42]

I hunted with a guide in southeast Colorado. He dropped me off an hour before first light and picked me up 15 hours later an hour after last light. He told me if they see you going in or coming out of the blind, they will stop using that waterhole for up to a week.

It’s not completely true, I’ve set up a ground blind 800 yard from goats, with them watching me. 4 hours later they finally came in. It goes both ways, ever animal is different

I hunt them ever year, they are OTC for me on
my ranch.