Down-and-Dirty Antelope Field Judging Tips

​You're on your first Wyoming pronghorn antelope hunt and suddenly a mature buck appears on the horizon. Now comes the big question: how do you tell if its truly a good buck?

For many first-time antelope hunters, judging pronghorn horns on the hoof can be intimidating. As a Wyoming outfitter and professional hunting guide for nearly 48 years, I've spent plenty of time sizing up antelope across the Wyoming prairie. We could dive deep into official scoring systems like Boone & Crockett or SCI measurements, but instead, let's keep this simple and practical with a real-world, down-and-dirty field judging clinic. 

One of the most unique things about pronghorn antelope is that their horns are not like deer antlers. Pronghorn horns are made from compressed hair that grows upward from the base of the horn. If you look closely at a harvested buck, you can actually follow the hair fibers nearly all the way to the horn tip.

So how does that help you judge a buck in the field? 

Years ago, one of my good friends, Scott Schilling, who is one of the absolute best antelope judges I've ever known, shared a piece of advice that stuck with me. Scott's philosophy was simple: always look for a well-developed prong.

That prong is often one of the best indicators of a mature buck. Generally speaking, bucks with strong, visible prongs also tend to carry better horn mass at the bases, which is a major factor in overall quality. If you follow Scott's philosophy, you'll rarely go wrong and considering he has several Boone & Crockett antelope hanging on his wall, it's advice worth listening to. 

The other major factor is horn length, and this is where things can get tricky. Wyoming's genetics typically produce antelope bucks with shorter horns than some of the animals found farther south. Because of that, I like to use the ears as a quick reference point. A good rule of thumb is to look for horns that appear roughly twice the length of the buck's ears.

Now, that isn't an exact science, but it's a solid starting point in the field. And if the horns carry a hard curl near the tips, something that can sometimes be difficult to spot from a distance, that extra curl adds both length and beauty to the buck. 

 My best advice? Don't overthink it and don't let the judging process intimidate you. Enjoy the entire experience. Between Wyoming's wide-open landscapes, the excitement of spot-and-stalk hunting, and the thrill of chasing these prairie speedsters, your antelope hunt is going to be one memorable adventure.

And remember Scott's advice:
Look for a good prong and you can't go wrong.

Please reach out to the SNS Outfitter office with any question you have:

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