|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
The Rainy Day BuckBy Dale ParrishAZOD hunting team member
It all started in 2000 when I decided to put in for an archery antelope hunt instead of rifle. I had 9 bonus points built up since my last archery tag. I decided to try for a tag in my old stomping grounds. This way I would at least know the territory where I would match wits with the animal of eyesight equal to 10 power binoculars. I spent every weekend after the draw scouting and filming bucks. It had been fairly dry that year so I put up some water hole blinds to get me close enough for a shot at a good buck. That plan fell apart the day before the season. The rains came in heavy and with it ended my water hole blind strategy. On to phase two. The old spot and stock method would have to do. Opening day found my brother and I glassing a buck that looked workable. But that stalk ended as soon as it started. Coyotes started to howl and the antelope headed for open waters, so to speak. Within the hour we were on another good buck that was working a small cedar thicket. My brother watched on as I closed the distance to him. At 15 yards I thought I had him but before he hit the opening I needed he turned and headed straight away. The does standing near prevented me from following but suddenly he turned and stopped in an opening. I figured the distance to be 40 yards. I drew and found my mark only to watch my arrow go right under his chest. Away he went. Day two and my nerves got the best of me. I missed multiple shots. I guess that I had forgotten how fast an antelope can duck a shot. The one that really sent me over the edge was a beautiful buck that I called the flare horn buck. He had horns that were a little over 16 inches high but his width was closer to 18 to 20 inches. We first spotted this buck running with a smaller one. They were heading over a ridge but split up with the flare horn buck heading in our direction. I hurried to get in position for a shot behind the only cedar around. I sat there waiting and waiting but the buck didn’t show. I peeked around the tree only to see him slipping over the ridge. I started after him and had made it about 30 yards from the tree when the buck come back over the ridge right at me. I was lying in the grass when the buck approached. The range finder read 30 yards. I drew the bow and eased up. That buck stopped and looked right at me. I let the arrow go. It looked good. The buck spun to get out of the way, rolled to the ground and back up making me think that I had him. Boy, was I disappointed when I found my arrow and no trace of a hit. It is amazing how fast an antelope can spin around. Well, I had planned on staying up for the week but I was getting disgusted and decided to hunt out Sunday morning and head home for some rest. Sunday morning light brought the storms. Soon it was beginning to rain in earnest and I had blown two more chances. I told my brother to take me back to my truck. I was ready for some dry clothes and an armchair. On the way back my brother stopped and glassed a small buck bedded just off a thicket. He told me to give it one more try before giving up. Well we argued for a little while before he finally talked me into it. I said that he would have to go sit in the rain with me and he agreed. We closed the distance but soon ran out of cover. I studied the shot to see if I could pull it off. The range was 64 yards slightly quartering towards me and his head was down out of the rain. I got to full draw and settled the pin in front of the right shoulder and let go. I watched in slow motion as the thunderhead entered the breadbasket and sent the buck on a 100-yard dash before piling up and ending one of the most frustrating hunts I have ever been on. No matter what anyone says any antelope with a bow is a trophy. Don’t worry about me; I am ready to be frustrated again! There are just some things out there for the obsessed hunter that can’t be explained. Seems that we love abusing ourselves. Of course it helps having a hardheaded brother. Good luck this year and remember never give up. You never know when your card will appear for success. –END-
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
About
AZOD.com
|
Privacy Statement |
Submission of info Policy|
E-mail the Editor |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
.JPG)
