I'm Back!

Well I am indeed back after three weeks on the ranch in Wyoming. I stalked antelope like never before. Climbed up the foot hills of Casper Mountain like an old pro and found myself going places I have never gone before. Surely pre surgery I could not have traversed the spaces I walked, let alone climbed. Oh, I did have a few mishaps along the way; with broken water pipes in the cabin and losing both my cell phone and my camera, but I,also, had the easiest hunt ever. No more huffing and puffing. To show how well I did, I took three antelope (North American Pronghorn) this year, two does and a buck, and I took all three with a 44 magnum . Yes, I was able to stalk close enough to hunt the fastest land animal in North America with a pistol! (Yes, Joe, A Super Redhawk) Who knows, next year I may try to hunt them with a spear.  WLS really opened up the adventure for me. Hopefully, when my friends send me their photos of the trip, I can share with you guys just how far I was able to climb and stalk my prey. For a guy who could not walk one hundred yards a year and a half ago, it was amazing. and fun.

welcome back...

Well some 23 year old chic killed a 500lb gator with a crossbow in a moving air boat yesterday. Her first kill.  A spear i'm sure you can do it.. lol or maybe a blow gun.

A Gator with a crossbow is like shooting an antelope with a 50 caliber. Gators in the best of situations can't run 60 miles an hour and, as a rule, gators don't run from prey. As for a blow gun. without poisons they are useless. There is no ethical hunting possible, in my mind, with a blow gun. I refuse to use any method to hunt that would cause the animal to suffer excessively. But, thanks for the vote of confidence, maybe next year I can guide you to experience an antelope hunt yourself.

Welcome back Nick! Sounds like you had a great time. I can't imagine getting close enough to an antelope to shoot it with a pistol. That had to be pretty cool.

Thank you. After guiding antelope hunts for 15 years you do get pretty good at stalking them. I set out to challenge myself in hunting with the 44 mag. I did intend to also take one with my black powder rifle but I ultimately filled all my tags with the 44. It was both a challenge and a trill. The hard part will be out doing it next year. I routinely took antelope in the past with short range rifles, such as the 30/30 but this was a first for me.

Glad you are back Nick, but am very jealous.  3 weeks in the wild all in a row.  I would have to sell my business to get more than 1 week at a time off.  Looking foreword to seeing your pics. 

My hunting vacation starts in 2 weeks - 1 week in NW Missouri with 12 bowhunters making drives from sunup to sundown.  Each of the last 4 years we have tagged 4 Pope and Young bucks on our trip.  Can't wait...

We picked up a peck of newbies while you were gone, they will be happy to meet you.

Thanks Robert. Good luck on your hunt. I lost my camera on this trip so I will have to wait for my buddies to send me pictures to share with you guys.

 that sounds like quite the adventure

It was Ricco, but you have begun a greater one. Congrats on your surgery.

What a great adventure.  I can hardly wait until I can do the things I have dreamed of doing.