IdahoBugler
Well-known member
I'm not sure if everyone remembers the buck I found 2 years ago a dubbed Captain hook.
We'll I thought he had been shot since I never saw him last year but when my son and I went out on Sunday I found him. The weird thing is he seems a bit smaller then he was two years ago. All I can think of is in 2005 we had a very wet spring and this year is drier then hell out there.
Anyway I headed for a nearby water hole on opening day. I get setup well before light and about 7:30 here strolls in a doe. I'm thinking things are good because I have only seen one heard of antelope in this area for the last 3 years. She drinks and leaves. Notice her sticking her tongue at me.
About 15 minutes later 3 more does come in. Now I'm pumped because as I sit there I just had a feeling he was coming.
The 3 does leave and about 15 minutes later I catch movement on the hill again. 3 does and then......
Now I'm getting pumped I take a few pics and get ready for the shot. It takes him about 5 minutes to get to the water. I look out and see him at 10 yards running into the water hole. I draw and wait for him to start to drink. He walks up to within 1 yard of the water and bolts. I'm thinking what the hell. I letup and wait he's walking away now at 50 yards. I decide to snap some pics of him.
He walks around rubbing his horns and then starts back to the water. He gets about 40 yards away and stops and looks at the water.
This goes on for 25 minutes while I'm sitting there wondering if he is ever going to come in. I snap a few more pics. This buck is so skittish the does had no problem ran in and drank with no problem.
He finally makes a big loop and walks right becide my blind at 10 yards. He continues to the water and stops about a yard away from drinking. I think this is my chance I had already come to full draw. Lean over to clear the window and shoot. ***ZIP*** Skips of his back and he runs off and begins to laugh at me. I freaking can't believe it. I waited this long and blow my opportunity. He runs off and stops at 60 yards and starts warning bark at whatever just scared the crap out of him. I think about taking a shot but I pass. He walks up and over the hill. I follow them to see if he is gone but he goes over the hill with his does and starts eating and bedding down for the day. I'm thinking he has no clue what happened so I sit the rest of the day in the hot box 14 hours total and pout about what just happened.
I had plenty of time to think about what happened. All I know is that I should of shot him for 20 yards I guessed him for 25 and he also ducked the string. Rushing the shot didn't help me any either.
I have a few questions for you guys.
What do you think he will score?
How long are his horns?
Do you think he will come back to water? (This is the only water that I know of for a few miles.)
Have you guys ever blown a gimmy shot?
Also I get home thinking at least I have some great shots of these goats and I find out I had my camera setting on 1meg. Great shots turned into mediocre shots now.
We'll I thought he had been shot since I never saw him last year but when my son and I went out on Sunday I found him. The weird thing is he seems a bit smaller then he was two years ago. All I can think of is in 2005 we had a very wet spring and this year is drier then hell out there.
Anyway I headed for a nearby water hole on opening day. I get setup well before light and about 7:30 here strolls in a doe. I'm thinking things are good because I have only seen one heard of antelope in this area for the last 3 years. She drinks and leaves. Notice her sticking her tongue at me.
About 15 minutes later 3 more does come in. Now I'm pumped because as I sit there I just had a feeling he was coming.
The 3 does leave and about 15 minutes later I catch movement on the hill again. 3 does and then......
Now I'm getting pumped I take a few pics and get ready for the shot. It takes him about 5 minutes to get to the water. I look out and see him at 10 yards running into the water hole. I draw and wait for him to start to drink. He walks up to within 1 yard of the water and bolts. I'm thinking what the hell. I letup and wait he's walking away now at 50 yards. I decide to snap some pics of him.
He walks around rubbing his horns and then starts back to the water. He gets about 40 yards away and stops and looks at the water.
This goes on for 25 minutes while I'm sitting there wondering if he is ever going to come in. I snap a few more pics. This buck is so skittish the does had no problem ran in and drank with no problem.
He finally makes a big loop and walks right becide my blind at 10 yards. He continues to the water and stops about a yard away from drinking. I think this is my chance I had already come to full draw. Lean over to clear the window and shoot. ***ZIP*** Skips of his back and he runs off and begins to laugh at me. I freaking can't believe it. I waited this long and blow my opportunity. He runs off and stops at 60 yards and starts warning bark at whatever just scared the crap out of him. I think about taking a shot but I pass. He walks up and over the hill. I follow them to see if he is gone but he goes over the hill with his does and starts eating and bedding down for the day. I'm thinking he has no clue what happened so I sit the rest of the day in the hot box 14 hours total and pout about what just happened.
I had plenty of time to think about what happened. All I know is that I should of shot him for 20 yards I guessed him for 25 and he also ducked the string. Rushing the shot didn't help me any either.
I have a few questions for you guys.
What do you think he will score?
How long are his horns?
Do you think he will come back to water? (This is the only water that I know of for a few miles.)
Have you guys ever blown a gimmy shot?
Also I get home thinking at least I have some great shots of these goats and I find out I had my camera setting on 1meg. Great shots turned into mediocre shots now.
