| I have had the privilege of being part of many | | | | back in the middle of nowhere. Just enjoying the |
| wonderful hunts. Regardless of whether tags | | | | ride, we casually talked amongst each other. Dad |
| were filled or not, they all have special memories | | | | ran his camera like crazy. The wild was taking age |
| to me of which I find myself often reliving and | | | | off and he rode around like a teenager on his first |
| enjoying. Of all these hunts, my trip to Montana | | | | date. Norm talked about different stories of past |
| will forever be branded as the best hunt of my | | | | hunts, tips on surviving if we get lost, and what |
| life. I have yet to see anything come together as | | | | not to do when we meet up with a Grizzly. I took |
| perfectly as it did here. | | | | particular notice that he didn't say "if". The |
| Our hunting party met up in Choteau 7lazyP | | | | weather was pleasant and the Bob welcomed us |
| Ranch in the middle part of November. There | | | | in with open arms. |
| were four of us in total; myself, my brother | | | | We didn"t make it into camp until late afternoon, |
| Derek, Dad, and cousin Norm. Being from Montana | | | | but what awaited us was more than we could |
| and accomplished packer, Norm was the host of | | | | have hoped for. Norm spotted them from about |
| the event. He and dad had been in the week | | | | a mile away. Grazing on the hill where our horses |
| earlier to set camp and prepare for our arrival. | | | | would be kept was the main herd of elk. |
| Derek and I had hoped to join them earlier | | | | Hundreds of them simply enjoying the last of the |
| however our employers didn't agree with our | | | | afternoon sun. Abandoning any notion of getting |
| desired absences. It didn't matter; I was just | | | | things unpacked before dark, we tied the horses, |
| excited to be coming along. Originally, I didn't think | | | | pulled rifles, and set to hunting. This had the |
| I would be able to join the hunt and missed the | | | | potential of being a very good start. |
| initial draw from which the other members of my | | | | Unfortunately, someone else thought so as well. |
| party received coveted Deer and Elk combo tags. | | | | As we began to make our approach, the crack of |
| As I found my schedule clearing with the hunt | | | | a rifle broke the still of the evening and with a |
| approaching, I put in for a left over tag. Chances | | | | thunderous scramble, the herd was gone. A small |
| were slim but 4 weeks before we were to leave, | | | | group of guided hunters had been hunting on the |
| Montana Fish and Wildlife contacted me saying I | | | | final day of their hunt when they had stumbled |
| had been selected to receive a combo tag as well | | | | across the big group. Unfortunately, they couldn"t |
| if I still desired it. I couldn't write them a check | | | | make their shots and left the next day empty |
| fast enough. | | | | handed. Except for the occasional ranger, they |
| As we left Choteau, one of Norm's Montana | | | | would be the last people we saw until we |
| buddies said, "4 Elk and 4 Deer? That'll be a hell of | | | | departed 2 weeks later. |
| an order to fill!" He was right, it was an unusually | | | | The next day was quickly planned out. The elk |
| warm year in Montana with average November | | | | were obviously in and it was agreed we should |
| temps around 25-30 degrees F. The elk weren't | | | | hunt close to camp. With a little luck, we should be |
| following their normal patterns and few had been | | | | able to get at least one in the morning light. We |
| taken in the area we were hunting. Undaunted, | | | | stowed gear, fed horses, and went to bed. Even |
| we saddled up our horses and the hunt was on. | | | | though we were worn out from the days ride, |
| The shear splendor of the Bob Marshall is worth | | | | sleeping was difficult as excitement poured |
| the trip and would forever have kicked myself | | | | through us like little kids before Christmas |
| for missing it. Within just few miles, I felt like I | | | | morning. But like any hunt, things can always |
| rode back in time about 150 years. The amazing | | | | change. While we slumbered in our cots, the elk |
| abundance of wildlife and the complete lack of | | | | came down from the hill, trekked the flat, and |
| any other human contact made the stresses of | | | | crossed the Sun River into the no-hunting area of |
| regular life disappear along with the civilization we | | | | the Preserve. They would not be seen for quite |
| left behind. Our destination was about 25 miles | | | | some time. |