Super Slammer
Gary Martin nails quest to take 28 North American Big-Game Animals
Bison
ANIMAL: Bison
WHEN: October 16, 2002
WHERE: Pink Mountains, British Columbia
METHOD: 40-yard stalk on herd
MEASURMENT, SCORE: 105 4/8 inches
OUTFITTER: Pink Mountain Outfitters
SPECIAL CHALLENGES, DANGERS: Martin was astounded to see a wild, free-ranging bison. They are much bigger than the pen-raised animals you see in his native Wisconsin. Most captive bison might be 800 to 1,500 pounds. Wild bulls reach the 1-ton mark and tower over humans.
The beast was intimidating on approach. Martin got to within 40 yards of the biggest in the herd, and let an arrow fly. Martin took a front-on shot. It hurt the bison and it ran off. When bison are hit, they are actually hard to find because they lie down and dust themselves. If a hunter gets close, they usually charge.
Armed only with his bow, Martin tracked the blood trail and found the bison dead less than 100 yards from where it was shot. The arrow had hit its mark: through both lungs. The animal took several men eight hours to quarter and pack out.
