Dallen and I were able to have a great experience as we went with Eddie on an elk hunt he drew out for Mount Nebo. I thought that it would be cool to have the story told from Eddie's point of view so I asked him to write up his experience. This is what Eddie wrote......It was a great hunt. I would have to say that it was the funnest hunt that I have ever been on. We left Friday night to Casey's cabin, it was raining the entire way up, we had planned on scoping the mountain, to sort of getting a final plan for in the morning but, the clouds were hanging tight to the mountains and we were unable to view the area, so we went back to the cabin. Just as we were beginning to go back up the pathway to the cabin, Dave, Dillion, Mark and Shawn pulled up in Dave’s car and they had been up in the Blackhawk area scoping, they indicated to us that they had seen several
bulls and heard a ton of bugling, they had determined that we start out by hunting in that general area. Dallen and Janessa arrived about 8 and we all went to bed. It was a rough night sleep and I swear that I was up at around 3 just laying there in anticipation for the hunt, we ended up getting up at 4:30 got ready, loaded the horses and started the truck. While we were doing this Dallen accidentally locked the truck with it running and the keys locked in it, so now we had to figure out how we were going to get into the truck, we ended up being able to pry the sliding window open after about 10 minutes of working on it. So then we were able to meet up with the Marvin's, they are just amazing. As they were coming down the road, they had 3 different outfits, with all 3 being diesels, all I can say was it was a way impressive arrival. They had brought enough horses so that everyone had a horse, we split up into 3 different groups, so that we could have spotter in different parts of the canyon. Also when we met up with the Marvin's, Dave had forgot the bullets, so we had to find a area that we could get cell service and called his mom and have her bring up the bullets. The plan was to have Dave and I proceed to where we wanted to start the hunt and that Dillion would wait for the ammo and then bring it in. Meanwhile we went back to the cabin and retrieved the old 30-06 rifle that I have and took it in with us. To begin with, Dave wanted me to use his gun (300 weatherby) which I had no problem with, it was such a impressive
gun and from the night which we had gone and sighted it in, I was convinced that it was a wise choice.
As we went throughout the day, we explored several canyons riding horses and hiking a ton. Everywhere we went we ran into hunters, and we had hunted extremely hard in the early morning where we were trying to get to a big 6 x 7 but could never get within range and it had left the area and went into some other extreme areas. We seen several bulls throughout the day, but
never any in range. Then at about 2 in the afternoon, we had decided to try this area clear down in the bottom and would hike up into this quaky area, but to get there we had the most extreme horse ride that I had ever been on. To get there it took 3 of us (Me, Dave & Dillion) an hour and a half to get there, when we got to where we wanted to be Dave was able to call a fairly good size 6x6 bull within 75 yards but, it only gave me a good shot for about 2 seconds and then spotted us, turned and left the area. We tried to call it back in but it was onto us and would never return. We decided that Dave would go back to the retrieve the horses and Dillion and I would hike over 2 huge ridges to another area so, we began to do that and shortly into the hike my upper leg began to cramp up and it was obvious that there we no way that I was going to make that hike. I tried to hydrate myself up but my body must have been in need of other things rather than just water (salt) so I told Dillion that we would be best to go with Dave. We were able to get Dave on the radio and got back to the horses. At this point I was totally wasted, it was all I could do to get back on the horse, and then make an hour and a half extreme ride out.
