Be patient and never force a stalk. We were hunting antelope during the rut many times there will be more than one set of eyes, ears and more than one nose to beat to get within bow range. Patience has never been more important.

Close in only when the wind is steady. In the plains country of Wyoming I hunted the past September there were no thermals to switch around like in the mountains. I found success by using the wind to my advantage, which is of course a must for the successful bowhunter. Out there the wind was always blowing, sometimes too hard actually, but at least it was consistent.

Use the contour of the land. At first blush, you’d think that there is no contour to the plains country those big buck antelope call home. While it was not the mountain country I was used to, there was just enough of contour or other barriers to take advantage of. It doesn’t have to be much.

Pick out landmarks. When you move from where first spotting the buck, sometimes miles away, everything changes so far as perspective goes. I’ve learned the hard way to always take the time to select distinct landmarks before heading out.

Choose your battles wisely. Some bucks out there on the plains are simply un-approachable. Waiting for just the right set up is always better than trying to force the issue on a less than perfect set up.

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