When I began this trip, I would have given myself slim odds to fill both of my tags. Not because of the quality or quantity of game…both at the Spearhead are super….but I am a realist. Most realists will tell you that on a six day hunt you need a little bit of luck to collect two species, especially when one is to be hunted by spot and stalk. Well, I’m glad that I had my lucky rock along, because it definitely rubbed off.
After glassing and attempting to stalk deer this morning, Bill and I along with Leo, our Guide, were tipped off by Elaine Moore about a buck bedded under a rock ledge. After lunch we headed in that direction to see if he was still there.
The buck was almost invisible under the shadow of the ledge, but we could just see his velvet antlers shining in the sun. Bill and I flipped the top of a container to determine who would get the opportunity to stalk and to my surprise, I won the toss.
Leo had checked the wind and advised me on the course to take to get behind the ledge, above the buck. He indicated that he would direct me from his position at the fence by using hand signals and that once in position, he would try to get the buck to stand up by simply walking toward our location, some 350 yds away.
Armed with my bow, off I went toward the back of the ledge. Leo directed me until I was in line and above the deer. When I was in position, he started walking. Out of nowhere, up came a doe. I not only had not seen her bedded under the ledge, but I was sure she was going to blow my cover and take the buck over the hill and out of the country. Wrong! The doe was so preoccupied with Leo that she never knew I was there…even though I was 20 yds from her, standing in the open!
I turned my attention to where the buck might be when all of a sudden I saw antler tips beginning to rise above the edge of the ledge. When the buck stood, I guessed him to be 23 yds. I held my 20 yd pin high and sent the arrow on its way. The deer was closer than I had estimated and the arrow hit him in the spine dropping him in his tracks. I quickly put another arrow into the buck and finished the job.
What a hunt! What wonderful people and beautiful scenery! Words simply do not do justice to the experience at the Spearhead. This ranch is so well managed, with so much game that I’m beginning to think I might not have even needed my lucky rock!
Tomorrow is butchering day! But for now, a word of thanks to God, the folks at the Spearhead and the opportunity to have enjoyed such a wonderful experience.
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