I spend a lot of my time in the field helping kids get their animals. Mostly we hunt turkeys, but I got to be a part of something pretty special a couple of weeks ago.
Kristyn is a friend’s daughter. Last year she came and hunted elk with me at 12 years old. We got lucky early and she filled her B list, private land cow tag the first evening.
She still had an either sex tag. She managed to get on a really good bull, but just couldn’t settle in for the shot in time. He got away.
She took a turkey this spring.
This fall she was determined to redeem herself in the bull department. No small task. We had a few elk on the property. One herd bull, a couple of satellites and about 35 cows/not legal bulls. I put them to bed Saturday morning on BLM. We both had private land tags, so we set up where we thought they would come out. Another friend that was already done hunting saw them go the other way. We moved, almost botched it, then she set up and waited for about 2 hours for the elk to move. When the bull stepped behind a tree, dad told her to get ready on the next opening. He would cow call and the bull would stop.
EeewwwBANG. She wasn’t waiting too long this time! Absolutely stoned him. He took 2 steps and went down.
A very happy 13 year old young lady.
She let me help her pack it out.
She isn’t the only kid I’ve helped. Her older sister has taken 2 cows hunting with me, but has been too busy with high school activities the last few years.
My son killed a great bull his first year out, at 12. I helped a little. He is spoiled now.
Both these bulls are better than any I have ever killed, and we don’t kill many bulls here. I’m starting think beginner’s luck is real. Or the powers that be just smile more on the kids, and I’m fine with that.
