Today was the first morning of my 2011 pronghorn hunt, so at 5:00AM I loaded up my best hunting buddy - my 7 year old son Connor - and we took a short 30 minute drive from our house to some State land east of Raton, NM.
After making a quick stop to get a McMuffin for my son, and topping off the fuel tank in my pickup in town, we made it to our favorite little chunk of State land by 6:00AM.
We unloaded from the pickup and started walking through the piñon and juniper, carefully minding our footsteps on the volcanic rocks.
While I was enjoying watching my son slip softly through the mix of piñon and rocks, the morning sun had broke through the cloud cover and I spotted six pronghorn feeding on the north slope of a hillside about 200 yards south of us. My son took a quick peek through my binoculars and his smile confirmed what I could already see: all six pronghorn feeding down the slope were bucks.
Having hunted this same spot for many years, I decided to try and get us to a little outcrop of rocks and piñon in front of where I hoped the bucks might travel - feeding down from the piñon to the shortgrass prairie.
We quickly started to make our way to that outcrop, and as I stepped out from behind a fat juniper, I saw the white rump of a lone buck feeding on grass less than 25 yards from me. In my haste to get to that outcrop and ambush the six bucks that had my heart starting to beat a little more heavily, I had not seen this buck feeding in the draw below us.
I motioned to Connor to stop and I mouthed the words "there's a buck" in the direction my finger was hurriedly pointing. Connor stopped where he stood and flashed me a huge smile. I started to sneak around the other side of the juniper, and as I peeked around I saw the buck was now standing broadside and looking up at me.
In retrospect, I think that because this was the first day of the archery hunt here, the buck just dismissed me and put his head back down to feed.
I took one large step to the side, came to full draw, and watched my cedar arrow slip into the buck right on his left shoulder. The buck took off running down the grassy draw and from my vantage point I watched him disappear behind some juniper.
It was my son Connor who first saw the buck lying on its side, not 50 yards from where he took his last bite of grass.
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg295/j2adams/DSC05228.jpg)
This was my first pronghorn that I have ever taken with a longbow. I bought a Kohannah Fury here on TradGang a few years ago, and used the advice gathered here to back my Fury with diamondback skins. The fletched cedar shafts came from another fine TragGang member in the classifieds; come to think of it, the old green Bear Razorheads, my Kanati quiver, and the fanny pack resting above my rump all came from outstanding TradGang and TGMM members... So thanks to YOU guys/gals for helping outfit me for success.
Here are a few more moments from my hunt that I'd like to share with you:
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg295/j2adams/DSC05304.jpg)
In pronghorn country, expect a bovine audience to gather...
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg295/j2adams/DSC05317.jpg)
An old Razorhead still makes a lethal wound...
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg295/j2adams/DSC05263.jpg)
Over my right shoulder is the big juniper where the buck was feeding...
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg295/j2adams/DSC05251.jpg)
Josh
Congradulations sir, nice shot!
awsome!!!! thats a real good picture with the bow laying across your buck..... congratts sir!
Well Done! :thumbsup:
Wonderful and congrats. Really great that Connor was able to share this with you... Well done
Nice hunt congrats,Conner looks happy,nice shooting. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice buck and great memories with your little buddy,congrats. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great story,great pictures and .A big thanks for sharing with us and for including Connor so he can carry on our heritage
Great story,had the kid with you to boot.Great pics also.Its so hot and dry here it's hard to get in the hunting mood,waiting for Oct.Thanks for sharing...
Congratulations on a great hunt! Great story and looks like you have an excellent hunting partner. I'd like to give that a try someday.
That is one of the coolest hunting stories I've read in a while. That is a dream of mine to have my son with me on a kill. Congrats!! :thumbsup:
SWEET! That is an awsome story and an awesome animal. Pronghorns have the most distinct smell of any animal. I cant wait to get back out there to chase them someday.
