Pretty excited to have drawn an archery antelope tag in NM, and especially first choice. Spent the day setting up the archery range in my spare lot, replacing targets and shooting.
Better get my shooting eye dialed in, as it was pretty fuzzy today. Wouldn't chance anything over 30 yards given today's performance.
Now pouring over maps, pics, notes, etc. Wish it was August.
Last year, after I shot my buck, I let Bugler and the camera guy sit in the sweltering blind, while I went and did some pre-scouting for 2010. I told Bryce that next year we will draw our first choice, trying not to laugh out loud as I made such a bold and ridiculous statement. And, that in preparation for such, I would go do some scouting and see what was available on public land.
Well, we did draw that first choice, and now knowing that, I went back through the pics I took on the public land of that unit and it got me to dreaming of the bucks we might see this year. I am thinking anything over 70" will have my arrow headed his direction, but Bugler is an accomplished antelope archer, so he is probably wanting to add a dozen inches to the standard I have set.
I think this one would meet his standard. Not sure how big he is, and with my crappy little camera, it is hard to tell. I watched for a long time with the spotting scope at not much over 100 yards. My penciled totals would put him well above the all-time B&C book minimum. But, my math might be bad, being a CPA and all. Tall, great mass above and below the prong, and prongs in that 6" range.
This one would get my attention, just due to the "cool factor." Too far away for a good pic with my camera, but he was very cool with the flared prongs, tall hook over the top, and long ivories.
This one needs one more year, which if he did not get shot in rifle season last year, will be a real lunker. We saw a guy shoot one that was this dude's twin brother, just about ten inches more of horn.
This guy was just a cool looking classic mid 70" buck that I would shoot in a heart beat. And if he is a year older, might get my heart beating too fast to be able to shoot him.
Better not post the pics of the biggest one I found, or some other tagholder will be looking for him. Gotta keep a few secrets.
Bugler and Loren in "hot pursuit" while Spitz and I watched from afar. I am not sure if we will film it for TV this year. If we do film, it might be for a web exclusive. Not sure how many guys would watch a full episode on this site, but am thinking about trying it, just to see the response.
I would trade my MT elk tag for a second NM archery antelope tag. And would probably throw in my MT deer tag. Too bad we can't make those kind of trades.
Better get my shooting eye dialed in, as it was pretty fuzzy today. Wouldn't chance anything over 30 yards given today's performance.
Now pouring over maps, pics, notes, etc. Wish it was August.
Last year, after I shot my buck, I let Bugler and the camera guy sit in the sweltering blind, while I went and did some pre-scouting for 2010. I told Bryce that next year we will draw our first choice, trying not to laugh out loud as I made such a bold and ridiculous statement. And, that in preparation for such, I would go do some scouting and see what was available on public land.
Well, we did draw that first choice, and now knowing that, I went back through the pics I took on the public land of that unit and it got me to dreaming of the bucks we might see this year. I am thinking anything over 70" will have my arrow headed his direction, but Bugler is an accomplished antelope archer, so he is probably wanting to add a dozen inches to the standard I have set.
I think this one would meet his standard. Not sure how big he is, and with my crappy little camera, it is hard to tell. I watched for a long time with the spotting scope at not much over 100 yards. My penciled totals would put him well above the all-time B&C book minimum. But, my math might be bad, being a CPA and all. Tall, great mass above and below the prong, and prongs in that 6" range.
This one would get my attention, just due to the "cool factor." Too far away for a good pic with my camera, but he was very cool with the flared prongs, tall hook over the top, and long ivories.
This one needs one more year, which if he did not get shot in rifle season last year, will be a real lunker. We saw a guy shoot one that was this dude's twin brother, just about ten inches more of horn.
This guy was just a cool looking classic mid 70" buck that I would shoot in a heart beat. And if he is a year older, might get my heart beating too fast to be able to shoot him.
Better not post the pics of the biggest one I found, or some other tagholder will be looking for him. Gotta keep a few secrets.
Bugler and Loren in "hot pursuit" while Spitz and I watched from afar. I am not sure if we will film it for TV this year. If we do film, it might be for a web exclusive. Not sure how many guys would watch a full episode on this site, but am thinking about trying it, just to see the response.
I would trade my MT elk tag for a second NM archery antelope tag. And would probably throw in my MT deer tag. Too bad we can't make those kind of trades.
