Leaving the synthetic world

[Son of Pappy]

I'm back!  Very successfull season, Pappy got his elk on the 8th, one shot, broke the elks back.  So, how did it happen?  He decided he wanted to check the sightin on hos rifle so I had to reinstall the original firing pin.  What we did was made sure he had an empty chamber, we were most worried he wouldnt pay attanetion to his safety, when the time came his long term memory kicked in, I guess when you've been doing something for close to 70 years things happen natuarlly.  He called on the radio about 5 minutes after we heard the shot, all he said was he needed help, we asked why, but he didnt respond, natually we thought the worst and all sorts of thoughts, maybe he shot a deer or maybe an cow (elk).  I headed down as fast as I could, when I got to him I asked what was wrong, he said with a **** eatin grin, "I can't carry it up" I asked him what up?  "My elk" he said!!!!!  I asked him how big, he stretched his arms out and said "about this big""  Where I asked, he pointed about a hundred yards down hill, nothing was in sight, so I headed down, and sure as heck, there he lay, a nice 3X4 bull.  WooHoo, I called my buddy Rich what we had in front of us, actually mostly him.  5 trips later Rich had the elk on the cart for the 50 yard trip to the truck.  If that had been the end of the hunt it would have been the best season ever, but it isnt the end.  I got my elk on the 12th, about 400 hundred yards from my last elk, almost same kinda day, fresh snow, bright sun (when I shot him), and windy as all get out.  A big weather front was rolling in, which had the elk moving down.  3 shots later he was down, these critters are tough, first shot woulda been the end, just behind the left shoulder, broke the right shoulder (discovered after skinning), next shot was through the right side, stopped on the opposite side rib, third was slightly back and higher up.  Elk stopped and did the slow  tip and he was down.  2nd and third shots were to anchor him, he was headed for the deep timber.  I'm a lucky man, I have a true friend, his name is Richard, he packed out both elk, Pappys was close, mine on the other hand was about 2 1/4 miles in and about 500 hundred yards off the logging road on the nasty side of an older clearcut.  So, long story, one that I'll have till I leave this wonderfull planet an head to the land of the spirits.

[Tim]

SOP, it appears to me you had a good season. Hi power or smoke pole?

[stevewfl]

Congrats, and thanks for sharing that awesome hunt!

[Steve in Sunny Fla]

Outstanding! Elk hunting is purely tough, at least in the parts of CO I've hunted in. haven't gotten one yet, but I'll try again. Y'all had quite a bit of packin' to do, but it'll eat good for the winter! Steve

[Son of Pappy]

SOP, it appears to me you had a good season. Hi power or smoke pole?

.300 Weatherby for me and '06 for Pappy.

Yep, aint much easy hunting elk, 'less of course ya have a weight limitation and great friend   This season was one of the easiest weather wise, never got colder then 24 and the tent never got above 114!!!  Camp cook was lousy and mostly unwashed, but I did learn which knob controls which burner   We did miss one meal, busy guiding my pack animal, er, friend, out of the woods. 
It was a season of seasons, one that will be hard to top.  I'll post up pics soon, still have one critter to cut  and wrap.

[Jeremy Mitchell]

Sounds like you guys had a great time, and it is awesome that Pappy was able to put down a nice bull all on his own.  I bet you were a super proud son to see a brief reminder of the way he was.  I skipped deer season here in MO to let my ankle heal completely. 

[Rhino]

Thanks for sharing. Where was this?

[Son of Pappy]

Thanks for sharing. Where was this?

Just South of MT Adamds, on Quigley Butte.

And Jeremy, you're damn right!  I remember his look on my first three elk, total pride, even quite a bit on this one.  I bragged to every hunter I met while hunting and to everyone within earshot.  Heck, I'm still bragging on my old man.  We plan on mounting the antlers kinda facing each other, with the plaque just below this years bear skin.  This years gifts will be the ivories to my kids and granddaughter.  I wear 4 daily, a special gift as part of my legacy once I'm gone. 1 of them spent my entire military career, adding the other three along the way.  Through deployments, promotions, and the years.  They have become a part of me in so many ways.  They'll cremate me, but my spirit will never leave and knowing my children will have a part of me should provide some comfort in a time of need.

Off topic-If you haven't told your kids you lov them recently, please do so, 4 words people love to hear....I love you-name.  Our families are the most precious commodity, along with that is time spent together.  Never assume, iet em know.  Dont wait till there gone to tell them your feelings, because then it is too late.  And ya never know when that time is.  Love is the most powerfull emotion we have, dont keep it a secret.

So, how did we get here you ask?  It's Jeremys fault, he hit the nail on the head.

[Jeremy Mitchell]

There ya go getting all sappy on us, Chet.   

I am the same way with the people in my life that I love.  They are the reason why I do what I do, so I completely understand what you are talking about.  I just hope my dad and I continue to stay close even when and if he isn't 100% with it.  Some people get bitter about aging parents and shove them in a "home", but what they forget is that they will be in their parents shoes and they better show their kids how to take care of their elders or else it will be just as bad or worse for them.  I know I don't want to spend my last years in a "home". 

[Cholla]

Doggone it! I thought this thread was gonna be about oil!