He started his season with 26 hunters killing 25 antelope. These hunts took place on both private and public land, and involved everything from handicapped hunters to archery, muzzleloader and rifle hunters. Not surprisingly, the private-land hunts produced the largest trophies. A total of three of his antelope bucks should qualify for the Boone and Crockett Record Book, he says, with the largest officially scoring an amazing 91 2/8 SCI, and 87 2/8 B & C points. Seems one horn on this trophy was "only" 16 1/4 inches long, while the other was 17 inches; however, all four mass measurements (under the cutters) exceeded seven inches! Rankin's antelope hunts are priced between $1,450 and $2,500. Over the years, he's racked up a hunter success rate of around 95 percent. On his inexpensive hunts, he says clients can expect to harvest a buck in the 13 to 16-inch range. On his so-called "Presidential" antelope hunts, he says there is always a chance of taking a "book" animal, but most bucks will score around 80 B & C points.
Some of his antelope hunts require that one draw a permit, while others come with assured landowner tags. Antelope hunts are generally two to three-day trips and are an enjoyable way to begin a hunting season. I should note here that one of Rankin's antelope hunts is a muzzleloader hunt that takes place in New Mexico in an area where rifles are........(continued)
