(***This is Ricks daughter who killed the Fishlake bull above***)
Thanks Everyone for your comments! We did have such a great enjoyable hunt!
I have two of the best guides anyone could ask for! My dad and Jace know what they are doing for sure...thanks guys! I could have never got such a great bull without you!
I was thrilled to finally draw after three years of thinking.."This is it, this is the year!"
Well the memories made were well worth the wait! It was quite the day we will always remember. We started off the morning finding out there were already hunters where we wanted to go a little bummed we headed to a new area..little did we know what we were in for! Rocky lava as far as you could see! I am amazed my little man (7 yrs old) and my dad went the entire way, I know I would have turned around if I was in pain! But if you know my dad, he will go the extra mile to support his kids and be there!
I was so glad to have him along! We listened to the bulls up the hill but were unable to get to them in time (due to the rocky mess) and waited around for a bit. After a few hours we headed back to camp and decided we would hit the other side a little later where we were hoping to go that morning. No one was there.. relief!
Walking the trail and just as Jace was about to call here comes a group of 5 hunters rushing right past us, little upsetting to say the least that they didn't even care they were nosily stomping past! My little bro was out in the boat so we called them over and decided to take a quicker trip to another point across the lake.
Almost to the point and we spot a cow elk, then a 6 point the boat stalls and dies.. perfect timing right! The elk run back into the trees (meanwhile more hunters are filling up every open area available behind us at the edge of the lake..crazy!) We finally get going again & get to shore...as close as we can! Its either walk in the water and have wet feet all day or wade barefoot to shore.. hhmmmm decided not to have cold wet feet all night! about 5 steps from the boat, no biggie another step and we all sink to our knees in muck! ya..it was great LOL
And there was a fisherman downwind smoking a cigar.. what else can happen! Lots of hunters on one side, fisherman on the other! After we finally get some of the thick mud off us Jace calls but they weren't about to come back out with all the commotion around us!
We headed back to where we were that morning..just around the point & we were on the other side of the creek (no lava rocks! yay) then found a place to cross while sinking in the mud again, but not as bad! We got settled and waited for the shadows to hit the trees as Jace called the bull into me. He was stubborn. He came to the tree line but stayed out of site, we inched our way south hoping he was going to show himself in the next meadow. Trying to get ahead of him we crossed another stream and hiked a rocky hill and set up on the edge..before too long.. sure enough 4 cows make there way into the opening..and finally so does he!
And of course, you know the result
As I said before I have the best guides ever! Jace even got everything ready to go that night and hung in the trees so
we could pack it out the next morning when we had a little more help. I offered to do whatever he wanted help with, but he dug right in and got it done & would only let me hold the lights! Best brother ever! Agree?!?
Hurting and barely able to walk without pain. Dad refused to let us all go pack it out ourselves.. he kept telling us that if he was going to get his kids into it, he is going to be there for it all! He walked that long walk, and helped prep it for the hike out. Thanks Dad! I appreciate all you do for me!
I am thrilled with the bull, not to bad from what I hear is coming off the Fishlake Rife hunt so far
and what time I had to hunt. Back to kids and life!
Thanks for the fun & memories and all your help Dad, Jace, Brandon, Chet, Trevor G. and my little man!
