My son's first elk .....and dad learns a lesson too .....30 years of hunting and this one started off worse than most - left home late, had to return to pick up forgotten gear, stopped for breakfast, hunting an area I'd never hunted before, getting to said hunt area late - 10:00.
After seeing all the road hunters (a jr. hunt was taking place) I was convinced that this was going to be one of "those" hunts - my son's first real hunt for elk would be something less than a memorable experience for him. A small voice kept telling me to just take it slow and enjoy the time together. We had both anticipated the hunt and we decided to make the best of it.........
After riding the roads for an hour, we finally saw some fresh sign. So we eased down a spur road and into a unit, where I cow called. To my suprize ... ANSWER :shocked: .. I kept calling - they kept answering. The herd sounded as if they were getting closer. At 11:25 I stopped calling and the next thing this 2 year old cow stepped out at 25 yds and caught a .50 cal plains bullet in the rib cage. Needless to say it didn't go far - most of it's travel was a vertical slide in the snow.
After the high fives and assorted forms of celebration
, the next few hours were spent packing meat.
I am still amazed ... to some, success is measured when the critter is in the freezer or on the dinner table ... this hunt proved that its not just about the harvest... its about time spent together, the fellowship and the making of memories.
As an old friend used to say ..."The meanest thing it ever wanted to do was get some dinner milk"
Other lessons learned -
1) deer and elk do move mid day during a full moon.
2) 150# of boned meat weighs more than it did 10 years ago.
3) I'm older but I'm slower.
[ 11-11-2003, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: Crit'r Git'r ]
Critr Gitr
Crit\'r Git\'r Jr gets 1st elk.....Yipee !!
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