- August 29, 2007
- Hunter:Rick Sanger
- Location:Colorado
- Weapon:PSE Bow
- Animal:Mule Deer
Vicki and Rick Sanger get their 2007 season started in Vicki’s home state of Colorado. The last week of August found them on horseback thanks to Jim Bryce of http://www.bryceoutfitting.com.
Vicki and Rick rode into a drop camp and prepared for the next seven days of a do-it yourself spot and stalk hunt on public ground.
It took the first few days of the hunt to locate and get the bucks patterned. Just as they had the big buck patterned, it rained the whole day, keeping their cameras in their waterproof backpack, but they still hiked the mountains doing as much scouting as they could.
Late in the morning on the fifth day with Vicki behind the camera, they spotted a good buck. Vicki and Rick watched the buck bed down, and they then made their plan for the stalk. After taking off their boots and checking the wind again they moved in. Once they closed the distance to within 55 yards, Vicki stopped to film as Rick finished the stalk. More than an hour after they watched the buck bed down, Rick was within 25 yards of the buck. With the buck’s head hidden behind a couple of Aspen trees, Rick drew his bow just as the buck stood up. With his vitals blocked by trees, a few tense moments passed until the buck took that next step which opened up a clear path to his vitals. Rick took advantage of this path and was able to put his Colorado archery deer tag on a beautiful 170 class mule deer.
- August 19, 2007
- Hunter:Ty Bartoskewitz
- Location:New Mexico
- Weapon:PSE X Force Bow
- Animal:Pronghorn Antelope
Story as told by: Ty Bartoskewitz
My luck started early on this hunt when I drew a non resident New Mexico archery antelope tag. A couple friends of mine invited me to join them on a public land hunt in New Mexico. We arrived Thursday evening to scout the areas and set up some blinds. We saw several shooters that were hanging around the many windmill water holes. After some discussion with the cattle lessee, we decided to construct natural ground blinds with mesquite and broomweed in order to minimize disturbance to his cattle in and around the watering areas.
Temperatures were near or above 100 degrees both days of the hunt. I spent 12 hours in the ground blind the first day and had lots of action at the waterhole. I had encounters with multiple goats, including the one that I harvested, as well as a 82" goat that watered at 7 yards from my blind. Day 2 brought the same conditions with hot temperatures and multiple wind directions throughout the day. Action was slower with fewer antelope visiting the water. This was most likely due to the continuous presence of cattle at the water all day. At about mid day, the antelope I eventually harvested made an appearance at the water, but was unable to drink because of all the livestock activity. I tried to make it happen but never had the right angle. Plus, he was a bit nervous about all the livestock activity. At this point, I was starting to become mentally exhausted after 19 hours of heat, being still in a small chair, and frustrated with the uncooperative livestock audience that circled my blind. Several hours later, he returned to again try and quench his thirst from the 100 degree temps. This time I was not going to let him slip away. At 45 yards, he committed to getting a drink and stood still long enough for the new PSE X force to smoke an arrow just behind the shoulder. The buck ran about 45 yards and expired on film. I was super excited about my first antelope with a bow, and I can't wait to try for my second.