I also appreciate the fact that you had so much help from the great people here. I too have encountered the same with a lot of my gear, most of it came from tradgang.
Really nice hunt, goat and pictures! Congratulations on doing everything well, including the shot. :thumbsup:
Allan
:clapper: :clapper: Josh,do you mind if I'm just a little envious?Congrats!
Bill
That's too cool. Definately one of my bucket list hunts, Congratulations, nice goat. TRW
AWESOME!
Great pics!! Congrats a very special time spent with your son never to be forgotten. Joe
Wow ,what a story! Congrats on a fine kill.Pumps me up as I wait on opening day.
Thanks for all the comments. Reading everyone's hunting stories here is always a pleasure, so I'm glad that I could share our hunt with you.
PS:
Connor is still grinning from ear to ear.
good job!
What! OMG thats Awesome! Look at the smile on that kids Face!
That would be my Smile too
Nice!!!
Great story, Fantastic pix, Thanks for sharing!
chris <><
Nicely told story and a great shot...and no better way to enjoy it all than with your son! Congrats....and great pics too!
That is outstanding!!
I am sure that will be a hunt you and your son will always remember. Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations on a great hunt with your son ! As others have commented, this is a precious memory for the two of you. By the, nice Pronghorn!!
Great job!
That's awesome!! That is why I come to TradGang,, to read about bowhunting! Thanks for sharing your hunt. Steve
Outstanding! I spent some time in NM myself, just couldn't draw a tag to save my life!
Great buck, and the smiles say it all!
Congrats!
The picture of your son says it all, OUTSTANDING! I can remember when I was about Connor's age when my Father killed a buck, more than 50 years ago, seems like this morning.
:clapper: Nice job !!!
Bill
Great story, great pics and a nice buck to boot! That is the perfect age to start them hunting. Mine just graduated high school and still loves to bow hunt. I started him when he was young. Thanks for sharing!
-Leonard-
Congratulations ! :clapper:
What an awesome accomplishment.
That looks like a really great hunt and to top it off your son was with you. Way Cool !!!!!
great shot! and beautiful bow with the snake skins
It doesn't get much better than that! To have your son along to experience the hunt with you had to be awesome. Thanks for taking us along and sharing your hunt with words and great pictures. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
He wont forget that soon :clapper: :clapper:
Congrats!!! :clapper: That 3rd Pic is priceless!!!
Great pictures and a great shot!! Thanks for sharing. I'm headed to NE for my first antelope hunt Aug. 18th! Hope I am able to seal the deal as you did! Congrats! That is a beautiful buck!
Congratulations! :clapper:
Great job! Nice story! :thumbsup:
Very cool to take him spot and stalk... or stalk and spot. :) I leave for our annual goat hunt in 11 days! But whose counting.
Great shot placement, and even more awesome is that you took him in the manner you did. I'm hoping to take one from a blind this year, to stalk up on him--with your son in tow--magnificent.
Wow! That is amazing! Your son got to witness something he will never forget. Congrats
Congrats! That's a great memory for you and your son :)
Josh,what a great successful team you have there!
You have taken that antelope in the more exciting way,congrats.
What a great hunt you had and to have your son with you. Congrats, and nice shooting!
awesome story and pics.and what a grin on you're huntin buddies face..congrats
Great story and hunt to share with a little one. Thank you for sharing.
congrats!!
Excellent!! Your son is stoked! Better be gettin him a bow just like yours!
Congrats!! :clapper:
Congratulations!! Awesome hunt with your son by your side. Who could ask for anything better!! I was fortune enough to have hunted pronghorns for the first time last year and your story just reminded me again of what a great time I had.
Congratulations on a great buck and what a story.
Spot & stalk pronghorn with your son...certainly a special hunt! The smiles say it all :)
:thumbsup: Well donr sir! Glad your son could share the experience.
That is awesome, definitely something both of you will never forget!!! You make that spot and stalk antelope hunting seem easy ... anyone who has tried it much knows it is anything but.
