It was spent at about the 7,500 foot level of the sagebrush flats and hills of western Wyoming, not more than 50 miles from where I was born and raised. It is always a treat for me to return to and spend time in Wyoming.
A good friend of mine, who knew and understood how much I love Wyoming, once gave me a belt buck that read--" WYOMING IS, WHAT AMERICA WAS! And still to this day, in places similar to where we hunted, that saying is true.
I've taken my son bowhunting with me since he was just a pup kid. It's been a great journey for both of us, and this was just another great chapter. It held all the anticipation, excitement, and disappointments to which we have become accustomed.
I'll start it with a photo from our very first antelope hunt, sometime in the mid eighties.
Please save any and all questions until I finished this episode, and then I will be happy to answer them.
I hope some of you find this enjoyable and realize the great importance of taking you're kids hunting with you while they are very young, as both Cody and I can tell you, the time passes oh too fast.
I hope you all have as great of bowhunt as we had. BB
As many of you know, I like to waterhole antelope from a blind. It allows a close encounter, with a sharp eyed critter and allows me to do one of my very great loves, photography. The photo with this post is the ground blind where I spent much of my time this year hunting antelope.
We drove to the north end and found out immediately that hopes and dreams of hunting that area would not happen during the balance of this year, as there was water everywhere and the antelope were spread thin, wide and far. So with a loss of almost half a day, we headed for the blind we call Thistle.
It knew going in now that it was going to be a tough hunt with few antelope, but hopefully the rut would help us. Time would tell.
We nicked named the blind after the abundant thistle that surrounds it. I took the photo with this post from the blind during this last hunt. It's some kind of moth doing its thing.
We saw this guy on more than one occasion, and he seemed to always be monogamous.
Most of the bucks we were seeing were small in size and horn.
I love you!
Cody Allard
PS I hope some bowhunting magazine will take the oppertunity to print Cody's tribute to his dad.
It's best all you guys know my son couldn't beat me in golf, but knew what a carpy hunter I was, so he took up bowhunting so he could whip me in something!
Thanks Cody, you were always my shadow as a young kid and now I hope I can be yours. I can not imagine many fathers and sons have a better relationship than do we. I will always be there when you need me, except when you get your moose down. Then you are to call Jeff!
I love and respect you too, and this past week was a pleasure beyond words, watching you, listening to you and learing from you. Thanks for being such a great son.-----Now go learn how to golf.
Now back to our adventure.
Cody and I would be in the blind long before light. Early one morning, before I could barley see the critters on the bank, I saw this reflection in the water, so grabbed my camera and shot this photo.
Soon he picked out two more coyotes and we watched the trio work the far ridge before disappearing in a silhouetting manner, just as the sun began to rise.
About mid morning Cody noticed another coyote making its way off the distant ridge. We both watched as it hunted toward us. It would disappear in the tall brush then reappear as it got closer and closer.
We both felt it was coming to water and so Cody got an arrow nocked, as I started to snap a few photos. But after closing the distance to about 30 yards, we could see the dog was going to skirt us as he hunted his way west. Cody gave him plenty of time to change his mind and come in but when it was apparent he was just going to bypass us, he pulled, aimed and sent an arrow on its way. The arrow flew perfect, in a great line, but right over its back. I watched it hit and take a long bounce and the coyote put it in gear and was gone.
Here are the photos of the coyote I took that morning.
The day we arrived, we had driven farther south to a place we had hoped to place a double bull blind, but there were other hunters there sitting in pop up blinds so we had both been spending most of our time together in our blind.
Cody had noticed a very nice heart shaped buck he had spotted the day we arrived, not more than a mile from our waterhole and had his hopes pretty much set on that buck. He was heavy, high, had great prongs, and curled back over his head almost to the point of touching in the middle. But he never once had paid us a visit.
Here's a photo of that buck and some other antelope I saw as I hunted outside of the blind.
On Friday morning I noticed movement on the distant hill above us. I picked up my glasses to see another coyote heading our way. As we watched, we both felt like this one was coming to water. Cody again got ready as I began to take a few photos.
There just so happened to be a crow not too far in front of us and the coyote noticed that, and the crow noticed the coyote.
Here's a photo of Mr. Wiley as he approached.
He turned and headed in at about 25 yards. He definitely was coming and I was going to witness my son get his first coyote. He was ready and so was the wind, as it shifted and in a flash, the dog was gone, as was Cody's chance of getting that coyote.
