Daughter's first Big Game hunt

BleuBijou

Active member
She just turned 12 and we went up to Gunnison to try for a Cow elk. We stayed with friends @ their ranch and Kirstie and Steve treated her like a Rock Star. We arrived Sat. morning to a fresh blanket of snow in the high country. Kirstie is the owner and CEO of Prois women's hunting apparel. She outfitted my daughter with a Jacket, 3 shirts, and a hat. After looking at her web page my mouth fell open as the jacket was 225 bucks. We then shot about a dozen times to make sure she was on target. We headed up to go hunting, but as luck would have it the rancher had just brought in all the Bovine from the forrest. We did not get much response with the bugles. One reply every ten minutes or so. We got set up and the darn elk came into the open when it was pitch dark. So, we would try in the morning. We get back to Steve and Kirstie's and Steve asks if my daughter wants to drive the rest of the way to the house. Of course she said yes. I said I would walk. It is about 3/4 mile of private drive to the house with expensive wood fence on both sides. she did great and got to do that and make a driving trip around the ranch the next day. Day 2 the elk were still quiet. but we did here one bull where Steve said we could get there and kill a cow. The problem was it was a hike and with my back I said there was no way at this time could I do that and I wanted to be there for her moment. As we came down the road just 2 miles away, there was a nice 340 bull with a half dozen hot cows and 2 raghorns harrassing him. There was bugling every 5 seconds and then 30 cows came out of the hills running down to the big bull. The raghorns thought this was their chance and started to go cut them off. The cows just ran right by the 2 bulls and headed for the big boy. Our hunt was over for now. She has until jan 31st , so we will get back there. As we pulled into the ranch, Steve knew my daughter wanted to ride the horse and even though he was pressed for time ( Had to make it to Denver for the Game) he stopped and called Blue Eyes over and threw on a make shift halter and threw my daughter on the horse and said go have fun. When we left my daughter looked at me and said " This is heaven Daddy" I couldn't agree more. Thanks to Kirstie and Steve, both I met while going to college at UNC and have remained good friends since. They made it very special to my daughter.
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Chad,
Are you sure she is blood :D:p;) Because she is whole lot cuter than you my friend :coolpics:

Anyhow, that is pretty cool that she was able to get out, ride that beautiful animal, and almost fill her tag.

Colton and I are going to head up to unit 511 with a friend for the 3rd rifle and try our luck on getting a bull.

I hope your back gets better. Also, what's the wager if my Boys beat your Donkeys this weekend :rolleyes:

Take care,
Greg
 
Great story. I'm glad she had fun and hope she gets the chance to fill that tag.:cheers:
 
Wow how cool is that! I cant even get my two teenage boys to go with me. Dont ever take that scenery for granted. Just beautiful. Careful with that horse- I think hes giving you the stink eye!!
 
Thanks everyone!!! She is ready to go back!! Asks me everyday!! Greg, you know my girls get their looks from me!!! You have seen how pretty I am!!! Blue eyes is a heck of a Roping horse and real gentle with kids. We let him out and he ran all the way to the arena thinking he was getting to go rope some calves!!! Scenery is what I live for and my Daughter has asked us to move up there!! I love the hills. My cousin just moved back up to Montana and wants us to come visit. Makes me scared because it may be the trip that makes me not want to come back. Everybody have a safe and fruitful season!!:cheers:
 
Bleu, Love the pics, Good for You, and the young ones.
Just great! :thumbsup:
 
Very nice.

Byrd,
How are things at the Ponderosa :confused:;)

Better than last year I hope. Heading out to Dodge next month, didn't go last year, first time I had not made the trip since I was active duty and stationed over in South Korea for a year. Taking my young pointing lab, my son and I have some family coming up.

Might not be alot of birds, however beats the heck out of working :thumbsup:

And I miss me some Bad Habit burgers and steak :10sign:

Take care,

Greg
 
Busy here at moment. Much improved over last three years. Give me a call when you are in Dodge. I am hoping to slip away to Colorado to chase a bull in the 2nd or 3rd season, if I can. It is a long ways out to the area I know along the Utah border. Was hoping to get out for a scouting trip and look for a new area that wasn't so far but that is not happening. Bulging bulls, now that is music to my ears.
 
Byrd,
Will do definitely, will send you a PM with my number. We are staying at the Travelodge in Dodge. The motel we stayed at two years ago doesn't have the kennels anymore or take animals in the room :eek::mad:

I would say what motel and where however it might give away my honey holes ;):p

I don't remember if you drink (leaded that is), if you do then the first beer is on me or whatever your flavor is.:cheers:

Greg
 
I must warn you, I am a heavy drinker of iced tea.

I keep hoping a nice bull elk will come across the Ponderosa and I can punch a tag here one day, but still love Colorado elk hunting.
 
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