Over the years I have met many people in my business dealings but few have been as lucky as my meeting Jack. I met Jack about a year and a half ago and after talking a bit we found out that we have much in common, especially hunting. I also found out that Jacks family owns a ranch on the Powder River in south/east Montana. To top it off he invited me to hunt with them!!!
Some have heard this before but my shoulders are bone on bone and I have been told to put down the bow. Jack is a rifle hunter but was very interested in my use of a bow. To shorten my account a bit I received a land owners permit for rifle deer but I had to put in for the draw on antelope, When I was filing out the form I checked the box that said rifle as my first choice but the archery as my second choice. I truly don't remember doing this as a conscious choice but I did??? Well when the results came out I did not get my rifle but, drew the archery!!! Now I had to figure out how to get just a little more time out of these shoulders and be able to shoot if the opportunity came around. I have pretty much sold off my traditional bows but their draw weights were too much for me anyway. I drifted through the classifieds and found a 40# bow built by George Perez of Rainy Day Bows..... I started by tuning an arrow and broadhead combo. That took more time than I thought as my shooting sessions were every other day and 10 to 20 arrows MAX before the shoulders started screaming. Over the next month I shot 5 to 10 arrows a day from that bow. I took my time and focused on form and accuracy and felt satisfied I was good to go.
Jack's dad set up a pop up ground blind on one of their properties that had a windmill water source. The set up worked perfect. The windmill set on the edge of a creek bank. The water went into tanks and the overflow collected in the bottom of the creek in another small pool. I entered the blind about a half hour before sun up and did not see a single animal until 1:30 or so. I looked to the bottom of the valley and saw three does coming over the ridge about a mile or so away. I did not see a buck until a few minutes latter but then he appeared. It happened so fast after that my head was spinning. The does came in high above me on the opposite side of the creek and were very cautious. The buck on the other hand sprinted full throttle and skidded to a stop at about 18/20 yards from the pool at the bottom of the creek bed. I slowly got into position started to full draw and something spooked the does and they bolted up the hill. The buck bolted and fallowed but stopped at what I latter paced off as 26 yards. I came to full draw, picked a spot and watched the arrow burry itself in the buck. I can't speak for others but the most nerving part is watching an animal hit run off and hearing fall, fall, fall like a drum beating through my brain. The buck with both his lung perforated and his heart sliced ran 80/100 yards up hill did a back flip and came to a stop. I was shaking but elated at the same time............. The arrow had gone completely through him and fallen out on the ground where he lay.
This is probably my last traditional hero shot but if it is I couldn't be more pleased. He is at the taxidermist now and though it was not my reason for shooting him. The taxidermist said he will measure in the mid 70's and he is my biggest Speed Goat with any weapon.
Thank you Jack for inviting me to share your slice of Paradise........
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Crane%20Ranch%202013%20Montana%20Hunt/IMG_9310_zpsa3cf922a.jpg) (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/coaster500/media/Crane%20Ranch%202013%20Montana%20Hunt/IMG_9310_zpsa3cf922a.jpg.html)
That's a monster!!! Nice shooting! :clapper: :clapper:
Congratulations, that's a mighty fine animal!
Nice! Congrats!
Awesome work!! Congrats on a fine trophy :thumbsup:
Good goat . I miss the big Montana sky .
Fantastic way to go out kip fantastic!
Awsome! You should have looked me up. I probably wasn't far from you.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great shot and goat, it's amazing what a 40# bow will do if put in the right spot.
Congrats! Great photo!
Dang Coaster, that's a WHOPPER ... :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I guess if you have to leave your trad bow in the rack, this is a great way to go out ... best of luck in the future with that shoulder, maybe it's time for a titanium shoulder ?
Very nice! Congrats to you.
Great story !!
Super antelope and photo ..
Man, I hate to hear about your shoulders..
Good luck and good hunting
Congrats on a great goat!
Bisch
Congrats on a great Antelope...... :thumbsup:
Very nice!
