I would like to thank each and everyone of you who participated or tried to participate in this event. It lasted for 7 years and I gained a lot of good friends and had so much fun and so much satisfaction from doing it.
Sadly it was torpedoed by a fellow Bowsiter and by mother time on my body. All good things must come to an end, and it was a good time for me. There were so many laughs and fun memories and so many good friendships formed, that would have never happened and for all that I am very thankful and will enjoy and remember these the rest of my time.
I gave Jeff and Kolton three of my remaining blinds and my son Cody the two remaining. One was stolen, a couple vandalized, but most made it out in fair shape.
I learned a ton hunting from the blinds and even more photographing from them. I hope those that came learned a bit too. But mostly I learned what great people most of the Bowsiters really are. The satisfaction I received by doing this and seeing the joy on so many faces, made all the sacrifices and costs so worthwhile.
A special thanks to Jeff and Kolton who were always there to help me when it came time to install the blinds. And to Jeff who would always try to be there and help during their construction. Not many folks can have better friends, I do know that.
During all those years, inspite of wind, rain, snow, and bowsiter interference, every single person, who came on this hunt was able to fill their tag.
So to all my friends who joined me I say thanks and good luck and I hope our paths can cross again down the line sometime and some place.
Have a great bow hunt. BB
I am terribly sorry that this had to end. Such is life. I would have loved to hunt pronghorn with you but it is not meant to be I guess. Your contributions are well noted and never forgotten. Thanks for all the advice, photos, and encouragement over the years!
Nick
what happened and who would interfere with such a wonderful activity.
I had a great bowhunt BB!
Good luck, Robb
Thanks for all you do every day! Many of us have benefited from your wisdom on Bowsite and also while in camp! C
Made us feel like we were right there in the "hot boxes in the sage" sweating with you!
And oh yeah, keep YOUR PICS rolling!
You my friend are a great inspiration to the rest of us!
Thanks for being "a real American!"
Mark
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to meet you face to face and shake your hand, but you helped me out a ton to get my first antelope.
Sad that someone you were helping had to ruin it for any future hunters. Glad to hear that everyone tagged out to close out this fantastic gift you have provided for so many.
Here's my antelope that came from your generosity and this fantastic opportunity!
It was a fantastic opportunity and memories that I will never forget!
Thanks for the rides.
And X3 bou'bound? Maybe someone else could enlighten us?
Even if the annual BB pronghorn hunt has ended, please keep posting photos and useful tidbits!
Carl
You are the "class of the field" & we will still look forward to your awesome pics as well as your thoughts & opinions.
Hoping that you have MANY great bow hunts, BB!
I have and will fallow your posts and hope you will continue to contribute to BS. I really appreciate the effort it takes.
sorry to see the end of the pronghorn hunt but it has been a bright spot for me to come along on the hunts with you via Bowsite.
Hope all is well and thanks again!!!
Rick M
elkmtngear's Link
I'll be continuing to follow your amazing images on FB, and here when you feel like sharing.
Best Wishes, Jeff
The ship was not torpedoed by anyone who came out and participated on the Bowsite hunt, but rather by an individual bowsiter who read my many threads and communicated by PM and on the multiple threads and photo threads I posted.
Early on he ask me lots of questions on antelope and antelope hunting. As I recall he was from the midwest. Then he moved to Wyoming and ended up living very near the area in which I hunt. His interest seemed to be much like mine and so I shared quite a bit with him over the years.
Once a resident, he began applying for a pronghorn permit and began scouting the area. He recognized my blinds from the photos I posted and would contact me. He left several notes in my blinds and offered for me to keep my blinds at his place and even offered to help me put them in.
Then one year he drew a permit and the tide turned. He basically ask me not put in one of the blinds, where he had sat and saw how many antelope were watering. He went on to say I had tied up every single good waterhole in the unit. (Most years I had four blinds in and one year six.) I told him he was welcome to sit my blinds, and particularly the location he felt was so good, if he would just give us the first 10 days and he could have it the rest of the season. And to be honest with you, it just seemed to getter better the closer to the rut it got, so I was really offering him the best time to hunt. But with little or no antelope experience he could not understand that.
The area I hunt is a checkerboard area of private and public land. It so happened the location he wanted sat on the private section and an organization of cattle and sheepmen have the grazing rights to that area. It also happened that his neighbor headed that organization and long story short he went to him and told him he wanted to hunt it and I was sent registered letter that gave me 10 days to remove my blinds from the private sections in that unit.
So I made a trip up and went through the work and expense and took down the blinds in question.
Now he had a place to hunt!
But being inexperienced and not understanding what the Wyoming winds and cattle can do to piece of S blinds, he found out it wasn't quiet as easy as he thought, even though he had a great water hole to hunt.
He ended up not even being able to hunt as he didn't have a blind that would hold up and I think the Lord placed a few other problems in his life. But I have always said "what comes around goes around", and I think that happened in his case.
I have always let a lot of people hunt my blinds besides the Bowsiters and there were many bucks taken from them besides the ones the Bowsiters took. So it ended up that he not only shot his self in the foot, but many of you and many others that live and hunt in that area.
