Archery Antelope In Nevada

Dan took this picture through his spotting scope and you can see Joe's buck coming to water behind the blind.

The Double Bull Blind

“Looks like you drew your last choice bud,” my friend Mike said while we anxiously poured over the Nevada draw results Memorial Day weekend. Having only applied for archery tags in 2011, we knew statistically speaking that I was assured an antelope tag at least. The only real mystery was the “where” part, but all my application choices were solid units so I was still excited. With Nevada’s booming (human) population, tags aren’t easy to come by these days. I had decided to go primitive this year after only drawing one rifle tag in the past three years. I am 35 years old and had my first antelope tag.

Joe's Base Camp for the Opener

  Every adventure has it’s fair share of challenges and this one was going to be no different. The obvious obstacles were 1) I’ve never taken an antelope myself before, 2) I’d never taken any animal with archery tackle - which is a low percentage affair, 3) I hadn’t shot a bow in almost 20 years, 4) I sucked at it 20 years ago, 5) I was completely unfamiliar with my unit , and 6) we had just had our first baby in March. However, I was motivated and already well invested into my equipment and shooting routine. I had gained some antelope hunting knowledge last year helping my dad get his second speed goat with a rifle. My hunting buddies had taken an antelope with their bow so I had excellent support.

Remi & Joe, In It To Win It!

  Over the next two months I shot my bow in the early mornings and crammed in late-night Google Earth marathons after baby was asleep. My lovely wife also took extra baby time so I could get a total of seven days of on-the-ground bonsai-type scouting missions before the season. For the opener on August 1st, I decided to focus my efforts in the southernmost section of my unit where I ‘d seen a trophy buck (probably 80”) and 3-4 other mature bucks. Spotting and stalking for antelope (outside the rut ) with a bow is basically an exercise in futility, so I opted to actually have a chance and hunt over water. But 2011 was a record year for precipitation, so the pronghorn in my area code had lots of options. They were still cycling between several water sources unpredictably in late July. On the last evening of scouting we finally found what we all felt was a very promising situation: a small, secluded water hole with plenty of antelope sign on it. We put up the Double Bull and everything was set.

One of the bucks Joe was able to capture on a Trail Camera

  I was glad to finally crawl into the blind on opening morning and hunt. I could hardly sleep the night before. My friend Remi was with me, and the smell of death was in the air (literally)! Just 30 minutes after sun up the first pronghorn were in, a dozen does and a nice buck (~73"). It was no surprise that they didn’t like the new structure sitting on top of their water one bit. However, at some point during the hour or more of theatrics, they each stuck their nose into the puddle. I drew back twice on this buck, but both times decided to let down and wait for a better shot. While drawing the second time, the buck and a doe either heard me or saw movement and quickly scattered out to 35 yards. With their excitement came my excitement which translated into the high-frequency full-body shaking (aka buck fever) that I had been warned about ad nauseum. There was no way I could ethically let an arrow go at that point. Soon afterwards these antelope had had enough of us and exited stage right. 

A Coyote

  Before we'd really had time to talk about it, a second buck - almost on cue - appeared stage left. I recognized this buck immediately. His freakish headgear swept forward and hooked back about 3” in front of his nose. “The freak” was pretty big also (probably 74”) and had the same reaction to our blind. He too, however, eventually presented himself broadside at 35 yards for at least 10-15 seconds while I somehow failed to take a shot or even draw down on him. And, just like the others, he eventually caught our scent and bugged out for good before making the same mistake twice. With all the antelope well-hydrated now, we spent the rest of the day in the “crock pot” stewing over the missed opportunities and sweating like fat Elvis - before loading up and heading home for work the next day.
   It may sound a bit pathetic to the hardcore’s out there, but I was disappointed at not getting a buck opening morning. I had put in some good preseason work and I was really looking forward to sharing my success with my family. I still had an archery deer tag to be away for later this month, so it would have also been nice to spend an extra weekend with wife and baby. But, it was like doing most anything for the first time – by the time I realized the ball was hit to me it was already too late. I understand that this is a necessary part of the learning process. Anyways, I had three days of work back home before heading back out Thursday afternoon. This time I’d be alone for the first day and a half, and then two friends were to join me for the weekend. After no shooters came in to water while solo-hunting either Thursday or Friday, I was glad to have some company again and spotters on the hill for my final two days of the season.  

An all too common and unwelcome sight.

   At first light on Saturday, August 6th, things were looking good again. Dan radioed he already had a mature buck spotted nearby. Soon both he and Mike also began seeing other bunches of antelope only about a mile to my south. Unfortunately they were all feeding in the wrong direction. About the time we were getting real concerned they would use another water source, which would’ve effectively ended my hunt that day, a loner buck stood up and began moseying my direction.  At 10 a.m. this buck finally came into my view ~75 yards behind the blind. He wanted water. With just one quick peek at his horns I decided he was the unlucky one, and readied my arrow.

