My Dad drew a cow elk license for southern Utah. My son and I and my
youngest daughter, age 6, drove down and met him in the area over
Thanksgiving weekend. This was my daughters first experience with
hunting and camping. I was really worried about her having fun and being
able to cope with the conditions. I knew that this could be her last trip ever
for hunting or camping if she had a bad experience. We do a lot of looking
with binoculars and so I bought her a pair. She brought plenty of toys and
books to read. I truly hoped I had not picked the wrong time to get her
interested.
Well as it turned out the weather turned off real cold. I mean punishing cold.
We had 8 below zero one morning. We were tent camping and so we were
venerable to that cold.
We met my dad and drove out to our camping spot. We started to set up
the tent and my daughter wanted to help. I told her that we needed wood for
the fire and off she went gathering wood. If you notice she is wearing a
whistle in case she gets lost. She always made sure she had her whistle.
youngest daughter, age 6, drove down and met him in the area over
Thanksgiving weekend. This was my daughters first experience with
hunting and camping. I was really worried about her having fun and being
able to cope with the conditions. I knew that this could be her last trip ever
for hunting or camping if she had a bad experience. We do a lot of looking
with binoculars and so I bought her a pair. She brought plenty of toys and
books to read. I truly hoped I had not picked the wrong time to get her
interested.
Well as it turned out the weather turned off real cold. I mean punishing cold.
We had 8 below zero one morning. We were tent camping and so we were
venerable to that cold.
We met my dad and drove out to our camping spot. We started to set up
the tent and my daughter wanted to help. I told her that we needed wood for
the fire and off she went gathering wood. If you notice she is wearing a
whistle in case she gets lost. She always made sure she had her whistle.
Amanda gathering wood video
We got a good fire going and rested some before
heading out to look for some elk. Remember we had
been driving for nearly 24 hrs at this point. I have a
painting in my living room of an old fallen log . I painted
it after our first trip to this area. Amanda had heard the
stories about this log before. She saw that painting
everyday. She wanted to get a picture sitting on the log.
We use the knoll for glassing and so that is where we
headed first!
heading out to look for some elk. Remember we had
been driving for nearly 24 hrs at this point. I have a
painting in my living room of an old fallen log . I painted
it after our first trip to this area. Amanda had heard the
stories about this log before. She saw that painting
everyday. She wanted to get a picture sitting on the log.
We use the knoll for glassing and so that is where we
headed first!
After looking around for a while we left my son
there on the knoll and I took my dad back down
and to the other side of the knoll. My son was to
push through the timber on the knoll and maybe
send something to us where we were waiting.
As it turned out there were no elk in the timber
but there were some deer. My son was carrying
a video camera and was able to get some
footage. We had also spotted a deer hiding at
the edge of the timber. In the video footage you
can see the view we are met with at the top of the
knoll.
there on the knoll and I took my dad back down
and to the other side of the knoll. My son was to
push through the timber on the knoll and maybe
send something to us where we were waiting.
As it turned out there were no elk in the timber
but there were some deer. My son was carrying
a video camera and was able to get some
footage. We had also spotted a deer hiding at
the edge of the timber. In the video footage you
can see the view we are met with at the top of the
knoll.
Remember to double click on images for a larger view!
As it turned out, we had
a couple of chances at
elk later this first day, but
my dads shooting was a
little off. Elk Two, Dad
Zero! We were met with
a beautiful sunset as we
crested a pass on the
way back to camp.
a couple of chances at
elk later this first day, but
my dads shooting was a
little off. Elk Two, Dad
Zero! We were met with
a beautiful sunset as we
crested a pass on the
way back to camp.
We got back to camp well after dark. It was cold. The reading on the thermometer said 10 degrees. We built up the fire and
cooked some hot dogs. Then it was time to head to bed. I had brought several sleeping bags to use and hoped my daughter
would be warm. She had never slept in a sleeping bag before and I was worried I was in for a long night. Amanda had brought
several of her favorite stuffed toys and she gathered them around her as she crawled into her sleeping bag. I had two other
bags on top of the bag she was in. She was given strict orders to wake me up if she got cold. It was not long before she was
saying she was clod. I told her to come get in my bag. She fell right to sleep after that. I think she was just a bit worried about
being in her own bag. Anyway I later crawled out and got into her bag. I was worried the whole night and kept checking on her.
