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Plateau Doe

7863 Views 65 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  35whelen
Well,

I'm ten days out from my doe pronghorn tag. I know there are a bunch of you that have hunted this tag, so who can give me some advice? I would say "I'm not looking for your honey hole", but that would be a lie. I am looking for your honey hole! :)

But really, any advice to help lessen the learning curve would be much appreciated.
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If you're hunting on opening day, I would suggest going out very, very early in the morning and setting up in a place the pronghorns are likely to run by as soon as people start pushing them. Pick a good location (using geography to your advantage), be patient, and stay put for awhile. There will be a lot of folks pushing them around.

The animals are very skittish by the time the doe hunt rolls around, so road hunting is not as easy as you may expect. It won't work for you unless you're either a) a long range shooter or b) lucky.

I don't know much about what the hunt is like after opening day. Hopefully others can help if you don't tag out right away.
When I was out that way during the elk hunt all the herds of antelope were very skittish and very seldom held still for very long if a vehicle was in sight. We did see a few small herds of them but not as many as they should have out there.

I can't believe that they still have a doe hunt going on out there.
When I was out that way during the elk hunt all the herds of antelope were very skittish and very seldom held still for very long if a vehicle was in sight. We did see a few small herds of them but not as many as they should have out there.

I can't believe that they still have a doe hunt going on out there.
And the welfare farmers from Wayne county got them to raise for permits by 200 from what they were already recommending, plus they're removing a couple hundred. We really lost during the May board meeting. Hopefully next year sportsmen will go or contact the board and not let it happen again.
Oh how I wish I had an antelope tag in my wallet.... :cry:
Spent over 40 days this year on the Plateau antelope unit,
We figure we saw about 300 total different does and fawns over that time frame.......

Why the hell they have issued over 600 antlerless permits is insane....:!:......

As for 'honey holes' ?
Not sure there is such a thing for these antelope.
So many trucks,wheelers,razors with guns running every were I'd were orange.:grin:.
(I HATE orange)

Honestly, I've seen them lopes cover 20 miles in a day for no real reason...........

Just like the Wasatch cow elk herds, The Plateau lopes headed the same direction..
Sad,Sad,sad...........................
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The animals are very skittish by the time the doe hunt rolls around, so road hunting is not as easy as you may expect. It won't work for you unless you're either a) a long range shooter or b) lucky.

I don't know much about what the hunt is like after opening day. Hopefully others can help if you don't tag out right away.
I am definitely not a long range shooter. Don't have the equipment, knowledge, or skills. I do tend to get a little lucky every now and then, though. I'm not anticipating only road hunting, and I don't mind getting out and hiking. I will not be hunting opening day as it starts on a Monday and I have some work that day that can't be put to a different day. I anticipate that my first day hunting will be Friday the 20th.

I've never hunted antelope before. I put in for this tag with one thing in mind: a test run to see if this would be a fun and reasonable hunt for my daughter when she turns 12. She's 8 now so I'll start building points back up to put in as a group so she can draw that tag her first year if this works out the way I hope it will. Depending on the situation, she will hopefully be with me on this hunt.

Any hints on where or how would be appreciated. Thanks guys!
Spent over 40 days this year on the Plateau antelope unit,
We figure we saw about 300 total different does and fawns over that time frame.......

Why the hell they have issued over 600 antlerless permits is insane....:!:......

As for 'honey holes' ?
Not sure there is such a thing for these antelope.
So many trucks,wheelers,razors with guns running every were I'd were orange.:grin:.
(I HATE orange)

Honestly, I've seen them lopes cover 20 miles in a day for no real reason...........

Just like the Wasatch cow elk herds, The Plateau lopes headed the same direction..
Sad,Sad,sad...........................
It happened because sportsmen didn't show up at the board meeting or email the board their side of the story. Instead you had the welfare cases from Piute and Wayne county that came and complained about the antelope and elk. They got 200 more tags added for doe pronghorn, and 200 tags added to the Dutton,Monroe,Fishlake late cow hunt that runs until January 31st and has nearly a 90% success rate. We got screwed last April and we need to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Most shots on this unit is 400-500 yards unless you can get them to run past you. It's a tough hunt especially with the low numbers of animals this year
Get off the road on foot n glass as much as possible. It's a fun hunt n you'll surely tag out.
I think 35 might actually have a honey hole.....

Cuz every time I get on foot in this unit I just walk on to another road.....:p..
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There are a few areas that hold pockets where they like to hang out in and to get to them you are going to have to hike a ways. But after all the hunting seasons that go on down there all bets are off.
they see the trucks coming a lot easier. got of the road and use the terrain to conceal your movement better.
its been two years since I hunted it though. saw zero antelope during scouting but then found a heard opening morning when I left the road to hike up a draw to peak over the rim. they were over the top on the other side by the road but would've spooked em had I kept driving down road. ive only done hunt once but never met anyone who spent more than a day before tagging out. it may have changed though. seems like they are hammering that unit with 500-600 doe tags a year.
also I remember when I applied for the hunt this year there was a notice that they may be conducting aerial surveys during that hunt
Take Goofys word for it. The Wayne County Goat Ropers got there way. That unit is so screwed up now to what it use to be.. it's a **** shame.. Love the Boulders and Parker..Was there in 1998 with my new pick up.. You wold never believe the Lopes we seen. GONE GONE< NOW.
that's a shame. always thought of this hunt as a sure thing if you were lucky to draw. wouldn't mind them scaling way back for a few years
I will be heading down the Friday after the opener as well and will be hunting every chance I get. If you see a silver Tacoma stop by and say hi.
If you are just looking for a good hunt for your daughter (and Plateau isn't what you hoped for), look into the WY doe hunts. It's only $48 per doe tag, you can usually get two, draw odds are pretty good, and there are typically many animals that make for a fun hunt.

Out of state hunts are typically expensive, but the WY doe hunts are very reasonable. Don't count them out.

I've never hunted Plateau though, so can't help you. 35 is probably spot on though. Use your glass and use other hunters to your advantage. Good thing is antelope are active all day, so you have more than the first and last hour of the day to hunt them unlike alot of deer and elk hunts.
^^^^^This! Nonresident youth doe antelope tags are $33 and the nonresident nonyouth doe tags are $48. I have been going to Wyoming antelope hunting for the past 7 years and it is a blast!
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