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Click on Day09/17/0109/18/01 09/19/01 09/20/01 09/21/01 09/22/01 09/23/01 09/24/01 |
We're Hunting at: |
Bowsite.com's second annual group bowhunt - follow along each day as we bring you an exciting elk, antelope and mule deer hunt live from the Wyoming Prairie. |
Day 3 |
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Pat Lefemine |
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The day started with the spotting of this big herd bull. We left the opposite hillside and headed after him. Within minutes we were in the middle of his cows and that's when the fun started. The bull was bugling non-stop with some of the loudest and most gut-wrenching screams I have ever heard. We quickly set up and began cow calling.
After two or three cow calls the bull came in - screaming. My blood pressure shot up. The bull was enormous and would score well into the 300's. I set up in some thick pines and waited for him to come to Frank's calling. As he headed straight at me, two cows busted in front of him and he chased them back into the trees. But soon he came back and walked to within 8 yards - but he was on the wrong side of the tree, I had no shot. Then, another bull elk bugled above us and the bull took off to kick some butt! That was the last we saw of him, his bugling echoed down the hillside. The handle of my longbow was covered in sweat. We were so close!
This picture was lifted off of the vide camera, see if you can make out the bull. Frank and I headed back to the opposite hillside for lunch. Before long we heard our big bull bugling again and watched him head down the canyon. This boy was fired up and we decided to wait til afternoon to go after him again. We stayed there all day and two bulls appeared beneath me an hour apart. One bull was a raghorn 5x5 and another was a mature 6x6. I thought was the 6 point was a raghorn at first so I stalked him with my camera. When I realized he was a mature 6pt bull I ran back for my longbow and calls. I tried a series of cow calls and the bull ran to the bottom of the hill, but the wind was bad and eventually he took off. The afternoon was largely uneventful, we sat on a waterhole and then moved up country to find our big herd bull. We located him late in the day but some cows busted us and the herd ran down the fenceline and out of sight. Just before dusk we setup and bugled. We had no less than 8 different bulls respond. This area is hot! |
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Nothing - done hunting. |
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Dal Lowrey |
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| Since the wind and sun are drying things out I decided to go back to the Windbreak blind. It was super windy and the goats said “no way today.” So, I’m supposed to start deer hunting tomorrow, but I think I’ll go sit in an antelope blind instead. I have a feeling the antelope hunting is going to pick up soon. I love you Karen ….. Dal | |
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Nothing - done hunting. |
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Todd Bosnick |
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| Well another exciting day stalking antelope in open country. I sat near a creek where I thought the antelope would cross. They came close but not close enough. I had to adventure out and make some stalks. I had a 30-yard shot at a doe antelope but when I drew back I notice my 20 yard pin was broken. I then noticed that all my pins where broken. Luckily I brought and extra sight and went back out for the afternoon hunt. I sat along a barn and had a buck antelope come in. I got two shots off and they fell short. The buck was uninterested in me so I got another two shots off. They were high over his back. I won’t miss tomorrow. Todd | |
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Pronghorn |
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Claudia Eisenmann |
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| Today was a biology lesson in antelope rutting behavior. It all started at 7am when a group of antelope does and their suitor appeared about 230 yds in front of my blind. I immediately rubbed my lucky rock and hoped for good fortune. A satellite buck then came onto the scene in hopes of dislodging the herd buck from his harem. He, however, was neither impressed nor amused and quickly sent the challenger on his way. For the next 5 hours I watched the herd buck push, gather and otherwise control the movements and activities of the does. It was amazing to observe! Finally, at about noon, the antelope began to slowly make their way toward the water tank and my hiding place. First came five wary does. They spent a few minutes drinking and wandered away. Then the other three does, herd buck in tow, came to the tank. While the does drank, the buck wandered back and forth in front of my shooting window. On his second trip across the opening, at 21 yds, I sent an arrow through both lungs. The buck amazingly ran 150 yds before plowing into the sagebrush. I am not sure who is more grateful for the opportunity to kill this buck. It could be me, but I suspect that it is actually the former satellite buck, recently appointed herd buck, that is most enthusiastic. Tomorrow…mule deer. Until then….. Claudia | |
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Mulies |
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Teresa Foy |
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| Addendum to Claudia’s by Teresa… At 1:30 or so as Leo, Bill and I headed back to camp for lunch, we heard Parker on the radio. “I am going into the Gas Chamber, Claudia has a flag up.” I said “Yes!!!”. As I said this, Leo and Bill said similar comments. They have only known Claudia for three days but they knew what I did, her perseverance was such that she would not signal to leave the blind until either the end of the day…or with a kill. We were excited. The excitement was realized even more when we saw the beautiful buck come to camp moments later. Great job Claudia! I don’t remember what comments I have made in days prior but, gosh, this is more fun then any person should be allowed to have! Stalking Mule deer will spoil me for any tree stand hunting back home. The day was awesome! In the morning Leo set Bill and I up for flushing a nice buck to one or the other of us at the end edge of a wash. From my vantage point amongst the sage, I could see that the buck, a doe and the fawn had other ideas. They went up a hill and as I glassed them they bedded down. After a bit of a duck walk, redirection from my guide and a belly crawl that had me eating cactus in my knees and hands, I got to the summit. My last bit of cover was a yucca that hid my drawing of the bow. As I rose to my knees the bad boy on the other side heard me and started to rise up. I concentrated on the vitals and released. He rose higher then I thought, as he was bigger then I anticipated. My 15 yard shot went below his right front leg. I could not move…. the miss played in my head over and over. He was huge. My monster ran away. I must admit that I spoke French yet was pleased with the opportunity. Believe it or not, I was allowed another fun stalk in the afternoon. This sweet 3 x 3 was spotted in a wash. It was tough to get a bead on his exact location so my stalk to the edge was very uncertain. I was able to get within 25 yards of this buck. The bank and sage provided cover but again he heard me rise up to my knees. I was looking at his rear and had no shot. I ducked back down but it was too late. I should have drawn and waited for him to turn. Oh the education these boys have given me. Well, it is off to the antelope hunting tomorrow. Teresa | |
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Nothing - done hunting. |
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Brian Kean |
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| It was another warm, sunny day today. I sat half of the day in each of two different blinds. Once again, no antelope came in to drink. At about 5:30 in the evening, I spotted a single antelope about five hundred yards out, and feeding in the other direction. Oh well, like they say, “A bad day hunting is better than a good day at work.” I’ll try again tomorrow. | |
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Nothing - done hunting. |
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Bill Gaunt |
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| The driving in search for mule deer was a first for me and I will say an absolute blast!! I had one stalk opportunity with a degree of difficulty that I have termed a “suicide stalk”. I did not have a chance to shoot, but I had a lot of fun. The weather has been ideal, as well as the company… | |
Currently hunting: |
Nothing - done hunting. |