Back in my July 12, 2017 column, I wrote that Kelsey Doom, director of Wagner Area Growth, penned a weekly newspaper feature called “Community Spotlight.” She asked the featured personality what they would do if they were given $100,000 to start a new business in Wagner. When I was featured, I said I would produce an outdoor TV program featuring Alex Kocer, a handsome, athletic (NCAA Division I All-American) personable, and talented hunter/ fisherman. I’m confident the program would have been a hit, and if I were ten years younger, I’d do it today. What has Alex been up to lately?

On August 19-21, Alex and hunting buddies Jason Deurmier and Branson Tolliver went on a SD archery antelope hunt. Before I go into details, I need to give you some background on pronghorn antelope behavior during the rut or breeding season.

A dominant buck will assemble a harem of does that he will vigilantly “protect” against lesser males that try to sneak into his does. I have personally watched a satellite buck sneak into the does while the dominate buck was running off another potential suitor. It’s quite a show. This behavior makes a buck decoy very effective.

In relating their adventure, Alex said that the conditions, both weather and rut, were absolutely perfect. He also said that the three of them practice, practice, practice with their bows, and that they are proficient out to a hundred yards with those bows. The guys generally hunt in pairs, with one quoting exact rangefinder distance while the other draws his bow. Unlike 95% of antelope archery hunters, these guys don’t use a blind. They crawl on their bellies and hide behind their silhouette decoys rather than using full-body decoys.

Though they had access to some private land, most of their hunting was done on public land. Unlike my rifle hunting experience, antelope numbers were good. Branson didn’t arrive until Friday afternoon, so Alex and Jason worked together on Thursday.

They first look for a herd or buck that they feel might be approachable. A plan was then formulated and the stalk begins. After a number of failed stalks, both Jason and Alex scored on Friday afternoon with Branson getting his buck on Saturday morning. Jason made a 20 yd. shot on a buck that appeared to have a small hay bale between his horns. Apparently ground raking is a part of the mating ritual. Alex made a spectacular 74 yd. shot after barely missing his first shot because he failed to account for the fact that he was five yards closer to the antelope than Jason’s rangefinder reading.

Other than my attributing their amazing success to shooting ability and hunting savy, Alex said that the bucks were acting like they were mad at the decoys and in many instances actually charged into range.

In my estimation, three for three on trophy archery pronghorn bucks is amazing. The odds of one hunter scoring on archery antelope is less than 20%. In my ongoing effort to be a successful outdoor writer, I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by outstanding hunters/ fishermen.

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You’ve probably read about the Chronic Waste Disease whitetail buck carcass found south of Martin. Though no cures and few causes are known for the insidious disease, our SD Game, Fish, and Parks Dept.is going to vigorously monitor CWD on our home turf.

Last Saturday I received a letter from SDGF&P as I have a Unit 20A Corson County whitetail tag. West River Units 02C, 11A, 11B, 15B, 20A, 31A, 49A, 49B, 53A, 60A, 65A, and 67A have been targeted. The only East River Unit named is 18A in Clark County.

We hunters in these counties are to deposit the heads of our deer at pre-arranged drop-off points for CWD testing. Information tags will be provided. We will then be notified if our deer tests positive or not for CWD. Though no human deaths have been linked directly to the consumption of a CWD deer, we are advised not to eat our deer, and to make proper disposal. SDGF&P is making all the right moves regarding CWD, but I must admit that this situation is making me a wee bit apprehensive. See you next week.