https://imgur.com/a/NhYmC
https://imgur.com/a/2vukX
When I was twenty years old I went in to a specialist to have some X-rays done on my hip. At this point I had been in pain for ten years. An X-ray later the doctor told me I could have a hip replacement, but highly recommended that I did not get it done until my quality of life was effected. Fast forward 22 years and it was time. Chronic pain can really take a toll on ones body and mind. In May I went into a good surgeon in Casper to have it checked out again and make a plan to get it fixed. After a couple X-rays he said I was REALLY READY for a hip replacement. I knew I wanted to get it done so I could hunt this fall and also do it when my four boys were out of school. I lucked out and he had one day open on June 14th. I thought, June 14th? Am I really ready to do this? What if it wasn't successful? Would I be able to do my job as an oilfield mechanic? Play football? Hunt again? I asked him if I could think about it and get back with him. He smiled and said he was booked up for three months and his next open date was in August, I replied to him with a HELL YES LETS DO IT THEN! I had did my research on surgeons and talked with several people whom had this doctor replace their hips and they all said he was great and they couldn't be any happier with the results. I had my surgery, all went great, I finished my therapy a month ahead of schedule and I can't tell you how great it feels to walk with no back pain or hip pain.
So let's get to the hunting story. After seven years I finally drew a type 1 antelope tag in my favorite unit. I really wanted to shoot a good buck this year with my Shiloh Sharps. We looked at close to hundred bucks, several hundred does and put on 16 miles of walking in three days of hard hunting. I have a month to hunt antelope, but I was bound and determined to kill an antelope with a good hunting pard from ND. We hunted elk the first three days of our six day hunt and both killed bulls. That alone was enough for me to feel super blessed. I killed mine at 15 feet with my longbow and he killed his at 42 yards with a wheel bow. My hip felt so good, no pain, no sore muscles, no Advil or Tylenol. I had a new excitement to hunt. The buck I killed wasn't the biggest buck we hunted, but a dandy nonetheless. We actually stalked to within 72 yards of him on the first day, I knew there were bigger bucks, so I decided to pass on him. On the sixth day of our hunt reality set in, we were going to have to break camp around noon and head home. That morning we went to a favorite spot, looked over a pile of goats and didn't see any that I wanted to kill so we went back to where this buck had been hanging out. We spotted him within a hundred yards of where we stalked him a few days before. We made a plan and started the stalk. About a half mile into the stall we had a small buck and some does run near us, they spotted us, started to snort and blow at us. That got the buck I was after out of his bed and alert. Luckily the smaller buck and does ran away from my buck down into a creek bottom. I thought man, that was close. We continued our stalk, glassing every 20 yards or so. Wouldn't you know that small buck and does decided to head over to the buck we were after. They all took off on a run down to the creek bottom out of sight. We waited a few minutes to see if they came out and they didn't. We altered our plans and headed up to a ridge above where we last saw the antelope. I belly crawled to the peak of the ridge with my pack and rifle. I spotted them down below me, a quick touch of the rangefinder and it popped up a 273 yard shot. I positioned myself and gun pulled the hammer back and set the rear trigger. Just before I pulled the trigger they took off rutting again. Gone, out of range for good. We sat on that hill watching them for a half hour. The herd slowly started to work their way towards us. I repositioned myself again. The lead doe stepped out on the edge of the hill at 150. I put my rangefinder down and got my gun ready. I knew as soon as that buck walked into the open it was lifts out. My time came, he stepped out and stopped where I had ranged the lead doe just a few moments earlier. I pulled the trigger, and boom!!! My pard said you missed!! I thought bullshit! I put another round in the gun. The antelope didn't know where the shot came from sonthey ran towards us and stopped. Boom, my pars said you missed, I got up on my knees as they ran past and BOOM AGAIN. The buck hunched a little and went over a hill. I watched the smaller buck and the does run off but the larger buck didn't come out. I gathered my spent cases and put my pack on, loaded another round. My partner said how did you miss so many times? I said I know I didn't. We walked over the hill to find him piled up. I looked the buck over and found two bullet holes touching and one an inch from the other two. All kill shots. The buck was so rutted up he had no idea he was shot and showed no reaction to my 50 Cal bullets.
I am beyond blessed this year in the hunting department. I still have to hunt deer,and antelope with my boys in October.
Stephen
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