Another TBH Good Guy, go figure!!!
Axeman and I just got home from one of the best trips we have ever had together. It all started a few days ago right here on "Around the Campfire".
I had a thread up that was albeit, a little controversial.
There were differing opinions and some unpleasantries exchanged between a few posting, but never outright bashing. I pm'd Doghouse (Mark) and we ended our exchanges with Holiday well wishes. It actually left me feeling pretty good. I deleted the thread after speaking with him and seeing his side of it.
A couple of days after the conversation via PM's, Mark pm'd me again. He said that he had a surplus of blackbuck doe to remove from his place and asked me if I would like to come and shoot a couple free of charge. I was taken aback to be honest. I never expected the offer. I asked him what I could offer him in return and he said nothing.
I did not want to go without the Axeman and Mark said that would be great, bring him. I set about trying to line the day up and finally we settled on Tuesday. I took a day of leave and got Axel out of School (Pre-school) for the day so we could make the drive up to Goldthwaite. Axel was excited to go.
This morning we got the truck loaded up and our cold weather clothes gathered and headed down the road at around 9a.m. We got to Lampasas and stopped at Wal-Mart to get Axel some hearing protection , as this was a rifle hunt, and some corn for Mark. Axel ended up getting a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figure as well. I have no idea how that happens
Once back on the road we reached Goldthwaite at about 10:45 and we called Mark to get directions. He guided us in and we made it to his house by 11a.m. With a short greeting we bundled up and loaded into the Ranger for a tour of his property. It is an absolute beautiful place. We saw a ton of Whitetail and a bunch of ducks. We rode around for about 45min to an Hour, before we headed back to get the gun and start the hunt.
No sooner than we drove out the home pasture, we started to see blackbuck. He has some Monster blackbuck. I was in awe of the first two we saw and they were not even the biggest. We drove around for a few minutes and finally found the doe. I leveled the .300WSM (overkill, I know) and dropped the first one.
After photos with the first one, we loaded it up and got back into the search. We found a bigger group this time and I picked out another doe and dropped her. I was only supposed to kill two, but Mark asked if I wanted another one. Of course, my reply was Yes
"Boom", down went number 3!!! It all happened so fast. Axel enjoyed it, but he kept telling me to shoot everything.
After some pics we loaded them all up and went to the skinning tree and got to work. I got them all cleaned and into the cooler. I enjoyed some conversation with Mark while cleaning the antelope and watching Axel play. Mark is truly good people. I enjoyed hearing him talk about his family and his Grandkids. His love of the outdoors and the ranch life is plainly seen as soon as you meet him.
Mark, thank you for the great experience. I hope that I can repay the kindness one day. I am truly humbled by the generosity. Thank you for allowing Axel to talk your ear off too
I had a thread up that was albeit, a little controversial.
There were differing opinions and some unpleasantries exchanged between a few posting, but never outright bashing. I pm'd Doghouse (Mark) and we ended our exchanges with Holiday well wishes. It actually left me feeling pretty good. I deleted the thread after speaking with him and seeing his side of it. A couple of days after the conversation via PM's, Mark pm'd me again. He said that he had a surplus of blackbuck doe to remove from his place and asked me if I would like to come and shoot a couple free of charge. I was taken aback to be honest. I never expected the offer. I asked him what I could offer him in return and he said nothing.
I did not want to go without the Axeman and Mark said that would be great, bring him. I set about trying to line the day up and finally we settled on Tuesday. I took a day of leave and got Axel out of School (Pre-school) for the day so we could make the drive up to Goldthwaite. Axel was excited to go.
This morning we got the truck loaded up and our cold weather clothes gathered and headed down the road at around 9a.m. We got to Lampasas and stopped at Wal-Mart to get Axel some hearing protection , as this was a rifle hunt, and some corn for Mark. Axel ended up getting a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figure as well. I have no idea how that happens
Once back on the road we reached Goldthwaite at about 10:45 and we called Mark to get directions. He guided us in and we made it to his house by 11a.m. With a short greeting we bundled up and loaded into the Ranger for a tour of his property. It is an absolute beautiful place. We saw a ton of Whitetail and a bunch of ducks. We rode around for about 45min to an Hour, before we headed back to get the gun and start the hunt.
No sooner than we drove out the home pasture, we started to see blackbuck. He has some Monster blackbuck. I was in awe of the first two we saw and they were not even the biggest. We drove around for a few minutes and finally found the doe. I leveled the .300WSM (overkill, I know) and dropped the first one.
After photos with the first one, we loaded it up and got back into the search. We found a bigger group this time and I picked out another doe and dropped her. I was only supposed to kill two, but Mark asked if I wanted another one. Of course, my reply was Yes
"Boom", down went number 3!!! It all happened so fast. Axel enjoyed it, but he kept telling me to shoot everything.After some pics we loaded them all up and went to the skinning tree and got to work. I got them all cleaned and into the cooler. I enjoyed some conversation with Mark while cleaning the antelope and watching Axel play. Mark is truly good people. I enjoyed hearing him talk about his family and his Grandkids. His love of the outdoors and the ranch life is plainly seen as soon as you meet him.
Mark, thank you for the great experience. I hope that I can repay the kindness one day. I am truly humbled by the generosity. Thank you for allowing Axel to talk your ear off too
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