Ed Foreman Youth Hunt - Bugscuffle Ranch - Josh Johnson

[slayer]

ED FOREMAN Hunt Winner


Josh Johnson


Copy of Josh Ibex Ram.JPG

I want to start by thanking Bryan & Debbie Keeling with the Bugscuffle Ranch, Lonestar Bowhunters Association and the family of Ed Foreman. I would also like to thank my Dad for introducing me to hunting, especially the passion of the bow. When applying for a hunt like this, you don’t really understand what you are truly getting or what to expect. I had great anticipation of what was to come, especially the chance to harvest my first animal with a bow. I hope my recap of this hunt does justice of all the memories I made from this adventure.
The preparation for this hunt began with lots of practice. When I say practice, I mean practice. My dad had me shooting everyday standing, sitting, even from a ground blind. I have shot the deer, pig and block at least a thousand times in the last couple of months. We even got new clothes to deal with the Texas heat, new arrows and broad heads just for this occasion. The hunt is set, time is here and I’m ready to go.
We left out Sunday morning for the Bugscuffle Ranch with lots of anticipation and excitement. The drive down was long but cool because of all the animals I was able to see such as White tailed deer, Axis and Black buck. Once we reached the ranch there were two gates, one to the bunkhouse and the other to the ranch. After seeing the entrance to the ranch on the website several hundred times, it was awesome to finally be standing there. We found the bunkhouse, unpacked and looked around at our new home away from home. I wanted to shoot my bow one last time before going out for the evening hunt and there was a nice range at the cabin. While shooting, we noticed there were zebras next to the fence at the ranch across the road. It was way cool; I couldn’t help but to smile seeing a zebra in Texas.
The ranch manager Bryan Keeling and his friend Chris Garza came by the camp house and we finally got to meet. We shook hands and got the paper work done and went over the ranch rules. Bryan took us on a tour of the ranch and I couldn’t believe all the animals we saw in the first 5 minutes there. I think I said “wow” at least a thousand times! We drove around and looked at the different stand locations and he even showed us where we would be for the evening hunt on Sunday night. On the way back down Chris spotted an Axis deer shed on the side of the road. My dad got out and got the shed and handed it to me. The shed is longer than my arm and I held it all the way back to the camp house just hoping I get a crack at one this big. Now my nerves were going buzzer!
Our evening hunt went by with no activity except for a few trophy squirrels and rabbits. We could hear animals behind us, but nothing showed up. I felt kind of disappointed after getting skunked but still had hope. Our second sit was in a homemade ground blind on a big flat next to a protein feeder. Bryan filled the feeder with a few bags of corn and spread some on the road. He hadn’t even gotten down the road a minute when it sounded like the woods were coming alive. There were footsteps, snorting and grunting going on and my dad said it was pigs. I got a little scared because they were all around us and thought they were going to be in the blind with us. It soon was daylight and we could see our pigs were actually about 15-20 black bucks and doe’s. They were grunting and snorting just like pigs. Six very large red stags soon joined the blackbucks on the corn buffet. We had a few axis bucks and doe’s about hundred yards but they never came in. At one time we had over 70 animals in front of us. It was definitely a neat thing to see. Then a young axis doe barked at something and spooked every animal in the area, which was very disappointing. Bryan came and picked us up and we went and refilled the feeders and scouted for our evening hunt. Bryan decided to make a ground blind for us in a spot we had seen a lot of the axis bucks and does along with the rams. When we arrived for our evening hunt, Bryan showed us the new ground blind and we got excited. It was a great spot and there were lots of animals already in the area. Within the first 10 minutes in the blind there were fifteen black bucks, nine rams and a few axis does. There was a 30” plus axis buck behind us about twenty yards but we didn’t have a shot. He was roaring and barking while chasing a doe. My dad asked me if I wanted to wait on the axis buck or try and take a very nice ibex ram that had made his way in front of us. I didn’t feel like the buck would come in and I decided on the ibex ram. I drew my bow back and a black buck came in front and I had to let down. The ram moved back into my lane I drew again and took the shot. It happened so fast, my body was shaking and I was instantly hooked for life. I wasn’t sure of the shot I had made, but I did see blood when he was running away. We could see him laying down in the tree line with the rest of the rams. Bryan decided to get his dog Bowman to make sure we were able to recover the ibex. After a little excitement, I was able to get in range to put him down for good. I can tell you Bowman is one incredible dog. He rocks!
This hunt was one that I will never forget. I was able to finally harvest my first animal with a bow and it was incredible. I was so happy and excited then and I’m still stoked now. To the Keeling family, Lonestar Bowhunters, Ed Foreman’s family, I am forever grateful of the opportunity I was able to experience. To my dad, thank you for introducing me to the great outdoors and hunting.
Bugscuffle Black Buck.JPG
Bugscuffle Stags.JPG

[biggen]

Congratulations young man!!!

[BOBSTER]

Congratulations Josh on a nice ibex and great recap of your hunt.
Bob

[Ronny]

Congrats Josh. You did good with those boys Scott.

[skeeter]

sweet! congrats on a great hunt!