12 years ago I met my amazing wife Melissa. At the time of our introduction, my wife to be knew I hunted and fished as often as I could. While she loved to go fishing, she did not like guns or hunting. After some time, she slowly began to come around and began to do a little shooting with me. A couple of years after our marriage she even went pheasant hunting with me at a local club that I belonged.
Two seasons ago, she took up archery and even purchased a deer tag. Unfortunately, she never found a buck to shoot but then again maybe that is why she purchased a tag--lack of real opportunity to take a shot. Last spring, she asked if she could go antelope hunting with me in Wy :shock: :grin: . Plans were set into place to develop a load for her 257 Roy in a Remington 700 a gun that we won at an RMEF banquet three years ago. After some fairly significant load development, I took her to the range twice to get sighted in and to get comfortable with her rifle. We also took two trips up to the hills to shoot milk jugs off of shooting sticks. Very soon, she was blowing up milk jugs left and right out to 250 yards :mrgreen:
On the 9/28 we began our trip with our four children to Gillette Wy from the central valley of Ca. The night before the first day, I slept only about four of the eight hours that I lay in bed. I was very excited to have my wife with me on this hunt--it has always been my dream to have my wife and kids hunt with me.
The first morning we put multiple stocks on several bucks but could never get closer than 300 to 400 yards. Both of us wanted her to have a shot at a buck under 250 yards. Finally after about a dozen stocks, we found a cooperative buck at 225 yards. With one double lung shot, the buck was down. It was hard to tell who was more happy my wife, my four kids or myself. I think the smiles say it all--too bad I can't get all four children to smile at the same time.
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After whacking her buck she took a nice fat doe with one shot as well
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Later that evening, after quatering out Melissa's two antelope we went out for an evening hunt that produced a nice little buck for my self
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I am such a lucky man
And on top of this wonderful trip the STW and the 257 Roy both killed their first animals
Two seasons ago, she took up archery and even purchased a deer tag. Unfortunately, she never found a buck to shoot but then again maybe that is why she purchased a tag--lack of real opportunity to take a shot. Last spring, she asked if she could go antelope hunting with me in Wy :shock: :grin: . Plans were set into place to develop a load for her 257 Roy in a Remington 700 a gun that we won at an RMEF banquet three years ago. After some fairly significant load development, I took her to the range twice to get sighted in and to get comfortable with her rifle. We also took two trips up to the hills to shoot milk jugs off of shooting sticks. Very soon, she was blowing up milk jugs left and right out to 250 yards :mrgreen:
On the 9/28 we began our trip with our four children to Gillette Wy from the central valley of Ca. The night before the first day, I slept only about four of the eight hours that I lay in bed. I was very excited to have my wife with me on this hunt--it has always been my dream to have my wife and kids hunt with me.
The first morning we put multiple stocks on several bucks but could never get closer than 300 to 400 yards. Both of us wanted her to have a shot at a buck under 250 yards. Finally after about a dozen stocks, we found a cooperative buck at 225 yards. With one double lung shot, the buck was down. It was hard to tell who was more happy my wife, my four kids or myself. I think the smiles say it all--too bad I can't get all four children to smile at the same time.
View attachment IMG_0078.JPG
View attachment IMG_0089.JPG
After whacking her buck she took a nice fat doe with one shot as well
View attachment IMG_0095.JPG
Later that evening, after quatering out Melissa's two antelope we went out for an evening hunt that produced a nice little buck for my self
View attachment IMG_0109.JPG
I am such a lucky man
And on top of this wonderful trip the STW and the 257 Roy both killed their first animals
congratulations to all of you and especially Melissa on her pronghorns. Love the group shot of her and all the kids too, you are a lucky man.
