The Largest Pronghorn Ever Caught in Oregon

Hunting can be a divisive sport: many people either love it entirely or don’t understand it at all. Throughout the United States, Oregon is one location where the residents can’t get enough of it. This state has roughly 34 million acres of hunting land available to those who choose to participate in this sport, and a variety of animals are legal to hunt. Among these is the pronghorn, a mammal native to America that has populations throughout the West. Let’s explore the story of the largest pronghorn ever caught in Oregon and discuss other record-breaking mammals.

Pronghorn in Oregon: A Brief Overview

Although these animals might be called American antelope and look like deer, pronghorns are in a category all their own. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, “Most authorities consider them the sole modern member of the Antilocapridae family, while all other horned ungulates (mammals with hooves) in North America belong to the Bovidae family.” There are roughly 25,000 pronghorns living in Oregon currently, and hunts usually take place during the month of August. These small animals are quick, alert, and agile, so hunting them is quite a challenge. This gives hunters a fun and exciting goal to strive towards.

How Large Was the Biggest Pronghorn Caught in Oregon?

According to Boone and Crockett Club, the largest pronghorn ever caught in the state of Oregon scored 94 6/8 inches. This incredible feat was achieved by Gabriel J. Gambleton in Union, Oregon on August 1st, 2020. Prior to this catch, the largest pronghorn ever caught scored an impressive 92 6/8 inches. The hunter responsible for this catch, Sam Barry, held this record for nearly two decades. These scores are calculated by measuring the length and mass of the horns and prongs from the catch.

Who Holds the Record for the Largest Pronghorn Ever Caught?

Although these Oregon scores are mind-boggling, another hunter holds the record for the largest pronghorn in the world. Back in 2013, a hunter named Mike Gallo caught a pronghorn that scored 96 4/8 points in Socorro County, New Mexico.

Pronghorn Hunting Requirements in Oregon

Individuals who would like to hunt for pronghorn in Oregon should prepare accordingly before the season begins. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, “ODFW offers about 2,500 tags each year spread across rifle, archery and muzzleloader hunts, plus some youth-only hunts. All hunts are controlled (limited entry) and it can take several years of accumulating preference points to draw a tag.” Hunters must submit their applications by May 15th in order to ensure that they can secure a spot during a controlled hunt.

Final Thoughts

There’s no denying that hunting pronghorn is a challenging sport. With that in mind, these records are even more impressive! Although it seems like these records might be impossible to top, hunters from far and wide try their hand at it each year. Who knows, with so many impassioned individuals, we might just see another world record pronghorn soon.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © bgsmith/iStock via Getty Images