Doghed
WKR
My 14 year old son had the most epic October ever!
I posted these images in the youth forum as well, but thought it made a cool story as a unique experience in the time of western draw hunting.
He took his hunters safety exam back in February with his mom and younger brother just in time to get into this years draw here in New Mexico. It was really fun family time and they all ended up drawing tags.
October 6th: Opening day of his Once-In-A-Youth New Mexico Oryx tag.
We got on a few good bulls early, but a poor stalk pushed them in front of another hunter who shot over them and they quickly went over a ridge and disappeared. About 30 minutes later we glassed another group of about 30-40 animals that were being hunted by at least two other hunt groups. We decided to sit and watch what happens and try to keep track of the group after the other hunters take a shot. within a few minutes the shooting started and the majority of the Oryx took off together to higher ground. We watched one bull isolate himself in a place that we thought could give us an opportunity. While the other hunt groups were focused on the big herd going the other way, we knew the lone bull was our only play. We used the low ground of an adjacent arroyo to hike about a mile up to where we thought he was. We made a good guess and ended up just above his elevation. While still distracted by the bullet lobbing going on behind him the bull walked right to us.
He made a 140 yard shot on a 35.5" bull.
October 15th: Opening morning of a special Pronghorn doe tag donated to him by The New Mexico Wild Sheep Foundation and the Vermejo Park Ranch for getting a perfect score on his hunters safety exam.
He made a 204 yard shot on a beautiful old doe.
October 17th: Got braces.
October 23rd: Morning three of his New Mexico second rifle Elk tag.
We patterned this bull and his cows on morning two. We almost had him but we were a little late and the cows got nervy. The next morning we hiked in earlier and set up on his path a couple hundred yards from where we'd seen them the day before. We set up for a 150 yard downhill shot into a nice aspen meadow, but instead the cows and bull came in on the side of the hill to our 9 o'clock. He waited until the cows weren't looking and quickly repositioned his pack/rest and rifle and calmly waited for his moment.
He made a 60 yard shot on a very nice 6x5.
October 26th: Turned 15.
He's three for three on big game tags, and he's hooked for life.
I posted these images in the youth forum as well, but thought it made a cool story as a unique experience in the time of western draw hunting.
He took his hunters safety exam back in February with his mom and younger brother just in time to get into this years draw here in New Mexico. It was really fun family time and they all ended up drawing tags.
October 6th: Opening day of his Once-In-A-Youth New Mexico Oryx tag.
We got on a few good bulls early, but a poor stalk pushed them in front of another hunter who shot over them and they quickly went over a ridge and disappeared. About 30 minutes later we glassed another group of about 30-40 animals that were being hunted by at least two other hunt groups. We decided to sit and watch what happens and try to keep track of the group after the other hunters take a shot. within a few minutes the shooting started and the majority of the Oryx took off together to higher ground. We watched one bull isolate himself in a place that we thought could give us an opportunity. While the other hunt groups were focused on the big herd going the other way, we knew the lone bull was our only play. We used the low ground of an adjacent arroyo to hike about a mile up to where we thought he was. We made a good guess and ended up just above his elevation. While still distracted by the bullet lobbing going on behind him the bull walked right to us.
He made a 140 yard shot on a 35.5" bull.
October 15th: Opening morning of a special Pronghorn doe tag donated to him by The New Mexico Wild Sheep Foundation and the Vermejo Park Ranch for getting a perfect score on his hunters safety exam.
He made a 204 yard shot on a beautiful old doe.
October 17th: Got braces.
October 23rd: Morning three of his New Mexico second rifle Elk tag.
We patterned this bull and his cows on morning two. We almost had him but we were a little late and the cows got nervy. The next morning we hiked in earlier and set up on his path a couple hundred yards from where we'd seen them the day before. We set up for a 150 yard downhill shot into a nice aspen meadow, but instead the cows and bull came in on the side of the hill to our 9 o'clock. He waited until the cows weren't looking and quickly repositioned his pack/rest and rifle and calmly waited for his moment.
He made a 60 yard shot on a very nice 6x5.
October 26th: Turned 15.
He's three for three on big game tags, and he's hooked for life.
