As a hunter, you know how physically challenging hunting can be, so just imagine how much more it is if you have a debilitating disease like MS. It can be overwhelmingly challenging but also rewarding. I’ve had MS for 21 years, and sometimes it can be very discouraging not to be able to do the things I used to do. Hunting helps me keep moving and also motivates me to try harder. I’ve been a Huntin’ Fool member for 12+ years. Huntin’ Fool has encouraged me to keep applying and decide what units to put in for. The more I can keep moving and stay motivated, the better I feel. I always feel really good when I’m hunting!
I put in for the guide draw in New Mexico for Coues deer with Kiowa Hunting Services after I met Tim and talked to him at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo in Salt Lake in February while riding in my wheelchair. I can walk, but by afternoon most days I’m wiped out and not very good at going long distances. He assured me they could get me close enough to shoot a deer.
I was pretty excited when I drew a unit 27 Coues deer tag in New Mexico. I left for New Mexico on November 19th to give me plenty of time to get there before I was to meet my guide, Fernando, on the 21st. On the way to camp, I was pretty nervous because there were border patrol agents and warning signs everywhere. We were about three miles from the border. My MS was not doing my walking any favors when I arrived the day before to set up camp, but I had my walking sticks and was ready to go anywhere I had to in order to find a deer.
When we got there, all the spots were taken, so we headed up further and had to go through a nasty, rocky spot in the road. A rock got stuck in the side-by-side trailer between the duals and we couldn’t go anywhere. We couldn’t have placed a rock more perfectly between those wheels if we put it there intentionally. We had to jack up the trailer and beat the rock out with a hammer.
I ended up with three guides, Fernando, Ken, and Beau. They were all great! The first day was slow as we saw a few does and a couple of 2-points. The second day, we saw another small buck and a few more does. We met some quail hunters who were walking all the draws and water spots, spooking the deer. They said they saw a big buck here or there but now they were gone.
The third day, we again ran into the quail hunters. They seemed to know where we wanted to hunt each day and would be there spooking everything. We went away from them and saw some Gould’s turkey, a couple does, and three javelina. It was getting a little discouraging not seeing any big bucks and seeing way too many people. We decided we needed to try something different. I think everyone who had a tag in that unit was where we were.
The fourth day, our guides decided we needed to glass a new area next to a private ranch. The wind was blowing pretty hard, at least 30 mph. After an hour of glassing, we located three nice bucks and watched them bed down behind a small cedar. Fernando called the ranch owner to see if we could get permission to walk through the ranch property to get to the public land where the deer were bedded. It was a two-mile hike up the draw, but we had the wind in our favor and a few trees to sneak behind. We got up to about 400 yards and were able to locate the bucks again. We decided to get closer because the only buck we could see was a small 3-point. We closed the gap to 200 yards and settled in to glass. All of a sudden, Beau said, “There is a big one in there!”
The big buck stood up, stretched, took a couple steps forward, and gave me the perfect shot. I put him in my crosshairs, squeezed the trigger, and let it rip. He jumped up about four feet into the air and took off running. He then ran about 40 yards and lay down.
Fernando said, “He’s hit hard! He’s down. What a shot!”
I didn’t dare make a sound, but I was ready to whoop it up. I just didn’t want to scare the buck. When we got up to him, he had a broken antler on one side, but it didn’t matter because, to me, he was perfect. He was the biggest buck I had seen the whole time I was there, and I was excited that I got him. We took pictures and then Fernando picked up the deer, put him on his shoulders, and packed him back to the side-by-side. I was pretty tired by the time I got back, but it was worth every minute of the exhaustion I endured.
It was awesome to finally see some nice bucks, and getting one of them made it a great day! My guides were amazing and did their best to make it a fun and enjoyable hunt. I would definitely go with them again.
The week prior to going to New Mexico, I went deer hunting in Northern Idaho and was fortunate enough to shoot my first mountain lion. What an awesome couple weeks of hunting!
I want to thank my beautiful wife for going on these adventures with me and packing my rifle. Also, thank you Huntin’ Fool for the encouragement to keep applying for tags.