Wow, where is a guy supposed to start on a hunt like this... I guess it really started when we set up this drilling rig south of Pecos. I had heard the wildlife was pretty thick in this area but until about a month and a half ago I hadn't seen much. Fast forward to about 90 days ago. I was in my office at about 11:30pm finishing up my reports and such when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned slowly and noticed a monster field mouse in the living area of my bunk house. I immediately coined him as "Stuart".
Stuart wasn't your run of the mill field mouse. His trophy potential was obvious from over 30 feet away! He caught me completely unaware and slipped across the would be shooting lane before I had a chance to sling any sort of projectile his way. I made up my mind right then to hunt Stuart long and hard until he met his demise.
I went on my days off for 2 weeks and informed my relief of Stuart's presence. He swore an oath to do his level best to hunt him down as well. I returned 14 days later to find out that there had been many encounters with Stuart but never given an opprotunity for a shot.
That night I drove into Pecos and got some traps from Walmart. Baited with peanut butter and jelly, I stratigicly placed them in known travel zones. Stuart prefered the underneath side of a table near my recliner and the corner near the sink. He also had a nasty habit of getting inside the walls right by my head while I tried to sleep.
I had two more encounters with Stuart. One was 4 nights ago while again, I was finishing up reports late at night. He paused in the corner long enough for me to remove the size 13 E Redwing Steel Toe Work Boot and roll my chair into a clear shooting lane. All needed was for him to get into the open. Drawn and ready, I fired away with a 88mph Redwing!
Stuart gave me a glimps at how he had gotten to trophy potential. My aim was ever true, he just wasn't there when the boot got there. I was going to need to tweak my equipment and get something lighter and much faster.
I practiced with several differnt things and the most deadly I could come up with was a 12" Proto Flat Head Screw Driver. I felt sure this would do the job. All the while, I had been running my trap line with no success. Stuart hadn't gotten to be so big and old by being stupid. He some how could clean the entire trap of peanut butter and jelly without setting it off. Catching him of guard was proving to be more of a challenge than I had origionally thought.
2 nights ago, I had yet aother encounter with Stuart. I was enjoying a rare moment where I actually get to put my feet up and watch a little TV. I kept the Proto close by at all times and this time was no different. As it happens most of the time with mature animals, Stuart just appeared out of no where! Slowly and carefully I got somewhat into position without spooking him and he made his way near the stove. He had a way of catching me off guard. This was not a position I had practiced!
Grabbing the flat end of the Proto as I'd done in practice a thousand times, I waited for the right moment. With him slightly quartered away and his front leg forward I let it fly once again. Again Stuart was gine when the screw driver got there, the speed was close to 94mph!
At that moment, I got up and inspected my traps. The peanut butter/ jelly was gone again. I was furious! Stuart was making a fool out of me! I took the traps and a set of channel lock pliers and bent the catch in. A fine tune trigger job if you will. I then re baited the traps with the death cocktail and went to bed to let the area rest.
I woke up this morning at 4:30am like usual, little groggy from being up getting the casing crew set up until 1:45am. In spiteof my lack of sleep, I felt alive and well, not as tired as a guy would think. I came in, checked my computer to see how progress was going outside, and went to put a pot oof coffee on. At that moment, just as I'd done countless times before, I looked over at my trap line... This time Stuart was in with a perfect shot right behind the head!
There is nothing like the feeling of coming back from behind and taking the trophy of a lifetime. Thanks for following along, and happy Friday
Stuart wasn't your run of the mill field mouse. His trophy potential was obvious from over 30 feet away! He caught me completely unaware and slipped across the would be shooting lane before I had a chance to sling any sort of projectile his way. I made up my mind right then to hunt Stuart long and hard until he met his demise.
I went on my days off for 2 weeks and informed my relief of Stuart's presence. He swore an oath to do his level best to hunt him down as well. I returned 14 days later to find out that there had been many encounters with Stuart but never given an opprotunity for a shot.
That night I drove into Pecos and got some traps from Walmart. Baited with peanut butter and jelly, I stratigicly placed them in known travel zones. Stuart prefered the underneath side of a table near my recliner and the corner near the sink. He also had a nasty habit of getting inside the walls right by my head while I tried to sleep.
I had two more encounters with Stuart. One was 4 nights ago while again, I was finishing up reports late at night. He paused in the corner long enough for me to remove the size 13 E Redwing Steel Toe Work Boot and roll my chair into a clear shooting lane. All needed was for him to get into the open. Drawn and ready, I fired away with a 88mph Redwing!
Stuart gave me a glimps at how he had gotten to trophy potential. My aim was ever true, he just wasn't there when the boot got there. I was going to need to tweak my equipment and get something lighter and much faster.
I practiced with several differnt things and the most deadly I could come up with was a 12" Proto Flat Head Screw Driver. I felt sure this would do the job. All the while, I had been running my trap line with no success. Stuart hadn't gotten to be so big and old by being stupid. He some how could clean the entire trap of peanut butter and jelly without setting it off. Catching him of guard was proving to be more of a challenge than I had origionally thought.
2 nights ago, I had yet aother encounter with Stuart. I was enjoying a rare moment where I actually get to put my feet up and watch a little TV. I kept the Proto close by at all times and this time was no different. As it happens most of the time with mature animals, Stuart just appeared out of no where! Slowly and carefully I got somewhat into position without spooking him and he made his way near the stove. He had a way of catching me off guard. This was not a position I had practiced!
Grabbing the flat end of the Proto as I'd done in practice a thousand times, I waited for the right moment. With him slightly quartered away and his front leg forward I let it fly once again. Again Stuart was gine when the screw driver got there, the speed was close to 94mph!
At that moment, I got up and inspected my traps. The peanut butter/ jelly was gone again. I was furious! Stuart was making a fool out of me! I took the traps and a set of channel lock pliers and bent the catch in. A fine tune trigger job if you will. I then re baited the traps with the death cocktail and went to bed to let the area rest.
I woke up this morning at 4:30am like usual, little groggy from being up getting the casing crew set up until 1:45am. In spiteof my lack of sleep, I felt alive and well, not as tired as a guy would think. I came in, checked my computer to see how progress was going outside, and went to put a pot oof coffee on. At that moment, just as I'd done countless times before, I looked over at my trap line... This time Stuart was in with a perfect shot right behind the head!
There is nothing like the feeling of coming back from behind and taking the trophy of a lifetime. Thanks for following along, and happy Friday
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