But in the end all I accomplished was to lose a lot of sleep.
The next morning we got up early and were met with a -8 degree reading on the thermometer. Burr! It was clod. It was
Thanksgiving Day. We were heading up to the knoll again for a look around. There is a very large flat here that the elk move into
during the night to eat. There is little food in the trees. The trick is to figure out where the elk will head back into the trees at.
The knoll lets you see for miles. It was not long before we spotted some elk heading for the safety of the trees. Dad and my son
started their way. I stayed on the knoll to watch the show. Amanda was in the truck playing with her toys and watching me look
around. I could see herds of elk all over the flat going towards the trees. Dad and my son got very close to some elk here but
there were bulls. The cows had crossed the area before they were able to get there. We some very large bulls during this hunt. I
had a 6x7 come right by me there on the knoll while I was in the truck warming up. Amanda reminded me that we could not
shoot "daddy elk". It was a huge bull and I believe it would have made the book. I drove down and into the flat to pick up my
dad and son. We went back to camp to warm up next to the fire and have some melted cheese sandwiches for breakfast.
While waiting for some drinks to thaw next to the fire, Amanda and I set up some cans and such for targets. I had bought her a
small .22cal rifle and it was time for her to shoot it. She shot nearly a box of ammo. She did not want to stop for breakfast. Much
to my surprise she was a very capable shot and there were not many misses. She was down right deadly with that little gun.
Finally some drinks had thawed by the fire and grandpa had some melted cheese sandwiches ready to go. We ate till all were
full. We gathered some more wood and took naps and waited for the afternoon to roll around for the evenings hunt.
cooked some hot dogs. Then it was time to head to bed. I had brought several sleeping bags to use and hoped my daughter
would be warm. She had never slept in a sleeping bag before and I was worried I was in for a long night. Amanda had brought
several of her favorite stuffed toys and she gathered them around her as she crawled into her sleeping bag. I had two other
bags on top of the bag she was in. She was given strict orders to wake me up if she got cold. It was not long before she was
saying she was clod. I told her to come get in my bag. She fell right to sleep after that. I think she was just a bit worried about
being in her own bag. Anyway I later crawled out and got into her bag. I was worried the whole night and kept checking on her.
But in the end all I accomplished was to lose a lot of sleep.
The next morning we got up early and were met with a -8 degree reading on the thermometer. Burr! It was clod. It was
Thanksgiving Day. We were heading up to the knoll again for a look around. There is a very large flat here that the elk move into
during the night to eat. There is little food in the trees. The trick is to figure out where the elk will head back into the trees at.
The knoll lets you see for miles. It was not long before we spotted some elk heading for the safety of the trees. Dad and my son
started their way. I stayed on the knoll to watch the show. Amanda was in the truck playing with her toys and watching me look
around. I could see herds of elk all over the flat going towards the trees. Dad and my son got very close to some elk here but
there were bulls. The cows had crossed the area before they were able to get there. We some very large bulls during this hunt. I
had a 6x7 come right by me there on the knoll while I was in the truck warming up. Amanda reminded me that we could not
shoot "daddy elk". It was a huge bull and I believe it would have made the book. I drove down and into the flat to pick up my
dad and son. We went back to camp to warm up next to the fire and have some melted cheese sandwiches for breakfast.
While waiting for some drinks to thaw next to the fire, Amanda and I set up some cans and such for targets. I had bought her a
small .22cal rifle and it was time for her to shoot it. She shot nearly a box of ammo. She did not want to stop for breakfast. Much
to my surprise she was a very capable shot and there were not many misses. She was down right deadly with that little gun.
Finally some drinks had thawed by the fire and grandpa had some melted cheese sandwiches ready to go. We ate till all were
full. We gathered some more wood and took naps and waited for the afternoon to roll around for the evenings hunt.
We did not see any elk that evening but we did see some deer and some new country. We got back to camp with a new hunter
and a plan for the next days hunt. We knew where the elk had left the valley and planned to be there before first light. It had
clouded over this evening and the temp was warmer. It was a good feeling as we went to bed with warmer temps and the
anticipation of the next days hunt.
