My first trip to New Mexico came about by the grace of God and a Buckmasters sponsored slot to join All American Outfitters in the Gila National Forest. Man! are there ever some huge bucks running around this area.

We left the sweltery 100 degree Texas heat and took off for Reserve, New Mexico on August 5th, 1999. A quick 16 hours of highway later, my dad and I were cruising across the continental divide and into the cool scenes of the Gila.

I met my hunting counterpart, Gene, who had also won a trip at the motel cafe before our guides, Brandon and Justin, joined us there for lunch. They told us 2 very big bucks that we would be going after the next morning. They called one Gordo and the other Flathead.

We were soon off to the range to test shoot our rifles at 300, 400 & 500 yds and make sure they were still on target.

What gorgeous country. Everything had a fresh pine/cedar odor and the sunsets are amazing. The next morning it was cool enough for long shirt sleeves, and the hunt was on...

5:36 am - Guides show up. Dad helps load Gene into Brandon’s truck and Justin hops in with us. We’re off.

6:15 am - Weave our way down a logging road through the strong odors of tall pines and green cedars toward daylight. Shooting time begins at sunrise here.

6:35 am - We drop down in between the foothills. I can see a break in the forest below. Brandon’s truck takes the lead. (There’s already a vehicle down on the mesa, but it doesn’t matter.)

6:40 am - I hear Brandon on the radio. He’s spotted Gordo off to our right. We go after him. He locates Flathead on the pasture and they go in the opposite way.

7:00 am - I watch Gordo from 1000 yds away with a group of does. He’s big! They bed down in the saddle of large knoll. A shot echoes across the opening.

7:01 am - Brandon on the radio says that other vehicle shot a killed nice buck, but it wasn’t Flathead.

7:20 am - We leave our watch to help Brandon. Flathead is spooked and he needs us to cut him off and turn him around. I spot him running along the hillside right before he turns into the trees and disappears.

8:15 am - Brandon goes to where we were parked earlier so he can watch Gordo while we drive in for a closer shot. As soon I see the herd, the does jump up to leave. I find Gordo in the scope. 400yds plus. He’s one gorgeous goat. I have a shot at him laying down but I can’t see enough body. I reposition rifle to get steadier lie. He stands up. I miss my 5 second window to shoot.

8:22 am - At 400 yds plus and walking away, I shoot. And miss. Damn! He’s a book antelope for sure. Feeling a lot less cocky.

8:29 am - Watch as herd speeds across entire clearing and into the trees on the far side.

12:10 pm - I replay my missed opportunity over and over but it still never comes out right. We’re on a much larger mesa now and Justin wants to go to a part of it where he’s seen some nice bucks recently. He has to talk Brandon into it first.

1:30 pm - We spot 2 decent antelope in the distance. Brandon takes the lead so he can get Gene a shot. We go around the flank to cut’em off if they run.

1:47 pm - We can see Brandon’s truck below but not the goats when the shooting starts. Gene hits one with his first shot, then it’s open fire. And he finally puts
his prize down after a few shots. The buck has good horns but he’s a bit young as you can tell from his brownish face markings. Good for Gene!

3:30 pm - Lunch at motel

4:00 pm - Nap

5:10 pm - Wake up to Justin knocking at the door. We leave for a place 20 miles to the north. He says there are a couple there that are shooters.

8:04 pm - Haven’t seen one hair yet. They must’ve been hunted here this morning. Dad’s truck is struggling along a slippery trail of rocks and mud as we head into the hills.

8:29 pm - Stumble across a big herd hiding out in a secluded draw below. There’s a great buck in there. I can hear the rumble of hoofsteps as the tear away. They’re jumpy.

8:50 pm - View gorgeous sunsetting over the mountains as a thundershower dumps rain to the south. My mind keeps thinking about tomorrow morning when we’ll go back after the big boys.

11:30 pm - It’s starry and cool again. Hope to never leave... sleep.

Sunday, Aug. 8
4:30 am - Wake up before alarm, again.

5:40 am - Headlights shine on motel door. Confidence is back up. We know we’re gonna be the only ones there and that we’re going to see some more good bucks.

6:41 am - Reach same break in woods to get ready before going down onto mesa. Sun just peeked over top and blazing off the dew soaked grass. We stop to glass.

6:50 am - Find 2 bucks and a doe way off in the distance to right. Dad, Justin & I go over to get a better look. Brandon goes other way.

6:55 am - We’re there. Both goats are just average. Brandon breaks in saying he’s found Gordo.

7:15 am - We get to where Brandon is. Gordo and his group of females have vanished again, probably into a draw. We decide to go around to come in at a different angle.

8:15 am - Nothing. Can’t find anything and we can see the entire hillside. Break from radio says there’s a buck bedded down on the prairie between us.

8:25 am - He’s up and coming toward us before we can locate him. 500 yds and closing. We stay still.

8:30 am - At 400 yds, the buck turns to parallel both roads. We speed up to stay even with him. Brandon does the same from other side.

8:36 am - The buck stops. I rip another bullet. Miss again. Confidence gone.The antelope bolts. I spot the herd now out on the plain ahead. They cross Brandon’s road to go the opposite way and the buck I just shot at is bent on
joining them.

8:40 am - Brandon tries to cut him off, but he just kicked on the jets and outran his truck. ‘Man that was neat.’

8:50 am - Get on the main road. The herd is 600 yds away now and looking back at us. I find them in the scope. Wow! There’s a true monster buck in the group.
‘He’s bigger than the goat I saw yesterday.’ I watch as he fends off the new buck and then just stands there to stare back at us.

9:31 am - The herd tops the same group of knolls where I shot at Gordo the day before. We high tail it around the backside to get in front of them.

9:40 am - Following a two-track path that leads around the hill, dad stops at a draw that we think they’ll come through. Not really sure where to park.

9:41 am - Dad spots a buck among the trees on the hillside to my right. He yells buck! buck! Justin sees him and jumps out with the rangefinder. I can’t find a
thing.

9:41:20 am - Justin barks “It’s a good buck! Shoot! Shoot! He’s at 293! 293!” I still can’t see him.

9:41:40 am - He stands up. I see him now. I throw the crosshairs on his back and pull.

9:42 am - He takes off like nothing happened. “You missed him.” Justin says. And I have to agree. Confidence dead and buried.

9:42 am - The goat drops and rolls into the trees. Elation erupts in the cab of the truck. ‘Thank God I didn’t miss that shot.’

9:46 am - I hear Justin hollering after he finds my goat. It’s a big pronghorn. There is no shortage of handshakes and hugs now.