Just about a month ago I did receive, in the mail, a letter of apology from him. So to his credit I think he knows he made a mistake and realizes he would have been much better taking my offer to hunt a bit later than the opening. Since this time he has once again moved to a different state.
I haven't made the time to reply to his letter of apology but will when things slow down a bit.
I will say this, there are many very good waterholes in that area that never have had a blind set up on them. And there are better waterholes in that unit than the ones I hunted. And had I lived so close to that unit as he did, with the effort necessary, I could have found one. Some guys can get it done, and some can't. Some are willing to pay the price, but many aren't. I now know to which group he belongs.
Anyway its time to move on and I have done that. My 50 year passion for bowhunting has opened a new and exciting adventure and challenge for me and I plan to pursue it with the same vigor and passion I did bowhunting. Its so much the same and yet 30 pounds of gear, is much easier on my back, than is half a deer or an elk or moose quarter. I had a wonderful time bowhunting, and now I am having a wonderful time with my camera. The rush is almost the same. For those of you who love fishing, (catch and release) this camera thing is just about like that. So many challenges and so many rewards. I love it and it fuels my passion.
Thanks to all of you here on the Bowsite, who have been so kind to me through all these years. I have many friends here and I promise to stop by every once in while and throw a few photos your way.
Have a great bow hunt. BB
Some guys may never understand what a real work ethic is.
BB, I wish you all the best. We planned to give you a visit next fall. I guess we'll be on our own. Good luck, and God bless you.
Sorry to hear about that, to his credit he did say sorry - many men never do.
Take care
Don
So much you have contributed and shared. Your passion is endless.
My best, Paul
Oh yeah, and I killed a great buck!
As many have said, you are an ultra talented photographer, but an even better person. I can never thank you enough for all the help/info you gave me back when I drew my moose permit. I'll be forever greatful.
I wish you nothing but the best in the continued pursuit of your newest passion. Rob
Look forward to see many more photos in the future.
Bill i have 6 lope points never killed a lope need your help!!!
Too bad there are dickeads everywhere that end up ruining things for many.
Wish you would post more of your photos again. I always loved them. Best of luck for the future!
You are one of the classiest folks that I have never met. My admiration of you as a Bowsite member is unparalleled.
I wish you the best in health and everything else. IL'm sad that I never really considered taking part in your yearly antelope hunt. I always loved reading about it.
Take care.
This is tragic ! I have zero tolerance for those types of people. The Trespassing, Tree Stand Stealing, I didn't know anybody owned this land, I want what you have but I don't want to work for it filth of the earth.
Bill all I can say for you is that I have enjoyed your contributions to bowsite more than you will know. Your story's and photos have provided me many a relaxing evening, that put my mind somewhere else after a challenging day.
You are an inspiration to us all.
Thank You Bob
Elkstuffer
Good karma and good things will continue to come your way. William Allard Wildlife photos will live on long after all of us are worm food.
Best to you, my friend!!
Thanks for the fun times Bill and here is one of my favorite pics from my antelope hunt. It is a picture of 2 stud bucks. :)
I was always going to ask BB for a few hints about hunting goats in Wyoming, but I won't now... I'd never want to be a mooch like the Bowsiter that wrecked this.
Thanks BB- for stories and photos. I hope your son will still be wacking goats up there. Best of luck in everything.
Dale from Idaho
I've never had the pleasure of meeting you but have enjoyed your threads and pictures over the years.
Several years ago I changed my hunt choice for Elk and Deer draws to the Bookcliffs mostly based on reading about your passion for the area and your pictures. Several weeks ago I got a phone call from a nice lady from the Utah DWR. Seems someone turned in a archery tag for Elk and it was mine if I wanted it. I jumped on it and in 9 more days I get to spend a couple weeks there chasing dreams and seeing new country. I will be a good trip regardless of the outcome.
Thanks again.
I will never be able to thank you enough for helping me to get my first, (and only) antelope. I had great time meeting and hunting with you, Jeff and Cody. (Colton too:-) Lots of great memories!
Thanks my friend!
Dale lope are way easier then elk to hunt go at it Wy has plenty of lope with leftover tags
Thanks so much for your history of contributions to this "group" of hunters, and hopefully much more in the future.
In addition it is occurrences such as this that have detrimental effects on the those good guys who need help and are trustworthy, but for fear of such nonsense very few are willing to give advice or lend a hand. I would like to think that those bad apples are a minute few, unfortunately it seems as though situations such as this are all too common.
Good luck to everyone.
Matt
All the best Bill, I will always follow on FB and wish you the very best.
Jim
Each time I followed one, I thought to myself that it'd be great to someday try to finagle a way into your blind for me and one of my kids when they were old enough.
I think that this thread will at least serve to remind you that you are thought of very highly. That has to be worth something.
And in contrast, there are thoughts being expressed about the individual who saw fit to screw up a great thing...Thanks Pal! Great D-Bag kind of move. I will be using you as a bad example and morality lesson for my kids. As you go to sleep at night, I hope that you enjoy sharing the same popularity level as Rosie O'Donnell.
