Now that the dust has settled and we're all back home, I'm due to chime in on this story. I was one of the "new guys" in Hornart's camp this year. The whole deal is really pretty cool. I don't facebook, tweet, link, on any of the social media stuff....but I do follow Hunt Talk pretty regular. I really appreciate how this site is down to earth and one on your own hunter can learn from another on your own hunter.
Back to the story.....during application season issues came up and I had to switch hunting partners at the last minute. I decided to partner up with a long time friend for elk in NM. He talked me into applying for a blackpowder tag. Well, we beat the single digit draw odds and drew a nice tag. So, I'm scrambling to learn about muzzleloading, buy a gun, etc., and I ask a question or two on Hunt Talk. Hornart replies and also sends me a pm and says "by the way, what unit did you draw?" The rest is history. When we figured out we had the same tag, we were off to the races! I got rigged up with a new muzzleloader and Hornart hooked us up with advice on accessible roads, hunting pressure, etc. Before long, my buddy and I had a standing invite to camp and hunt with Hornart's crew. Not wanting to impose, we were slow to accept but ending up getting know each other over the summer. I did get my share of "...so, you're going hunting with an ax murderer you met on the internet" jokes.
But the jokes stopped when we all got camp set up in the mountains. We ended up hunting as a team and, and as mentioned, brought 3 bulls back to camp in 3 days. Despite a few other archery tags in previous years, this was my first bull (the 5x5 on the left below). It was really cool to harvest that bull with a new friend 10 feet away that I met on Hunt Talk. I've been on several hunts out west but I probably learned as much in 3 days hunting alongside Hornart as in the last 3 trips I've made. He is a veteran elk hunter and knows how to get it done.
One of my favorite memories is when we were walking back to camp on opening day, I was still awestruck by the rut fest we witnessed that morning, and Hornart turns back to me with his elk head slung over his shoulders and says "...see, I told you I'm the real deal!"
Good times. Good luck to all the rest of the season. Long live Hunt Talk!!!