But that's bowhunting and that's what makes bowhunting so great. Had he chosen to rifle hunt, that coyote would have never made it as far as it did, and thus he lived another day and succeeded at delaying one of Cody's life long goals, that of taking a coyote with his bow!
Keep hunting Cody and one day, when you least expect it, it will finally happen.
Here's a photo of Jeff's very first antelope.
Mean while back at the blind and not too long after Cody had departed, I looked up to see another coyote passing by. This one stayed a safe distance from the blind and disappeared into some high brush, never to be seen again.
Here's a photo I snapped of him just before he vanished.
We bid each other ado’s and headed for our blinds. It was still very dark when we arrived.
It wasn't long after first light that a very nice buck walked right past the waterhole on the far side, without missing a step. In no time he was gone. It was the first time Vicki had been that close to a wild critter and she enjoyed it very much.
We sat and whispered about life and marriage and past times, as quite a bit of time passed. It was now very light, and I spotted an antelope heading our way. We watched as he got closer and closer. I began to photograph and Vicki watched in awe.
Here are a couple photos from that event. This photo was taken at 7:26 AM, so still very early and low light. But he put on a great show for us before watering.
Like in life itself, sometimes being blessed with a large rack, is nothing more than curse in disguise.
Jeff related that a very nice buck came in to Cody, but he had his eye on a much larger buck that was only 100 yards away, so he passed on that buck and waited for the bigger one who subsequently was scared by rifle road hunters.
I spent a very slow day at the blind, by myself. Our time was getting very short and our chances very slim.
Here's Ole Monogamist as he's heading our way.
So Cody, Jeff and Vicki would spot antelope and tried to decoy and or stalk them. Cody ended up getting a couple shots at the heart buck he wanted so much, but his first arrow undershot the buck and the second, which had perfect height, got there too late, as the buck decided to move just as he released.
Meanwhile back at Thistle, I had this little buck pay me a visit at 6:13 pm. Time was running out, as was our hopes of taking two great bucks during the rut.
It was a great hunt, I got some fair photos, and I got to spend time with my son and some good friends. Three of the party of five had already filled their tags, so we had no regrets. In my heart I had wished Cody could have filled his tag, but everything we want in life is not always fulfilled. And when one chooses to hunt with a bow, during the rifle hunt, he has to be willing to accept the consequences. We already knew and accepted that going in!
I climbed out of the blind and headed back to camp.
We devised a plan where Cody and I would go to blind early like we always do. Jeff would get up at daylight and dog the area around the blind trying to get antelope off the steep slope just west of us and hopefully up on the flat we were hunting. Perhaps then they might water there, rather than in the dry creek bed pot holes, left over by a recent storm.
Here’s a photo of that rim and some lopes I tried to get to Cody. It was unsuccessful that day.
The lead buck was weaving and swerving, trying to get away, and the bigger buck was right on his tail. We watched the dust storm and the antelope head east a far distance, until finally the bigger buck pulled off and headed back our way. He was heading right for the water hole, but just at the last moment trotted by, mouth open, tongue hanging out, and saliva dripping.
Just before that happened, when he was still heading towards us Cody told me he would shoot that buck if it gave him a chance. It didn’t. I didn’t take any photos as I didn’t want to screw anything up at this late in the game.
Quite sometime had passed and we had not seen another antelope. We were talking about how great our hunt had been and all that we learned and much of what we needed to do next time. Although it was still late morning, the sun was starting to set on this years antelope hunt, as we needed to think about letting Jeff and Vicki get back to their kids and us getting home to the matters that awaited.
I wished I had a photo to put with this post, but none seemed right.
He had three very nervous does. They wanted to water, but they were wired. They were as wired as any antelope we had seen. They would approach within 30 yards, and then turn and move away. They continued this for a very long time and it seemed like they got more nervous with every attempt.
I kept range finding the buck, but he was still 50 yards away and with his does being so nervous we never even considered a shot.. Finally as time past, I picked up my very quite camera. (Panasonic FZ-50) and shot a few photos of the buck. He was high but lacked on the prongs. He was heavy in a very different way. His horns were more fat like your wrist than wide like you hand laid flat. It was noticeable that he had broomed his prongs.
It was now 10:36 am. Here's how he looked to us at that time.
Cody kept saying they are not going to water. It was not only a nervous time for the antelope, buck excluded, but for us too. Then finally one of the does, very sheepishly approached the water. Soon all the does were drinking and the buck walked in and started to drink too.
Here's another of his rutting rituals just prior to me putting the camera down during this very tense time.
