I just got back from NM on Monday from a great hunt.
I was hunting public land in northern NM in a muzzleloader unit. This is the 2nd year i drew it and what i learned last year paid off. On saturday morning I attempted a stalk on a 15+ antelope first thing in the AM and got within 300 yards and blew him out. I needed to get within 200 yards in order to make a shot with my muzzleloader.
shortly thereafter i spotted a group of 30 goats about 3/4 of a mile away and i could tell there was a heavy buck inthe group. My investment in quality optics in the off season really paid off.
in this area there is not enuf cover to camoflauge your ankles but there are some slight depressions and hills. I decided that i would try to get within a 1/4 of a mile and see if i could not intercept them. Last year it seemed the hunters really got the antelope moving after the first morning.
At about 1/3 of a mile away, i glassed up a buck running in the distance. I hurried to get myself in what i thought would be a crash course with me. I ended up on a slight hill and I laid down. He eventually disapeared in a draw and i knew if he came up on my right i would have a shot if he went left i would not be able to see him.
there were about 5 minutes of really questioning my decision and then he materialized from the depression. At about 125 yards out he hesitated and i put that 250 grain pill thru both lungs. He ran about 30 yards and collapsed. I reloaded my muzzleloader and hurried over there.. Dead as could be. I discharged the weapon into the ground and admired that beautiful mature buck.
He was quite old in fact i was able to easily pull one of his molars out with my fingers. I figure this was really his last good year.
Don, another CA hunter i had met last year is an official scorer and green scored him about 78 and change. He is longer than the one i got last year in WY but did not quite have the mass and did not score as well. I ran across Don, carrying a wonderful mature buck down the mountain on his pack frame. These were the only 2 bucks i saw taken and the 2 CA guys got them ( I am sure others were taken). Don last year shot 3 Boone and Crockett bucks. 1 in this same unit, 1 in WY and i forget where he got the other one.
That afternoon, my sons and I went out and just glassed antelope. We saw about 30-40 here and there and it was a blast checking them out.
This hunt was very memorable because my family came with me and i was able to share it with them. What a great way to start this years hunting season. I got some great pics. if me and my son can figure out how to post them we will.
Paul
I was hunting public land in northern NM in a muzzleloader unit. This is the 2nd year i drew it and what i learned last year paid off. On saturday morning I attempted a stalk on a 15+ antelope first thing in the AM and got within 300 yards and blew him out. I needed to get within 200 yards in order to make a shot with my muzzleloader.
shortly thereafter i spotted a group of 30 goats about 3/4 of a mile away and i could tell there was a heavy buck inthe group. My investment in quality optics in the off season really paid off.
in this area there is not enuf cover to camoflauge your ankles but there are some slight depressions and hills. I decided that i would try to get within a 1/4 of a mile and see if i could not intercept them. Last year it seemed the hunters really got the antelope moving after the first morning.
At about 1/3 of a mile away, i glassed up a buck running in the distance. I hurried to get myself in what i thought would be a crash course with me. I ended up on a slight hill and I laid down. He eventually disapeared in a draw and i knew if he came up on my right i would have a shot if he went left i would not be able to see him.
there were about 5 minutes of really questioning my decision and then he materialized from the depression. At about 125 yards out he hesitated and i put that 250 grain pill thru both lungs. He ran about 30 yards and collapsed. I reloaded my muzzleloader and hurried over there.. Dead as could be. I discharged the weapon into the ground and admired that beautiful mature buck.
He was quite old in fact i was able to easily pull one of his molars out with my fingers. I figure this was really his last good year.
Don, another CA hunter i had met last year is an official scorer and green scored him about 78 and change. He is longer than the one i got last year in WY but did not quite have the mass and did not score as well. I ran across Don, carrying a wonderful mature buck down the mountain on his pack frame. These were the only 2 bucks i saw taken and the 2 CA guys got them ( I am sure others were taken). Don last year shot 3 Boone and Crockett bucks. 1 in this same unit, 1 in WY and i forget where he got the other one.
That afternoon, my sons and I went out and just glassed antelope. We saw about 30-40 here and there and it was a blast checking them out.
This hunt was very memorable because my family came with me and i was able to share it with them. What a great way to start this years hunting season. I got some great pics. if me and my son can figure out how to post them we will.
Paul
