thecrittergitter
Well-known member
Hello all fellow hunttalkers! I know this post is going to be a little different but hope to grab some help here. This will pertain more to MT guys than anything but here goes.
About 6 months ago, my birthfather (Shane) had mentioned that a young friend of his named Dan had had recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare type of terminal cancer and doctors were giving him about 2 yrs. Dan is 23 yrs old and been in the Marines for roughly 4 years. Anyway, for years Dan has been looking at many of the hunting pictures that we have around and has always been hoping for the day when he too could shoot a nice bull elk. He has always been a hiker and has always had a dislike for the "roadhunting" methods that many use in MT.
Anyway, Shane had asked me if there was ever a free day in my hunting schedule this fall and had nothing else to do, if I would be willing to take him hunting for a day. Well, I definately wanted to help the young man out so I told him I would find a way to spend a couple days with him. I was very confident that if I had two days with him, I could easily find him a decent MT bull. Well, about a week ago, Shane and I were talking and he mentioned that in his last doctor visit the news was getting worse. They diagnosed him at probably having a max of 9 months left if he is lucky. So knowing this is highly likely to be his last hunting season, I dropped what i was doing this week so i could get him on a nice bull elk. Told him to meet me on Tuesday night and he did. First morning out, we both realized just how difficult this was going to be on him. He has lost over 65 lbs due to his illness and even he didn't realize just how much muscle mass he had lost. Long story short, I found the elk and for most people they were in a very easy place to get one. Once i spotted them, we started hiking. He hadn't made it 1000 yards and was hurting pretty good. He was apologizing and saying there was just no way he could get to the bulls. We hiked back down and tried to figure out a different plan. What we both realized is that we are going to have to find a bull almost within shooting distance of a road. I told him if he could just get to where he could shoot one, i would gladly take care of all the rest of the work.
All in all, I spent two days with the guy and i have to tell you, what a great guy. And has a pretty damn great attitude considering he knows that he may not ever see another hunting season....
After knowing more of the situation and now knowing Dan a little better, I'm going to give up my season if needed to help this kid somehow shoot a nice bull elk!
So here is where i'm asking for help.............I have no private land connections in MT like many may have. I am asking any hunttalkers that have access to a place that a young man could fill his elk tag with a nice elk for what is likely to be his last season ever. I would probably even be willing to pay a trespass fee or something if anyone has connection to that option. Dan is more than willing to try walking, but i would say on level ground, he is going to be limited to 1/2 to 1 mile from a vehicle. I'll pack him that far if needed
Any help from anyone with ideas would be so greatly appreciated both by me and him. You can PM me if you would rather discuss off the forum.
You likely won't see any dead animal pics from me this year, my season is going on the shelf until i can figure out how to get Dan his last elk.
Thanks so much ahead of time for anyone with help. I should also be clear that when i say a nice bull, he isn't holding out for anything giant, but i know he has never killed a six point bull so i'm sure a 270+ six point would make his year!
Thanks guys for any suggestions or ideas!
About 6 months ago, my birthfather (Shane) had mentioned that a young friend of his named Dan had had recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare type of terminal cancer and doctors were giving him about 2 yrs. Dan is 23 yrs old and been in the Marines for roughly 4 years. Anyway, for years Dan has been looking at many of the hunting pictures that we have around and has always been hoping for the day when he too could shoot a nice bull elk. He has always been a hiker and has always had a dislike for the "roadhunting" methods that many use in MT.
Anyway, Shane had asked me if there was ever a free day in my hunting schedule this fall and had nothing else to do, if I would be willing to take him hunting for a day. Well, I definately wanted to help the young man out so I told him I would find a way to spend a couple days with him. I was very confident that if I had two days with him, I could easily find him a decent MT bull. Well, about a week ago, Shane and I were talking and he mentioned that in his last doctor visit the news was getting worse. They diagnosed him at probably having a max of 9 months left if he is lucky. So knowing this is highly likely to be his last hunting season, I dropped what i was doing this week so i could get him on a nice bull elk. Told him to meet me on Tuesday night and he did. First morning out, we both realized just how difficult this was going to be on him. He has lost over 65 lbs due to his illness and even he didn't realize just how much muscle mass he had lost. Long story short, I found the elk and for most people they were in a very easy place to get one. Once i spotted them, we started hiking. He hadn't made it 1000 yards and was hurting pretty good. He was apologizing and saying there was just no way he could get to the bulls. We hiked back down and tried to figure out a different plan. What we both realized is that we are going to have to find a bull almost within shooting distance of a road. I told him if he could just get to where he could shoot one, i would gladly take care of all the rest of the work.
All in all, I spent two days with the guy and i have to tell you, what a great guy. And has a pretty damn great attitude considering he knows that he may not ever see another hunting season....
After knowing more of the situation and now knowing Dan a little better, I'm going to give up my season if needed to help this kid somehow shoot a nice bull elk!
So here is where i'm asking for help.............I have no private land connections in MT like many may have. I am asking any hunttalkers that have access to a place that a young man could fill his elk tag with a nice elk for what is likely to be his last season ever. I would probably even be willing to pay a trespass fee or something if anyone has connection to that option. Dan is more than willing to try walking, but i would say on level ground, he is going to be limited to 1/2 to 1 mile from a vehicle. I'll pack him that far if needed
Any help from anyone with ideas would be so greatly appreciated both by me and him. You can PM me if you would rather discuss off the forum.
You likely won't see any dead animal pics from me this year, my season is going on the shelf until i can figure out how to get Dan his last elk.
Thanks so much ahead of time for anyone with help. I should also be clear that when i say a nice bull, he isn't holding out for anything giant, but i know he has never killed a six point bull so i'm sure a 270+ six point would make his year!
Thanks guys for any suggestions or ideas!
