When you REALLY enjoy a hunt and the outfitter you hunted with is great, you can’t wait to go back. Such is the case with Busy B Outfitters in
Jefferson
,
Texas
. Jason and Shanon Bonner, owners of the ranch run a first class operation as my husband, Gary and I found out on our first trip to the Busy B two years ago. The lodging is first class and the hunting is even better. Each cabin is fully equipped including fire wood, rocking chairs on the porch and a great view of a private lake… right down to marshmallows for roasting over the fire. Hunting is spot and stalk, safari style or tree stands and ground blinds.
It was with much sorrow that we left after spending a week at the Busy B on our last visit. When we began making plans for Fall, 2007 we looked again to
Texas
and the Busy B. Plans were quickly made and confirmed with Jason and Shanon and this time it would be even better – we were going to get to hunt with our good friends, Jim and Lynne Frady. We had planned to make the trip together before but Hurricane Katrina had other plans and we had to make the trip separately.
Anticipation was high and we counted down the days all summer until our departure in November. We arrived on Sunday morning after a 14 hour drive from
North Carolina
and were met by Lynne and Jim as well as Jason, all eager to get in the woods. We quickly donned our camo, checked our bows and headed for the woods. As we were going to our blinds and stands, we got a glimpse of a nice Axis Buck standing at the edge of the woods. We came upon the buck later in the day and he just stood and looked at us while
Gary
waited for that perfect shot. After what seemed like forever the buck started to get nervous. What to do, the buck was quartering away hard. A split second decision and
Gary
decided he couldn’t pass him up and took the shot. By mid-morning his Barnett Wildcat C5, Carbon Express cross bolt and Muzzy broadhead had made contact. We found the buck’s trail but no arrow and the trail soon stopped. Jim, Lynne, Jason, Gary and I started combing the dense woods looking for some sign of the buck. Darkness was rapidly approaching as we continued to look. The search would have to wait for daylight the next day.
Monday morning found us again on the trail of the Axis. We were blazing a trail through the dense woods seeing fallow, oryx, and buffalo, everything but the elusive Axis.
Mid-afternoon and Jason saw the buck crossing a trail – with the arrow still in his neck! Armed with this information, we quickly got on his trail again but no luck.
Tuesday morning dawned foggy with a slight chill in the air.
Gary
found a good spot to sit over a water hole. When the sun finally broke through he saw a lot of different game coming to the water but not his chosen quarry. Again, no success on seeing the big Axis.
Wednesday morning Gary and J.D. Bonner (Jason’s Dad) hit the thickets one more time in search of the wary Axis. Mid-morning found
Gary
again set up over the water hole on the property, not really expecting anything to happen. After sitting there only a short time, a rustle in the leaves and the Axis was walking right toward
Gary
. Every step brought the Axis closer to
Gary
’s ambush. Patiently he waited for the Axis to present a broadside shot, just a few more steps. Finally the Axis gave
Gary
what he needed and he squeezed the trigger of the Wildcat C5 and the 100 grain muzzy tipped crossbolt found it’s mark.
Gary
made a perfect shot and harvested his Axis. There was no shrinkage on this buck – definitely worth the wait. As Gary and I gathered around the buck, we just gazed at this beautiful animal and gave thanks for the harvest. Needless to say there were plenty of hugs and a lot of celebration in camp that night.
We all considered our trip to the Busy B a success and left on Saturday for the long ride home – armed with tales of our adventure. I’ll share more of our trip with you in the future. The Busy B was definitely worth the wait and with luck we’ll be planning a return trip in the near future.
To plan your trip to the Busy B, contact:
Busy B Ranch
Jason and Shanon Bonner
1100 West Prospect Road
Jefferson
,
Texas
75657
Or:
www.busybranch.com
