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Pronghorn Antelope Hunting Gear List

September 25, 2020

Pronghorn antelope hunting is quite different from most hunts out west.

Instead of typical morning and evening prime-time hunting, antelope are often hunted all-day-long. They’re active throughout the daytime, using their eyes and wide-open areas to keep them safe, instead of seeking cover in the timber. This offers hours for opportunity, but also creates some challenges you won’t find chasing most big game.

There are a few major factors that go into choosing a good antelope hunting gear list that will help you cover a lot of ground and hunt all day long.

Go as light and minimal as possible. 

Antelope hunts rarely turn into multi-day backpacking expeditions. Days normally start and end up at the vehicle and camped near a road. This gives you the flexibility to plan for daily outings and the ability to adjust your gear accordingly for the conditions. It gives you a unique opportunity to take only what you need and nothing else.

For example, if the forecast is looking clear, leave your rain gear at the vehicle. If the temperatures are mild, you can probably leave the insulation in the truck. Staying light and nimble on your feet with only the gear you need will put you more than steps ahead on a multi-day hunt.

What’s the best camo pattern for Pronghorn Antelope hunting?

Selecting your camo pattern depends on the terrain and the season. For most desert applications, with open terrain lacking cover, Valo is the top choice. For early-season archery hunting from a blind, dark-colored solids are ideal to minimize detection. If you’re spot-and-stalk hunting pronghorn during the early green season, Verde is a top choice. For rocky plateau terrain, or tall-standing sage, Vias is a proven choice.

Keep protected.

During the early season, it may seem like short-sleeve weather, but hours of direct sun can sap your energy. Depending on your personal preference of Ultra Merino or Peloton Synthetic and long sleeve or long-sleeve hooded, our base-layer tops offer sun protection while their thermoregulating properties keep you cool. The Peloton line-up features a UPF 50+ rating, ensuring all-day protection.

The ideal pronghorn antelope hunting pants are the Tiburon and Kutana Stretch Woven. They will keep you cool and protected. The Tiburon has better breathability, whereas the Kutana has better pick resistance for dealing with sharp rock, brush, and cactus.

Cactus is often encountered so a good pair of leather palmed gloves, like the Attack Glove, and plastic or leather kneecaps can be a good idea.

For late-season pronghorn antelope hunting, layering in a Kenai Ultra, Guide DCS Jacket, and Zip-Off Bottoms will help sustain the colder temperatures.

Stay Hydrated.

Seems logical, but many hunts have been ruined or cut short due to lack of water. Being able to pack as much as you will need throughout the heat of the day is the key to hunting from daylight to dark. It’s not uncommon to go through an excess of 120 ounces of water on a hot day.

The Platypus Hoser holds 3 liters / 120 ounces of water, and stows in all our packs.

Single trip pack out is a must.

Antelope can be taken any time of the day which means you need a small nimble pack that can expand large enough to get the meat, head, and cape out quickly when successful. Our smaller packs like the PRO 1850, 2300, or 3600 are built for this exact task.

Each pack features a load sling mode that expands an extra 2500 cubic inches between the frame and the bag, which is plenty of room for a quartered antelope.

The amount of time it takes you to get your antelope skinned, quartered, in game bags, and on ice is a determining factor on the quality of table fare. Keep coolers of ice, with the water drained, ready for the meat. Even if you harvest near a road, and hauling it out on your back isn’t required, it’s still a good idea to skin, quarter, and get it on ice within the hour of harvest.