Hunter Tags Pronghorn with Nearly 30-Inch-Wide Horns on Opening Day
At just 12 years old, Hank Osterkamp killed his first pronghorn on a trip to Idaho. Since then, the hunter from southern California has pursued plenty of antelope. On a recent trip to New Mexico with Pronghorn Guide Service, Osterkamp and his guide David Brown had a target buck in mind. With Brown’s guidance, Osterkamp was able to take down the nearly 30-inch-wide pronghorn within the first 15 minutes of opening day.
The buck, affectionately nicknamed “Chopper,” is a remarkable sight. Unlike most pronghorns with horns that curve gracefully inward, Chopper’s horns splay out horizontally, resembling helicopter blades. With an impressive 29 and ¾-inch inside spread and a total of approximately 84 inches of antler, Osterkamp found his ideal non-typical buck.
“He was simply gigantic in every sense,” Osterkamp says. “A true super freak. I’ve always had a fascination with unique animals.”
Osterkamp had previously hunted with Brown, who helped him bag his largest pronghorn to date in 2017 with a private landowner tag. When Osterkamp drew a public land tag in central New Mexico earlier this year, he eagerly anticipated hunting with Brown once again.
A few weeks before their Aug. 14 hunt, Brown called Osterkamp and informed him about a striking buck he had spotted on the public land they planned to hunt. Brown sent Osterkamp a photo of the buck, and Osterkamp was immediately captivated.
“I was like, ‘Wow, that’s incredible,'” Osterkamp recalls. “I told David, ‘You can stop searching. I don’t want to even consider another one.'”
Upon Osterkamp’s arrival in central New Mexico, he and Brown already had their game plan set thanks to Brown’s diligent scouting. They knew exactly where to go on opening morning. Having observed Chopper the previous evening, they found the buck hadn’t strayed far by the time they drove out to the area before sunrise. Chopper’s distinctive horns were visible from a mile away.
Within 15 minutes of legal shooting light, Osterkamp and Brown had cautiously closed the distance to about 250 yards. Osterkamp positioned his Gunwerks 28 Nosler on shooting sticks and took a shot, instantly immobilizing the buck.
A skilled hunter, dedicated conservationist, and advocate for ethical practices. Respected in the hunting community, he balances human activity with environmental preservation.