But wait one moment. Things in bowhunting don't always go as expected. The buck did not raise his head, but continued to water for what seemed like an eternity. Cody shoots almost 80 lbs. and I could see it was starting to take its toll. I very softly whispered to him and ask if he wanted me do the-tat-tat-tat-tat that would get the buck to raise his head, but he did not answer, so I remained quite. Finally, the buck no more than raised his head when Cody’s arrow hit home. The buck whirled and even with these old eyes, I could see the blood spraying from the neck of the buck.
The does took off to the east and when they tried to head south, he gained on them and headed them back east. At about 175-200 yards, he started to falter, but when he saw his does heading back south, he put on the after burners, caught up with then and herded them back east. It was not until the does climbed the steep hill that he finally gave up and went down. He rutted to the very end and never gave up until the moment life left his body.
I shook Cody’s hand on a job well done. He had given himself every chance at getting a great buck, and although that didn’t happen, we both realized, after what happened in those last seconds, he indeed DID kill a GREAT buck.
The photo with this post is not pretty, but there is a reason I post it. It just gives you a little idea of what we had to work with.
As many of you know I have learned by the school of hard knocks, the importance of trying to take good photos, as they last a lifetime.
After the chase we had watched earlier that morning, from this very same buck, and after witnessing his death run and the working of his instincts, he deserves to be remembered in a much better way. Hopefully, with a little work, we were able to accomplish that.
We owe that to the critter we are trying to remember and to those who view them. Don’t get me wrong, as a bit of blood can be okay in a photo, but one like this is best left un-photographed, unless you are willing to clean them up first.
Here's how it can look if you take a few minutes before photos to clean it up.
I couldn't understand why it was so important for the buck to raise his head. I do now! That's a nice buck by my standards. Congrats to Cody.
I am completely amazed at how well you were able to clean that buck up for the photos! I never imagined that one could do that in the field. It is a wonderful example of your respect for the animal. Thanks for taking us along for the ride! In addition to being a wonderful photographer, you are an awesome storyteller and an inspiration to us all. I can only hope that I will get to be as much a part of my son's life as you are of your son's life. My hat is off to you both!
I'm now going to take a break and you can feel free to ask any questions you might have.
I want to congratulate Cody on holding out to the last minute and a big thanks to Jeff and his wife Vicki. Jeff built most of the blind we used and did most of the work in getting it installed. Vicki on the other hand took care of two small kids and allowed Jeff to chase his dreams. For those of us who have raised kids, we understand Vicki contributed more than the rest of put together.
Thanks to all of them. The whole ordeal, from putting in the blinds to the very last day was a great experience and one I will remember forever.
Have a great bowhunt. BB
Chad
Now on with the rest of the hunt!
That morning Cody had taken our sharpening stone to the blind, as he wanted to sharpen a few snuffers that were in his quiver. It so happened that when he got his antelope the decision was made to take it back to camp and work it over to give me a few more minutes of hunting before we had to return home. Not long after they left I noticed the sharpening steel was still in the blind. I climbed out of the blind and tried to call but got no service, so I got back in the blind.
It wasn’t long before I could see antelope coming in the far distance. My glasses revealed three does and what looked like a fair buck. Off the hill they came and to my surprise, once they hit the blood trial of Cody’s buck, they headed right for where he expired. I had witnessed this on elk before, but to see antelope who rarely use their nose when compared to their eyes, it came as quite a shock.
Here’s a photo I took of the antelope smelling and investigating Cody bucks death bed. In red I have drawn the approximate death run of Cody's antelope.
Are these three does the does of Codh's buck?
At this same time I glassed the buck and decided this late in the game, that I would take this buck if he gave me a good shot. It was at that time I pulled my first arrow, screwed the snuffer off, got the steel Cody left, and sharpened that broadhead as best I know how. It was already sharp, so it only took a few strokes to make it super sharp. That's another thing I love about snuffers.
I screwed it back on the arrow, quivered the arrow, set my bow down and picked up my camera. Here's one of last photos I took as they approached the waterhole.
I intended to let the buck water for about 15 seconds, much like Cody did, but once I pulled my bow, I was going to do the -tat-tat-tat-trick, but being the klutz I am, I hit the top of the blind when I pulled my bow and the buck instantly raised his head and looked right at me. By that time it was too late.
The snuffer entered his neck and exited in his opposite arm pit, it had past right over the top of his heart. His death run was perhaps 2 to 3 seconds in time and perhaps 40 yards in length. He reared up and fell over backwards dead.
As I have always told everyone I hunt with, and especially those that get down when things don’t go right, -----it all can turn on a dime! It certainly did last Sunday for Cody and me.