Congratulations...a day you both will never forget. Very special.
Outstanding!
Awesome job. :thumbsup:
Congrats! Your son will never forget it either!
Best story I heard this year!! Congrats to both of you!!
Josh that's awesome! How cool it must be to have a season open already!
Congrats :clapper:
Wow. great story. What a special day with your Son connor. Dont get any better. Awesome pics. Well done and congrats to the both of you.
:thumbsup: :clapper:
Awesome! :thumbsup:
CONGRATULATIONS!
congrats very nice :thumbsup:
SWEET! Welld one man.
It has been 4 years since my last goat hunt and that just made me REALLY miss it.
Congrats to you and the boy.
Chuck
So cool that your son got to experience that with you!
Very neat hunt, Congrats brother.
That is just plain cool to experience that with your son. Memories made. Nothing better
A great hunt and you got to spend it with your son. Can it get any better?
I've never been to that area and know nothing about it. According to all the pronghorn hunts I've ever seen I thought it all happened by ambush at a waterhole. Thanks for the education.
Good stuff, congrats!
That is great!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats to you and your son both!!!
Very cool indeed. Some of my best memories are hunts with my sons. Conner is going to have some good stories for his fellow schoolmates.
Beautiful...congratulations!
again, thanks for all the compliments and comments fellas! :campfire:
good luck to you all on your upcoming hunts!
:archer2:
Josh
Congratulations! You and your son will remember his hunt or a long time.
Connor will never forget that hunt! 15 years ago I arrowed a nice IN buck from the ground with my then 5 year old standing right behind me, anytime hunting stories come up he's the one re-telling that one!
Very cool and a huge congratulations! The look on your son's face is priceless!
Good job dude!
A most *excellent* adventure!
WAY to involve your son!
Thanks for sharing!
Shoot straight, Shinken
:archer2:
That's awesome Josh :thumbsup:
Very nice!! Congratulations!
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Sound awsome!! Congrats
Amazing! With all the pronghorn taken from 300 yards with cf rifles, this is truly a trophy! For your son to be with you was even more special! I'm thinking that it'll be a long time before he realizes just how special that hunt was!
Congratulations! That's a beautiful animal! I've heard that pronghorn is good eating... is it similar to venison?
J.A.,
Nice going, Thanks for sharing.
Congrats on your speed goat. Enjoy the meat. Yum!
Congrats :thumbsup:
That is awesome!
Great story; that bow in that picture laying across the animal is really nice! thanks for sharing.
Way to go!! great shot, and it's always a plus to have a child along, he will remember it forever. Congrats again.
Fantastic
Well done and someone special to share it with
Congratulations Josh! That's a great accomplishment!
:wavey: :wavey:
Good job, I love that area around Clayton for antelope.
Mike
:thumbsup:
Stalking antelope with your son and a kill with the longbow. Unbelievable! Congrats!
:thumbsup:
awesome hunt!! congrats on a trophy animal!
How cool is this?....Way!....I'm saying...
Having your son with you is about as good as it can possibly get.
Thank you for sharing your story and pictures with us.
God bless,Mudd
:bigsmyl: :notworthy: :campfire:
Congratulations:)
Don't know how I missed this till now, but congratulations!! Amazing in every regard!
Thanks for sharing.
Nathan
Congrats! :clapper:
Way to go, Josh! You and Connor are a deadly team.
I missed this one ... great story Josh. Glad to see those cedars put to good use ... Looks like Conner makes a fine hunting partner.
Best to ya, Ken :thumbsup:
NICE! Congratulations
Glenn
CONGRATS!!! Great pics. TD.
Nice!
:clapper: Fantastic!
Congrats to the deadly duo of Father and Son!
Josh, Congrats on a great hunt and experience for you and your boy. One of many awesome hunts for you i hope. God Bless
:thumbsup: