Albert "Guero" Pena

2000 Deer Season

Well as you've seen my season actually started in September with my 1st Elk hunt. Although I wasn't able to harvest a trophy bull this year, my "Rookie" year, I do plan on going back to take a trophy bull. I was originally after the herd bull that was bugling non stop when I looked up and saw this one feeding 60 yards away. I decided to try to take this one as he fed on seeded grass in a controlled burned area.

The Stalk
I stalked on my hands and knees to within 30 yards when a cow spotted me and barked.  She ran up the mountain but the rest of the cows and this bull remained unalarmed and kept feeding. There were several trees between he and I, and I found a 12" by 8" (approx) hole to shoot through and thought to myself, "I can make this shot".  I then came to full draw, locked on my 30 yard pin behind his ribcage (he was quartering away from me uphill) and processed the shot.  I heard the smack of my ACKenetic arrow tipped with a 100 gr Muzzy crack through his ribcage on the opposite side but I did not see the hit.  He leaped forward and ran about 10 yards.  Then he circled uphill and back around 10 yards just 6 yards from where I hit him.  I began to doubt my shot as he did not show any signs of being hit.  Then, after looking around for several minutes he layed down calmly. He was still very alert so I waited on one knee. Suddenly his head began to sway side to side as he fought his inevitable expiration. He then in a very peaceful manner layed his head down and passed.

I was filled with happines, excitement, and sadness. Here was a beautiful creature in which I took away his life.  But as I looked up and thanked God for his blessings I remembered in the book of Genesis that it states " God blessed them saying, See I give you every seed bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land..."  With that in mind I give thanks to the opportunities that have been given to me and smiled.

"Raghorn"
Even though my bull is considered a "Raghorn" it is still my trophy and I am extremely proud to have been able to harvest such a magnificent creature. Just look at the size of this animal compared to me. This isn't even as big as the one Rick or Art or Kelby had seen ealier in the trip!  I have never hunted Elk so there was alot to learn. Probably the most important lesson was the fact that this type of hunting is purely physical.  I was not prepared to run up and down the mountains chasing Elk.  Even the hiking aspect can be very demanding.  The real work began with the packing out but I was fortunate that he didn't run far and that there was a logging road near. I was very fortunate to have good friends like Rafy and Art to help me pack out this huge animal.

I have been very blessed this past year. I have won several local Archery Tournaments. I won the State Archery Indoor Championship. I did pretty good in my first outdoor 3-D tournaments. I went Elk hunting for the first time ever and I scored on a nice Bull and I took a nice Buck and Doe this Deer season. Talk about be fortunate. Of course much of it would not have been possible without people like Michael Braden, Mix Williams at Red Sand Archery, Ricky and Rafy Espino. And most importantly, my Family.

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