Hunter Doucet and his father Wayne, using a little “down time” from playing baseball, were on their first Exotic hunt. After a long drive from Lumberton, Texas, Hunter and his dad settled in, ready for the hunt to begin. Hunter’s plan was to take a trophy using his bow, and follow up with a rifle hunt. Hunter soon realized that hunting for Exotics was a new challenge. An avid Whitetail hunter, he hunted in blinds for Whitetail before, but safari style and stalking was new. With guide and ranch manger, Jack Becker, they hunted two and a half long days, enduring unseasonable cold mornings and wind gusts of 40 mph.

The first evening, using ground blinds, they were able to see a lot of great trophies but none presented an opportunity. The following morning, with a wind chill of 17 degrees and a stiff wind, they could not get the shot they were looking for. After a quick breakfast, they were in pursuit of a trophy Mouflon.

Hunter changed from his Martin Saber to a Rugar 77m Compact, using a Barnes Triple Shock 140 grain. Jack modified the pursuit to safari style and in two hours, Hunter had his trophy Mouflon.

The following morning, the weather had improved and Hunter was back to his bow. Jack, Hunter and his Dad made the decision to stalk hunt. In time, Hunter was able to stalk within 25 yards of a mature Sika doe. Using his Martin, with 100 grain Crimson Talon broad head, and perfect shot placement, the trophy was at hand.

This hunting adventure achieved many firsts; first Exotic trophy taken with his bow, his first Exotic taken with a rifle, and his first use of three different hunting techniques: ground blind, safari style and stalking. There are many ways hunters measure a hunt, normally it is by the size of the trophy, but a father and son hunting and experiencing the outdoors, make memories that will last a life time.

Rock Creek Ranch is owned and operated by Mike and Caira Franz. This hunt occurred in Coryell county in Central Texas.

Mike Franz Rock Creek Ranch