Well Done, Sir!!!!
nice a looking antelope..
A beauty...congrats!
Congrats! :thumbsup:
Congratulations, nice Antelope.
Glad you enjoyed Montana. :archer:
That is a great trophy, congrats!!!
Thank you.......
Big sky country for sure............
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Crane%20Ranch%202013%20Montana%20Hunt/IMG_9357_zpsdbc6c183.jpg) (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/coaster500/media/Crane%20Ranch%202013%20Montana%20Hunt/IMG_9357_zpsdbc6c183.jpg.html)
Great speed goat, congrats!
Great goat! Glad you got the chance to take him with your bow.
congratulations sir, sorry to hear that you will have to put down the bow. Im sure you had many good times with it over the years.
~Shan
A really great buck. I love to hunting antelope.
Congratulations Kip!!!!
Kip
Congrats. that's a nice antelope thanks for sharing your hunting adventure.
Kip, congrats and thanks for taking us along.
Nice hunt and thanks for sharing.
Good luck on your shoulders..
Way to make the best of it.
Todd
Awesome buck!
Fantastic Goat Kip!
That's a great buck!!!!!
Congrats Kip :clapper: :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Congrats on a great hunt, what an awesome trophy!
Glad it all came together for you on this trip. Pretty cool to share it with friend too.
dang nice goat!
Very nice indeed, hate to hear about the shoulder and the possible need to put the Tradbow down :(
Congratulations, nice Antelope you truly deserve it Kip.
What a nice antelope! Congratulations! You really put your heart into this hunt even though you had to withstand a bunch of shoulder pain! My hat's off to you! :clapper:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
Real nice buck. Way to go. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Very nice, Kip.
Great tale, thanks for sharing.
Awesome!!!!Congrats
If this is indeed your last trad bow kill, you know how to go out with a bang! That is a great antelope!
Wow! That is a great antelope Kip! You sure put in the effort needed to make that happen. I hope you can find a way to stay in the game, but if that isn't in the cards what a Grand Finale this trip was!
Congrats!! That is a awesome Antelope.
Great buck.
Very nice goat!
Kip, what an awesome animal! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Beautiful animal.
Awesome goat! I truly hope you can keep bowhunting, but if that was it what a dandy to look at everyday!
Kip, that bow looks familiar. Glad it worked out for you, totally awesome, congrats on a great speed goat! :thumbsup:
Very nice :thumbsup:
Well done and deserved,Kip. :clapper:
Thank you
Had a little snow while I was there..... The rut should kick off real soon with the deer
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Crane%20Ranch%202013%20Montana%20Hunt/IMG_9317_zps44e4b1e2.jpg) (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/coaster500/media/Crane%20Ranch%202013%20Montana%20Hunt/IMG_9317_zps44e4b1e2.jpg.html)
CONGRATS!!! Nice Job!!!
Congratulations on the antelope but bad news on your shoulders. If that truly was your last trad kill, you went out with a bang.
Good luck on the deer... :thumbsup:
Shoulders are screaming now so we'll see..... at least this winter we have a full freezer :)
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/Crane%20Ranch%202013%20Montana%20Hunt/Freezerfullofmeat_zpse66c057a.jpg) (http://s28.photobucket.com/user/coaster500/media/Crane%20Ranch%202013%20Montana%20Hunt/Freezerfullofmeat_zpse66c057a.jpg.html)
Great story. I enjoyed it. Pronghorns are on my bucket list for sure. Sorry to hear about the shoulders though, hope that works out.
Wow what a terrific trophy!!!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
I talked with the Taxidermist and told him I want a shoulder mount looking right, to fill last piece of wall in my man closet.
Can't wait to see finished mount....... the town of Broadus, Montana has four Taxidermists!!!
A trophy in more ways spoken. Congrats on a real beauty.
I know that was a special hunt for you, Congrats :thumbsup:
Beautiful buck and nice pics!!