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After accepting an invitation to go Wyoming Pronghorn hunting with my hunting buddies, I realized that it had been almost two decades since going on my last guided hunt with them.
To ensure that you have a complete understanding of my dilemma, I need to digress for a moment and describe the term “hunting buddies” used in its present context. In the broadest context, “my hunting buddies” generically refers to a group of about ten of us Virginians who regularly shoot together each year. Specifically, they shoot, I launch. The term shooting suggests the archer has successfully mastered a neuromuscular process, applied in a consistent, repetitive manner, focused on a specific target, with an anticipated outcome. Nothing that I do with a traditional bow should be confused with the art and science of Archery. In fact, if Maurice Thompson and his brother, Will, saw me shoot today and noted that I represented about 140 years of traditional archery evolution since they shot competitively, the title of Maurice’s book would have been “The Butchery of Archery” rather than “The Witchery of Archery.”
Back to my term “hunting buddies”….my hunting buddies do have several characteristics in common. First, my buddies are old. No, I mean really OLD. Our group is so old that Moses referred to us as “the Tribal Elders.” Two of our group happen to be immensely wealthy….one invented dirt and the other invented wood. A third claims to have invented fire but I doubt this because he can’t make a match work.
Second, all my hunting buddies use traditional archery gear, either recurves or long bows and are very accurate shooters. Except for me, they are all expert in traditional archery gear, having made selfbows, “strings,” and all the “arras” (“arrows” for those of you who don’t talk Virginian) they shoot. I am the slow learner of our group still working on my first batch of arras (started in the late 1990s or so). I am proud to say they have never had a disparaging word to say about “compound shooters” and treat all bow shooters with the same degree of high reverence. Come to think of it, I am not sure they even know what a compound bow is because I am pretty convinced that none of them are familiar with the concept of a “wheel.”
Third, my hunting buddies have a deep love of our country and commitment to the values upon which our great country was founded. Several in our group have retired from the military, having served in combat. They say Vietnam, but think it was manning the oars for rowing General Washington across the Delaware River.
Fourth, my hunting buddies all have, and go by, their nicknames. I must treat this particular section with extreme caution as it has all the potential for becoming “X-Rated” in a heartbeat!! Just a few nicknames to adequately taste the flavor of this stew……first we have “Crack Shot,” who I first served with in the U.S. Army over 31 years ago and have had the privilege of his friendship ever since. Though an excellent archer and bowhunter, his nickname comes not from his shooting prowess. Rather, it comes from the unsightly and unfortunate view from behind one cannot help but noticing when Crack Shot bends over. Crack Shot’s second nickname is “Stitch.” He earned this decades ago when he thought the cost of a broadhead wrench excessive at 75 cents and used the fingers on his release hand to remove a broadhead. If the event resulting in this nickname had not occurred in the Northwoods of Maine while on a Black bear hunt 40+ miles away from any professional medical assistance, it would have been far less memorable. And, it happened two days after Stitch had removed sutures from the release hand of yours truly during the same hunt for the same reason (God’s honest truth—you cannot make this stuff up)!
Then we have “Empty Quiver” whose 42 arras in his quiver were insufficient on a recent Texas pig hunt. Many people believe that luck occurs when one possesses both a very high degree of preparation and simultaneously achieves a superior skill level when in the process of accomplishing a goal. Though “Lucky” certainly has both of these admirable traits, he is also just plain lucky. A familiar personage with a heart of solid gold who has been a fixture at our bi-annual PBS meetings, a master artisan, and arra maker who has donated several dozen arrows to the PBS auctions over the years … THE “WRB” (World Renown Bowhunter). WRB has never met a 145 grain, single blade, Eclipse Broadhead he never liked. (I will certainly not mention the names of Bob Seltzer, Dan VanGundy, John Peeler and Jack Denbow so as not to embarrass those owning the above identified nicknames in the order listed.)
Lastly, and, most importantly, all my buddies have a big, bright, twinkle in their eye. Herein lies my dilemma referred to in the title of this article. Behind that twinkle, lies a childlike, nefarious, and continuous tendency to spare neither effort nor expense to poke fun not at but with someone (myself included). I sincerely love all my buddies and would literally trust them with my life or the lives of my family. But with something as crucially important as archery shooting/bow hunting, can I trust them to give me accurate, useful information? Knowing the PBS fraternity, some of its membership, and having the honor of attending the last two bi-annual meetings, I know the majority of you enjoy and are privileged to have the same type of hunting buddies, and therefore, can directly relate to my dilemma.
Now that we understand exactly what I mean by my term “hunting buddies,” let’s get back to the Wyoming Pronghorn hunt. Crack Shot called me and said there was on opening for the first week of archery hunting for pronghorn on the Werner Ranch outside of Douglas, Wyoming. JJ Werner and his gracious wife, Connie, operate this hunt along with Connie’s brother, Mark, who comes up from Tennessee each hunting season and is Head Guide. If a picture is worth one thousand words, the picture of me with my pronghorn totally sums up the superb quality and experience of a pronghorn hunt on the Werner Ranch.
My Assenheimer Bow did its job, I did not, as my arrow struck the buck farther to the rear than I wanted. JJ’s skill, experience and knowledge in tracking pronghorns on his ranch along with superb help from Lucky and Mark resulted in successfully retrieving my pronghorn. The effort that JJ puts into retrieving wounded game is nothing short of exceptional. I cannot imagine an outfitter working harder than JJ does in tracking and retrieving game. This is what sets JJ and his hunts apart from his competitors and why we are returning in 2011. And it is for this reason that I, without hesitation, endorse the Werner Ranch for anyone wanting a Pronghorn hunt. JJ also offers Mule Deer and Elk hunts and am sure that he works equally hard for anyone successful enough to be drawn.
Furthermore, a Pronghorn hunt at the Werner Ranch is the ideal hunt for a first time bowhunter. JJ’s hunts are from blinds located by water “tanks” so shots will be typically under twenty yards. The hunts are absolutely safe, not physically demanding, and lots of Pronghorn will be seen each day. Each hunter is given a 2-way radio to provide immediate contact with a guide should a need arise. So a first time bowhunter will see many Pronghorn, get a good, safe shot and leave the Werner Ranch with a very positive hunting experience.
Though I was only seeking a representative pronghorn, the pronghorn I harvested qualified for Pope and Young with a score of 73 and 6/8.
Oh, and by the way, though I did not credit my hunting buddies for this great hunt, I did trust their judgment and advise. I will be forever grateful to them and to JJ for making this hunt such a wonderful experience.
Will I continue to trust my hunting buddies in the future? Absolutely….(I think).
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About the Author
“Road Kill” is the nickname given to the author who, allegedly, consistently finds innovative and unique sources for providing meals at hunting camp and various bowshoot venues. Road Kill is also an avid traditional bowhunter who is still in need of someone to teach him shooting fundamentals. Lastly, he does volunteer work for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, teaching Hunter Education, and ensuring the roads of Greene County, Virginia remain clear.
