15 was a special year for a number of reasons. Some good, some bad. We were blessed in the draw this year with a number of tags. It started with a Barbary tag, we chased a giant ram but he crossed into private and we never turned him up again. My boys got me out fishing quite a bit.
Finally fall! Started with a bear hunt on the Philmont Ranch with a good friend. With all the rain this year the bears were really spread out. After 3 days we caught up with this guy.
Kinda ratty with that summer hair but a good bear none the less. Next was my antelope hunt. Took me 23 years to draw a tag, my third choice, slotted on a ranch in the NE near Des Moines. Lots of goats, just nothing real big. Fun hunt...
Next was my elk hunt. I used up all my luck on this hunt. I was on my way to kill this bull
And my good buddy told me to lay off the gun because there was a bigger bull walking to this bull. So I did and boy was I glad I did...
I am very blessed to have taken such a special animal. He officially scored 414 6/8 gross, 400 2/8 net non-typ. Next was an equally special hunt for me and my son. We both drew the middle rifle hunt in 2B. His first deer hunt in NM. Needless to say we were not trophy hunting, we just wanted to give him a good opportunity at a legal buck. I had found a couple of small bucks for him to hunt first morning but the fog had different plans
Had to carve a pumpkin for Halloween
Next morning a baby buck was the victim! He was so excited, he made a great shot. We found out the hard way that he was way allergic to deer dander!! Poor guy swelled up so bad, I was nervous, so I gutted his buck quickly and took him to urgent care in Farmington.
After a steroid shot, we were back up the mountain. That evening he stayed at camp with my dad, I could have shot a 150ish buck but I wanted him with me so I passed. Next morning he was still a little sickly so we decided to hunt the morning and pack up. He was my guide, found my little buck, ranged him for me, set up my sticks and videoed, I gave this little guy every opportunity to live...
Totally worth it! He was so proud that he guided me, and that we both shot bucks. Next we went to Canada for Moose and Whitetail with a couple of good friends.
Some of these mixed in
Next was our annual trip to Texas. Got rained out, 6 inches while we were there, river came up so high we couldn't access most of the ranch, but we managed to fill the freezers
My youngest boys first deer
My oldest boys first whitetail buck
Finished up with a couple of cows for some good friends
What a year! Cant wait to see what 16 brings...