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Trophy Whitetail Deer Hunts at the 3R Ranch
 
This is our Family page where pictures of Dori and Bull's hunting and fishing are posted.

 

Family and Stories

Doris proudly shows off her new braces and what is now her largest buck ever harvested. The buck was taken off our ranch Friday night from 125 yards with Guide "The Bull".
The deer was over 5 years old and grossed over 140 B&C and netted over 136.. She is going to the Texas Big Game Awards this summer as this deer meets the min for our region.

Way to go Dori...

Many of you know the story of the gun I carry when I hunt. It belonged to my best friend who passed away a few years ago. The Legend, a 22.250 just does not miss. Earlier this year I was able to hook a shot around a Yucca at an antelope in West Texas to make a perfect shot at 150 yards. I do believe my guide Tex from Wildlife Systems was amazed.

Tonight, I went on a short doe hunt here at the RRR. Around 5:15, I saw this huge axis on top of a ridge about 250 yards away. Dori had bell choir and I had no business shooting a deer anyway tonight. I watched as one, two and then three axis bucks made their way across the ridge above me, very quietly.

These axis are nearly impossible to find. So, the last axis began to pass and then took a nice look at me and gave me a silloute look at 250 yards. I knew he was the big axis my friend Randy Pfaff from Colorado had hunted this summer. So, knowing this was a once in a lifetime shot and I HAD THE LEGEND, I decided to take a neck shot.

It was too late to go looking for a big deer, so it was hit or miss. Well, end of story. The Legend never misses! Dori and I spent the next hour dragging this guy up the hill and getting him to the house.

7 Year Old Axis Buck
6.5 Bases
35 Inch Main Beams
240# Live weight
250 Yard Shot
22.250 Rifle called THE LEGEND

Thanks for reading and God Bless You.

Bull
Warren Blesh
RRR Ranch
Goldthwaite, America

"This blackbuck was a bully. I had just stocked some yearlings and this guy had them in a corner and was kicking butt! So, I went to the house and got my trusty rifle. When I returned, he had broke a yearlings horn. That did it. He is now on my wall"
Bull
R. Warren "Bull" Blesh
RRR Ranch
Director Texas Wildlife Association
www.3rtrophyranch.com
325.648.2235 Office
325.948.3707 Ranch

Page 8 - Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006 - The Goldthwaite Eagle-Mullin Enterprise
Pictured above is Warren Blesh with a big buck taken with
“The Legend”, a custom built .22-250 handed down to Warren
by a distant relative named Rip.
“The Legend Lives”
True outdoor enthusiasts know hunting
is more about the romance of getting ready,
the opportunity to see new country, or in
my case, sentimental memories. And so the
story begins.
I was invited to hunt at a distant
relative’s place in Goliad, Texas when I
was 14 years old. You can imagine leaving
Dallas, “The Big City” and going to
“A Big Ranch” was quite a thrill.
I met my mother’s second cousin, a man
named James “Rip” Farley. Well this guy
named Rip took me hunting my first time
and soon after that I found myself in Goliad
every year for 38 years.
Rip was pure country, kind of a cross
between the Marlboro man and Matt
Dillon. Wherever he went, he carried a .22-
250 which he had custom made in the late
1950’s.
Now, the gun was special too. I never
saw Rip miss anything with the gun. One
time I lost a bet when he shot a turkey’s
head off at 225 yards. We never bet again!
Last December “Rip”, then about 83,
took me on what would be our last hunt.
What a great time we had riding around
what is known in Goliad as the Power
Ranch.
Rip died earlier this year and in his will
was a gift to me. Yes, the .22-250 he carried
so many years that never missed. So,
the other night, I took the magic gun and a
little piece of Rip with me to the back of
our ranch. Around 5:45 an older 12 point
buck roamed in and the .22-250 rang true
with a neck shot at 100 yards.
The buck was the biggest one I have harvested
in my life. It scored 140 B&C. But
the real joy of the day was using the .22-
250 and knowing “The Legend Lives”…

 

The “Bull” Goes To Colorado


 "The Bull" and I drove into the Colorado canyon. Water was still flowing in
the bottom. A small creek had not given way to the winter cold and ice as of yet.
Although only a trickle, a few inches deep, it was still fighting, struggling
to keep running. We were thankful for this, as we were soon to find out it
would be the natural attractant needed for "The Bull's" success.

"Bull” spotted a youngster buck, a slick horned 3 x 4, he had yet to lose his milk
teeth. It was fun. "Bull" put the scope on the young guy and I advised him of
the range, 243 yards. Practice for what was soon to come. “He sure looks good in the scope” , Bull told me. We drove back near the top of the canyon. My field glasses revealed another smallish buck half way up the canyon hill. He disappeared behind some pines and a dent in the terrain. . . . then
reappeared again at the little creek. . he drank, looked up and drank again .

My modern day laser rangefinder said 198 yards. "Bull" once again was
doing some practicing with his rifle(although there is and always will be only
one "legend", I'll call this rifle "legend jr."). “I could take him” Bull said. I advised “Bull” , No, that we could do much better. We spotted some more deer near the top of the distant hill. A long way off,
they were at least 600 yards. They were milling around near a structure of
sorts. One was a dandy buck. He looked to be at least a 4 x 4 (that's an 8
pointer in Bull's language). The warmth of the sun had long ago left the
canyon. We only had a few minutes left to seal the deal. Darkness was
defeating the sunlight at a pace that would leave us looking for artificial
light soon.

