Summer Crossbow Hunt

Crossbow Hunting

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XB I GO
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Location: Texas

Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by XB I GO »

We got an invitation to go to Edwards area of Texas. This area is in the Hill Country and is known for a variety of free range exotic animals. Edwards and Real County have elevations up to 2500 feet and if very rocky. The most common animals to see are Axis deer and Blackbuck antelope. The guy that invited us said there are some feral rams on a particular slope and ravine that he sees often. We drove a long long way to get out there. The first day we hiked up and around 16.5 miles. All that time we saw one whitetail deer and one tan colored ram. I ended up with some major blisters. My Dad said change socks often and use foot powder. I didn't do it enough or it didn't work. My brother hardly had any problem with his feet other than being sore. We finally got to sleep late and the next thing you know Dad is waking us up again. We started up a slope that looked like it went straight up. We left a creek bed and just kept climbing. My brother was leading and then he got tired and let me lead. After about an hour we were lost. My brother said he knew how to get back so he took the lead again and don't you know he really did know where to go. Eventually we made it back down and to base camp again. We repeated this another day. On that day we say a tan colored ram. It came out of a game trail onto a bigger trail. It looked towards us and stood still for a few seconds. Before I could get binoculars or rangefinder out he went back into the thick and that was the end of that. At the very end of the day we say two moving spots on a ridgeline. When I used binoculars we could see a couple rams. We climbed to the top. When we got there I decided to give me brother the crossbow. He was surprised that I was going to let him shoot. Dad gave us instructions and I went down into a ravine in case the animals went down that way. We hoped they would sense me and go towards my brother. He went up hill with my Dad. After a while I could see a few rams on a crest. Eventually I heard a whack sound. When I climbed up to where my brother and Dad were I heard the story. Two rams climbed up a path. Dad and my bro were under them. The rangefinder wasn't working and the sticks kept slipping. My brother told me Dad he knew what to do. Dad told him to make sure he was totally positive he could do it. He hit the ram. They heard it and it jumped forward and hobbled a little. We climbed up there and it was really rough and slick so it took a while. The ram really didn't go anywhere he just fell off the other side and was dead there. By the time we got him back up to the ridge it was dark. My Dad cut a branch and some sticks and made a carrier. He put short sticks through the rams legs and a big long branch lengthwise. They gutted the ram. He and my brother put the big sticks on their shoulders and carried the ram. I had the crossbow that has backpack strap sling on it, the actual backpack, the sticks and extra stuff. It took us an hour to get down to the trail. Then we had to go another half mile or so to camp. By the time we got to camp it was 1030PM already. We used truck lights to take the picture back at camp. Then we got the ram cut into the cooler. This isn't a great big ram but it was really cool that is was free range and we had an adventure to get it. The trip was the trophy. The next day we went fishing and I caught 2 Florida bass and my brother got a catfish. Then I decided I wanted to get a jackrabbit to make something out of the skin. We stalked a bunch but I couldn't carry the crossbow anymore. I switched to my PCP rifle and ended up getting one that way. Great crossbow adventure with the Excalibur!
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XB I GO
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by XB I GO »

We are going home today....and I'm going to get a haircut! First we are stopping in a town for Chicken and Waffles and internet service.

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deadeer
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by deadeer »

Congrats. You guys are living a dream!
Hatchet
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by Hatchet »

Congratulations to you, your brother and your father. Sounds like you guys worked hard for that one.
Take care
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Hillcountry
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by Hillcountry »

Great hunt and story! Congrats!
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Boo
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by Boo »

Congratulations! Sounds like it was a tad intense! You guys must be behaving for your dad to take you out there because I know he doesn't cut you guys any slack! :eusa-naughty: You'll appreciate your dad 10 yrs from now and you'll look back at the great times you had that very few others get! You guys sure hunt hard! :thumbup: But the hair......! :lol: :lol: :lol:
What are you going to make out of the rabbit skin?
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mr meat
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by mr meat »

Congrats on the hunt.
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XB I GO
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by XB I GO »

I might try to make a quiver.

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Bcxbow
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by Bcxbow »

Way to go guys, congrats on a great experience :thumbup: :thumbup:
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flightattendant100
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by flightattendant100 »

XB I GO, Looks and sounds like a great hunt. You worked hard ,put in your effort, and were rewarded. Also sounds like you had fun and got to spend some quality time with brother and Dad. Cherish those memories, they are great days!
As for the hair ( it looks about like Colton's) If I had hair.....I would grow it to the ground. :shifty:
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janesy
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by janesy »

Cool trip XB, thanks for bringing us along. !
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Riflemanz
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by Riflemanz »

Fun times to remember!
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AJ01
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Re: Summer Crossbow Hunt

Post by AJ01 »

The Edwards Plateau region of Texas can be pretty tough. I use to hunt down near Bandera. Took my best Aoudad ram down there!! It's great that you got to spend time with your dad. You'll never forget the memories!!
Nice high fin Blue Cat too!! :thumbup:
Thanks for sharing!!
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