Pronghorn Dreaming
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://www.biggame.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/untamed.png[/author_image] [author_info]Larry Weishuhn is a widely known writer, speaker, raconteur and world hunter. He co-hosts “DSC’s Trailing the Hunter’s Moon” on Pursuit Channel, CarbonTV and the show’s YouTube Channel.[/author_info] [/author]
P-r-o-n-g-h-o-r-n A-n-t-e-l-o-p-e! The unique, truly American dweller of the western plains is a huge wildlife management success, saved from extinction through the commitment, efforts and dollars of hunters. Unique in many ways, but specifically in the fact the pronghorn is the only true horned animal that annually sheds its outer horns sheaths and grows back another from the core underneath. Too, our pronghorn is the only antelope that develops pronged horns.
The species’ large eyes serve the pronghorn extremely well in detecting danger at long range. His kind’s increased lung capacity and his built for speed body help make the pronghorn the fastest land animal in North America.
The buck’s dark horns and cheek patch contrast the rest of his body of white and reddish-tan coloration. To say his kind is “the dandy of the plains” is somewhat of an understatement.
Challenging to hunt? Without a doubt, but huge fun! Over the years I have pursued his kind in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming with rifle, muzzleloader and handgun. Good Lord willing, I will continue doing so!
During the fall of 2019 I took my biggest pronghorn hunting with Greg Simons’ Wildlife Systems (www.wildlifesystems.com) in western Texas near the town of Marathon. My buck had 17 1/2-inch horns with good prongs and mass. I shot the buck with a .257 Roberts Ruger No. 1 RSI, topped with a Trijicon AccuPoint scope, shooting Hornady’s 117 grain SST ammo at appropriately, 257 yards. The article about the hunt appeared in DSC’s Game Trails.
I plan on hunting the same property with Wildlife Systems again this coming fall. During the past hunt my guide, Don Richardson, and I found another buck that with some luck could easily have horns at least 17-inches in length with far-reaching prongs. We also hunted a buck in 2019 which prior to my arrival Don had seen numerous times, but we never found, a buck that had horns with four prongs, forward and back. Hopefully, we can at least see this unique buck this year. And, who knows what elsemay possibly show up.
Recently I have been catching myself daydreaming about the upcoming pronghorn hunt and wondering if I should again use the same .257 Roberts No. 1, or possibly another. Decisions, decisions, decision…
Regardless of what is going on in the world, there are always small things, of beauty and splendor, for us to enjoy, admire and appreciate!
Watch “DSC’s Trailing the Hunter’s Moon” TV show on our YouTube Channel, or on CarbonTV.
If you haven’t heard any of the “DSC’s Untamed Heritage” podcasts, visit blubrry.com/untamedheritage/ to listen to one of our 30 podcast episodes.
