Speed Goat Hunting Season is Here – AKA Antelope Season

In case you were unaware, this weekend is the opening of antelope season. If you’re wondering how I know this, it is because my husband has a severe obsession with hunting, so I am forced to know these once arbitrary dates. Since I love him, I get to enjoy this opening weekend in beautiful Wisdom, Montana hunting these speed goats.

Last year was my first year hunting antelope. I have to admit, I did enjoy it. It was way more fun than hunting for deer and elk west of Missoula. Antelope hunting is done on nice rolling hills before the snow flies. Deer and elk hunting are done trudging through a foot of snow up and down mountains. With antelope hunting, we can hold a quiet conversation, and even see an antelope coming from a mile away. With deer and elk hunting you can’t talk, you can’t walk too loud and you never know where one is. It could jump out of the trees and attack you at any moment, hooves flailing wildly in the air, flat teeth gnashing and antlers cutting through the air like knives. I really don’t know why we put our lives at risk like that?

The best part of my antelope hunting experience last year was the meat. It was the best game meat I have eaten. The only bad part was that there wasn’t that much of it. Antelope aren’t very big animals, so we saved the few steaks we had for special occasions, like our anniversary or when family came to dinner.

If you are looking for something fun to hunt, then you should consider antelope. It’s the most fun I’ve had hunting, hands down.

Joy Larson is a mother of four boys, graduate of The University of Montana, animal lover and writer.