Come on Claudia, what the story that goes with that good lookin' picture?
:archer: :coffee:
Good work Claudia. Nice goat.
Allan
Where she belongs!
Killdeer :thumbsup:
What am I missing, no picture up on top for me..
Just the ad's ???????????????
i just posted on computers and tradgang forum cause i'm having the same problem. i can hit the F11 key for fullscreen and then scroll to the right and i can see them, but only cause i scrolled... :(
Damn, wedding ring showing... there goes another dream. Oh well, how about a hunting story instead.
Claudia :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Is the Broadhead that took this one in the Shadow Box on Auction 4?
That's a nice pronghorn buck Claudia!
Wyoming? North Dakota?
Shoot straight, Shinken
Nice bow and goat Claudia, so what's the story?
How about describing the bow your shooting. I've seen some others you've had and they were all beauties. Nice pronghorn - congratulations.
Okay...okay...here's the scoop on the unlucky goat.
First, I'll answer a few questions.
Larry, the BH in St. Jude's Shaddow box killed the antelope above...as well as two other antelope and a couple of whitetails. It is definately dripping with good luck!
Jedi, the bow in question is a Marriah Thermal recurve that is 45# at my 27" draw. I have three Thermals and all I can say is that they know how to make meat :thumbsup: .
Shinken, the unlucky pronghorn pictured above is a former resident of Wyoming. I make a pilgimage there every year to celebrate life, the Creator, and the hunt...not necessarily in that order. :)
As for the story...the whole thing is outlined in the latest PBS magazine, but for those who may not have read it, I'll give you a few details...as soon as I come back from checking out the auction.
Stay tuned!!! :campfire:
Claudia
In all the years I have been hunting at the Spearhead in Wyoming, my September 2008 hunt was the first to be accompanied by an absolutely dismal forecast. While there was an expectation of a few scattered moments of sun, for the most part weatherunderground.com suggested that a cold and rainy week was on tap. And as anyone who hunts pronghorns over waterholes will tell you, that is the last thing a bowhunter wants to hear.
I splashed my way over the muddy road that was the final leg of my journey into camp, arrived to unpack my gear, and then began making my way around camp to greet old friends. It's always a bit like a reunion on these trips and in truth, I come back to the same place every year just for that reason. While I appreciate the animals, the hunt, and the opportunity to relax, I apprecaite the people I have come to know there even more.
It is interesting that the connections we forge when we hunt the same location regularly often transcend the boundaries of space, or more specifically, proximity. For example, I have become familiar with other hunters who hunt annually at Spearhead through their stories and photos...though we have never met. Likewise, others have come to know me in the same way. Thus, when we finally do have the chance to meet face to face, it's as though in some ways we have known one another for years. And so it was in September of 2008 when I finally met and had the opportunity to hunt with former Bowhunter Magazine publisher, Dave Canfield.
Now Dave was shooting a wheelie bow...a fact that I took every opportunity to rib him about. That said, most people do not know that Dave also shoots stickbows and is the proud owner of a Black Widow recurve. Dave killed a dandy goat on this trip and I was very happy for him. He's a heck of a guy.
I met some other interesting folks on that hunt. Most notably, Dave Johnson, fellow stickbow toter and his son, Bruce. I knew that I had seen Dave somewhere before and finally it dawned on me that he is in the ads for Thunderbird bow finish. He looks exactly the same in person and was terrific to have in camp.
Both he and Bruce killed nice pronghorn bucks before the week was over...and that was particularly special for Bruce, as that was his first goat!
The first day of my hunt was interesting in many ways. I saw a number of animals at very close range, I had a young antelope buck actually come to the shooting window of my blind and scent check the air, and I discovered that I was not alone in my pit blind. In fact, I was occpying space with a rodent...and I was not amused. :eek: .
I mean occupying...
Would that be a LARGE rodent or a small rodent?
:thumbsup:
My little rodent friend seemed intent on getting out of the blind, but clearly he was going to need some assistance. The blinds at Spearhead are typically large steel fuel tanks inverted and buried half way into the ground. They make great pit blinds, but if you are a critter that inadvertently falls into one, there is no way of escape...unless of course you happen to find yourself in the company of a bowhunter that wants you out just as bad as you want to be out. So, as it turned out, this was Mr. Mouse's lucky day. Actually...the second day of my hunt was his lucky day...more about that later...I've got to get back to the auction!!!!!!
