There are times in life, as a hunter, that we apply for tags that we never really think we will draw. This was one of those times. The Arizona Game and Fish Department created limited-entry tags to generate more revenue for wildlife management in Arizona. This was the first time they offered an antelope tag. I had to apply for it. The deadline was April 11, 2023, and the draw was April 17th, which came and went. I figured oh well, maybe next time. The morning of the 18th, I received a call from the AZGFD informing me that I was the lucky recipient of the limited- entry Arizona antelope tag. I was in disbelief. I excitedly called my family and closest friends. One of those friends was Brian Rimsza. He put me in contact with Hunter Weems of Arizona Custom Hunts.
I contacted Hunter and was impressed with his professionalism and willingness to help even without me yet committing to using his services. I’m primarily a self-guided archery hunter and was hoping to do this hunt exactly that way. However, I had many challenges to overcome to make that happen. I had torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders and hadn’t shot my bow in some time. I received PRP injections in both shoulders and was in PT. I wasn’t released to shoot my bow until the first week of July. My hunt started August 1st.
I drove several thousand miles, scouting. There were hundreds of miles to cover. I had help scouting from my wife, Linda, and great friends, Brian Goble and Mark Ovitt. Linda is my hunting partner. Brian and Mark are amazing bowhunters and fellow committee members of the Bowhunting in Arizona Record Book. They were a huge help, and it was great to spend time with them in the field.
I worked on PT and shooting my bow on weekdays. I dropped my bow weight to 50 lbs. I was doing well and making progress. The week before the hunt, I had some life challenges that put time constraints on my hunt. I called Hunter Weems and explained my situation. He and his guides had worked hard all summer and were ready and willing to help me with my tag. They had several target bucks located. I made the decision that Hunter was my man and to use a rifle.
Linda and I arrived in camp the day before the hunt was to open. Hunter and his guides were amazing and helped us get settled. We all headed out in different directions to try and locate the target bucks before sundown. Hunter and his guides were able to locate and get photos and video of our top two prospects. At camp that night, we put together a plan and then tried to get some rest.
The next morning, we were up and in position before daylight. It was getting light enough to see when Hunter spotted our #1 target buck. Hunter, Linda, and I set out on the stalk. There were a lot of cattle in the area, and it was tricky skirting around them to get within shooting range of the buck. We were having trouble relocating the buck when Hunter said, “I have him”. We could make out his horns in the grass as he was bedded down. I got set up with the rifle, and at about that time, he stood up to feed. Broadside at 300 yards, we had him. The problem was, for whatever reason, I wasn’t sure I wanted this particular buck or wanted the hunt to end so soon. Hunter was very patient as I evaluated the buck. Part of me felt the pressure of my time constraints to pull the trigger. I was trying to talk myself into ending the hunt right there, but the other part of me just wouldn’t let that happen. I wanted more out of this hunt than just the score. This buck was a solid trophy but really didn’t have the look I was after. Hunter then asked me what I thought. I told him I was trying to talk myself into it, but I wasn’t sure. That’s when he showed me his phone. There was a picture and video of a buck that I immediately fell in love with. There was another one of Hunter’s guides, also named Hunter, out scouting for elk for a Commissioner’s tag holder that morning and ran into this antelope. He was able to capture the pictures and video before the buck took off. He then texted Hunter, telling him to contact him immediately. This buck definitely had the look with tall horns that hooked deep at the top, large prongs, and that dark black face. The problem was that he was in another unit two and a half hours away. It was crazy. I decided to walk away from this B&C buck and try for this dream buck halfway across the state. Hunter didn’t even flinch at my decision. We went back, broke camp, and headed for the other unit. The limited-entry tag was good for several units in the northern part of the state.
By early afternoon, we were set up glassing, trying to locate the dream buck. Right before dark, one of Hunter’s guides located him. He was in the trees, and the sun was going down. Then, we lost him.
The next morning found us back in the same area, trying to locate him. Again, one of Hunter’s guides spotted him. We tried to get on him, but we lost him in the trees. This is why the bucks that live in the trees and not the open plains seldom get seen, much less killed, and why they grow huge. We regrouped, had lunch, and made plans to meet back up later that afternoon.
Linda and I decided to take some time to ourselves. We talked, prayed together, and went and did some glassing on our own. We turned up some elk but no antelope. This time was very valuable as the Lord granted us peace. We were now ready to accept whatever He had in store for us. With our spirits renewed, we met up with Hunter and his crew. We set out in search of this ghost of an antelope.
Up until this point, the dream buck had been by himself. However, the other guides had reported seeing a herd of does with a lesser buck in the same area. We thought that with the rut getting close, the dream buck may be in search of does. We decided to check it out. While driving to the area, we spotted the herd of does with the lesser buck. Hunter and I decided to follow them on foot to see where they were headed and maybe luck into the big buck. We played cat and mouse with the herd for about half a mile. We could make out patches of white through the trees at about 150 yards. All of a sudden, we saw a flash running through the trees towards the herd and then they all disappeared. We went up to where we had last seen them, and the only antelope left was the lesser buck.
We continued to the top of the ridge to look into the next valley, but we didn’t see anything. We headed back to the truck and discussed what had happened. We agreed that the flash we saw must have been the dream buck chasing off the lesser buck and stealing his does. Furthermore, we thought that after he had stolen the does, he would take them back to his summer pasture where he liked to hang out and where he was originally spotted. Hunter and I looked at each other and said, “Let’s go!”
We all took off to look for him there. As we were entering the pasture, we spotted the herd and Hunter verified that it was him. I got set up, but the roll of the hill didn’t allow for a clear shot. We shifted over behind a juniper tree and moved up. Now I could see him clearly. He was at 280 yards. I was pretty excited and having trouble holding steady. Levi came in behind me and placed shooting sticks under the butt of the rifle to steady me. I had to wait for the buck to clear the does, and when he did, I dropped him with one shot from the 7mm Mag. I ran and put my hands on him and dropped to my knees to thank the Lord for such an amazing animal.
I can’t thank Hunter Weems and his crew at Arizona Custom Hunts enough. They went above and beyond for me and my once-in-a- lifetime hunt. They honored all my wishes and even picked up and moved halfway across the state to make my dreams come true.
My buck green scored 88" and change.
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