| Jace Bauserman |
Get Ready for Rifle Pronghorn with these 7 Great Gear Grabs
Few things trump the pure joy of chasing North America's fastest land animal with a rifle. These seven gear items will improve your hunt, help you put a prairie speedster on the dirt, and care for the meat.
Not all hunts are fun. Some are a grind, taking every ounce of the hunter's physical and emotional energy. And, no, I'm not trying to be a negative nelly. I'm stating facts. Though I was successful, my elk hunt last year could have been more fun. I would brand about 25 minutes over 14 days as fun, but the rest of the hunt was miserable. The hunt was challenging — from horrific weather to a nasty spill down the mountain to busted tent poles.
Luckily, some Western hunts tend to be more fun than others. Rifle pronghorn is one hunt I can always count on to be fun, and I highly recommend it for any hunter, especially a first-time western goer.
The Prince of the Plains is ultra-visible, and if you are in a good area with a decent population, you will be in action from dawn to dark. Still, like any hunt, there is some must-have gear you need to check off the list. Here are some rifle pronghorn gear grabs to snag before you hit the plains with your boom stick.
Bog DeathGrip Infinite - Carbon Fiber
Shots on speed goats can be long, and I have found no better rifle stabilization system than BOG's DeathGrip Infinite - Carbon Fiber. Crafted from woven carbon fiber, this 6.5-pound tripod is a breeze to tote and can be carried offhand or lashed to your pack.
Designed to be a multi-functional tripod, the Arca-Swiss mount system allows you to swap from optics to rifle lock-down in seconds. This all-in-one tripod is an absolute must-have for the pronghorn hunter. The silky-smooth ball head mount ensures 360 degrees of rotation and 180 degrees of tilt, which makes for ultra-quick target acquisition. Removable spike rubber feet and twist-lock legs round out the features of this excellent tripod.
ALPS Elite Frame + 3800 Pack
A prerequisite to any pronghorn adventure is an excellent backpack. Pronghorns are tawny creatures, and you want a pack build that allows you to haul all your gear and tote a boned-out pronghorn, head, and hide off the prairie when you tag out.
My go-to is ALPS's Elite Frame + 3800 Pack. A spacious, comfortable pack that promises maximum adjustability and durability, the pack separates from the frame in seconds via straps with hook-and-loop tabs. It is a slick system and works exceptionally well. The load lifters and anti-way waist belt straps allow you to haul a load, and the anti-slip lumbar pad offers exceptional support.
The pack has waist-belt pockets, a full-access main compartment, and a top zippered pocket.
Yeti Tundra 125 Hard Cooler
No, it's not overkill. This has been my go-to cooler for years, and it works as well for pronghorn as it does for elk. I'm not too fond of lesser-sized coolers, and this 125-quart cooler provides all the space you will need.
The cooler holds 125 pounds of ice, and with three inches of PermaFrost Insulation, it will keep ice for long periods, which is essential when hunting in the warm temps that typically occur during rifle pronghorn seasons. The cooler is bulletproof, and the lid seals and locks down ultra-tight.
If pronghorn meat is kept clean, stored in game bags, and put on ice the second you return to your truck, it is some of the finest you will ever eat.
There You Have It
There you have it: Seven great pieces of gear to make your rifle pronghorn hunt more enjoyable and successful. Take your time, enjoy the process, and stay patient. Pronghorns are extremely visible creatures, and if you remain persistent and hunt dawn to dark, I have no doubt you'll fill that Yeti with tasty meat and have a set of ebony horns and a magnificent cape that will make a gorgeous mount for the wall.
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