- Location
- Saskatchewan
This is my story. Fair warning, it's going to be a little long.
The 2010 season started for me at the end of the 2009 season when I shot my mule deer at 70 yards. Over the course of the winter I started to think about bow hunting and eventually purchased a Martin Cheetah at the end of February.
I practiced all winter and spring, finally deciding that I would attempt a mule deer hunt this fall with the bow but when the draws came out and I managed an antelope tag, plans changed and I started to study what I was about to get into.
Fast forward to August. I did my homework and found the antelope that I thought I wanted to chase on opening day.
I went back the day before opening day, this past Tuesday, and found him again. I was pumped and ready to go for Wednesday morning.
I was up bright and early and on the road by 5:30. I made it to my spot just in time and start to drive around looking for signs from my heard. To my surprise I found another heard on the gravel road to the east and put on my first stalk of the new season. Unfortunately, I made it to 70 yards and couldn't go the final 20 that I needed. Every time I blinked an eye lash, 11 sets of eyes were staring at me. They finally got bored and took off.
I head back to the truck, have a cool drink and I'm ready to go again. I finally find my original herd about half an hour later and I'm set for my second stalk. This time I use my buck decoy from Montana Decoys and make it to 90 yards but they showed no interest what so ever and were gone.
I stop to have some lunch by this point and manage to find that original herd again about an hour later. I crawled through a field of canary seed, made it to a harvest field of lentils and find them on a ridge about a 1000 yards away. I stalk my way closer and then go over the ridge, allowing me to make up some ground. I get to within 100 yards of the ridge and I start to crawl. As I get to the ridge I edge my head over and find them directly in front of me, 50 yards away and I'm stuck on my belly. I attempt to shimmy backwards below the ridge line so I can make it to my knees for a shot and one of them spots me. They're gone.
That was enough for me. I had things to do in the evening and headed for home a little discouraged. But instead of taking the main grid I took some backroads. Saw some little guys along the way and found some other nice areas for future days.
I finally make it to the highway and find this brave soul.
Day 1 in the books. At least 15km worth of walking, crawling and slithering. I'm beat.
Day 2 starts with an alarm at 4:30. Ugg. I drag my butt outta bed and I hurt all over from Day 1. I managed to make it to Tim Hortons and feel a bit better with a little BELT and some coffee in me.
I hit my little spot around 6:30am this time but I cannot find either herd from the day before. I spend about 45 minutes checking the areas but can't find any sign so I decide to try the areas that I saw the day before on my way home. I would come back to my little spot in the afternoon to try again.
I start winding down the dirt roads with the sun directly in my eyes but manage to pick out three bucks playing in the field to the north. I slow down and park on the side of the gravel road to take a closer look. One looks decent and I'm ready to give it another try.
I hop outta the truck and grab my doe decoy on the way instead of my buck. I think to myself, "self. there are three bucks over there and not a doe in sight. I bet they're pretty randy for some action."
I high tail it into the lentil field to the south side of the road and get set up on a little hill. The biggest buck spots me and takes off light a rocket across the road and into the field I'm in but he runs 600 yards over another little hill and into a depression.
I grabbed the decoy and started walking towards the hill. Like yesterday, I belly crawled to the crest of the hill and found him about 300 yards further away and looking away from me. I get the decoy set up and I get comfy on my knees this time. I let out a bleet on my antelope call and he spins around like some one slapped a lazy susan. He spots the decoy and the game is on.
15 minutes of zig zagging and he makes it to 70 yards, standing at my 1 o'clock. I start thinking that this is going to be like day 1 all over again and I'm just waiting for him to jet. Instead, he starts moving to my downwind side.
Now I'm screwed. It's not a gentle breeze and I start to worry about getting winded. But I shift the decoy slowly and manage to stay behind it as the buck slowly makes his way to my 10 o'clock.
Something happened just then and he starts trotting in to the decoy. He makes 50 yards and I get ready. I set my sights for 35 yards and then stops. Perfect broad side shot. I go to draw and he starts moving closer. I re-adjust my sights to 25 yards and attempt to count off 10. He stops, I draw and hammer him right in the shoulder. He takes off and makes it a hundred yard before piling up. One kick, a large exhale and it's all over.
I just shot an antelope with a bow.
I paced it off and he was at 20 yards not 25 so that's why I hit high. I used the G5 Montec and that thing destroyed the shoulder blade. Perfect hole and still made it in 6-8 inches. Caught the top of the lung and a major artery.
I'm very pleased and he is now down at the taxidermist getting ready for a day at the spa. Should reunite in about 8 months.
