Opportunity has a shelf life

[cgasner1]

I’ve been debating on if I wanted to do a thread or not this year on my fall. The last year or so has been interesting life has really kinda hit. Couple years ago my father in law had a heart transplant. Things are going well now but it really shows how quick life can change. He did everything right as far as self care you just can’t beat genetics. Around May time line I responded to a customer issue and met a super cool guy named Jim. Small world he use to play hockey with a co worker. Jim is stuck in a chair with a breathing machine due to als. While standing in his living room talking with him I was admiring a beautiful ram he was lucky enough to take before things really went south. He told me to take advantage of every fall they are limited. After our conversation I had made it up in my mind that was exactly what I was gonna be doing. The first part of July rolls around and I’m on vacation with my family and I get a phone call one of my friends had past away in an atv accident. Sitting in a church listening to his kids tell stories about him one of his daughter said he once told her “opportunities have a shelf life” they really do and I plan on seizing all of mine this fall.

Currently I’m 1/3 on my bull tags I came out swinging on Montana and got a bull within about the first 3 min of season. It was an amazing morning my dad called him in for me. He came in the total wrong direction and I was able to capitalize on a gap in the timber and a guessed yardage. Dad got to watch a lighted knock tear through a timber patch and stop at the bull.



With Montana done it just leaves me to focus on butting up the logistics for an Alaska moose hunt. I think I have it all about dialed in and I’ll be leaving the 18th for that. Not sure on a return trip the plan tickets will be booked when the last moose hits the ground. Season ends sept 30 which is good since my Idaho elk tag opens Oct 1. Work has cleared me to be gone from sept 18 - Oct 20

 

[Gellar]

I’ll be anxiously waiting for updates. Good luck, safe travels.

 

[cgasner1]

We will see how much updates and stuff I get this go. With an elk hanging right now I’ve pretty much made my mind up the moose has to be with my bow this year. Last year I folded and used a rifle. This trip is like everything else and we aren’t sure how many years we will be able to do it.

 

[cgasner1]

Awhile back I bought a canoe/deep cycle battery and generator those are all sitting in a village with the other gear we left from last year. Most of my gear is already packed and sitting on the garage floor. This year I made my wife 6 different freezer meals to try and be helpful while I’m gone. With our 2 boys she is gonna have her hands full. It’s been a wild year between the stuff from the first paragraph and dealing with some health stuff of my own.

 

[cgasner1]

Some more random pics for people that read and write like myself that stack of ribeyes is gonna be my carry on for this trip

 

[Gerald Martin]

Good luck with making the most of memories. Speaking from experience and offering some unsolicited advice on the home front, prioritizing some space and time for your wife to decompress and have a break from being needed 24/7 by the kids when you get back ensures that opportunity doesn’t become oppositional to a great relationship. Even if she doesn’t advocate for that space herself, she’ll need it.


Good luck this fall! Enjoy the moments and preserve them with lots of pics.

 

[cgasner1]

Good luck with making the most of memories. Speaking from experience and offering some unsolicited advice on the home front, prioritizing some space and time for your wife to decompress and have a break from being needed 24/7 by the kids when you get back ensures that opportunity doesn’t become oppositional to a great relationship. Even if she doesn’t advocate for that space herself, she’ll need it.


Good luck this fall! Enjoy the moments and preserve them with lots of pics.

We have some stuff planned for her. I anticipate a couple day lay over on the home front before I head down into Idaho. Still waiting to hear if one of my really good buddies is coming on the hunt or not also. I’ll have laundry and other stuff to get ready. The Idaho season runs oct 1 to Oct 15 my goal is to be tagged out by the 9th. The rifle deer season opens on the 10th and id like to be gone before the war begins

 

[INMT]

I’ve been debating on if I wanted to do a thread or not this year on my fall. The last year or so has been interesting life has really kinda hit. Couple years ago my father in law had a heart transplant. Things are going well now but it really shows how quick life can change. He did everything right as far as self care you just can’t beat genetics. Around May time line I responded to a customer issue and met a super cool guy named Jim. Small world he use to play hockey with a co worker. Jim is stuck in a chair with a breathing machine due to als. While standing in his living room talking with him I was admiring a beautiful ram he was lucky enough to take before things really went south. He told me to take advantage of every fall they are limited. After our conversation I had made it up in my mind that was exactly what I was gonna be doing. The first part of July rolls around and I’m on vacation with my family and I get a phone call one of my friends had past away in an atv accident. Sitting in a church listening to his kids tell stories about him one of his daughter said he once told her “opportunities have a shelf life” they really do and I plan on seizing all of mine this fall.

