Why is antelope season so early?

[cphatts]

I've never hunted antelope so this may be a stupid question...but why does antelope season start in August when the weather is so warm? I could see if they lived up in the high country but it doesn't make sense to me when they are critters of the low lands.

[mstarck]

Don't know about actuall managment reason ,but i do know first hand about driving in the gooy greasy stuff after it rains.that stuff was known as 'DUST' before the rain came.very slick even in 4wd.

mike s.

[6x6xBow]

It could be that antelope start their rut in September. They tend to get a bit easier to harvest when they are lovesick.

[Charlie Storey]

Years ago the reason given was that later in the year the bucks shed (just the outer cover) of their horns, so having the early season preserved the trophy quality. In Montana the season is in October and no one complains. When do they shed anyway?

[SImudBogger]

so it won't overlap with the other seasons.

[Hard Cast]

I would guess that August is the only time they could fit this season in where it would not conflict with all the other more popular hunts (in OreGun).

[007SPRIG]

They shed their horn sheaths in November-December. I've hunted them in mid-October in Montana and Wyoming and the horns were still firmly attached. I would agree with the statement that they didn't want any conflict with overlapping seasons.

[12pulls]

I also hunted them in mid October in Montana, the quality of meat is much better when the weather can be 27 at night than hot such as Oregon can be in August.

[Duckwheat]

They move to New Mexico in October with the Hummingbirds.

DW

[BrianMaguire]

Antelope hair is so fragile that if you wait until the full rut every head would be a mess.