A ONCE IN A LIFETIME GIFT Inspiration struck Russell Kobbe in the spring of 2004. He was managing his booth at a home show when he learned of a Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife raffle being held at the show. The prize was a buffalo hunt at TXI ranch, generously donated by local taxidermist and hunting enthusiast Allan Kierkov. “Hunting has always been an important part of our family,” Russell says, though he admits he is probably not the sportsman you might expect to find in a hunting family. A buffalo hunt is a once-in-a-lifetime deal, and would be a pretty amazing experience, even for someone who isn’t an avid hunter. But, Russell never even considered keeping the prize. He knew that is father, Rick Kobbe, would love to bring down a buffalo; he bought some tickets and waited for the October 31, 2004 drawing, knowing that if he was lucky enough to have his name drawn, the hunt was going to Rick. And, as luck would have it, that’s exactly what happened. Although Russell isn’t “into” hunting, he did want to share in his father’s pleasure in a life-long hobby--in fact, the whole family did. They had quite a crowd of family and friends at the TXI Ranch that December day. They saw the herd of buffalo grazing as they pulled up to the ranch. The animals are allowed to run the extent of the ranch (except up close to the house), so hunting one is indeed a challenge. Owner Bob Thomson warned that the buffalo were wild and would spook easily, a statement that proved true when the entire herd ran off into the hills when Rick wandered out to take a look. Eventually, Russell and the rest of the group stayed behind at the house while Bob and Rick rode a tractor out behind some hills, then walked up to the buffalo herd. Bob pointed out the animal he thought would be best for Rick to bring down, and Rick took aim. Unfortunately, he was shaking so badly, he couldn’t take the shot. After a few minutes of calming down, Rick shot his buffalo, but didn’t kill it. “We had to run it down,” he says of the hunt. Rick was very nervous, having to track his animal so close to the herd, and the buffalo were none too pleased to have him there, either. He ended up with a “pretty impressive animal” by the end of the day. Allen Kierkov was on hand to handle the field dressing of the five year-old bull, which was an estimated 2,000 pounds. Buffalo hunting, Rick says, is nothing like what you see on television. “They are way tougher╔very big and very tough.” So just forget that jazz about the enormous buffalo just folding up and dying after you shoot it. The hunt was incredibly memorable for all involved. “It was very exciting,” remembers Rick. Besides being the fulfillment of a life-long dream, “It was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.” This was the second time Russell had ever won anything in a raffle. The first time, he says, he won a hand gun. “And my dad bought me that ticket, so I guess maybe we’re even.” |
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