I've been bowhunting for 50 years now and it's been quite a ride. I love bowhunting and bow hunters and the critters we all chase. I hope we all take care of this great endeavor so it will be around to pass on to our children and grandchildren. Always try to keep in mind that bowhunting is far more important than any one of us or any critter we choose to chase. Keep your shots close and do the best you can to represent what bowhunting is really all about!
In 50 years I've taken a lot of critters. In the early years I failed to take any photos, then a few in the garage, then some terrible ones in the field, and as time went by I tried to learn the importance of taking good field photos. I hope all you learn much faster than I did as you can never go back and recapture that special event.
Here are few photos of the last of each species of critter I have taken with a bow. They are not my best photos or my best critters, but merely the last critter taken with my bow of that particular specie.
Here's a buffalo I took on the Henry's in 1981.
I have been fortunate to draw three once in a lifetime permits and here's a Rocky ram I took in 1993 on the Rattlesnake unit here in Utah. In 2004 I drew a Desert sheep tag and choose to hunt it with my bow but failed to fill my tag. I could have taken no less than 5 rams in the 160 class with a rifle, but I choose to stay true with my bow. I have not the slighest regret.
I used to shoot a skunk each year and take the scent out and wear it in a scent vent. In those days I killed a coyote quite often, but since I quit wearing it I have never taken another coyote. I have had a few chances out of blinds, but chose instead to just take their photo.
I bear hunt every year and love it, but seldom shoot a bear anymore. Here's the last one I took on the 10th day of Sept at a waterhole in Colorado in 2001. It was the very first night I sat that waterhole and later in that hunt I took a bull elk from the same stand and same waterhole.
I love hunting elk with my bow and have done so every single year since 1969. Here's a Colorado bull taken in an over the counter area. My hunting partner also took a bull that same year. I have a tag in Unit 61 this fall so if any of you have hunted there and would like to share some information I could probably return the favor on moose, deer, sheep, bear or some other critter.
I took this buck on the Wasatch Front on the Monday after the opening Saturday.
I always apply for a lot of tags and over all I have been very lucky in drawing some of those tags. In 2007 I drew my 5th Wyoming moose tag with only 3 points. I hunted hard for much of the archery hunt and a good portion of the rifle hunt and never saw one really nice bull. I ended up taking this bull on the last day of he rilfe hunt, the smallest of my Wyoming moose.
Last year I drew a Wyoming antelope tag and waited until late in the rifle hunt and ended up taking this buck on the last afternoon I could hunt. I've been pretty lucky in getting critters on the last day. Sometimes!
Although aging has taken a big toll on my eyes, my hearing, my legs, my wind etc. it has yet to effect my fire for bowhunting. It's still out of control!
Have a good one. BB
