COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Chico Basin Ranch and the Colorado Division of Wildlife have collaborated to offer late season youth pronghorn hunters a unique hunting opportunity during the December pronghorn doe season.

Youth hunters who have an unfilled pronghorn tag from an earlier season are eligible to apply for one of a few limited opportunities to hunt this private ranch.

Chico Basin Ranch is an 87,000-acre property located southeast of Colorado Springs near Hanover in GMU 123.

The ranch will provide a limited number of access permits.

Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult during the entire hunt.

The late youth-pronghorn second-opportunity hunt is only available to youth hunters with unfilled doe or either-sex pronghorn licenses from earlier seasons.  Youth with unfilled pronghorn buck licenses are not eligible.

Young hunters, age 12-17, with unfilled doe licenses are automatically eligible for a second chance hunt.  Youth hunters with an unfilled either-sex pronghorn licenses must bring their license to a DOW office and get it converted to a doe license before hunting again in December.

The late pronghorn season dates are Dec 5-9.

Interested youth hunters should contact Jonathan Tullar at 719-683-7960 or email at Jonathan@ChicoBasinRanch.com no later than Nov. 23.  Available slots will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

For a more detailed description of the ranch, you may visit their website at www.chicobasinranch.com

For more information about other late youth pronghorn opportunities, contact your local Division of Wildlife Office.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

Many general deer seasons ended October 31, and hunters can save themselves some hassle and save Fish and Game expenses by filing mandatory harvest reports early.

All deer, elk and antelope hunters must complete and submit a report for each tag issued within 10 days of harvest or within 10 days of the close of the season for which their tag was valid.

The easiest way is to submit the harvest report card online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov, and click on the red “Harvest Reports” logo below the photo. Or go to https://www.idaho-hunt.com and use your hunting license or tag number and the first four letters of your last name.

Submitting online is the surest way to have hunt information included and the only way to get confirmation that the report was received.

Reports also may be mailed to: Idaho Fish and Game, Hunter Harvest Reports, P.O. Box 70007, Boise, ID 83707-0107 or called in toll-free at 1-877-268-9365 or faxed to 775-423-0799.

In this “Live Hunt” update, Mark Seacat of Mystery Ranch, provides us with some great insight into his recent trip to eastern Montana.  This seems to be an annual family hunting trip to chase the speed goats.

Read the story and look at the pictures here!

Don’t forget to leave a comment for Mark!

While numbers remain robust in much of northeastern and eastern Montana—FWP Regions 6 and 7— the hard winter of 2008-09 clearly took a toll on animals in some areas.   Consequently, antelope numbers statewide are largely at or below those seen over past few years.

“Antelope hunting will be something less than what we’ve been used to in some areas,” said Quentin Kujala, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife management section supervisor. “Numbers are still strong in much of eastern Montana and have in fact increased in specific portions of southwest Montana, but hunters will likely see decreased numbers in a large portion of central Montana—portions of FWP’s Region 4 and 5.

In FWP Region 5 in the Billings area, n o new instances of viral blue tongue infection have been found as they were in 2007, but in hunting districts 513, 530, 540 and 550, fawn recruitment and total numbers have yet to rebound. In other areas of FWP Region 5 antelope numbers have increased and the hunting outlook is good.

In FWP Region 4 hunters can expect very good hunting opportunities to the north, but region wide not the exceptional circumstances in recent years. Antelope numbers are returning to average in contrast to the very high numbers seen in recent years.

Kujala said many archery antelope hunters are already afield with a 900 series license to archery hunt antelope in any hunting district starting with a 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The 900-series season runs until Nov. 9.

Montana’s antelope archery season is Sept. 5—Oct. 10 and the general rifle season for antelope is Oct. 11—Nov. 8.

Antelope hunters must apply in advance for licenses.

Read more…

This is a posting by Steven Drake about his recent Antelope chasing in Montana!  I have never tried flagging the goats, personally!

Steve, those are some great photos of you hunting!

Give it a read!

Photo by bob2506eos

Montana’s antelope archery season opened this past Saturday, and Freddy was fortunate enough to draw one of the 5600 either sex archery tags.

This was Freddy’s first year antelope hunting. A new species and terrain, the learning curve turned out to be very steep.

Maybe, Freddy should bring along a “Flatlander” next year to assist him and maybe use a decoy!

Although, I have never been antelope hunting, I think that I would have to agree with Freddy on that this would prepare him for the upcoming elk season.

Read Freddy’s account of his first antelope hunt.

Wyoming Game and Fish is currently accepting applications for Preference Points for antelope, deer, elk, moose, and sheep.

Generally, the applicants with the most Preference Points are the ones who get drawn on the limited licenses, so you it’s highly recommended to maintain Preference Points in states if they are offered.

If you did not already apply for a Wyoming license and pay the Preference Point fee up front, you can apply for Preference Points now between July 1 and September 30.

Antelope = $30

Deer = $40

Elk = $50

Moose = $75

Sheep = $100

Get all the information needed and apply here.

PHOENIX – You still have a chance to win one of the nation’s most prestigious hunts — the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle deadline for 2009 has been extended to July 12.

Here’s your chance to win one of Arizona’s 10 top hunts, while also contributing to wildlife conservation. It’s a win-win for everyone. But Super Raffle mail orders must be received by July 12 and online orders will be accepted at the Arizona Gig Game Super Raffle Web site until 10 p.m. July 12.

The big game tags available in the raffle are for 365 days of hunting almost anywhere in the state during the 2009-2010 hunting season, and ticket prices range from $5 to $25. Raffle tickets are offered for the following species:

• Elk
• Desert Bighorn Sheep
• Buffalo
• Antelope
• Turkey (Merriam’s or Goulds)
• Coues Whitetail
• Mule Deer
• Javelina
• Black Bear
• Mountain Lion

You can also get tickets for the incredible “Swarovski Optics Package” (This package will include the 15×56 SLC binoculars, 10×42 El binoculars, STS-80 spotting scope, Swarovski Rangefinder and 4×12x50 rifle scope) valued at more than $5,000. The money raised from the optics package is used to defray the costs of the raffle itself. All the money raised from the hunt raffle tickets goes directly to wildlife management efforts.

Arizona offers some of the best trophy opportunities in North America for each of these species.  A quick review of both the Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young record books will confirm this.  (Click for B&C and P&Y websites). If you are after a truly huge mule deer, elk, antelope, Coues deer, desert bighorn sheep, or buffalo, then Arizona is where you need to be.  The only huntable population of Gould’s turkeys in the United States exists in southern Arizona and can be hunted with the raffled turkey tag.

Remember, hunters are the original conservationists and have financed most of the wildlife conservation efforts in the United States for the past century. This raffle is just another creative way to raise money for these remarkable conservation efforts. It’s a proud and successful heritage.

For more information visit http://www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com/.

Last year Sean Degrey who is a guide from Trophies West outfitter did an “Antelope Trilogy” with BowCast. If you haven’t listened to the trilogy, you can learn how to effectively hunt trophy antelope.

As part of the trilogy, Trophies West offered all BowCasters to hunt trophy pronghorn in Montana – 5 Day hunt for $999!   

Right now, if you contact Trophies West or Sean (sdegrey@gmail.com) and mention BowCast, you can book a 5 day hunt for only $899!  This can be for either the 2009 or 2010 hunting seasons.

I would love to do a little speed goat hunting, if only I could turn that into a family vacation!

Read the full article here.