I finally tagged a blackbuck at 72 yards on free-range land — and it was one wild ride to get there.

The Early Morning Stalk

Friday morning, John and I had a plan: it was his birthday, and we were going to glass for bucks from the hillside. We weren’t two minutes into our approach when we heard bucks fighting down in the draw — about 200 yards away. We closed the distance to 80 yards and I decided to take a shot.

The light wasn’t ideal. We thought the shot was just a shade too low, catching him right under the belly instead of where I wanted. I’ve been practicing out to 111 yards, so 80 isn’t normally a problem. But sometimes brighter conditions make all the difference when you’re reading the sight pin. We regrouped and kept moving, but the opportunity slipped away.

Finding the Right Buck

We didn’t dwell on the miss. Instead, we kept glassing and found another blackbuck — this one a really solid animal. We set up and John took a shot first. When it didn’t connect, I nocked an arrow. This time, I was ready. The yardage was 72, the conditions were better, and I drew back smooth.

“Sometimes you get a second chance on the same hunt, and you have to make it count.”

The shot felt clean. I knew the moment it left the string that I’d done my part — good form, right aim, committed to the execution. The blackbuck dropped, and we wrapped our tag on a really nice animal.

Putting Meat on the Ground

This hunt proved something I believe in deeply: free-range exotic hunting on raw land rewards patience and hard work. You’re not sitting in a blind waiting for something to walk past. You’re actively hunting — glassing, stalking, reading wind, adjusting. And when your planning and practice come together, you get moments like this.

My axis and blackbuck pursuit from Episode 2 showed how unpredictable free-range hunts can be, and this finale proved that persistence pays off. Whether it’s stalking axis at Baker3 Ranch or chasing exotics on open land, the foundation is the same: know your bow, know your limits, and execute when the moment comes.

That’s the heart of American Country Outdoors — real hunts, real lessons, and meat in the freezer.

Episode 2 was pure chaos — roaring axis, fighting blackbucks, multiple animals, and the kind of fast-paced hunting that keeps you sharp.

Roaring Axis and Fighting Blackbucks

John was behind the camera because the night before I’d tagged a doe. We didn’t have much time to pursue it once the rut kicked in. We heard some serious roaring from what sounded like an axis buck, so we pivoted and headed that direction. By last light, we found two blackbucks fighting through a fence — wild to witness and tough to film with a handheld camera in low light.

The action started early the next morning. Lots of roaring already. Lots of water movement. The exotics were in full rut mode, and that meant opportunities — if we could stay flexible and aggressive.

Multiple Encounters

We spotted axis bucks roaring across the landscape, blackbucks in aggressive postures, and from one vantage point we could glass a whiteTail up on a hill. I even spotted a pig. Stalking free-range exotics means you’re never hunting just one animal. You’re hunting a landscape where multiple species are moving, vocalizing, and giving away their positions.

“There’s a lot of roaring already this morning, so we decided to come over here.”

This episode proved that free-range exotic hunting rewards aggression and adaptability. You can’t stick to a plan when the rut is on and animals are broadcasting their location every few minutes. You have to hunt what you hear and see right now.

If you’re curious how this style compares to blind hunting, check out my land setup video or my successful blackbuck hunt at 72 yards where all this scouting came together. Free-range hunting builds a different skill set — and Episode 2 showed exactly why I love it.

American Country Outdoors documents the real learning curve of exotic hunting, and these moments are where the education happens.