Columbia, MO -(AmmoLand.com)- MidwayUSA is excited to announce the release of “The One Shot Antelope Hunt” a short story by Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA.
“Some of my fondest memories are the hunting and fishing stories Dad and my uncles shared with us kids back then – generally around the wood stove, and other times in the field,” said Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidwayUSA. “Unfortunately, it was pure and simple storytelling, so all I have are the memories. Now, as a father and grandfather and having hunted and fished all my life, I am taking the time to write down some of my own stories – for the enjoyment of my children, grandchildren, friends and Customers. These are all real stories that I participated in, nothing is made up; and I write them purely for your enjoyment.”
The One Shot Antelope Hunt
By Larry Potterfield
Lander, Wyoming lies pretty much in the middle of the state, on the road from Rawlings — on Interstate 80 — to the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Thousands of vacationers drive through Lander each year, some stopping for supplies or to spend the night. As a hunter I knew it as the hometown of the One Shot Antelope Hunt, an annual event dating back to 1940.
There are three categories of guests – shooters (the official hunters), past shooters and their guests. Through the years, this event has evolved mostly into a celebrity thing, featuring politicians, movie stars, astronauts, famous athletes and other notables. Obviously it’s very special to be selected as a shooter on one of the teams, but Brenda and I were thrilled to get an invitation, from past shooter Bert Klineburger, to be his guests at the activities: and as a bonus, he would personally guide us on an antelope hunt, while we were there.
The “official” hunt is for one day only — for one male antelope each — and only one-shot per shooter, with three shooters per team. The team with the most antelope wins. If the top two teams tie, the team with the shortest time till the last antelope is declared the winner. The purpose of the One Shot Antelope Hunt is not to shoot antelope, but rather to promote sportsmanship, conservation and comradeship.
We were up and out early, driving to a nearby ranch – arriving at first light. As guests of a past shooter, and not official contestants, there was no pressure about time or the number of shots fired, but Brenda and I are both pretty competitive and wanted to stay with the theme of the shoot.
Brenda’s chance came early that morning and she made a perfect, one shot kill at 90 yards, as her buck fed out from behind the cover of a small rise. Three and a half hours later we spotted two bucks fighting, just like whitetail deer – but well beyond range. Suddenly they broke off and ran in our direction, one chasing the other. The lead buck ran under a fence and his pursuer stopped the chase. Continuing in our direction, the lead buck slowed to a walk and came to within 140 yards, at which time I shot him.
So that was our experience with the One Shot Antelope Hunt; what an interesting part of our hunting heritage.
Read “The One Shot Antelope Hunt” here: http://media.midwayusa.com/cms/larrys-stories/2016_2/140_the-one-shot-antelope-hunt.pdf.
To read the rest of Larry’s Short Stories, please visit http://www.midwayusa.com/larrys-stories.
About MidwayUSA:
Both country kids from Missouri, Larry and Brenda Potterfield turned their passion for shooting sports into a career by opening a small gun shop in 1977 that would eventually become MidwayUSA (http://www.midwayusa.com). They instilled family values like honesty, integrity and respect for others into the business, and strive to maintain this culture with each Employee added to their growing team. For over 38 years, MidwayUSA has maintained an unyielding focus on Customer Satisfaction and continues to offer JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING for Shooting, Hunting and the Outdoors.
For more information on MidwayUSA, visit their website (http://www.midwayusa.com), find them on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialMidwayUSA), or follow them on Twitter (http://twitter.com/midwayusa).