Quick Answer
To manage your time effectively during an antelope hunt, create a daily schedule with set hours for scouting, hunting, and rest, prioritize your most productive hours for hunting, and adjust your plan according to weather conditions and animal behavior.
Planning Your Hunt
When hunting antelope in New Mexico’s high desert public lands, plan your hunt in advance, allowing for at least 3-4 days for scouting and preparation. Start by researching the best areas to hunt based on previous harvest numbers, terrain, and habitat. This will help you narrow down your options and increase your chances of success. It’s also essential to obtain a map of the area, including public land boundaries and topographic features.
Daily Scheduling
Develop a daily schedule with set hours for scouting (dawn to 10 am), hunting (10 am to 5 pm), and rest (5 pm to dawn). Prioritize your most productive hours for hunting, typically between 10 am and 3 pm, when antelope are most active. Be flexible, and adjust your plan according to weather conditions, such as a mid-day siesta during extreme heat. If it’s windy or raining, consider changing your hunting location to areas with more cover.
Adapting to Conditions
Antelope behavior and patterns change throughout the day, season, and year. Be prepared to adjust your hunting strategy based on the time of day, moon phase, and weather conditions. For example, during the peak rutting season (usually late September to early October), antelope become more active and vocal at dawn and dusk. During this time, focus on areas with high concentrations of bachelor groups and use calls or rattling antlers to attract them.
Find more answers
Browse the full Q&A library by topic, or jump back to the topic this question belongs to.