Some Antelope and High Desert Country

  The goat slowly circled downwind to better analyze his situation. I focused on his body language instead of his headgear, and distracted myself by filming. He walked in - then ran back out at least three times. I had two decent shot opportunities at him quartering away inside of 50 yards, but wanted to get the shot on film so I waited. At about 10:15 he deemed it was safe and stepped down onto the shore line. The buck stopped just before coming into view of my camera, but he was now broadside and relaxed at 18 yards. It simply does not get any better than that and I couldn’t wait any longer. I postured up, reached forward, slowly rolled the cam over and aligned my sights. When I saw my 20 yd pin was dead steady on his chest it was hard not to smile. The sound of the release and impact was almost simultaneous. He whirled around and ran. At about 60 yards he began to slow. At 70 he began to stumble. At 80 yards he was dead.     

  To say I was elated is an understatement. I had dedicated myself to this process and it had just paid off. The guys came flying off the hill and there was plenty of machismo all around. I think I may have even unretired a few break dance moves. Santa Claus landed a second time when we walked up to find he was much bigger than I had thought. It was hard to get my hands around his bases and he carried mass all the way up to his ivory tips. It was just an awesome first buck, and everything a hunt should be.

 Although I gladly worked hard for this animal, the hunt would not have been possible without the help of so many:

• My wife Chantal - I love you!
• Tom Belaustegui - Thank you for beating up your truck and generously letting me use your ATV’s
• Mike Marchese - Thank you for sacrificing 7 days of your summer to help
• Remi Warren - Thank you for the mentoring, encouragement, equipment and spending a day sweating in the blind with my stinky feet and ass
• Dan Furman - Thank you for sacrificing 4 days of your summer to help
• Tony Diebolds and Todd Jaksick - Thank you for your valuable input.
• The Young family: Thank you for all your support, enthusiasm and confidence.
• Josh Langham and Jon Lesperance - I appreciate the advice, encouragement, and excitement.  
 

Mike, Dan, & Joe

My Notes:
Joe became intensely interested in bowhunting last year and we talked at length about all things archery over the last 8 months.  Eventually he purchased a bow and began to put in for archery-only permits last spring.  His hard work and dedication paid off when he took an excellent pronghorn that blows past the Pope and Young minimum with a green score of 74 3/8" gross, 73 2/8" net.  My favorite part of this hunt was the constant text message updates from Joe and Mike, and ultimately the phone call from Mike atop his vantage point over the blind.  It started out as just a routine "Joe's in the blind and there's bucks on the plateau, preparing for a long day..." but quickly turned into "Wait, there's a buck walking in to water."  I could hardly contain myself while listening to a play by play run down of the hunt.  "He's in the mud, getting ready to drink," Mike said, "Oh wait, he's running away from the blind!  He's slowing down!  He just tipped over, Joe got him!"  I could hardly contain myself and I'm sure I looked pretty silly on the phone hollering in a Payson parking lot.  Great job Joe!   

Packing Out After a Successful Hunt

And So It Begins: 2011

This beautiful black tail marks the last of my snake wrangling days.  It nearly got me last week while helping a friend on an archery hunt in central AZ.

 Hunting season is here again! The archery hunts for antelope and deer are well underway, with archery elk just around the corner.  This year finds me the fortunate recipient of two tags: an archery mule deer tag in Nevada's high country, and a rifle Coues deer tag in one of Arizona's border units.  Having spent the great majority of my hunting efforts and passion chasing the most cruel of hunting's maidens, viz. bowhunting, I have of late fallen into a bit of a love affair with long distance centerfire rifle hunting.  Since my last Coues deer hunt, I've come into the acquisition of a Remington Model 700, chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum.  Spending weeknights in the backyard with my bow, and weekends in the desert with my rifle, I find myself occupying two niches on opposite ends of the spectrum.  The choice of weapons and hunting methods provides an interesting juxtaposition, with more in common than one might expect:

Bowhunting is measured in tens of yards, while rifle hunting is often measured in hundreds.

With my bow I have a sphere of influence about as far as I can throw a rock, with a rifle it stretches canyons.

With my bow groups must fall within a pie plate, with my rifle - fractions of an inch.

But they both start with glassing.

They both require significant skills, despite claims to the contrary by many regarding rifle hunting.

They both require an intimate knowledge of the quarry.

Most importantly, they both require a love for the pursuit of game.

This is where my borderlands hunt starts: the bench.

And this is probably about where it will end:  Prone, off the bi-pod, squeeze bag, across a canyon.

Preparation work.

My friend Joe and I will be chasing mule deer in Nevada together next week, bows in hand and packs on our backs.  He was able to slip away for a day and do some scouting and sent me these pictures.  After an unreasonable heat wave this week in Phoenix (every day peaking over 110) I am relishing the chance to be around 9000 feet and feel some chilly nights!  I wouldn't mind perforating the hide of an old mossy antlered mule deer too, but as I mentioned, bowhunting is a cruel maiden!

From the Nevada unit, you get an idea of the terrain, especially the slope!

Again with the steepness!  My calves are screaming already.