DAN SIMMONS Sportsman's Quest MORE COLUMNS SPECIAL TO THE PVT Mallory Genet is pleased to have filled her tag. Advertisement

This is the story of a librarian, an archer and Einstein.

It began several years ago when a 12-year-old girl sat in my hunter safety class. Her name was Mallory Genet then, and I wrote in an earlier article how she shot her first deer.

Well, she is a young lady now. She graduated from Pahrump Valley High School in 2005 and married her high school sweetheart, Tomas Garcia, who was at the time a foreign exchange student from Argentina.

Some of you may know him as a phlebotomist at a local diagnostic clinic and her as one of our librarians. You may also know her parents, Mark and Nicole Genet, long-time residents of Pahrump and fellow hunting fanatics. I guess that's where she caught the bug.

Since that first story, Mallory has gone on to become a proficient and successful hunter, has the trophies to prove it and now hunts exclusively with a bow and those pointy sticks. Those are the characters of our story and where the adventure begins.

Last year Mallory drew an antelope tag near Pioche and took up the challenge of arrowing one of these shy speedsters. Enlisting the services of guide Shane Stevens, of Purple Sage Outfitters, she set up a dug-out blind prior to opening day in a promising spot, measured its dimensions and went home to construct a cardboard duplicate so that she could become familiar shooting from a sitting or crouching position from its strategically placed openings.

After two or three dozen arrows each day for three weeks, she was ready.

While doing their pre-season scouting they noticed a particularly outstanding antelope buck. He was spookier than the rest, wouldn't come as close, and just seemed a lot smarter than the others -- thus he gained the name Einstein and became the huntress' goal.

On the first afternoon in the blind -- nothing; on the second day, lots of antelope, but no Einstein. Then on the third morning only one antelope came to water -- Einstein.

He came to just within range, but Mallory, patiently and wisely, waited for the broadside or quartering away shot, but he spun around and was gone with that distance burning speed for which the species is known.

The final afternoon, on the third day, found father and daughter once again in the blind. Dad, not unexpectedly, decided to nap a bit while waiting, but was awakened by the feel of a scorpion walking across his bare shoulder. It was just as antelope where coming in, so he froze and let the critter crawl off and into a hole at the side of the dug-out blind. I think that would have ended the hunt for me, but as I mentioned, these guys are hunting fanatics.

Mark then started to move and get a better look at the incoming antelope when Mallory said, "Dad, don't move." "I think I should take a peek," he said. Mallory reiterated, this time with resolve, "Dad, don't move."

It was the last day and a nice buck offered a side shot and she was going to take it. She released an arrow; a double lung shot and the antelope staggered and fell. They then looked out the window and a short distance to the right, but previously out of sight -- Einstein.

He didn't move for a while, then just turned and wandered off as if he knew her tag was filled and he was good for another year. The antelope was a Pope and Young record book animal.

By the way, she and Tomas were married the following week. They had postponed the wedding until after the season, and I'm guessing most of their anniversaries will revolve around their new passion, hunting and adventure. Argentina has good hunting and fishing, so the door is wide open for this charming couple.

Epilogue: This year Mallory drew a bull elk tag and her father drew an antelope tag. Guide Shane has been enlisted, the blind is in place and Mark will be waiting, and watching, for Einstein.

The saga continues (as it always does).

If you have an adventure, a story or a comment on this or other articles give me a call 775-727-9777 or e-mail me at dansimmons@usa.net.

Sportsman's Library

Howard Hill's biography, "Howard Hill -- The Man and the Legend" by Craig Ekin, is a fitting tribute and a "must" read for those fascinated by the sport of archery and archery hunting.

I use "hunting and fishing fanatics" as an endearing term. These are the people with talent and ability to focus on an activity with the dedication to inspire others, to do what some might consider overwhelming or impossible.

Hill, who most consider the greatest archer of all time, is one such person. He set more records than any other, wrote books on archery, acted in archery movies and did the trick shot archery in the early 1950s' Robin Hood movies.

He competed in skeet shooting with a long bow and would win.

This was all done using only a true "long bow," with no sights or shooting aids. He was the real thing and the first.

Inspired by Dr. Saxton Pope and Art Young, founders of the Pope and Young archery records organization, Howard Hill almost singlehandedly popularized and gave credibility to the art of bow hunting. This book is a great read and belongs on every hunter's book shelf, whether a bow hunter or not.

Upcoming Events

ICAST, International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, will hold Follow Your Instincts, the world's largest sport-fishing trade show July 16-18 at the Las Vegas Convention center.

Recipe of the Week

I have shot a few antelope, I've cooked even more, and I'll try this recipe on the next, but my experience with antelope venison has not been positive. It always turns out edible, and interesting, but unlike elk, moose and deer, I would hate to have it for a steady diet. It always needed something; perhaps this is it. This recipe comes from Ol' Seldom's Blondie, and she could even make moccasin leather into a fine gourmet meal, so, we'll give it a try.

"Antelope a la Einstein, hopefully"

Four 8 oz well-trimmed antelope steaks; 1 tsp. salt; 1 tsp. pepper; 4 Tbs. flour; 4 Tbs. butter; 1/4 cup thinly sliced shallots; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 cup sliced mushrooms; 1/2 cup beef broth; 1/4 cup red wine; 1/4 cup heavy cream; 2 Tbs. whole green peppercorns; 3 Tbs. brandy;

Dredge the antelope steaks in a mixture of the salt, pepper and flour, brown in 2 tablespoons of butter; remove from pan; add remaining butter, shallots, garlic and mushrooms to pan, cook until shallots are soft; add beef broth and red wine.

Cook until reduced by half. Remove from heat; add heavy cream, peppercorns, brandy and antelope steaks to pan, return to heat and cook for eight minutes turning steaks once. This would be better with deer or other venison steaks (my opinion).