Ernie, John Cooke of Norman, OK wanted me to post this note and photos for you to see.
Ernie Bishop helped 3 of us a few years back in 2008 on a Rich Bartman antelope hunt on the Hat Six Ranch near Casper, Wyoming. I had three good specialty pistols and loaned the other two on this hunt a pistol after loading, helping them learn to shoot them and carry them.
John wanted to hunt with my XP100 in 7BR with a Weaver scope.
After getting there and meeting some of the group the first morning Ernie said he would help us get to a spot he thought would be good to hunt.
After deciding John would shoot first we got on a couple of good antelope bucks and prepared for the shot. Now John, is a spaz when it comes to shooting at game.
He starts shaking and cant get on target. John was prone with the pistol on his pack and Ernie prone beside him. After ranging the goats Ernie just put his hand on John's shoulder and told him "It's just a target". John got rock solid and took that nice buck.
In saying all of this, John wanted to do more Pistol hunting since he hunted with me everywhere I went and I always took a pistol or two. We got him set up with a Encore in 243 with a Burris 3x12 scope. I loaded 50 rounds of Accubonds and we started practicing. He learned quickly on holding on some sticks and hand placement on the grip consistently and sight picture in the scope.
He decided to go this last Sunday afternoon, the last day of Gun season here in Oklahoma. I had told him about a spot I hunted in the evening and he could watch a road and some pasture for a long ways.
He set up and then remembered I told him to keep the wind in his face and moved to a little area of grass against a tree.
I told him every time I had hunted this place the deer would move just before too dark to see in the scope.
About that time he spotted this buck and "calmly" got on the tripod, got a sight picture and waited for the buck to turn. When he gave him a broadside shot, he sent one. The buck dropped in his tracks. He said he never got the shakes or second guessed himself. He just keep thinking about what Ernie had told him that morning on the antelope hunt- it was just a target.
Now, after the shot and reloading he started to shake and couldn't hardly dial the phone to tell me he has scored. I told him I would be there in one hour and help get him to a road and in the truck. Now John is in good shape for 70 years old and gets around real well on one metal hip and a couple of stints.
He was walking on cloud nine when I got there. I told him Ernie would be proud that he could help. He is hooked line and sinker and is always bugging me about maybe finding him an XP in 223 or something small to punch paper. I can help with that.
Here a couple of pics of the buck. 7 point, field dressed 145 lbs. 85 yd shot.