Unit 16 Antelope

prizes14 · Apr 28, 2023

I drew the only non resident antelope unit 16 tag which is the second hardest NM unit to get into. While I've hunted antelope a few times here in Nebraska, ours don't have much size so my biggest concern is if I will even be able to recognize what a true big one looks like.

Anyone familiar with this unit know if it will be very hard for a relatively amateur antelope hunter to pick out a big one? Also, is 16E the place to go since it looks like most of the rest of 16 is forest service?

I don't want to mess up my 1 in 300+ chance that I drew and know that this may be my only chance to get a B&C antelope in my life.

Hunt4more · Apr 28, 2023

I’d be happy to share with you where I’ve seen antelope hunting elk in 16E

backpacker · Apr 28, 2023

Not sure if I'm reading that right, but just because a hunt has tough draw odds doesn't mean it gives a better chance at a B&C animal. Now if it's the only tag you ever apply for that's in a county that's historically produced that caliber of animal, then yeah. I don't believe a person should consider it a mess up if they kill one they like that ends up scoring less either. I believe if you see a shooter antelope, you'll know it. Get on the Pronghorn Guide Service website and start looking at big buck pictures.

nmbighorn · Apr 29, 2023

Better yet hire Pronghorn Guide Service!!!

billc · Apr 29, 2023

There is monster goats in 16 and not just in 16 e. I would be looking for a guide service for sure if you can . Could easily get a 16 inch or better goat in that unit.

yotebuster17 · Apr 29, 2023

nmbighorn said:
Better yet hire Pronghorn Guide Service!!!

I’d do this if I had that tag. They’re out there all summer and know what a big one looks like. If you really really want a 85+” buck, there is almost certainly one in that unit, it’s just being patient enough to pass on a lot of cool and big bucks and know what a really big one looks like when you see it. It’s all about mass with antelope, and more importantly seeing the mass when judging them. Took me killing about 40 of them to figure that out and I still don’t have it down fully. I’ve burned a few really good tags on high 70’s to 80” bucks and now regret it as I really really really want a high 80’s antelope buck. Like more then I want a 390 bull elk or 220 muley!

Muleman · Apr 29, 2023

80+ antelope and bigger are commonly found in 16. The hard part is passing on the 75-78 inch antelope. They are hard to field judge at 500 + yards. If you’re a good judge of antelope you don’t need a guide, but if you’re not you might consider it. Most of the giants come off of the private or land locked public land. You will have a great hunt either way

ElkHunterNM · Apr 29, 2023

I helped out a good friend on that hunt last year. Saw several antelope in the high 80’s. It is one of those hunts you can be picky. Lost of access and plenty of quality.

BUGLEnmIN · Apr 29, 2023

I’d hire a guide man! ??‍

Jerry · Apr 29, 2023

yotebuster17 said:
I’d do this if I had that tag. They’re out there all summer and know what a big one looks like. If you really really want a 85+” buck, there is almost certainly one in that unit, it’s just being patient enough to pass on a lot of cool and big bucks and know what a really big one looks like when you see it. It’s all about mass with antelope, and more importantly seeing the mass when judging them. Took me killing about 40 of them to figure that out and I still don’t have it down fully. I’ve burned a few really good tags on high 70’s to 80” bucks and now regret it as I really really really want a high 80’s antelope buck. Like more then I want a 390 bull elk or 220 muley!

You hit the Lottery ! Don’t even think ? about it- book your hunt with Pronghorn Guide Service out of Arizona, best guides & field judges I’ve ever seen. Anytime & anywhere. Super great guides. Tell them what you’re after- a 90 plus BC Buck , OIL. Go get it done with them- best chance you’ll ever get ! Please send me photos of your huge buck & details too !
Best Wishes & Good Hunting-
Jerry Gold In Windsor, Colorado
307-772-1623 cell number

EliAGrimmett · May 1, 2023

You might know a big one when you see one. But you also might not. It really depends on how the buck is built. Short heavy ones often get overlooked. And also if the first 50 bucks you see are all under 80, but one of them looks clearly bigger than the others what would you do? Most hunters would shoot that buck because it's the biggest they've seen. The problem becomes knowing when to stop looking because you've found a true stud. Most newbies to pronghorn field judging don't know when to say when. My advice would be to scout as much as you can. That way you can look at a ton of them without having to decide if you need to pull the trigger. As an example: If you have only 5 days to hunt, I'd spend 3 of those days immediately before the hunt scouting and then plan to be done opening morning. If things go badly you'll have 2 days to kill. In the same example if you spent zero days scouting and then 5 days hunting, on every single buck you'll need to decide on the spot if he's big enough. That can be a lot of pressure if your judging skills aren't spot on. Of course the more you can scout the better and easier it will be. You'll be able to take pics and compare them and ask for opinions. Good luck on your hunt!

wweaver79 · May 1, 2023

Call Pronghorn Guide Service,

smarba · May 2, 2023

If you see one like EliAGrimmett's member icon...shoot LOL

RioHuntNutt · May 5, 2023

Muleman said:
80+ antelope and bigger are commonly found in 16. The hard part is passing on the 75-78 inch antelope. They are hard to field judge at 500 + yards. If you’re a good judge of antelope you don’t need a guide, but if you’re not you might consider it. Most of the giants come off of the private or land locked public land. You will have a great hunt either way

This here , NAILED IT!!!

TerynItUp · May 5, 2023

I haven’t hunted antelope much, only a few times (only had one tag but tagged along on others). In my experience, I thought every buck was big, they are really hard to judge without a TON of experience. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite species though, super cool animals in really cool country.

Thankfully my buddy helped me pass on quite a few before killing this one. Never scored him but he sure is pretty. My guess is high 70’s? And yes, before someone asks, I hit him waaaay back on my first shot!

Bwht4x4 · May 5, 2023

I went with Eli and PGS in 2019 in a different unit than 16. We scouted hard before the season and couldn't find anything big. For some reason the unit changed completely in just one year. Not sure if Eli ever figured out what happened, but it was a tough hunt. With only 3 days to hunt I decided on this buck, which was probably one of the biggest we saw on the trip. If I remember right it scored 79.