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Pronghorn rank high on our list of  favorites. In our neck of woods, like whitetails, it is a rare day we don't see them. Often, especially this time of year, we see them in great numbers. Yesterday out in the sagebrush within sight of Dillon we spied a herd we guesstimated at least 35-40 and probably more. A few days ago in the Grasshopper two similar sized herds and on the way out and back passed a pivot just outside of town hosts several hundred nearly year around; how the rancher survives feeding such a herd, who knows...For several years there was very little hunting but the last couple years he apparently had second thoughts and this past season allowed limited numbers hunters access all through bow and rifle season...This of course begs the question "as a "hunter" why would you want to? After all the antelope are used to seeing ranch vehicles and on the highway so there isn't much to the so-called "hunt" but I guess if all you are looking for is to fill a tag...what the hell...right?

Each Spring we try to time the mass exodus from the Grasshopper over the pass into the Big Hole. When we do get the timing right it is possible to see hundreds moving more or less single file up and over...One year we got there just as the leaders reached the top...there wasn't much snow left in the Grasshopper but over the hill the Big Hole was still locked in winter, wall-to-wall nothing but white. Gale bet the antelope would turn back, I said, "Nah, once they start, no stopping, what's a few more snow days"....WRONG! When that lead doe (always a doe, just like whitetails, the bucks just tag along) peeked over she didn't even hesitate, just turned back down the hill and the rest? No arguments, they too boogied . We came back a week or so later after several days unseasonably warm and found the snow pretty much melted in the Big Hole valley and antelope already spread out clear to Wisdom...Shouldn't surprise though they've only been honing their migration skills for what...a zillion or so years.

The pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in North America and over the long haul the fastest in the world--only the cheetah runs faster but he's a sprinter and fades fast after the initial burst. Fawns are able to stand and walk almost immediately after hitting the ground. In a week they can keep up to mom running for short distances. In a month, however, the little rascals are more than able to run with the big dogs often seen out there leading the pack. Bucks start as early as March patrolling large territories, marking the perimeters with scrapes biologists call SPUDs...Scent, Paw, Urinate, Defecate...we saw the first of the year just last weekend. Over summer, dominate bucks begin gathering harems and we've seen bucks with more than 2 dozen does, although it seems unlikely any buck would be able to keep and tend such a large harem. As the rut draws near (mid September is peak) usually sometime in August the dominate bucks begin to rein in their territories and for weeks prior to actual breeding they spend nearly every waking hour herding does and defending territories from intruders. Their antics at this time of year are among the most entertaining and fascinating in all of nature...and among the longest in duration. Bucks often chase intruders for miles, as often as not leaving the gate open for another buck to race in and steal at least part of the harem. Toss in that many does, apparently not entirely thrilled with the tending buck, use every opportunity to slip away and, well, let's just say things get a little crazy at times...Bucks wear true horns, like bison and sheep, but unlike any other horned critter, shed them annually like deer and moose shed antlers, true bone, actually skeltal extensions.