A Hunting We Will Go...

DH had a 3 day antelope hunt and he asked me to go with him on the 3rd day. Antelope habitat is open and vast and I could stay with the rig and drive it to where DH was if he was successful. He stalks and hunts and often covers 5-10 miles on an antelope hunt. I love watching them move across the pasture (I took this years ago)

We left well before daylight 

and drove over pastures, thick with grass. Home was behind us in those mountains to the south.

I drove about 2 mph while DH glassed

Once we spotted some, DH bailed out on foot

About 3 hours later he was successful

It would have been a long way back to the rig if I hadn't been along.

So grateful to be able to put meat in the freezer.

His 5 day elk hunt was the next weekend, but that was the same weekend he was judging the ranch rodeo so he was only able to hunt 2 days.

I made breakfast sandwiches the night before

 since we left at 3 a.m.

We hauled the Can-am and left the truck on a forest road in the Jicarillas. Lots of miles across pretty country

Lots of glassing

Almost took a shot

But they moved into some thick cover. DH went after them on foot, but wasn't able to get a clean shot. 

We drove back to the truck about 3, laid out a tarp, and enjoyed a picnic lunch (I had made buckaroo bundles)

We had a room with a view. Gotta love these New Mexico skies.

But neither of us could resist a siesta

The afternoon and evening were also unsuccessful, but we still considered it a wonderful day.

Wild animals. Wild country. And the best company.

We were still recuperating from the ranch rodeo and were exhausted by the time we loaded the Can-am back on the trailer and headed home. 

We'd gotten up at 2:30 a.m. and pulled back up to the house at 10 p.m. A long day for old folks.

We still have a chance for an elk in November as well as a deer hunt. Hopefully, we'll be rested up by then. We're in our 60's and don't bounce back as quickly as we did 40 years ago. 😂