"Bull" and I watched as a baldheaded doe deer started down the hill.
She was in a hurry, the cafe was closing soon. The dandy buck and his
little buddy buck followed her. They were in sight and out of sight several
times as they came down the hill and closer to us. . . . seconds passed and we
only had a couple minutes left. They reappeared behind a cedar, just above, 15
yards or so, the ole watering spot. The life giving thirst quenching ripples were calling.

At 200 yards the doe came around the left of the cedar and little buddy buck
around the right. The dandy waited and so did "The Bull". The rangefinder
read 204 yards to the middle of the cedar. First his antlers appeared, his
front quarters and the remainder of the gray body. . . . .I again advised
"Bull" of the range and which animal he should be focused on . . .
Legend jr. spoke and the dandy buck fell quietly . . .

"The Bull's" first muley , . . a heavy beamed old guy . . . 5 x 5 ( 10 pointer ) taken down with a neck shot by this Tall Texan. Wow, what a hunt! Making Memories for us both, I am so fortunate.

Outfitter
Randy L Pfaff" rpfaff@bresnan.net

PS: If you want a hunt like this, email Randy Pfaff in Colorado. He will not steer you wrong. And that’s no bull……….. 

 

Good memories of THE 3R Ranch and "Wideboy". . . . .

3R Ranch and the Indian Blackbuck "Wideboy"


It was Adam's turn. His graduation from high school several months earlier
meant a trip to the 3R Ranch near Goldthwaite, Texas. His older brother
Bubba had made the trip from Colorado a year earlier and came away with 3R's first blackbuck. A dandy 4 1/2 twist, taken during midday on a spot and stalk hunt.
3R ranch proprietor Warren "Bull" Blesh told us he had been watching an
unusually wide blackbuck he had nicknamed, "Wideboy". We would be looking for him.
We met Bull at his ranch in the dark and loaded up in the 3R jeep. The damp
foggy January air spoke of winter in the hill country. The open jeep, sights
and sounds of the early morning told us we were hunting. Bull dropped us off
at the cedar box blind in the dark and we settled in. Turkeys and song birds
introduced us to the golden orange sunrise splashed across the eastern
hills.
A breeze came through the open windows, the blind creaked and the hint of
cedar in the air became stronger. Whitetail does and small bucks grazed
within yards of the blind. Blackbuck does browsed within 50 yards. . . . we watched for an hour as we were never at a loss for pointing out another animal passing by.
Then it was time . . . . I first noticed ebony horn tips coming up out of
the thick cedar and hardwood bottom, then that slender, slick, sleek color of
black and white. At 120 yards he turned to look in our direction, it was no
doubt, "Wideboy". Measuring more than 20 inches tip to tip at the top of his
horns he was an impressive sight indeed.

Adam waited for the right opportunity to present itself for the broadside
shot. Unnecessarily, I whispered instructions to Adam. Having taken 3 good
mule deer bucks in our home state of Colorado during his high school years,
Adam was ready. The Winchester .243 was resting on the old cedar window
frame when it barked, breaking the morning silence. "Wideboy" jumped turned, ran and disappeared. A little look, short chase and Adam had his hands on "Wideboys" hardened, ribbed swords. Thanks Bull and Dori. . . .

We appreciate it . . .
 

Randy
 

Just Getting Started

They say to never tell a woman’s age, but this time it is a material fact to the story. Diane McKinley age 60, yes, I said it decided to take up deer hunting this year. Earlier this year, Diane’s husband Gary helped her shop for the perfect rifle and scope. They settled on a smaller stock .243 and outfitted it with a 3-12 power scope. Now, the story is not about the gun, the scope or the harvested deer, but about hunting and that you can get started at any age, even those retirement years.

Texas Parks and Wildlife has known for years we are losing hunters to other activities. Great programs such and the Texas Youth Hunting Program have been designed to help get more kido’s started hunting. Also, tort reform was passed so more landowners would open up their private lands to hunters, allowing greater access to all the natural areas and wildlife Texas has to offer.

The story now starts with Diane accompanied Gary to Mills County the past few years. While Gary hunted, Diane enjoyed the camp and just relaxing. That was until 2008 when Diane joined Gary for an afternoon doe hunt. Gary harvested a doe and Diane said, “hey, that looks like fun!”. “I may want to try it.”

So, Gary, like any good husband quickly picked up the thought and booked Diane on her first hunt for 2009…. After many hours of practice at the old Elm Fork range in Dallas, Diane was ready.

Friday morning, November 13th came and Diane found herself walking a half a mile and getting into her blind well before shooting light for her first hunt. Action started slow, but as though it was meant to be, at 7:20 here came a trophy buck.  Her respiration increased, she shook with excitement as the bucked entered the food plot.  Over the next 5-7 minutes much time and caution was taken to make sure Diane had the perfect shot. With no chance of a mistake, the .243 sounded and Diane had her first buck, a 9 point, 137 Boone and Crockett buck.

Diane spent the rest of the day helping cut the meat into quarters, driving to the taxidermist and reminiscing over the moment. Later that night, Diane still could not sleep. The excitement of the day was still too much for her as it should be. She was now a hunter for life.

Welcome to hunting Diane. It was and is, never to late to get started!.

 

 
3R Ranch
Copyright © 2005 [Warren Blesh].
All rights reserved.
Revised: 01/06/10.