Antelope hunting means long days in blazing sun, miles behind the glass, and can mean crawling through cactus and sagebrush. Being physically ready and having the right gear makes the hunt enjoyable instead of miserable.
1. Protect Yourself During the Stalk
- Knee and Elbow Pads: The final push often means crawling hundreds of yards over jagged rock and prickly pear. Good pads are mandatory.
- Leather Work Gloves: Don’t skip these — you’ll need them to keep cactus spines out of your hands while low crawling.
- Stable Bipod or Tripod: Pick a shooting rest that deploys fast and adjusts high enough to clear tall sagebrush.
2. Plan for Heat and Hydration
Early season prairie hunts can hit brutal temperatures with zero shade. Drink plenty of water, pack electrolyte supplements, and wear wide-brimmed headwear. Keep extra ice and water staged at your truck.
3. Protect Your Meat Immediately
Antelope makes incredible table fare, but high temps will ruin meat fast if you delay. Pack heavy-duty game bags, razor-sharp knives, and have a clear plan to skin, quarter, and get the meat on ice immediately after taking the shot. If you can’t skin it right away, pack a few frozen one-gallon milk jugs in your cooler ahead of time. Inserting them directly into the body cavity immediately after field dressing will start cooling the meat from the inside out.
Your gear list should end with the one tool that gets you in range in the first place. A reliable call — like the Dominator Call® — belongs on that same packing list alongside your bipod and game bags, ready around your neck for the moment scouting and stalking finally pay off.
Gearing up for pronghorn season? Visit Hancockoutdoors.com to add the Dominator Call® to your kit before opening day.