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well as few folks on here might remember me talking about my mom and great aunt planning their first elk hunt. It started last may when my uncle died unexpectedly. we were coming back from the funeral sharing stories of hunting with (my) Uncle Gale. he taught my mom how to hunt, came out west to hunt with auntie "phooey" since forever. so I suggested they do a cow elk hunt in his memory this fall. my great aunt hasn't hunted in 10 years and neither of them have taken an elk. they kinda laughed and thought yeah it would be cool, but didn't commit until I pushed (urged) them. they put in, and low and behold they drew South Dakota cow elk tags. one of the areas I had earmarked for them was outside their area, so I did some research and networking and we had a few spots to go. first half of the season opened during the last 2 weeks of oct. We hit the forest service hard, lots of other hunters and very few sighting of elk. Had lots of good fellowship and reconnecting through stories and just good together time. Mom came down for the second weekend of the oct season and we saw 3 bulls fighing at 150 yards and a herd passed at 280 yards just moving too fast for a comfortable shot. fast forward to the second half of the season. (first 2 weeks in december) was warmer than usual and we sat on food plots, saddles and hit the forest service as best we could. no luck. we saw one on private land we couldn't hunt. The final weekend I convinced them to come back for one last try. The evening they got here I got a text from a landowner friend, the elk were there and likely to come off the fields at first light. the stage was set. we met at his driveway at 5:45 am and headed up to the "spot". we sat for a while as the sun came up glassing the hilltops. the landowner snuck up to see where they were moving. after he informed us we needed to move we headed for some pines about 300 yards to the south west, got set up and waited. I spotted the herd first as they crested the rise. one by one they jumped the fence at 250 yards. 11 bulls were in the group and ranged from small spikes to a nice 300" plus. a few mews from a cow call and a small band broke off to investigate. then they got to 150 yards the herd cow turned broadside and stopped. my mom was off to my right about 20' and I was with my aunt. I told auntie to take the cow when she stopped, as soon as she got on it I heard mom shoot and the cow flopped over. my aunt looked at me and I said in a heartbeat "shoot the one next to her then". she got on it and made a good hit. she said she missed and I corrected her saying she had in fact hit it yet it was still on it's feet and she should shoot it again. with one shot it flopped over never to move again. before the shooting we watched the herd for about 30 minutes as they approached. when we got up to them it was all the excitement you could imagine from two first timers. all the usual "wow they are so big!" and "I can replay the shots in slow motion in my mind" and recanting as we waited for the truck to show up. Mom reminisced about times with her dad and my uncle and how proud they would have been. she used grandpas 30-06 to take her first elk. I volunteered to do the brunt of the gutting, but they both insisted on helping some with the process. we got them loaded and headed to the headquarters. we skinned/quartered them and got them in the walk in cooler right away. processing took the evening and the following day. I couldn't have asked for a better hunt to a more deserving duo of ladies who needed this. Uncle Gale, I know you're smiling down on them, they done well.
Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.
Calm seas don't make sailors.
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There's 2 dates they carve on your tombstone. Everyone knows what they mean. What's more important is time that is known as the little dash inbetween.
Razz
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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That's so cool. Awesome story. I'm sure they could teach Travis a few things....Tell them good job and congrats!!!
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Way to go, ladies! Stories like this are why I put up with a lot of the other bullsh*t here on the Campfire. Congratulations all around!
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Congrats all around on a successful hunt. Cool story too.
A wise man is frequently humbled.
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Very awesome, thanks for sharing.
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Campfire Tracker
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You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Campfire Tracker
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Thanks for posting such a great hunt!
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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cool story, good on ya, way to go.
Congrats to the ladies!
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Knuckle bump to you and the two ladies! Well done by all!
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Good deal! That's pretty awesome!
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Congrats to the "'ol gals" and to you too, for putting it in play.
donsm70
Life Member...Safari Club International Life Member...Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Life Member...Keystone Country Elk Alliance Life Member...National Rifle Association
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Great job Ryan and ladies! Lots of great memories made together.
Bob
I met a French guy the other day. I asked him "Do you speak German?" He said "No." I said "You're welcome!"
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GREAT story and Best to your family!
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Super story! I'm more impressed with this than the typical type A guy that shoots a 373 bull.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
LOL
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I love this story. Tell your aunt and mom congratulations. You are a wonderful son and nephew.
Perry
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Congratulations to all three of you. I'm happy for them and proud of you
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Campfire Greenhorn
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That's awesome. Congratulations to them and you for being an excellent guide.
NRA Range Technical Team Advisor-Retired Nra Endowment member TSRA member NRA F-class Master NRA Pistol Coach-Retired
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What a great, great story! Thanks for sharing. Congrats to the ladies!
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Good for ALL of you !
Thanks for sharing it with us.
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Good for ALL of you !
Thanks for sharing it with us.
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Great story! Congratulations.
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Campfire Ranger
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That is so freaking cool. Lots of smiles in the picts!
Good on you, Ryan.
WWP53D
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Outstanding, they'll have a much better story to tell and happier memories than any of their girlfriend this year!
"Camping places fix themselves in your mind as if you had spent long periods of your life in them. You will remember a curve of your wagon track in the grass of the plain like the features of a friend." Isak Dinesen
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It don't get no better than that!! Thanks for sharing this story with us!
Huntinut
"If it's the truth it ain't braggin" Will Rogers
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my Mom is a member on here so she's checking the post, I'll see if she will chime in. thank you all for the kind words. it was a hunt I will truly remember my whole life. next I need to get mom a bull elk in wyoming or colorado!
Beware of any old man in a profession where one usually dies young.
Calm seas don't make sailors.
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GREAT hunt and so many memories!!!! You will all relive those moments forever, that is what it is all about. Very nice job on your part to pull it all together for them in your uncle's memory.
Thanks
USE ENOUGH GUN (Ruark) and YOU CAN'T EVER HAVE TOO MANY (me)
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Campfire Ranger
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Now that's a memory right there. Wouldn't mind at all if family or friends did something similar and spread my ashes around during the process.
Last edited by 1minute; 12/17/14.
1Minute
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Love to read these. Better than all the BS stories in the outdoor rags!
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One of the best reads in a while. Thanks for sharing.
dave
If you're not burning through batteries in your headlamp,...you're doing it wrong.
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Cool factor of 10!
Congrats to you all.
Mike
God, Family, and Country. NRA Endowment Member
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Just WOW and deserving of the best S. Texas yeeeha I can muster! Thanks for sharing your hunt with all of us!
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Campfire Ranger
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Very cool, congrat's and thanks for sharing.
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Great Story + what they said {all of 'em) X 2 Gotta love those smiles !
Rich
"Only Accurate Rifles are Interesting" (Colonel Townsend Whelen)
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That is awesome, happy to see them out with success!
Hunting is where you prove yourself
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WOW, that is just an awesome story. LOVE IT !! Congrats to you Ladies very nicely done. Thanks for sharing your hunt we us.
Be Safe,
"...buzzards gota eat same as worms" Josey Wales NRA lifer Hunting is Conservation RMEF Member
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Arcus Venator
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Hope they taste good. Merry Christmas!
"Shoot low sheriff, I think he's riding a shetland!" B. Wills
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Way to go...good for them!
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Very good story!!!!!! Uncle Gale is smiling down on the ladies and God is smiling down on you. Good job!!!!
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