Changing times, changing people

For those of us older ones, we grew up in a very simple lifestyle. Most things were home made.
From clothes, to food, to fun. Rarely were these items ‘store boten’. Hand me downs were anticipated and expected. We looked forward to our older brothers or sisters ‘growing out of’ their clothes, so we could then wear them. Food was home cooked, usually from the garden and wild game was a staple. Ah those fried ‘taters’ and home made gravy! Probably not the best for one’s health. Least ways that would be the prognosis in today’s world. My folks rarely ate out. I can count on my hand the times I seen my mom or dad eating out at a restaurant. We always raised some cows, but rarely did we eat the cows we raised. They were sold to market for cash. Now fun was not is short supply. It is amazing what one kid or a group of children can do to invent fun. From riding stick horses to playing house or roasting potatoes in a campfire. Snow games in the winter and sledding. Then for real excitement getting the hood of an old car and pulling up a steep hill for a real ride. Of course we always had chores to do. Cows to milk or calves to feed. Wood to get in and snow to shovel. And snowball fights were loads of fun, with forts and snowmen, etc. Well times have changed. There are new and interesting things happening. Not all are good. But there is still good things happening and people adapt to change. I just hope that Change doesn’t take the Good out of people. And yes it is still fun to play fox and geese or build roads in the dirt with a Tonka truck, or? Keep smiling we can all find something good in our lives that can bring us joy and it doesn’t have to cost money!

A Successful Hunt

Well we did get out there and hunt the elusive Wapiti. Friday morning after Thanksgiving found us braving early cold weather to track down and harvest one of the most regal and impressive animals on the American continent. We had spotted this herd of elk the evening previous as they began their evening graze. We also had seen them the prior Saturday as we drove through the area in the early morning. We had plans to set up on a couple of ridges north of where they were graving with the intent to head the off as they headed for their bedding area. We arrived there and found that someone else had the same intent. So we moved on to another location. We had recieved a few inches of snow on Thanksgiving evening and conditions were prime. We did not encounter any elk that morning. We later returned to the spot previously selected and talked to my cousin who had hunted the area and had shot at a spike. He had also talked to a man and his daughter who has spotted two large bulls at a long distance. To make a long story shorter anyway we then hunted several other areas and seen some cow elk. There are lots of elk in this area. Our son Brad had came down from Utah to check out the hunting. He and Brian my oldest son then went to a place called Bailey Point. They were able to get into a herd of elk there but they were too far off to get any shots. We made plans to go back the next morining and check the area. Brian had a plan to be dropped off and hunt into the spotting area and my son Chantry and I were to make a drive from the South. We had just gotten out of the truck when we heard shooting. Brian had shot at an elk and was unsure of a hit. We told him we would work our way towards him and then help him look for sign. As we dropped lower on the ridges we seen a herd of elk making their way up the ridge. We then heard more shooting. Brian called and indicated that he had taken an elk. He was quite excited as this was his first big game animal. You all who have experienced this know the adrenalin rush. We worked our way down to his location and he had a nice spike. Well a little lesson in field dressing and I'm on my way back to get the truck. They will pull the elk downhill to a location we can get to with the truck. We are having cold nights and cold days so we know the elk will hang and cool out in great shape.
Sunday is a day of rest so we get some good rest and anticipate getting back in the field on Monday. We hunt in another location on Monday, seeing elk but no horns.
Tuesday we are back in the area from the previous evening and anticipate seeing some elk. We find several cows. They come within 40 yards of me but I cannot put horns on any of them. About noon we head for town to gas up the truck and get some vittles. As we are leaving Overgard we decide to take a road up through the forest. We are talking about Ashley Davis our brother in law has said has elk crossing the roads in this area. I"m somewhat skeptical and just about at that moment a herd of elk are trying to cross the road. Brian yells that there is a bull in the lead. He has already broken ahead of the others and is long gone through the trees. We just weren't ready for them. I make a round through the timber hoping to get a glimpse. They are traveling hard and fast. An elk can cover a lot of territory when they are pushed. So it is getting on towards evening by this time and we decide to make a drive up by Deer Springs Lookout. We pass the look out and are heading down the canyon when Brian sees a herd just in front of us heading up the hill. I exit the truck and am looking for them on the left and Brian motions to me that they have crossed the road the right and and heading South. I step out of the road and get up to a nice pine tree for added support. I glass the area and find a bull standing with his head just out of the trees. I shoot and he dissapears. I'm not sure of a hit. Then this same bull steps into sight. This time a pull down on his front shoulder and pull the trigger. He again disappears.
I walk rapidly towards his location and find him down. After putting him completely down, Brian walks up with a big grin on is face. We have completed a successful Arizona elk hunt. It is about 1/2 hr from dark and after field dressing we do a redneck loading job and off we go to the house. I had called my wife earlier when we were ran over by elk on the road and how we messed up getting one and would be coming home empty handed again. Well she would be surprised when we came in with on after all. The fun was over and skinning and cleaning was next on the agenda. Overall we had a very enjoyable hunt with Brad and Chantry getting to participate and good weather. It is a great privilege to have the freedom to hunt and enjoy the outdoors. The extra bonus is having some great eating. We cut Brian's elk up a week later and hung mine in a cooler for another week to keep it from spoiling as the weather warmed up to 60 degrees during the day. One doesn't wast this precious meat. Ah! those backstrap steaks and elk burger will go a long way and when we munch down on it, it will bring back a flood of great memories.

A Successful Hunt