When a herd buck leaves his ladies to run off a challenger, grab a buck decoy and make your move.
I cut my hunting teeth and paved my way into the outdoor industry hunting antelope with a stick and string. What began as something to do before elk season turned into a lifelong passion. Eventually, it transformed into learning how to decoy pronghorn antelope.
Going into the 2024 archery antelope season, I’ve harvested 27 male speed goats with archery tackle — many of those eclipsing the 67-inch Pope & Young minimum. I’ve also chased antelope across the West, hunting multiple states and expanding my knowledge of these remarkable creatures.
Additionally, I’ve penned over 200 articles on this ultra-unique creature, wrote a book titled Bowhunting the Prince of the Plains, and given countless seminars and classes.
Bragging? Not at all. I have no hunting ego and could care less about clicks or likes on social media platforms. I will tell you about my successes, so you know there is experience behind the coming tips and tactics. If you heed the following advice, you’ll have more tasty antelope meat in your freezer and ebony horns on your wall.
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Whether an ag field or a specific prairie plant the goats are keying on, food sources make great early-season decoy locations.
Antelope Decoying 101
One of the many joys bowhunting provides is getting close to critters. But how do you consistently get close to North America’s fastest land animal? After all, it’s a creature with 10-power binocular-like eyes and a decent sense of smell.
Running carbon through an antelope is one of the most challenging tasks in bowhunting. While water remains the top tactic, it’s nowhere near as thrilling as using a decoy, or in some cases, many decoys, to bring the prince of the plains bowhunting-close.
I’m sure you’ve read or heard that the window for effectively decoying mature antelope bucks is narrow. Heck, I’ve written that very sentence. I have no problem throwing myself under the bus if it helps other hunters be successful.
While mid-September into early October are the best times to dupe a buck with an imposter, you can fill antelope tags using a fake, or many fakes, starting in August when many antelope bow seasons across the country kick-off.
When using multiple decoys, you need a system to get them in and out of the field.
Decoying Antelope in August
In August, you’ll see a mixed bag of antelope emotions and relationships. You’ll see bucks with does, bachelor groups, and those running solo. I ignore the solo-goers and target bucks with does and those in bachelor groups.
First, spend time watching the prairie speedsters you plan to bowhunt. Typically, I spend at least two full days sitting in the back of my Chevy, or perched on a slight rise, with my spotting scope. The goal is to take note of areas the animals frequent.
While antelope roam, it’s common to see them isolate themselves in a single pasture. They often prefer to bed in and around prairie dog towns, in sandy openings where the ground is soft, and during wet years, on the fringe of sunflower patches. Mark primary dwelling spots in your HuntStand app.
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Once I discover where the animals want to be at various times during the day, I develop a decoy plan. That plan includes pulling up the HuntStand app, studying the day’s wind direction, and choosing locations based on my antelope waypoints.
The idea is to set up in known antelope haunts before sunrise. I go in during the pitch dark, and oftentimes, unless hunting with a buddy (which I recommend), I make several trips. My decoy setup includes a 3D buck, a bow-mounted Stalker Pronghorn Buck or Doe (situation depending) from Ultimate Predator Decoy, and no less than two Montana Decoy Antelope Does or Antelope Bucks.
The goal is to create a small herd. Antelope are inquisitive creatures. In August, I’m playing on their curious nature. Bucks’ testosterone hasn’t built enough to charge to a single buck decoy, so adjustments are necessary.
If I’m targeting a bachelor group, I often use more buck decoys than doe decoys. However, if the boy band seems skittish about the new gang in town, I switch things up and go with more girls the next time. As the day begins and goats start to move, they see a small herd and often can’t help but come investigate.
Pronghorn love to bed in sandy areas, making these locales excellent locations to set out a bunch of decoys and play on the curiosity of resident speed goats.
Additional tips to help sweeten the pot while baking out on the prairie:
- Wear a white long-sleeved shirt and bring a white towel.
- White looks excellent behind a bow-mounted decoy, and the color seems to help keep the antelope coming closer.
- If the animals or animals hang up, tuck the white towel into your pants and crawl around a bit, exposing your butt to the goats in the distance. You won’t believe how well this works.
- Stay patient and be sure to have plenty of food and water. Sometimes, this decoy method can take several hours to earn a shot at a buck.
Though not as essential during the rut, a long-sleeve white shirt will earn you more encounters when decoying during August.
Decoying Antelope in September and October
I still go with the multiple decoy setup until about September 8. Around this timeframe, you’ll see dust trails on the prairie and notice bigger bucks taking control of the herds. When you see this, you know buck testosterone is rising, and it’s time to take advantage of it. Bucks are susceptible to an imposter buck decoy from mid-September through October’s first two weeks, especially mature bucks.
My favorite scene is watching a mature buck run off multiple challengers. Often, at the very first sight of a subdominant buck, herd bucks spring from their herd and chase the lesser buck a long way. If multiple satellite bucks are in the area, others won’t hesitate to slip in when they see Mr. Big go on a high-speed chase.
When the chaser returns to his girls and sees another rooster heading to the hen house, his reaction is typically even more aggressive. My goal is to be that second satellite buck.
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While I used to try to decoy every September/October buck I put my binos on, time has taught me to look for those perfect situations. I wait until I see a buck run off a challenger. Then, using my Ultimate Predator Gear bow-mounted Stalker Antelope Buck, I make a move and get set in a location where the herd buck can see me when he returns from his chase.
I prefer the bow-mounted decoy because it’s lightweight, which allows me to move quickly and athletically across the terrain. I also love its lifelike look (it’s a picture of a young pronghorn buck). Its design keeps me completely covered, but the shooting window allows perfect arrow clearance.
If you can use the terrain, slip past the girls, and get between the herd buck and his does, his reaction to the decoy is often immediate. Stay calm and stay patient.
The buck typically comes to a cutting-horse-like stop between 40 and 20 yards. He paws the ground and expects a reaction from the younger buck. When he gets none, the buck usually turns several times, offering broadside shots. Draw in a single, fluid motion, settle your pin, and execute.
Another September/October situation I look for is a buck bedded on the backside of his does. If the terrain and cover allow, I try to get within 200 yards of the does. The trick is showing the decoy without the speed goats seeing you. While it can work, I’ve found that deploying the decoy and then having the buck or does spy it a few minutes later typically brings the buck on a run.
The author and his son, Hunter, used UPG's Stalker Antelope Buck to bring this Colorado bruiser into 41 yards.
Practicing How to Decoy Pronghorn Antelope
Of course, you can decoy pronghorn all season long, but it requires understanding how to decoy pronghorn antelope. Without question, it’s more fun than sitting in a ground blind over water, and I’ve had more success decoying than spotting and stalking. Regardless, choose your own adventure, and have an excellent fall, friends.
