ELK HUNT IN IDAHO

When I was under the weather a couple of months ago, Rob suggested it might be good to get out and go hunting.

When the boys were growing up, I took them hunting and I did several hunts with Rob including a great safari to Africa. He wanted to treat me to a hunt. He suggested an Elk hunt but I was not sure I was up to it. He found an Elk hunt in Idaho that I could manage.

He organized a hunt with the Rocky Mountain Elk Ranch located between Rexburg and Driggs, Idaho.

One of the best parts of an adventure is the planning and preparation. There were several trips to Cabelas, (my tailors) and picked up gadgets and noggets for the hunting trip. Cabelas is packed with many hunters making their won preparations. I picked up a Cow Elk call, the Hootchie Momma. We loaded the ammo, sighted in the rifles, got the ATV repaired, fixed the trailer and we were ready.

Rob flew down from Spokane, we loaded up the gear and drove off with the Ford Pickup pulling the ATV. It was a great drive and we chatted and remembered great times and great hunts. We arrived at the ranch about 6 PM.

The ranch was great with with wide open living room area, large bedrooms with queen size bunk beds. Rob got the top bunk. The owners and operators and our guides, as it turned out, were members of the Church so we had prayers in camp which was unusual.

We looked out the window and saw a few elk far off. There were three bulls and I tried the Hootchie Momma caller once through an open window. They all popped their heads up and even as the rut was over, they were interested.

We started out at daybreak on ATV's and rode through a rough trail in the woods but did not scare up anything or see anyting. It was cold and rainy. The guide found a high spot and scouted the area. He spotted three bulls and cows far off.

We got a little closer, glassed the elk with binoculars and there was one very nice bull. We ranged them at 180 yards. They were starting to go down a steep ravine where it would have been a real chore to bring them out and it was now or never.

Rob did a little stalk and got closer and shot a large cow elk. We processed the game quickly, took them to a butcher who promised to butcher the meat, vacuum pack it and flash freeze if for our departure on Saturday. This was most efficient!

Friday we drove over to the Huntsman Springs development in Driggs, Idaho. Paul has been involved with this huge development for several years. They have built a world class golf course and Rob wanted to try it out. It was fabulous. I rode in the golf cart and Rob played the last nine holes. I learned what a "Mulligan" is. Rob was in Heaven! We met Karen and Jon who showed us the fabulous homes they are building. It is a golfers dream!

The next day we loaded up, picked our frozen elk meat (350 lbs processed meat) and drove home. The horns were mounted on the ATV and we received slobbering congratulations by all the Elk Hunters we met at stops on the way home.

It was a great and memorable trip and I am grateful to Rob for making it possible.

Love, Dad