Dream bull.

fatrooster · Nov 7, 2011

LAST EDITED ON Nov-07-11 AT 11:37AM (MST)[p]Hey everybody, meet Elmer Casavan, 85 year old veteran who fought in three wars and loves the outdoors and loves hunting and fishing. Elmers dream was to kill a bull elk before he was too old to get out and hunt. Due to the fact that he was feeling his age and felt that he may never draw the tag before he was to feeble for hunting he decided to buy a landowner tag. Two weeks before his hunt he had a stroke and was in the hospital for several days but came out with the will and desire to go get that bull. But then at the last minute the person that was supposed to take him out could not due to personal problems. So I was lucky enough to be able to go elk hunting with Elmer and help him get his bull. My friend, David Richardson also volunteered to help out and so the hunt was on. Yesturday,11- 06-2011 at 4:00am we started out towards Montello, Nevada (area 081) and got there about daylight. Due to Elmers age this was a truck hunt and after driving around glassing for several hours we found our first two cow elk at about 700 yards out. We knew that there could be more elk so we decided to park the truck and get a closer look. We slowly closed off about 3 hundred yards and did indeed find a bull hanging out with the cows. Now came a new problem. Elmer could not see the elk to evaluate the bull so we had to get closer. We closed off another hundred yards but he couldn't tell if he liked the bull or not. So now we started belly crawling and I couldn't believe how fast Elmer could crawl. He left me in the dust but he was going the wrong way. I had his rifle and it was slowing me down but I finally caught up with him. At this point we had gone down into a wash and we were able to stand up and get closer. We closed the distance to about 100 yards and crawled about another 20. Elmer still had trouble seeing the bull but finally was able to find him in his scope. Then Elmer exclaimed. "Thats a big son-of-a-bit!" Thats when the bull heard him and knew something was up. We talked a little bit about wether or not he wanted this bull and he decided that he did. Well since the bull listened to our whole conversation he decided he had heard enough and stood up. Elmer already had him in his scope and touched one off but missed. He then ran out another 20 yards and looked back but this time Elmers shot was true. I couldn't tell how good the bull was hit but he ran out another 20 yards and looked back and without any warning fell over. And that was it. Elmer was so happy and so were we. We knew that it was going to be a challenge to get Elmer close enough to get a good shot but it all came together on the first day and on the first bull. I truley believe it was meant to be and that God made it happen. This is definitely my best hunting season ever. I did not get my buck that I chased for 20 days but I got to help a 13 year old girl get her first buck and an 85 year old man get his first bull. Thank you David for going with me because I would never have gotten that bull in the back of the truck by myself, ha ha. Thanyou also to Ron Watson who ownes Horseshoe Flatts Old Motel on the outskirts of Montello who helped us skin, quarter and is butchering and wrapping Elmers bull for free. And to Elmer, congrats on a great hunt and great bull. fatrooster.

fatrooster · Nov 7, 2011

Here is a picture of Elmer and my friend David Richardson.

appleman · Nov 7, 2011

excellent-I am very happy for him!! nic pic

completesportsman · Nov 7, 2011

Cool story, thanks for sharing. Congrats on the great season!

dwalton · Nov 7, 2011

You did good, rooster!

eldorado · Nov 7, 2011

That's awesome. Very happy for Elmer. Props to Fatrooster and company for making Elmer's dream come true. You guys are the best.

Eldorado

c86man3 · Nov 7, 2011

Very cool. Give my congratulations for the elk and my thanks for his service to our country.

kilowatt · Nov 7, 2011

Well I guess I know WHO I will be calling when I draw a tag at the old age of 85....stay young Banty...LOL
Congrats to the gentleman on his first ELK, great effort on everyones part.

Brian
http://i25.tinypic.com/fxbjgy.jpg[/IMG]

highcountryhunter · Nov 7, 2011

Congrats! Tell Elmer I appreciate his service to our country. It's always great to see someone of his age getting out and doing what he loves.........and putting down a great bull! Fatrooster, you are one heck of a guy and I believe what goes around comes around and you my friend have something great coming your way! Congrats again to all involved!

junior · Nov 7, 2011

Awesome!

nmbighorn · Nov 7, 2011

Fatrooster, you are Class Act for taking this man on his elk hunt as well as the young miss's and by the looks of it your a Great guide.
Congrats to the Hunter and those involved on this hunt.

nmbighorn

brownie · Nov 7, 2011

Congrats to Elmer, and Fatrooster on a dream hunt. Sometimes things just happen for a reason. Good Job Drew!

Thanks

Brownie

Magicman · Nov 7, 2011

Congratulations to all involved. You did good !!!

Before you die.....Take time to live

woodruffhunter · Nov 7, 2011

NICE!!! Way to go Elmer and Rooster!!

NickW · Nov 7, 2011

It just doesn't get any better than that!
Super story! Super hunt! Super friends!

2lumpy · Nov 7, 2011

Outstanding story fatty, you did good. Nothing compares to the lift you get like helping the special ones. Puts a shinny polish on the lives we live.

Let me make one more observation, without knowing another thing about Elmer, I have to conclude he is still a tough old warrior, at the age of 85. Anyone that's ornery enough to shot that "meat axe Rugar" twice in a row and make the second shot count is a hell of a man. You tell your buddy we are darn proud of him. Hope he gets another bull next year.

DC

Trix4me · Nov 7, 2011

Great story and outcome. (nice recoil pad to take the wallop out of that Ruger)

nickman · Nov 7, 2011

Good job Son! Us old guys appreciate that behaviour!

