Let’s just consider this an “update”: a year after taking my own bison, Doubletough contributor Aaron Enget visited the ranch of a PRCA stock contractor in South Dakota who was considering offering bison hunts on his property. He had done rifle hunts and had been asked about bow hunting his herd, but was unsure how such a hunt would go down. Aaron, who picked up bowhunting a couple years earlier, volunteered for the job.
The property owner offered a tree stand but Aaron chose to stick to the ground so he could remain mobile. As the small group of bison passed by within 40 yards, one came close enough for a shot, right about 25 yards. That first arrow started the bleeding but after moving into better position, a second arrow put him down for a good. The stock contractor ultimately chose to stick with rifle hunts due to safety concerns and Aaron asked for the head to be reserved after the animal was butchered for commercial sale.
Fast forward to 2008. Our Doubletough group swung by the ranch for a day of pheasant hunting on our way to a North Dakota deer hunt. On the way out, the contractor reminded Aaron to pick up the head, which had been sitting outside for a year. The fur was matted and looked like hell so we threw it in the back of the pickup.
The photo above is from December 2009, a full two years after it had been harvested. Aaron sent it with just one line, “hide and lower jaw finally came off.” We figure as long as no critters haul it off or chew it down, it may be ready for the barn in another year.
2 Comments
Dig a hole, put it in, and it’ll be done in a couple months probably. Interesting – sure would like to get a buffalo…imagine I could eat off that thing for a good 3 years or so!
I thought I had the video of him shooting it around here someplace but couldn’t find it. It was a long way off (the video I mean) but you get the idea. If I dig it up, I’ll get it posted, pronto.