A Lifetime Dream
By Bruce Barker Hunting is much more than a simple trophy. It’s the places it takes you and the people you meet along the way that help make a hunt memorable. I have hunted in Alaska; Yukon, Canada; New Zealand; Africa; and of course, my backyard in “The Golden Triangle” of South Texas. The anticipation to hunt a trophy mule deer in Sonora, Mexico was one more hunt that I desperately wanted to experience and the wait was excruciating. Time, age, and physical stamina were not in my favor. As the days and months passed, the odds kept stacking up against me due to my health. The day finally came in December when I boarded the plane with my son-in-law and within a few hours we were at the Chaparral Ranch. Located in northwest Mexico, this 20,000-acre ranch is just east of the Sea of Cortez. The next morning my .270 rifle was ready, and right on target. I felt an overwhelming joy as we rode around the ranch with the guides.
Hunting with Family and Friends
A genuine friendship instantly formed between me and my guide. It was as if we had known each other for a long time. I knew this was a journey I would not want to make alone, so having family and friends around me made the experience even more memorable. On the second evening of my hunt, near dark, a buck stepped out about 130 yards away. The excitement in the voice of my guide was enough for me to know this was a trophy mule deer. I quickly placed the crosshairs behind the buck’s shoulder and squeezed the trigger. Staying calm and steady was not easy, as I was overwhelmed with excitement. In that one shot with my .270, I secured my lifetime dream of a 200-class Boone and Crockett typical mule deer.
