I went to a good friend's ranch near Medina for a weekend hog hunt but ended up taking something much more exciting. Dawn was just breaking over the edge of the Texas Hill Country, and a low fog was rolling through the area. I was sitting in a blind watching a feeder at about 80 yds where a group of hogs had been seen recently. Just as light was creeping into the valley and the fog started to burn away, I noticed some movement way off to my left. I looked over to scan the area and could just make out what I assumed was a young deer, but it was far away and difficult to tell. I didn't allow myself to get too excited because white tail season wasn't open yet, but the thrill of seeing wild game was there nonetheless.
I scanned the area again, this time using my spotting scope, and quickly realized that it wasn't a a deer I was watching, but a beautiful Black Buck Antelope! The Antelope on my friend's ranch are notoriously skittish- they never come around any of the feeders and they spook at the slightest sound, so I was really excited to have the opportunity to even see one. He was grazing behind some brush, and seemed very relaxed. I pulled up my rifle and estimated the shot to be about 250 yards (based on the settings of my scope). Now I'm thinking, I have been practicing regularly at my local 200yd range, but I've never actually attempted a shot this long before. I thought back to the drop chart included with the scope and felt confident I could make the shot.
I took a deep breath and waited for the Antelope to emerge from the bush he was standing behind... I had to be sure this was a clean shot. I waited with baited breath, but it never happened. He turned and trotted off the direction he came from, never presenting a decent opportunity at a shot. Man, was I dissapointed! My heart was still racing, and I realized might not have another opportunity like this for a long time. I was praying, God please bring that guy back, please bring that guy back, please, please, please. And sure enough, after what felt like an eternity I saw that familiar movement again, right in the same spot. I checked back with my rifle scope, and there he was. This time the buck wasn't pausing to eat- he was headed somewhere fast, and somehow I knew this was the last chance he was going to give me. I clicked off the safety and watied as he walked left to right, broadside until he passed that same bush again and emerged into the clearing. I only had a few seconds to take the shot before he would dissappear again- I focused my breathing, took aim and gently squeezed the trigger.
After the shot I quickly looked back with the scope but didn't see anything. I missed! I was so mad! But no, I thought, I couldn't have missed- Sure it was a long shot (for me at least), but I knew I had him right in my sights. I anxiously waited in case I had only wounded him- replaying the scenario over in my head, debating with myself on whether I actually hit it or not. When I finally started approaching I kept scouting ahead with my scope until I finally I saw him- laying behind a clump of brush, motionless. Success! It was an almost perfect shot too- I hit him square in the vitals, a little farther back than I wanted, but then again, he was moving the whole time.
Later that day, my friend and I went back to check the distace with his laser rangefinder and found it was only slightly closer than I originally though. At 230 yards it was still the longest shot I've taken so far. I know many men before me have made much better and much longer shots, but there's something about your first successful long-range hunt (200+yds) that makes a man feel proud.
And for all you gun guys out there, I took it with my Winchester M70 Super Shaddow .270WSM, 130gr Win Ballistic Silver Tips, 3.5lb trigger, Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42 scope
