This hunt will be a great hunt for a lot of reasons.
1. The hunter, Bernie, is a long-time friend who has been stricken with sever arthritis. The last two years I took him whitetail hunting, and we had a blast. Last spring, he was bemoaning that he had 12 elk points in Nevada, and with his knees and hips being what they are, he will never get to use those points.
I told Bernie to apply, and if he drew, I would help him with the logistics and coordination of the hunt, and see what we could find in Nevada. The only catch was that he would agree to let us film it. Done deal. Bernie applied, and drew his first choice.
2. Two of my best friends will be meeting us down their to share camp. NVLongbow, who graciously joins me on hunts, if I am withing 500 miles of his place, will be there. As will my former roommate, and the guy who introduced me to Longbow back in 1986, CC Campbell. Spending time with those guys will be a blast.
The truck is nearly packed and I am finishing replacing, repairing, or cleaning all the items abused on the last hunt. The camera guys will following Bernie and I to where ever it is that Longbow thinks will make a good camp.
Season opened yesterday, but for filming purposes, we couldn't leave until this weekend. Hopefully there will be a bull or two left, by the time we arrive.
Bernie is a very accomplished hunter. It is hard to see arthritis slow him down to this extent. His trophy room has one full grand slam of sheep, and 3/4 of another slam. He lived in Alaska and Wyoming before moving to Montana many years ago, and he has taken most every big game species you can think of, and many of some species.
When we hunted last year, it was all he could do to get to the stand and sit in a chair. He waited as I pushed deer past. He made an excellent shot on a nice buck and a doe.
Once he drew this elk tag, he pressed the docs and therapists for better treatment options. He has worked all summer and fall to improve his walking ability. He has been reloading and shooting all summer. Each week he mails me a new set of targets from his week at the range. If he gets within 300 yards of a bull, I think he will be punching a tag.
I will find great pleasure in this hunt. Taking a friend who had all but written off any future elk hunting, and seeing him be so excited has given me a lot of inspiration to not take for granted any possible hunting opportunities that come my way.
A chance to give back to a friend who has done a lot for hunting and a lot for his country is my treat.
I am hoping the bulls we find are within in his reach. If he shoots one and we give him the full treatment of packing and field dressing, he will protest. He did it for many others, as he took them hunting, so in spite comments I know will come my way, I will say, "Shut up and like it."
When I have been to these parts of Nevada, there is decent cell coverage, so I should be able to post daily updates, once we get organized and start hunting on Monday morning.
Wish Bernie luck. He is a great guy, and for him to get a great bull would be very deserving.
1. The hunter, Bernie, is a long-time friend who has been stricken with sever arthritis. The last two years I took him whitetail hunting, and we had a blast. Last spring, he was bemoaning that he had 12 elk points in Nevada, and with his knees and hips being what they are, he will never get to use those points.
I told Bernie to apply, and if he drew, I would help him with the logistics and coordination of the hunt, and see what we could find in Nevada. The only catch was that he would agree to let us film it. Done deal. Bernie applied, and drew his first choice.
2. Two of my best friends will be meeting us down their to share camp. NVLongbow, who graciously joins me on hunts, if I am withing 500 miles of his place, will be there. As will my former roommate, and the guy who introduced me to Longbow back in 1986, CC Campbell. Spending time with those guys will be a blast.
The truck is nearly packed and I am finishing replacing, repairing, or cleaning all the items abused on the last hunt. The camera guys will following Bernie and I to where ever it is that Longbow thinks will make a good camp.
Season opened yesterday, but for filming purposes, we couldn't leave until this weekend. Hopefully there will be a bull or two left, by the time we arrive.
Bernie is a very accomplished hunter. It is hard to see arthritis slow him down to this extent. His trophy room has one full grand slam of sheep, and 3/4 of another slam. He lived in Alaska and Wyoming before moving to Montana many years ago, and he has taken most every big game species you can think of, and many of some species.
When we hunted last year, it was all he could do to get to the stand and sit in a chair. He waited as I pushed deer past. He made an excellent shot on a nice buck and a doe.
Once he drew this elk tag, he pressed the docs and therapists for better treatment options. He has worked all summer and fall to improve his walking ability. He has been reloading and shooting all summer. Each week he mails me a new set of targets from his week at the range. If he gets within 300 yards of a bull, I think he will be punching a tag.
I will find great pleasure in this hunt. Taking a friend who had all but written off any future elk hunting, and seeing him be so excited has given me a lot of inspiration to not take for granted any possible hunting opportunities that come my way.
A chance to give back to a friend who has done a lot for hunting and a lot for his country is my treat.
I am hoping the bulls we find are within in his reach. If he shoots one and we give him the full treatment of packing and field dressing, he will protest. He did it for many others, as he took them hunting, so in spite comments I know will come my way, I will say, "Shut up and like it."
When I have been to these parts of Nevada, there is decent cell coverage, so I should be able to post daily updates, once we get organized and start hunting on Monday morning.
Wish Bernie luck. He is a great guy, and for him to get a great bull would be very deserving.
