Pronghorn

[8andcounting]

As I do my job out in the western ND goat area, traveling several hundred miles a week in the beautiful bad lands area, and south. I have to say I see as many goat as I have ever seen in this area. Likely more than ever.
Not sure the surveys are correct each year.

That’s good . I hope they keep tags down and no doe tags (yes i understand the tags available are either sex but would guess 99% shot are bucks) and not run the pronghorn pop in the ground like they destroyed the deer pop

 

[NodakBob]

Lottery is now open until august 5

 

[SDMF]

I've had antelope steaks so good you'd never be able to tell it wasn't deer.

It 100% wasn't deer, you said yourself it was Antelope. Duh.

 

[Walleye_Chaser]

I also agree ND pronghorn is excellent table fare. I'm assuming they get a bad rap from the sage eating goats farther west which I've heard aren't nearly as tasty.

 

[Rowdie]

It 100% wasn't deer, you said yourself it was Antelope. Duh.

Cooked up both side by side camping, no one knew the second batch was antelope

 

[Tymurrey]

I also agree ND pronghorn is excellent table fare. I'm assuming they get a bad rap from the sage eating goats farther west which I've heard aren't nearly as tasty.

I've eaten antelope from central wyoming where there isn't much of anything but sage pastures and they have always tasted good. I honestly think the bad rap comes from proper meat prep but maybe i've just gotten lucky. I know what they are eating can make a difference and maybe it depends on forage for that specific year.

Side note one of the worst tasting fish i've ever eaten was a walleye that came out of the missouri river. Must have spent some time in one of the side creeks living in cow feedlot runoff or something.

 

[zoops]

That’s good . I hope they keep tags down and no doe tags (yes i understand the tags available are either sex but would guess 99% shot are bucks) and not run the pronghorn pop in the ground like they destroyed the deer pop

I’m about a 2 out of 10 when it comes to pronghorn knowledge, but it seems like ND is fringe antelope habitat. One bad winter and they’re gonna get knocked back significantly. Might as well utilize the resource while it’s here.

 

[Rowdie]

The harsh winters of 97 n 98 really wiped out. What's weird is I never heard of any carcasses being found.

 

[SDMF]

I've eaten antelope from central wyoming where there isn't much of anything but sage pastures and they have always tasted good. I honestly think the bad rap comes from proper meat prep but maybe i've just gotten lucky. I know what they are eating can make a difference and maybe it depends on forage for that specific year.

TM, I agree on the prep/cooling.

If all of a person’s deer hunting has been regular ND gun season in Nov, you’ve got to re-think a few things, mostly that the clock is ticking fast and loud regarding getting the meat cooled.

You can’t ride around with a gutted, hide-on carcass in the box of a pickup or on the receiver-hitch rack for a day or 2.

One should have a MINIMUM of a 48Qt cooler at least 1/2 full of ice for each potential tag to be filled.

 

[Rowdie]

TM, I agree on the prep/cooling.

If all of a person’s deer hunting has been regular ND gun season in Nov, you’ve got to re-think a few things, mostly that the clock is ticking fast and loud regarding getting the meat cooled.

You can’t ride around with a gutted, hide-on carcass in the box of a pickup or on the receiver-hitch rack for a day or 2.

One should have a MINIMUM of a 48Qt cooler at least 1/2 full of ice for each potential tag to be filled.

Best if you chase them at top speed on a hot fall day, and let them age in truck bed all week. The smell helps cure the meat.

 

[Tymurrey]

TM, I agree on the prep/cooling.

If all of a person’s deer hunting has been regular ND gun season in Nov, you’ve got to re-think a few things, mostly that the clock is ticking fast and loud regarding getting the meat cooled.

You can’t ride around with a gutted, hide-on carcass in the box of a pickup or on the receiver-hitch rack for a day or 2.

One should have a MINIMUM of a 48Qt cooler at least 1/2 full of ice for each potential tag to be filled.

It's sad how many times i've seen things like that. Pronghorn opener in ND and other states can be hot and i have pulled up to a hotel or a gas station and seen countless gutted and hide on animals without ice or even the chest cavity propped. The ones on receiver hitch cargo carriers are interesting when you know they were driving down scoria and gravel roads to get back and that dust was just caking onto the meat.

Gutless method and into game bags and into a cooler with layers of ice for me.

 

[Ruttin]

 

[tikkalover]

BISMARCK, ND — Hunters in North Dakota can now apply for a chance to hunt antelope this fall.

This year, the North Dakota Game and Fish Department is offering 1,310 tags to hunters, which is the same as in 2025.

Biologists finished their survey over the last two months counting pronghorn. They say it appears that North Dakota’s antelope population is up about 12% compared to last year.

Hunters can apply for a tag in one of 18 units. The application deadline is August 5th. The season opens to archery September 4th. Gun season for antelope opens October 2nd.