Currently I’m 1/3 on my bull tags I came out swinging on Montana and got a bull within about the first 3 min of season. It was an amazing morning my dad called him in for me. He came in the total wrong direction and I was able to capitalize on a gap in the timber and a guessed yardage. Dad got to watch a lighted knock tear through a timber patch and stop at the bull.

View attachment 385352

With Montana done it just leaves me to focus on butting up the logistics for an Alaska moose hunt. I think I have it all about dialed in and I’ll be leaving the 18th for that. Not sure on a return trip the plan tickets will be booked when the last moose hits the ground. Season ends sept 30 which is good since my Idaho elk tag opens Oct 1. Work has cleared me to be gone from sept 18 - Oct 20

Sage advice man. My dad was a healthy guy close to retirement when he was unexpectedly diagnosed with Glioblastoma (brain cancer).

We always planned on him coming out west to hunt but he passed away at age 59 seven months after diagnosis.

He taught me a similar saying to what your friend taught his daughters that I say to my daughters when they want to sit around the house on the weekend.

Sorry to hear about all you’ve dealt with recently but it sounds like you’re taking all the advice and making the most of it.

Get er done!!!

 

[Ben Lamb]

My biggest take away from this thread is that you do understand how to use punctuation.

Good hunting, buddy. You earned this season!

 

[noharleyyet]

Well said & nice bull.

 

[cgasner1]

Idaho scout pics that won’t give anything away. Group is with my muzzy at 100 should kill an elk just fine. I had to walk down and inform the guy that drove off the road that “you can’t park there” 3 days in Idaho with dad and we learned where to not hunt. Last evening I found where I wanted to. Also that stove runs on unleaded gasoline kinda like the one sitting in a village somewhere. That cast iron is packed in with my gear my Alaskan dinners will look quite similar to that

 

[elkhuntinfool78]

Congrats on a nice Montana bull! Anxious to hear how the rest of your fall goes. Jealous of your AK trip as I'm aching to get back up there myself

 

[CRJR45]

Great bull , and a great perspective on life .

 

[WildWill]

Working in home health/hospice has really opened my eyes to the fact that "tomorrow isn't guaranteed". Alaska should be a amazing trip stay safe and Goodluck!

 

[JLDemo]

Great bull! That quote really hit home, opportunities do have a shelf life and sometimes it takes outside perspective to understand it.

Hope Alaska treats you as well as Montana. Good luck!

Also, I'm digging that color on the truck! I'm shopping for a new truck next spring, add that color to the list.

 

[Caseknife]

Some more random pics for people that read and write like myself that stack of ribeyes is gonna be my carry on for this trip

Do you season, sous vide, and freeze the ribeyes? Looks like you will be eating good and the meals that you pre-made for your family look real good also.

Have fun and stay safe on your hunts. Think I will start to live by your little bit of wisdom.

 

[cgasner1]

Do you season, sous vide, and freeze the ribeyes? Looks like you will be eating good and the meals that you pre-made for your family look real good also.

Have fun and stay safe on your hunts. Think I will start to live by your little bit of wisdom.

Pre season and cast iron got 8 sticks of butter to cook them with

 

[Gerald Martin]

Pre season and cast iron got 8 sticks of butter to cook them with

Add a couple heads of garlic to crush and add to the butter right before they come off. Finish with coarse kosher salt when you are ready to eat.

 

[cgasner1]

I’ll make sure to get some pics of the cooking process. It seems to be popular

 

[Gerald Martin]

I’ll make sure to get some pics of the cooking process. It seems to be popular

When you get to cook the tenderloins @Elkoholic’s first bull elk for camp breakfast the next morning after the kill it’s an occasion worth preserving for posterity.