2022 First Rifle Season Recap from Dark Timber Lodge
The nuts and bolts of it from a numbers standpoint were OK. Our hunters had 25% success (1-4) on the Unit 62 side. This is an over-the-counter elk hunting unit. There were a couple of very close calls on bulls (30 seconds here or there). Over on the Unit 61 side, which is a limited license unit, our hunters had 100% success (2-2).
Beyond those numbers though, what stands out most was the fact that we had an absolutely outstanding group of hunters that came together and had an awesome time. We had hunters from Maine, Ohio, Tennessee, Las Vegas, and Indiana ranging in ages from their early 30s to 76 years old. The camaraderie and laughing-out-loud, milk-out-the-nose moments during every dinner and around the woodstove every evening made for a really memorable hunt and reinforces why we provide the type of service and promote the ethos that we do. We’re so lucky to get to do this.
Of particular note was one of our older hunters, Bob, who drew unit 61 with 26 points. First off, that’s a lot of points and I wish CPW would do something about the ridiculous snowballing of preference point creep. No one should have to wait 26 years to hunt unit 61. But that’s for another time.
Bob has hunted all over the world. He served in Vietnam at a very early age. He’s got an unbeatable positive attitude but not in an annoying, surficial way that’s easily dismissed. He had a powerful and personal but not overbearing faith in God. For a 76-year-old man, he got around pretty damn good on the plateau and I hope I’m able to have the legs and lungs he does when I’m 65, much less 76.
During his hunt, he passed on several decent bulls holding out for a really good 6 point. However, that opportunity alluded him and on the last day of the season we were faced with the reality of possibly having to shoot whatever bull offered up a good shot so he could bring some meat home. Bob was running out of gas physically and unbeknownst to me until after the hunt, he was taping up his toes, feet and ankles to keep his joints together while side-hilling and going up and down the slopes chasing elk. Not once did I hear a complaint.
Near lunchtime on the last day, while he was eating his sandwich and I was hammering down cookies, movement in the still golden aspens caught my eye to the right and a young bull was skittishly moving right to left downslope about 100 yards from us. I had set up the shooting sticks in front of Bob ahead of time just in case this very thing happened. Through a mouthful of cookies I told Bob to get his rifle up and chamber one. Once he got a visual on the bull I told him he didn’t have to shoot and that we could hold out for a better bull that afternoon/evening. Without hesitation, he decided to shoot and dropped the bull in his tracks.
Once we got down to the bull, I politely asked Bob to give thanks to the bull, something I ask all of our hunters to do. Doesn’t matter how you do it, just that you do it. Bob wanted to pray. So we held hands and Bob delivered a short but quite possibly one of the most powerful prayers I’ve ever heard. He told the bull how beautiful he was and how beautiful a day it was in a beautiful place. All of which were true. Then, through a choked up voice and tears, he thanked the Lord for giving him the strength to allow him to have one more trip to the mountains. That got me. This was maybe his last elk hunt and there I was holding his hand as he wept tears of joy, humility and thankfulness. There were no regrets about the size of the bull he ended up killing. It could’ve been a squirrel lying there dead and the prayer and sincerity behind it would’ve carried the same weight and meaning. He finished his prayer and I told him thank you. We took some photos and then we got to work on quartering out the bull.
As a guide, you want your hunter to have the best experience possible. You want Bob to kill a slammer of a bull because he’s waited so long for the opportunity to do so. But sometimes it doesn’t shake out that way. Sometimes all the scouting and glassing and hard hunting just don’t quite come together. You aren’t owed anything from the elk on a hunt…but at the same time, you hope things break your way and your hard work and effort are rewarded. But his demeanor and understanding that he had as a very seasoned and experienced elk hunter removed a lot of that initial disappointment I had.
Whether it’s a cow, a raghorn, or 300” class mature bull, I’ve always said every elk is a trophy. And I firmly believe that. He was able to take that belief and put it into words and give it heart-swelling meaning. When you get to experience a hunt with someone like that, all the statistics and fist-pumping and machismo BS goes out the window. What you’re left with is a true love of and respect for the land, the animals we share it with and the sincere appreciation for getting to spend time in these places…and how fleeting and fragile it all is.
Thank you for that Bob. And thanks to all of you for reading this and for being stewards of and speaking up for our public lands, waters, and wildlife we’re so blessed with in this country.