Somehow I messed up as far as time goes and we got up late. Also the clouds had cleared off and the temp had fallen. It was
again very cold. We hurried to get ready and get to our spot. I was driving a bit faster than I should have been going. And we
were a long way from our spot as it was getting light enough to see. Then as the saying goes, "Elk are where you find them."
a large herd was seen moving through the mornings grey light in front of us. I got to a stop and Dad got out to shoot. A small
part of the herd stopped and gave dad a chance to try and pick out a cow. It was shooting light and the elk were maybe 150
yards out in front of us. Dad was able to pick out a cow and shot her. I wanted to involve Amanda in the hunt and although
we knew where the elk was we went to where it was first hit and showed her the blood. I explained that we would need to
follow the blood to find the elk. She turned out to be a very good blood hound and shortly found the elk. She turned to me
and said "It is lucky I am with you daddy, because without me finding the blood trail you would not have found anything."
The elk was still moving and so we got out Amandas little rifle to have her finish it off. Before we were ready the elk died but
she shot it anyway. The little video here shows what happened. You can see that it is cold and Amandas hands are freezing
after shooting the elk. She watched and asked questions while I cleaned the elk. She was very interested even though it was
"yucky".
and a plan for the next days hunt. We knew where the elk had left the valley and planned to be there before first light. It had
clouded over this evening and the temp was warmer. It was a good feeling as we went to bed with warmer temps and the
anticipation of the next days hunt.
Somehow I messed up as far as time goes and we got up late. Also the clouds had cleared off and the temp had fallen. It was
again very cold. We hurried to get ready and get to our spot. I was driving a bit faster than I should have been going. And we
were a long way from our spot as it was getting light enough to see. Then as the saying goes, "Elk are where you find them."
a large herd was seen moving through the mornings grey light in front of us. I got to a stop and Dad got out to shoot. A small
part of the herd stopped and gave dad a chance to try and pick out a cow. It was shooting light and the elk were maybe 150
yards out in front of us. Dad was able to pick out a cow and shot her. I wanted to involve Amanda in the hunt and although
we knew where the elk was we went to where it was first hit and showed her the blood. I explained that we would need to
follow the blood to find the elk. She turned out to be a very good blood hound and shortly found the elk. She turned to me
and said "It is lucky I am with you daddy, because without me finding the blood trail you would not have found anything."
The elk was still moving and so we got out Amandas little rifle to have her finish it off. Before we were ready the elk died but
she shot it anyway. The little video here shows what happened. You can see that it is cold and Amandas hands are freezing
after shooting the elk. She watched and asked questions while I cleaned the elk. She was very interested even though it was
"yucky".
That evening as we were driving
along a road I spotted a couple
of jackrabbits under some trees.
We had Amanda's little rifle along
with us and I got her out of the
truck and she prepared to shoot
her first game! At the pop of the
gun a jackrabbit hit the ground. I
know I was one proud papa. A
hunter was born. We saw other
rabbits but none stuck around
long enough for her to get a
shot.
along a road I spotted a couple
of jackrabbits under some trees.
We had Amanda's little rifle along
with us and I got her out of the
truck and she prepared to shoot
her first game! At the pop of the
gun a jackrabbit hit the ground. I
know I was one proud papa. A
hunter was born. We saw other
rabbits but none stuck around
long enough for her to get a
shot.
It was a great hunt! I believe Amanda had a good time and will want to go again. Elk for the freezer is good but to see my
daughter participate and enjoy the hunt in the extreme temps we had was very gratifying. She was a real trooper. My wife and I
made sure she had plenty of toys and things to do while in camp and on the long drive there and back. Big brother and Grandpa
were great helps also. Since we got the elk a little early and still had some time left before we had to head home we went to my
dads place. There is a city park there and Amanda had fun climbing around in the rocks. A great time was had by all!
daughter participate and enjoy the hunt in the extreme temps we had was very gratifying. She was a real trooper. My wife and I
made sure she had plenty of toys and things to do while in camp and on the long drive there and back. Big brother and Grandpa
were great helps also. Since we got the elk a little early and still had some time left before we had to head home we went to my
dads place. There is a city park there and Amanda had fun climbing around in the rocks. A great time was had by all!
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