Bowhunting Report From Tony Dukes
Whitehorse Ranch

Just as the leaves on the bottom of the draw I was sitting on started to take on color I saw him. A heavy bodied 8 point that would score in the low 100's. He walked the wooded fence line at 20 yards. It was just like the hunts in Mo. and Tex. so far this year, right out the box a near shooter that I would pass.

This is the way my N. W. Oklahoma hunt with Whitehorse Creek Ranch started off. In another 30 minutes 3 different bucks had passed within bow range. This hunt had a good feeling. I passed a long beard Rio gobbler at 20 yards, for fear of spooking the deer I'd come to harvest.

By the afternoon of the second day, Tyge Floyd, my host, and all of his Texas outdoorman staff had seen bucks, nice bucks. One fella had missed a buck due to misjudged distance. I's seen bucks at every sitting but one.

Other hunters, from Okla. had got in the last afternoon and mistakenly one was put in my stand and I in his. Guess what happened? He got a shot at 15 yards at a 140 buck and I saw nothing! To top it off I lost my weekly football bet on OU to cover the spread. Oklahoma had not been kind to Tony. To make it worse the last morning I decided to sit on a feeder which didn't throw corn! Being a UT alumni, with orange and white feathers, I felt cursed. The only thing I knew was this Oklahoma outfitter was worth betting on.

All in all it was a great hunt, although only 2 1/2 days. Everyone, except me, was in range of and saw book bucks and lots of turkey. Dustin Earnest is a likable man that runs a very neat, well thought out operation that takes lots of trophy deer. I will go back for sure with confidence.

Check out the Whitehorse Ranch website on Texasoutdoorsman.comor call Dustin at 580-327-6939. Archery season is goes on for several more weeks and he has incredible spring turkey hunts. 

I give the hunt and guide a thumbs up for knowledge, quality and quantity of animals and price. I feel certain this is a hunt that can get you within bowrange of a record book whitetail. If I can rearrange my schedule I will be back this year.

Off to the border then hill country, still trying!  Tony Dukes

Tony Dukes

African Bowhunt Report 2003
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Hunt Info | Hunt Equipment

Day #1: The African morning greeted me with an overwhelming clarity and crispness. I was surprised to be shaking off a chill from the open air ride in the Land Rover as I settled into our "hide" (the African name for a blind) with my professional hunter Riaan Ras. I checked my draw through the shooting window and organized my camera and stuff as the sun started to cast it's first shadows.
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