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It was three pronghorn does. My heart sank somewhat, but the adrenaline was still pulsing through my
veins! Two of the does began to eat grass at the top of the hill casually, but one of them found something odd
about the big blob in the middle of the field. I had a three to four minute stare contest with that pronghorn, while
I was constantly reminding myself to not move a muscle or it was over. Finally she decided that there was
nothing wrong with the big blob and began to eat like the others. We watched these does eat for a few minutes
before a fourth pronghorn arose over the hill. I looked through my scope to see that it had antlers just barely
above its ears. “It’s a buck, it’s barely legal but it is a buck if you wanna take him” is what Mark said to me as I
contemplated on whether I should take the shot. Right about that time, I looked out of the corner of my eye and
I saw a second, bigger buck crest the hilltop. I immediately set my sights on him, and carefully swiveled my
gun to point in his direction. “It’s your choice kiddo, whichever one you want.” Is what I remember Mark
telling me as I took the time to perfect my aim and release the safety. Moments after I did so however, I noticed
something out of the corner of my eye.
Another buck had crested the hill top, and he was nicer than both of the previous bucks I had seen. The
adrenaline was pulsing through my body as I watched him walk up the hill like he owned it. I began to swivel
some more to get him into my sights when my dad told me, “Stop, just let him walk into your scope.” So I
listened and waited for him to walk into my scope’s crosshairs. The safety was unlocked and my finger was on
the trigger, it was only a matter of waiting for him to gradually move from the left to right (like all the other
antelope were doing) and meet my crosshairs. It was right at the moment that he hit my crosshairs that he
suddenly looked straight at me for a couple of seconds and then began to bolt to the right.
My body began shaking, my chance was just blown! I watched the pronghorn run off and I could even
hear the disappointed sigh of my dad when suddenly, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the buck had
suddenly stopped dead in his tracks and was looking straight back at me. “Take him!” I remember my dad
saying as I had not two-seconds to pick up the 243’s mounted bipod, readjust and take the shot. BANG! I
watched the pronghorn drop dead to the ground. At first I was in shock that I had actually hit and killed my first
ever pronghorn on my first pronghorn hunt, but the shock turned to sheer happiness as my dad celebrated by
pulling me into the tightest hug you can ever imagine and repeating over and over “You did it baby! You nailed
him dead! I am so proud of you!” I actually began to cry out of happiness.
Only eight weeks ago I was lying miserably in a hospital bed after just having had brain surgery. Now
look where I was, in the middle of the Martinez Ranch on a once in a lifetime hunt with my dad, and I had just
successfully killed what I had come for. We allowed fifteen minutes or so for ourselves to calm down from the
excitement and then we finally got up and walked over to the antelope. I was so proud when I finally met the
pronghorn and let my hand touch its bristly tan fur coat. I could not stop smiling at all after that point. I had
done something that I would have never dreamed about doing while I was in the hospital. I owed every bit of
my thanks to the Safari Club International who sponsored the trip, as well as a huge thank you to the woman
who recommended me when their original essay contest winner backed out at the last minute. I owe a huge
thank you to Mrs. Brenda Chapman.
It had been a long summer of doctors, surgeries and scares. Now to have it all repaid back to me in the form of a
once in a life time trip to New Mexico was truly the experience of a life time. I will never forget the memories I
made at the Martinez Ranch, nor will I forget the friends I made and the amazing time I had while I was on the
hunt.