Hunting With Adventures Wild Outfitters

-By Brandon Wikman

I recently returned from my archery antelope hunt in the thirsty sagebrush hills of southeastern Colorado with my very first pronghorn.

If you've never experienced an antelope hunt, I strongly suggest you at least try it. It's got to be one of the most interesting and challenging hunts I've been on. Unlike a deer, turkey or duck hunt, this particular ordeal sets the standards on hunting an extremely wily game from a blind offering shots far past your average 15 to 20 yards.

The first day we attempted to spot-and-stalk these water-roaming critters. It didn't work so well. Basically, you must spot a goat that's bedding on the downside of a ridge, creek bottom or behind a heap of yucca bushes if you even think you can get close. I felt like Elmer Fudd sneaking through the open country to only get spotted from 300 yards.

The next day we attempted a more original and tactical plan of simply sitting in a blind over a waterhole. Well actually, it isn't so "simple." Marinating away in 100 degree Colorado summer heat within the confinements of a windless blind isn't the most enjoyable way to spend your day, especially when there's no telling what time they'll show up.

As luck would have it, I ended up harvesting a goat during the hottest period of the day with temperatures hovering over 102 degrees. As cautious as they are approaching and drinking out of waterholes, I found that it just takes a lot of mental energy and patience to battle through the obstacles throughout the hunt.

Southeastern Colorado has a mess of pronghorn running around; heck, it truly is "where the deer and antelope play." Adventures Wild has some of the most amazing whitetail and mule deer I've ever seen and in my opinion can be matched with Iowa, Kansas, and Illinois brutes…don't believe me? I'll be back there in November!