We didn’t get the bucks that we had hoped for, but we had about as fun of time as anyone could ever have on a hunt.
I will post some more pictures later, as my wife needs the computer and the dogs need thieir nightly walk.
If you think Cody’s buck was bloody, wait till you see mine and what we were able to do with it in just a few minutes.
Here's the next photo I took before exiting the blind and calling the troops and telling them I had just killed a buck.
I hope you enjoyed this just 1 percent of what we did and if that be the case, my time posting this was well spent.
Have a great bowhunt. BB
Photoshop and similar programs are wonderful for certain things, but be advised they can not do in hours or quality, what can done in the field in just a few minutes, with a little water, paper towels, a pair of shorts, or a t-shirt.
Once you have the animal cleaned-up, you have every single photo cleaned up. With Photoshop and the like, you have to do every single photo if you fail to do it in the field.
As far as getting photos with my buck, I got dealt a pretty bad hand. That's the down side of snuffers. They are a quick kill’s best friend, but a photographer’s worst enemy.
Here’s the hand I was dealt and you will see what we did with it, and I will explain how we did it. And keep in mind, an antelope is one of the hardest critters to clean up when bloody!
First we got some water----the more the better, but if you don't have a lot, then just be wise with its use. We had the waterhole near by so that part was made easy. We also had an old T shirt and some paper towels.
I cut up some pieces of the T shirt and after pouring water into the mouth and nose to get the excess blood off it, I stuck a cloth pack up both nostrils and a big one in the mouth. You do this so blood does not continue to run out as you move the animal for different poses. You then pour more water and clean off the blood and towel dry as much as possible with either paper towels or some cloth. It is amazing how well this works and how little time it takes. To be totally honest with you I could have cleaned up my antelope in far less time than I could have just Photo shopped the blood off its mouth.
We are now ready to take some photos.
Here’s the first photo that Jeff took of me and my buck. Isn’t it amazing what can be done with very little effort and in a short period of time?
Here's the same critter with about 10 minutes of cleaning. What do you think? Was it worth the time it took? You be the judge next time this happens to you!
Matt
Remember it is not a matter of time, but one of personal pride and respect towards the critter and those that will be viewing it. If you care enough to want a good photo, its pretty simple. If you lack interest in that aspect, then just your work will clearly illustrate that!
Again, it was a great time and will be a lifelong memory.
Have a great bowhunt. BB
Thanks for the stories, photos and lessons!
Elmer
You've made your point well- the animal looks pristine in the last two photos.
My son is now 14 and bowhunts with me as much as he can with school and everything. He took a deer last year with me right behind him, and he was with me this year as I shot a little buck- hard to beat those experiences- it's nice to look at your threads like this and see what the future may hold for us (not that I'll ever learn to hunt as well as you guys). Besides the 14 year old, I have a young daughter and a toddler son- both aching to get out in the field- I hope I'm in for as good of a ride as you've experienced. Congratulations.
Thanks for sharing!!
I forgot to mention a few things!
#1, that picture of you and Cody to start the thread is priceless! You should write a book with all your incredible photo's and have that be the cover photo.
#2, I love that picture with the thistle and the bug. One of my favorites for sure!
And finally #3, you guy's "settled" on some pretty nice goats! I hope you are proud! Thanks again for sharing!
Chad
The reason I posted that photo was in the hope that a few bowhunter’s would realize its far more important to be with your young kids and showing them the outdoors, than it is to be taking a trophy.
Cody had just turned either four or five years old when that photo was taken. That little trooper sat almost a week with me in an open topped, dirt blind, from daylight till dark. In those days I was just trying to figure out the blind thing and I did a mighty poor job. We saw lots of bucks in the first few days but because of the poor blind I built, I could not get a shot without the bucks seeing me.
Finally the waterhole went dried-up and I had to go to the area of the picture and one night he sat there, tired as heck, until I finished the blind late in the night.
Early the next morning the buck above came off the hill above us, and headed for the water. Cody looked up and saw it and told me that a nice buck was coming. I told him it really wasn't that nice. His answer to that statement was something like this.
"Well Dad, I think he's nice and I would like you to shoot him, but it's your decision!"
When he said that, I looked at a pup kid who had spent the best part of 7 days in a blind and never once cried or complained, and who I knew missed his Mom and was ready to go home and so I said to him, "Cody, if that buck comes in and gives me a shoot, then I will shoot him.
It's very important for parents to realize you have to give up some things to take kids out hunting when they are small, but the rewards are 10 fold.
