so we pulled up to the place where we were hiking in and i was tired. im used to getting up at 8 to go to work so after 3-4 days of getting up at 4:30 i was tired. so pops went in alone and i took a little nap in the truck.
. i woke when another rig pulled up so i talked with them for a minute and told me they had a bull tag as well. i told them pops went in already and had been in there for about an hour or so. at that point i figured i had enough sleep and got my gear together and kinda knew where he would be and not hard to spot wearing hunter orange. so i walked in and went passed where he was knowing that i could walk around the corner and up the hill and be able to see over to where he was. well one of the guys that walked in as i was sleeping just happened to be in the spot that i was going to walk up to. so i politely waved and started back out and figured i would go look some where else as i spent most of the time just glassing trying to find a shooter while he watched another area. i got almost back to the road when i heard a bull doing some grunting and walking and i knew he was headed right for pops. so i tryed getting him on the 2-way to tell him there was one heading towards him. well he had it turned off so that didnt work. then BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! then he comes on the radio joe you got it on! i said yes and asked did you get him! he said yes but im out of ammo and hes still walking! lol
i was only about 200 yards away but the incline was extremely steep and took me a little while to get there but by them time i got there he was down and barely moving. i handed him my pistol but by the time he walked the few feet to him he had passed. a great early b day present! my birthday is today and i got to be with my dad on the 3rd the day he got his moose
. i talked with my cousin that afternoon to tell him we would be back in town to try and make the funeral for his dad and all i could think of was how happy i am that i got to have the chance to take my first elk this year with pops and help him him get his moose. i feel truly blessed that we were able to knock off not just one but two things off our bucket lists the year together being the horse back elk trip and then this. so if i could give anyone any advise it would be to create the memories while you have the chance, live your life happy no matter what it takes, and dont let money run your life. i would rather be broke and happy then rich and miserable.
