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The Montana Decoy Antelope Buck |
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| "The best way with antelope is if you can catch the prime part of the rut when the antelope are very aggressive," McPherson said, which can be as little as a three- to five-day time frame. During the rut, the bucks with does will chase off smaller bucks, sometimes running a long way. "If you can time it and not get seen by the does, sneak in between him and the does when he runs a buck off," McPherson advised. When the dominant buck returns and sees the puny decoy interloper, he gets mad and races in at full throttle. When the littler buck doesn't run, it confuses the big buck and he'll hit the skids, coming to a stop sometimes as close as 3 yards from the decoy. Just as with elk, McPherson likes to set up off to the side of the decoy to ensure a broadside shot at the buck. Look for something to hide next to, if you can, such as a clump of sagebrush to break up your profile. "They're so focused on the decoy, I think you could set up beside it and they wouldn't notice you," McPherson said. "This is crazy how well it works."When using the Antelope decoy, it is best to be within at least 100 yards of the buck you are trying to harvest before setting the decoy up. The technique of decoying works best during the pre- rut and the rut. Dominant antelope bucks are very aggressive at this time of season so be ready for one to come running in. Decoys can also be set up near your ground blind when setting on a water hole. Place the decoy a short distance from your blind so if an antelope comes to check it out, you will have a shot opportunity. When decoying, keep safety in mind at all times. |