From the end of one hunting season to the start of a new seems to take an eternity. But as always it seems it is upon me and I am scrambling to get things ready. Always something to get in the way of preparing for the trips planned. Like 4 weeks of working on my house to get it show room perfect to sell. Splitting up what you worked so hard for in a divorce that seems no matter how you split it seems unfair to one or the other. House sold in 5 days for full asking price, agreement made between both of us and thank god no kids are involved. I was ready to spend a few days with Tracy Villwok and Randy Burtis over some prime antelope watering holes!
My plan was to head out from Cody no later than 2pm. But with meeting the appraiser and a whole bunch of other business I hit the road at 3:30 pm. I pulled anchor on the Dodge pickup and we set out to cross the sage brush sea to Hanna Wyoming a little over 5 hours’ drive. I was looking forward to the drive it would take me to parts of Wyoming that I have never seen before. Once I got out of Riverton it was all new scenery. It’s amazing how big this state is and how little development very barren desolate country. But that’s what I like about it most. I followed the Continental Dived and the broke east passing through little towns that must have provided resting spots to travelers before the interstates came to be. They are all but dried up no longer provide an oasis for fuel, food and sleep.
I made it in to Hanna just before 9pm. Tracy had a Bison roast in the slow cooker so we ate a late dinner and then began some beer drinking and B.S. sessions till we looked at the time and it was midnight. We headed off to bed for our 5 hour nap.
Morning came and we had some coffee and gathered our gear and headed out in Tracy’s truck. It was getting light but Tracy said the antelope were moving after the sun was up a while. We passed a nice buck headed up to the water hole. We parked grabbed our bows and packs hiked to the set up. Tracy has two blinds over a little spring he has a stake at it marking 15 yards. It is a very nice setup providing both hunters great opportunity to shoot or watch the shot play out. Very exciting to say the least!
Tracy placed me in the blind he felt would give me the better advantage. He said according to the trail cam they seemed to stay towards that side. So we both settled in for the wait. I got my bow and an arrow lined up set up my stool and began glassing. I got through scanning the area and I was just falling in to the mind drift mode when I heard something. I looked up just in time to see a nice buck step up to the spring. I was like wow it’s only been 20 minutes! Tracy wanted me to shoot first and we both decided shoot whatever buck comes in. This buck was not bad and he was nice and relaxed drinking from the hole. Tracy built some nice blinds plenty of room and tall enough for the longest of bows.
Once I knew I was going to shoot auto pilot took over. I had my bow in my hand knocked my arrow and began setting myself up. I had a bad season last year and never even had a chance to draw my bow on an animal. But it has been 13 months since I had Rod Jenkins first coach me and with him out this July he fine-tuned a few no no’s I was doing like a head bob I was not even really aware of. With hundreds of hours of drills on the blind bag I was ready to put his teachings to work. I immediately knew my shoulders needed to be shifted to square up the shot so I shifted positions on the stool. I placed my tab on the string slid to the knock point. Forked the riser with my bow arm and set it with a low shoulder. The rotational draw snapped into place with a solid anchor. All that was left was to aim while the subconscious did rest. Once I was happy with what I was seeing back muscles went to work and I was at conclusion. I saw my bright fletching hit true and I knew he would not go far. Tracy had his head out the window and we were both excited. He said he never seen him he just herd the whack looked up and seen him running.
We both got out of our blinds and started looking for the buck. He was about 65 yards away and it only took a few before he was dead. We shook hands and congrats and got some pictures. I shot a single blade broadhead and it centered a rib about 3 inches down from the back. It blew through the rib and never exited but it sure tore up the lungs! We butchered the buck at Tracy’s house and had him in the freezer by 11 am. We then head back out so Tracy could hunt for his buck.
We had switched blinds now and we were settled in and it was only noon. It was getting a little warmer but a nice breeze was blowing so I decided it was nap time. It was a little after one when I woke and I started looking for antelope. Finally I seen a buck coming in but seemed to get nervous and started wheezing he hung around a bit and then left. I got a picture of him on the hillside. Then around two o’clock a buck steps up to the water hole and starts drinking. I can see Tracy through the window of his blind and I can see he is looking down. He does not see the buck and he is just drinking away. I even made a squeak to get Tracy’s attention but the only one who heard it was the buck. He was looking at my blind and then would drink and look at my blind. Tracy is still looking down I found out later he was deleting stuff of his phone. Finally he looks up and I see his eyes get big. I am going to stop at this point because Tracy has a special story about this buck.
Randy Burtis showed up Thursday night and we shot bows and told stories till about ten. We then headed off to sleep.
Randy and I hunted together Friday morning he took the blind I had the day before. I had a doe tag too fill and Randy a buck tag. We had three bucks wanting in one a real nice one but they did not like something and started wheezing. Tracy thinks they were smelling blood I think he is correct. So they left the area. I was beginning to think I may not see a doe and was thinking about yesterday and how everything took place. Then things started changing quickly.
A lone doe came in very quickly from the other side of my blind. So quick Randy said he seen her coming and he had no time to get his camera rolling to film for he was in fear she may see him move. As I picked up my bow it ticked on the hog wire in the blind and she heard it. I could not move and after what seemed like forever she started to drink. It was dead still out so every time I moved she may have heard something and she would look up at the blind. I really figured she would bolt at any minute but I managed to get my arrow knocked without her leaving. I was in a bad spot position wise and really had to contort myself to get my shoulder pointing were they needed to be. I did not have a shot because she was quartering in so all I could do was wait it out. She finally decided to leave and as she left she made a bad choice. She stopped at about 22 yards to look back and she turned broadside and slightly quartered away.
Again all of Rod’s teachings and my drills came in to play. Before I knew it I was at full draw. She was a little on the spooky side so I held a longer to make sure she was settled in. Once I knew she was relaxed I came to conclusion. She never even flinched till the arrow was up to the bright fletching but then she came unglued. She took of past Randy and disappeared. We stuck our heads out of the blind and I told Randy it was a good hit. He said he figured she was dead on her feet because he could hear her running away and that she turned and started coming back towards the blind.
We got out of the blinds and headed up so we could see out across the grass for any signs of her. Randy was looking for a head up when he spotted her flat on the ground about 50 yards out. We walked up and the story that it read us was that the single bevel head really did a job. I found my arrow in the trail and we got some pictures and I loaded her up. Randy and I said our good byes shook hands and I wished him luck.
I made quick work of cutting her up loaded the truck and set out to get back home it was before noon. This was great time with the very best people you can be with.
I thank Tracy, Randy and Rod Jenkins. You guys mean a lot to me. Thanks Rod for the coaching and I love my string that matches my arrows its way cool! I hope you all enjoy and pay no attention to the bad grammar you will enjoy it better if you don’t LOL
So if this may be sign of good things to come. Elk and deer 2 weeks away!
Thanks Scott
Round One
Round Three
Busted!
Just in case Tracy never saw him.
Round Three
Topic: Back from Hanna WY from hunting with Tracy Villwok and Randy Burtis! Pics included. (Read 1715 times)