If anyone every tries to tell you that you are crazy for trying something different, new, or overly ambitious... well... let's just say those guys are buying me drinks this weekend
The 2010 season started for me at the end of the 2009 season when I shot my mule deer at 70 yards. Over the course of the winter I started to think about bow hunting and eventually purchased a Martin Cheetah at the end of February.
I practiced all winter and spring, finally deciding that I would attempt a mule deer hunt this fall with the bow but when the draws came out and I managed an antelope tag, plans changed and I started to study what I was about to get into.
Fast forward to August. I did my homework and found the antelope that I thought I wanted to chase on opening day.
I went back the day before opening day, this past Tuesday, and found him again. I was pumped and ready to go for Wednesday morning.
I was up bright and early and on the road by 5:30. I made it to my spot just in time and start to drive around looking for signs from my heard. To my surprise I found another heard on the gravel road to the east and put on my first stalk of the new season. Unfortunately, I made it to 70 yards and couldn't go the final 20 that I needed. Every time I blinked an eye lash, 11 sets of eyes were staring at me. They finally got bored and took off.
I head back to the truck, have a cool drink and I'm ready to go again. I finally find my original herd about half an hour later and I'm set for my second stalk. This time I use my buck decoy from Montana Decoys and make it to 90 yards but they showed no interest what so ever and were gone.
I stop to have some lunch by this point and manage to find that original herd again about an hour later. I crawled through a field of canary seed, made it to a harvest field of lentils and find them on a ridge about a 1000 yards away. I stalk my way closer and then go over the ridge, allowing me to make up some ground. I get to within 100 yards of the ridge and I start to crawl. As I get to the ridge I edge my head over and find them directly in front of me, 50 yards away and I'm stuck on my belly. I attempt to shimmy backwards below the ridge line so I can make it to my knees for a shot and one of them spots me. They're gone.
That was enough for me. I had things to do in the evening and headed for home a little discouraged. But instead of taking the main grid I took some backroads. Saw some little guys along the way and found some other nice areas for future days.
I finally make it to the highway and find this brave soul.
Day 1 in the books. At least 15km worth of walking, crawling and slithering. I'm beat.
Day 2 starts with an alarm at 4:30. Ugg. I drag my butt outta bed and I hurt all over from Day 1. I managed to make it to Tim Hortons and feel a bit better with a little BELT and some coffee in me.
I hit my little spot around 6:30am this time but I cannot find either herd from the day before. I spend about 45 minutes checking the areas but can't find any sign so I decide to try the areas that I saw the day before on my way home. I would come back to my little spot in the afternoon to try again.
I start winding down the dirt roads with the sun directly in my eyes but manage to pick out three bucks playing in the field to the north. I slow down and park on the side of the gravel road to take a closer look. One looks decent and I'm ready to give it another try.
I hop outta the truck and grab my doe decoy on the way instead of my buck. I think to myself, "self. there are three bucks over there and not a doe in sight. I bet they're pretty randy for some action."
I high tail it into the lentil field to the south side of the road and get set up on a little hill. The biggest buck spots me and takes off light a rocket across the road and into the field I'm in but he runs 600 yards over another little hill and into a depression.
I grabbed the decoy and started walking towards the hill. Like yesterday, I belly crawled to the crest of the hill and found him about 300 yards further away and looking away from me. I get the decoy set up and I get comfy on my knees this time. I let out a bleet on my antelope call and he spins around like some one slapped a lazy susan. He spots the decoy and the game is on.
15 minutes of zig zagging and he makes it to 70 yards, standing at my 1 o'clock. I start thinking that this is going to be like day 1 all over again and I'm just waiting for him to jet. Instead, he starts moving to my downwind side.
Now I'm screwed. It's not a gentle breeze and I start to worry about getting winded. But I shift the decoy slowly and manage to stay behind it as the buck slowly makes his way to my 10 o'clock.
Something happened just then and he starts trotting in to the decoy. He makes 50 yards and I get ready. I set my sights for 35 yards and then stops. Perfect broad side shot. I go to draw and he starts moving closer. I re-adjust my sights to 25 yards and attempt to count off 10. He stops, I draw and hammer him right in the shoulder. He takes off and makes it a hundred yard before piling up. One kick, a large exhale and it's all over.
I just shot an antelope with a bow.
I paced it off and he was at 20 yards not 25 so that's why I hit high. I used the G5 Montec and that thing destroyed the shoulder blade. Perfect hole and still made it in 6-8 inches. Caught the top of the lung and a major artery.
I'm very pleased and he is now down at the taxidermist getting ready for a day at the spa. Should reunite in about 8 months.
If anyone every tries to tell you that you are crazy for trying something different, new, or overly ambitious... well... let's just say those guys are buying me drinks this weekend