"If God did not intend for man to hunt animals, he would have made broccoli more fun to shoot"

elkmtngear · Nov 8, 2011

Awesome Story and pics, Fatrooster! You are doing God's Work!

Best of Luck,
Jeff
http://www.elkmtngear.com

kingfish · Nov 8, 2011

Nicely done Rooster!!! Ya gotta love that recoil pad!! LoL!

Government doesn't fix anything and has spent trillions proving it!!!
Let's face it...After Monday and Tuesday, even the calender says WTF!

fatrooster · Nov 8, 2011

Yep, that recoil pad is really something. He's got all kinds of little inventions around his house. I once posted pictures of his homemade rifle bi-pod but I can't find those pictures to repost them. fatrooster.

flyingspearnv · Nov 8, 2011

that is really cool rooster and david, and the locals in montello, hope I'm still hunting at 85!

rugarm77 · Nov 8, 2011

Great story!!! Thanks for taking the time to share it!!

NVPete · Nov 9, 2011

Great story and pics! A gutsy, determined hunter fulfills a lifetime dream in his waning yrs. thanks to his friends who were "sent his way" to help him "git 'er done". Class act, story, and kudos to all involved, worthy of anything that gets published in any of those fancy mags. Thanks Rooster & friend, you rock! Great post...

huntin40 · Nov 9, 2011

wow!!! fatrooster am i gonna blow you mind...

every year my father and i do the same back pack hunt in the ruby's. i have posted on here everyonce in awhile responding to question people may have about the ruby's, primarily because its all i hunt, and i like to warn people of how hard of a hunt it is lol. anyways, this year the saturday before opening day (archery season) my dad and i hit the trail (lamoille). we always expect to run into a hiker here and there and the occational hunter, but when i saw Elmer on that trail i had to double take and pinch myself to believe my eyes. 85 years old this tough-as-nails man was hitting the trail. we would pass him, later take a break and he would pass us. occassionally we would take breaks in the same spot just to enjoy the company of someone else that enjoys being out there as much as us. to be honest i was a little concerned for the guy. being alone, that far from help is dangerous for anybody, but for a man of his age? not for elmer, he loved the outdoors and did the 9 mile hike just to stay the night and do it all again the next morning.

my dad mentioned he thought he might have been a veteran. what really gave it away was as my dad and i were about to switch back on the trail, when we heard this coming around the corner..."I dont know but ive been told..." and then when he saw us, with balful eyes, and a mischievous smile he sings, "her name is Susie, she wont but her sister will!!!" haha

Our lunch was very memorable when he talked about how he finally got his dream tag, for a bull elk. "Im gonna get me one of them big ones, but i gotta hire an outfitter, these legs have had it." i could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. it really was his dream hunt. The last i saw of elmer was him setting up camp by the trail in the distance as my dad and i dropped into the canyon we were to hunt for over a week. i was shocked to see his picture on here and i hope you are a little surprised at what a small world it is. I hope you still have contact with him, and if so, tell him dave and his son chad said hello and congrats and we couldnt be more happy for him. admiration to the utmost for yourself fatrooster

thanks,
chad

greatbasin · Nov 9, 2011

Outstanding!

Please thank him for his service to our country.

fatrooster · Nov 9, 2011

Huntin40(Chad), those two songs are Elmers favorites. Sometimes we'll be driving along or hiking along and all of a sudden he just blurts out one of his songs and it will make you jump out of your skin.
Every year Elmer walks the whole Ruby Crest trail, which is about 48 miles, but this year when he walked it he decided to spend the night at North Furlong and go back home the next day which is probably the trip that you saw him on. He told me that he got tuckered out and just couldn't do the whole trip this year.
He told me another story about him and another elderly friend of his hiking on a different trip and making a creek crossing. He told me that if you turned your body just right while walking through the water, it wouldn't knock you over. Well Elmer made the creek crossing but his friend did not. He got washed down the creek and almost drowned to death. He doesn't hike with Elmer anymore.
He told me about another trip where he again had to cross a creek. Well he ties a long rope onto his backpack, crosses a creek on a fence and then pulls the backpack accross.
He loves to dance with the ladies and has even been called a womanizer. He's quite a colorful character.
He went through quite a few hurtels to get to this hunt that I did not mention which had to do with his so called "outfitter." Lets just say that things did not pan out but I was lucky enough to get the oppurtunity to spend this hunt with him.
Chad, thanks for giving your owne story about Elmer. They seem to be endless. fatrooster.

fatrooster · Nov 9, 2011

Another picture of Elmer but this time he is with fatrooster.

treedagain · Nov 9, 2011

great bull, way to step up and make his hunt very special...WTG

evilroy250 · Nov 12, 2011

Hey fatrooster that sounds like my year. I helped a buddy get his first bull in grouse creek, close by Montello. And helped another friend get his first bull on the general any bull hunt in north western utah. What an awsome year.

mickeyelk · Nov 13, 2011

Way to go Elmer! Congrates!

DancingFool · Nov 26, 2011

Drew, what a great story and blessing to you both. What an honor to spend time with such a brave and interesting man. Elmer was lucky to have met an equally great man for being so giving. Congratulations to both of you. Matt

fatrooster · Nov 27, 2011

Thankyou every body for the kind comments. I went and got Elmers elk meat from the butcher the other day and took it to Elmer and he is still on cloud 9. fatrooster.