Bowhunting With Rick Philippi

It was close to 100 degree's when I drove into camp. For the past six months I had been shooting four times a week in preparation for this hunt. Eight of us were to hunt the Hornbuckle Ranch, 60,000 acres of sage brush, prairie grass and hills; located forty miles north of Douglas, Wyoming. Opening day was September 1, but I arrived two days early. I wanted to get acclimated to my surroundings so I could put together a productive game plan.

While scouting the ranch, the abundance of game was impressive. The number of good buck antelope was incredible. Kurt Hornbuckle, the owner of the ranch, said the herd was in the best condition it had been in for the last eight years. He felt the spring rains and the last three mild winters were the two contributing factors for the good looking herd. 

We had the option of hunting stands on windmills that over looked stock tanks or else we could dig a pit blind. I noticed one particular tank  that constantly had some nice bucks coming to it for water. I decided this was where I would be opening day.

Opening Day
My expectations were high as I headed out to hunt. Getting settled in my stand my thoughts reflected back to my wife and kids and just how thankful I am to the good Lord that I have them. It seems like bowhunting keeps me in touch with the really important  things in life. 

The sun turned the morning into another bright and blistering hot day. Soon I noticed a small buck making his way to the water hole. He stopped fifteen yards from me, drinking. After about a minute he headed south. Thirty minutes elapsed and I noticed six more prairie goats making their way down to my water tank. At 100 yards they all stopped to check out the area. After a few minutes of deliberation they came in.

There were three bucks and three does. Studying the bucks, I saw one that I  felt would make Pope and Young. By this time all six antelope were drinking at my water hole. The critters were very nervous and skittish. They were extremely close and I was very discreet with every move I made. I don't know what happened, but they didn't like something and they decided to leave.

The good buck left the water hole at a slow walk. I got my High Country Safari to a shooting position and reminded myself to PICK A SPOT. I sent the 160 grain Thunderhead on its way. 

Shortly, I was standing over the buck, admiring his beautiful colors and thinking, "man I could get hooked on this antelope hunting."

The Zapper's BVD Buck
Back at camp, I saw my buddy, Jack Czapla. Did he ever have a funny story to tell. This morning he was hunting in a tiny shed that looked exactly like an outhouse. It got very hot inside the shed and the only air he had was the little bit that came through  his shooting windows. After three hours he felt like he was cooking. He couldn't get out because antelope were coming to the waterhole on a consistent basis. Jack took off his hunting jacket because of the heat. The heat persisted so he decided to take off his camo pants, also.   So there he was, sitting inside the little shed in his hunting boots and BVD'S.  Finally at 11 o'clock, he took a super buck that went Pope & Young.  Congrats Jack on your BVD buck.

Get Invisible And Stalk
I have bowhunted for 32 years and I am about to tell you of  one of my most exciting bowhunting experiences. I still had a doe tag to fill so I put a tree stand up along a creek bottom -- that probably had the only trees on the whole ranch. I kept noticing groups of antelope making their way to an unknown destination a few hundred yards to the right of me. After a couple of hours, I got out of the treestand and made my way in that direction. Topping a ridge I looked down and saw a herd of antelope feeding on green grass located along a creek in a valley. 

I wondered if I could get within bow range.  There was nothing between them and me with the exception of some sage brush that was barely two feet tall in the highest of places. I decided to give it the old college try.

Squatting down, I worked my way toward the antelope. I was moving very slowly.  After an hour the gap was closed to eighty yards. Some does started gazing at me and I thought they had me. But to my surprise  they went back to grazing.  Ever so cautiously I moved closer. There were so many antelope that it was hard for me to keep a close eye on every one of them, though I was trying. To my right, some antelope noticed me. I was caught!!

After a few minutes those antelope went back to grazing.  I couldn't understand why these critter were not spooking. Finally it dawned on me. It was the camo that I was wearing. I was wearing Sticks N' Limbs and they could not tell what I was.

A trophy buck antelope and a smaller buck were thirty yards away. Keep in mind I can only shoot a doe because I already filled my buck tag. 

Usually I never shoot over thirty yards, but I had been shooting regularly and felt confident for a longer shot. Finally a fat doe, at what I guessed to be forty yards, turned broadside. I drew.

About ten heads turned and looked at me!

I picked my spot and sent the arrow on its way. My arrow dropped low. The antelope spooked only a few steps, stopped, turned around and just stared at me. I couldn't believe they were sticking around. My camo was really working.

My Sticks N' Limbs camo was making me invisible to the antelope. Then the critters walked towards me! Every five yards they stopped and briefly stared right through me. Soon a doe got within close bow range. She watched as I came to full draw.

I aimed and released. Two minutes later I put my tag on the doe. Talk about and awesome experience. The antelope just didn't know what I was. Sticks N' Limbs camo is incredible, it flat out works.

Out of eight hunters, we took 13 antelope, seven of which were excellent bucks. 

Good Hunting,
Rick

For your information: I used a High Country bow, we hunted at the Hornbuckle Ranch near Douglas, Wyoming, and my camouflage was Sticks N' Limbs.