Antelope Creek Wildlife & Ponds
"Specializing in Managing and Developing Fish and Wildlife Populations
and their Habitats and Providing Land Management Services so you can
get the most Enjoyment and Profitability out of your Property"

ESTABLISHED 2012
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Scouting Open Country Whitetails

9/15/2015

 
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Today trail cameras are a big part of scouting, but what if you could not use trail cameras? There are a few states, like Montana that you cannot use trail cameras during the season. Therefore once archery Antelope season opens August 15, you can no longer have trail cameras set up for any species. The main thing you need in these situations is good optics. I prefer to use Nikon Sport Optics for all my optic needs. They are priced well, excellent warranty program and great clarity. Now, on to how you scout these big open country Whitetails to find that perfect stand or blind location.

The first step is to find a high vantage point overlooking feeding fields and/or bedding areas. Many times you will be able to see both areas from a good vantage point. From here it is really quite easy. I take my binoculars and spotting scope with me to these places.

My binoculars are used for a wide field of view to catch deer moving. They are also easier on your eyes than looking through a spotting scope the entire scouting session. Once I find some deer I will use the spotting scope to get a better look at the bucks and even try to get pictures of them. A phone scope comes in handy for this but you can also do it well without.

From this point you look for entry and exit routes to and from bedding to feeding areas. Look for terrain features such as saddles, particular river crossing, gate openings and other funnel points. Watch the corners of the fields. Generally it seems the deer will enter the fields at the corners. I do not often see deer enter the field on the middle of a fence line. Also pay attention and note weather patterns during your scouting trips. In particular wind directions. Maybe that big buck uses one entry route only on a Northwest wind.

The other thing to keep in mind is that deer in this open country are often known to be fairly sporadic. Where you see a buck enter one day he may enter a completely different field 2 miles away another day. Same as Whitetails everywhere, some are roamers some stick to a smaller home range and pattern. In these areas there might be few trees to pick from and that can often times be to your advantage.

I will use the technique not only for Whitetails but also Mule Deer. Though Mule Deer seem to roam more, both species can be on what I call a 4 day pattern. They may not take the same path every day, but they will use that same pattern again. It may be every fourth day the buck takes that particular path but at some point he will come back by your setup. Just stick to it. You will likely even notice this if you scout for multiple days in a row.

Good Luck this season and Get out there! This time of year deer can be very patternable and susceptible to mistake. This is not only a great way to scout but it can be very fun with your friends and family members. Watching deer in their own element and nature taking its course while you watch from a distance see how they react to each other and even predators. It is a all around great time.

Hunt Smart, Hunt Hard and Hunt Safe.

Brett Kleinschmit

Scouting Antelope Water Holes

9/6/2015

 
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Whether you are hunting antelope for the first time or have hunted them for years, hunting water holes during the archery season can be a very successful tactic. However it is not as easy as just finding a water hole and throwing up a ground blind. With the proper scouting techniques you can greatly increases your chances of a harvest.

First off you need to look around the water hole for tracks along the edge. This will tell you whether the antelope are actively using it. When looking for that perfect water hole, start small. Smaller water holes often seem to be more actively by antelope than do larger ones, especially if cattle are using the larger one. Also the smaller the water hole the easier it will be to cover the entire water hole when that trophy does come to water.

If a larger water hole is the only option you can still use it, however blind placement will be more critical, especially if you cannot effectively cover the entire water body by centering your blind on the water. You will still want to look for the tracks in the mud but blind placement will be key. Find where the tracks are most concentrated and try to split them with the blind in the middle. That way you will have an opportunity at a shot at all locations

When an antelope is approaching the water hole be patient. They will be very cautious when coming to drink because this is a great place for predators to ambush them . Also when they go to drink they will do what I call a head bob. They will go put their head down towards the water and “bob” up to scan for predators. They will generally do this at least once and could be up to 3 times. Once you see they are drinking, watch the neck muscles and ripples in the water, draw back and you will have around 30 seconds to place that perfect shot!

Hunt Hard, Hunt Safe & Hunt Smart!

Brett Kleinschmit

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    Brett Kleinschmit

     Owner of Antelope Creek Wildlife and Ponds.

    Land Specialist for Whitetail Properties Real Estate

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