That photo was taken over 20 years ago. It seems impossible to me that many years have passed so quickly. Both Cody and I realize it’s a fast moving train, and you will get ONE shot at making it right and I hope some of you realize this and take your kids with you while they are still very young. You will pay a very small price, for a great reward!
Have a great bowhunt. BB
Here' a little break down on the two.
The Panasonic is much smaller, lighter, quieter and far less expensive. It takes very nice photos for the price.
The Olympus is a professionals model that takes just great photos, but at a big price. It's heavy, noisy, and the dust is a killer on it when you have to change lenses.
For most people wanting to get into this, I would suggest the Panasonic FZ-28. They are way easier to use and most will have far less problems.
Photography is a hobby to me that has come in just the past 5 or 6 years. I love taking wildlife photos. It means about as much to me now as does my bowhunting. Together they make about as good of sandwich as is possible.
I will be glad to help anyone who has a similar interest.
For most of the time I have bow hunted, I have been driven by my lust to kill. That is a necessary and important element if one wants to be a decent bowhunter. But in the last 10 years I feel myself changing. The kill, although important to me, is not paramount as it once was. The past 4 or 5 years, I required myself to first take a live photo of a critter, before I arrow him. It’s a huge challenge, much like putting down a gun and going only with a bow. But its been the most enjoyable part of my bowhunting experience, and I have been bowhunting for almost 50 years.
Well I am going to run up on the Wasatch Front for an afternoon's deer and elk hunt.
Have a great bowhunt. BB
Dan I really thought I would draw my Bookcliffs deer tag this past year, but I didn't. I should be a lock for that next year. I also need to use my Colorado elk points before I get too old to hunt them. And then there's my Colorado deer and antelope too. And lets not forget I have max points in deer and elk in Wyoming and could draw a Utah goat permit before too many years. So I have some hard decisions ahead of me, but what you said would be fun if it could work out.
This isn't the best photo, as I just did it to show others what can be done. I know lots of guys like photos like this and thus I did it just to show how easy and simple it is in hopes a few will get the message.
Have a great bowhunt. BB
P. S. Notice I didn't do a very good job of getting the grass away from the bucks mouth. When doing this one needs to pay very CLOSE attetion to the DETAILS!
Many years ago, when Cody was still a pup kid, but getting close to the age he could hunt, I enrolled both of us in a bowhunter education class, taught by a guy named Fred Pola. Fred was is a tireless worker and did as much for bowhunter education in the state of Utah, as has anybody. Thanks Fred for all your efforts.
I had bow hunted for many years and the main reason I took the class was for Cody. I felt it best for him, so I just went along for the ride. Little did I know the revelation that laid in store for us. I, like many of you, had been taught to shoot a critter just behind the front leg.
That class, taught by Mr Pola really opened my eyes on how and where to shoot a critter. Besides the snuffer, it has done more for my bowhunting success than any other thing. Thanks Fred you helped me, and Cody, and consequently many other bow hunters, by opening our eyes to the true knowledge of how a critter is put together.
Since taking that class, so many years ago, both Cody and I have been able to watch, a good percentage of the critters we shoot, go down in sight. And I owe all that to Fred, for opening our eyes to the truth and not the myth of "shoot behind the shoulder" .
So with that background I post the picture above, for those tuned into this thread. This is not an artist's rendition, but the exact antelope I shot and the vitals that are overlaid upon his photo are the exact vitals that were breathing and sustaining his life, when he stood for this very photo.
After I killed my buck, Jeff, Cody and I took the time, as we were boning him out, to take these photographs for this very purpose. I left everything attached, just like God put it together, to make sure everything was in its proper place. We just cut along the leg bones and cut back the ribs so those of you, who don't understand, can see why I advocate shooting straight up the front leg, on a broadside shot like this.
Look it over very close and feel free to ask any questions. Once you really understand, I think you too will move your aiming point farther forward, as both Cody and I did after Fred's class.
Thanks Mr. Pola!
Have a great bowhunt. BB
Again thanks Mr Pola for that information. I will always be indebted to you from what I learned from your class and promise to always try to enlighten those that will listen.
Have a great bowhunt BB
Great story and photos, thank you for sharing. Very generous of you to take the time to teach others your tips on sharpening BH's, etc.
Here's hoping that the good you do comes back to you.
BS'er
Great info, pics as usual and most important great parenting advice.
Thanks for taking the time to share with us.
Dan
This photo is my 24 year old son's first bull on his first time elk hunt and first time to the West. We had a great time! We were short on water and did clean the bull up as best we could with what we had......
Thanks again for sharing....
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