My little roommate was indeed a small rodent...a wide-eyed field mouse who seemed to be intimidated by nothing...including me. Perhaps it was desperation that made him crawl up my pant leg (on the outside thankfully :thumbsup:
Watch out for HANTA virus!
Now...time to get serious about the goat hunting...
The mouse had been gone only minutes when I saw a herd of does being followed by a bruiser of a buck. Even from several hundred yards away, it was obvious that this goat was huge. I knew he would stay close to his harem so I was hoping that the does would come to water and bring him in tow.
All of the antelope in this group were in an adjacent pasture and I was more than a little surprised when the entire herd sailed over the barbed wire fence just like deer. I had seen antelope jump before, but never so many at one time. They were an incredible spectacle!
As fate would have it, the does did not come to water, but continued across the pasture. But an equal measure of fortune was to be had on this day when the big buck hopped over the fence and came straight to the blind, turned broadside, and dropped his head to drink.
The bow and arrow were as ready as I was. And it was almost unconsciously that the limbs of the Thermal were drawn, the arrow was anchored, and the projectile was released. The Grizzly broadhead sliced through the big buck's ribs and gave this noble pronghorn a death that was worthy of him...clean, quick, and fair.
As wonderful as the horns are on this buck, it was his body size that most impressed me when I walked up to admire him. I've never had a pronghorn buck that I could not drag a few hundred yards away from the blind before field dressing...until this one. This buck was simply huge...and I am a very lucky hunter to have had the opportunity to take him with trad gear.
I'll be back at the Spearhead Ranch again this year...and not because I need another antelope or mule deer. I'll go for the reasons I always go...the reasons I stated before: to celebrate life, the Creator, and the hunt...not necessarily in that order :campfire: .
Claudia
I have sat in those metal tanks - they can get a mite warm. Great story!!!! :thumbsup:
Thank you for sharin' the adventure with us Claudia!
We look forward to future success stories - for *all* of the right reasons!
In His grip, Shinken
:notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
Claudia,
You sure do have a way with words!
What a great adventure... :campfire:
That was a story worth waiting to read about. Thank you Claudia. Perhaps one day I'll get up to the Spearhead too....and finally get to meet you. :p
Yep, and we'll be waiting for the elk story(ies) later this year. Must be rough to have to remeber to prominently display the "bling" to keep the rif-raf subdued... :D
Congrats :thumbsup: on a great goat.
Claudia,
Thanks for such a well told story of a great hunt. Also thanks for building up such pretty arrows that I apparently bid the highest for. My wife and I will both be happy to have her shooting them.
Allan
Thank you maam! Great story telling...
Thanks so much Claudia, great story and speed goat! Riff Raff
Claudia,
Great story...looking forward to "celebrate life, the Creator, and the hunt...not necessarily in that order " Doc
:bigsmyl:
Everyone, I am glad you enjoyed my tale of the hunt. It was quite the trip!
Allan, thank you for your winning bid on the arrows! They are tough as nails and should serve your wife well for a long time to come.
Tippit, I too am looking forward to September. Now THAT will be an adventure!
Claudia
You folks that post great stories may never realize the great therapy that lies within to those of us who cannot make such fine trips.
Always a pleasure and Claudia, you do turn a phrase nicely. You and Killy rival any of our ole boy's tales!
Thank you for the armchair hunt in dreamland! :)
Wow Claudia:
I felt as though I was another field mouse hiding in the corner just watching your hunt unfold. You truly take us along with you.
Thanks for sharing the hunt.
Claudia can tell tales around my campfire anytime. As usual job well done. Thanks for sharing and "Keep'um Sharp". :campfire:
Can we get some info on the Spearhead Ranch?
Nice story claudia! You could've sent me that pic, then I would have only had one head to carve!!! Might've been done in 6 months instead of a year!
Chip...I got that goat well after your carving was in-process! Besides, I LOVE the carving you did for me. It was well worth the year!
Claudia
"As for the story...the whole thing is outlined in the latest PBS magazine" Pinecone
For those of you that did not get the opportunity to read this tale already, it sounds like ANOTHER reason to join PBS!
Thank you>
Ditto what Steve said!
The article is great, penned by an excellent writer and great bowhunter! Way to go, Claudia.
Thanks, Ric. That goat was one of many critters I've taken with your bows. I think they must come with good karma and an accuracy package
:notworthy: !
Claudia
Claudia, I had to chuckle when I read your post where you mentioned the accuracy package. I'd forgotten about that issue.