Up to that point I had been able to ride a horse normal but, on this ride I was hanging on to the saddle horn with both hands and was not feeling well for the ride out. The ride in itself was tough due to the steepness of the hill and the thick brush and terrain. We made it to the watering hole around 5 and met up with the entire group (me, Dallen, Janessa, Casey, Dave, Dillion, Chad & Mark). Dave had tried everything he could think of, and was upset that he was not able to get me within distant areas that were not swarmed with other hunters. He was just totally out of ideas and was frustrated with his efforts. I could sense his disappointment but I knew that most of this was out of his control. I knew he and the others (Dave, Mark, Chad and Dillion) knew the area and knew what it would take to get the bull of desire. So here it was about 5:20 in the afternoon Dave frazzled, me totally exhaust (but I had not let anyone know that I was exhausted) and Mark
calmly says to Dave "well lets just go for a horse ride and see what we can find". I'm thinking to myself I hope I can make this, so we began a slowly ride to another area. We went through this gate and onto a trail that had absolutely no sign of anyone being in there, we're proceed down this trail real slow and had passed by a tree that had claw marks on it from a bear, which was way cool. Shortly as we passed by this tree, all of a sudden Dave spots a cow in the trees, so we slowly get off of the horses and noticed 3 or 4 more cows and knew that there had to be a bull with them. We slowly passed the lead rope off to the others and we spotted the bull. It then moved up into the trees, which made the shot impossible, so Dave and I slowly, slowly move down the trail while the rest waited quietly with the horses. We went around this point to where we found an opening in the brush and set up.
We then radioed Mark to take the horse and slowly push the elk towards us. So here we are setup, and hear Mark moving through the brush but not seeing any Elk. We wait and pretty soon see Mark but no elk. Then all of a sudden this elk slowly shows himself with the prefect broad side shot, so Dave tells me to shoot and I take the shot knowing that I had the cross hairs place right where Dave had instructed me to place the shot. The Bull goes behind this tree. He then slowly moves out following this cow, so I take another shot, placing the shot above the elk and missing, it then goes into these trees and we hear a big crash. Dave says that it was promising, while I was thinking that either he had fallen or he was crashing through the brush to get away. As we directed Mark to where the Bull went in to the trees we were talking about the shots. Dave and I did not hear the report from the shot, but I was sure that I had made the first shot. I knew that the second shot had gone over the Bull. When we got to the bull I had hit it just perfect with the
bullet going through both lungs and a couple of arteries. So one shot was all that I needed. We took photos, making sure that the first thing that we did was to cut off the tongue so that Christine would be able to eat the meat with us, and not have thoughts of the old tongue hanging out. Casey immediately began to clean the elk and preparing him to be quartered. He, Dallen, Dave, Dillion, Chad and Mark all help in this task.
After the elk was prepared and placed into the meat bags, we began to load the horses. Some of the horses were jittery and darkness was fast approaching. The horses were loaded and we began to depart in different groups. Unknown to me was that Mark and Janessa were have difficulty with their horses and that they had gone down, so now we had the concern of whether they were ok. I had heard the others questioning if they were alright and at that point never knew whether they were or not. Apparently they were ok, but, I was not sure till we were able to meet up with them again at the trucks. Chad had seen that getting the head out may be somewhat of a
challenge and had told Dave that he would pack the head and cape out on his back till we could get to the trail with the horses. This task would be a challenge for Chad himself whereas, the trail was several hundred yards away and the terrain was thick and steep. Part way through this hike for Chad, Dallen heard that he was packing this by himself and went to help Chad. Between the 2
of them passing the head back and forth they were able to get to the horses, which was passed onto Dave for the ride out. Dave placed the head in front of him, with the head facing forward and was able to get to the trucks safely. The rest of us arrived at the trucks at about 9:15. That was
the funnest hunt that I have ever been on. Even though they totally worked my rear end off, I would do it again in a heartbeat! When I called Mom to let her know that we had gotten it, the first thing that she asked me was if the tongue was hanging out, but I told her that It was a tongue less elk cause the very first thing that I did when I got to the elk is I told Mark that we had to cut the tongue off before we took pictures. So off went the tongue and it was so funny. The entire hunt was absolutely great; I am in deep gratitude to everyone that supported me in this hunt.
As I reflect back on the hunt, I can’t help but not mention about a comment that Dave had made to me a few days prior to the hunt. At this point we had done some scoping and scouting of the
area. At work Dave and I were talking about the preparation that had been made to that point when he made the comment “You know Ed, there is more to this hunt than just the hunt or physical part. There’s the fact, that this is God’s creature and if he fills that you are worthy enough, that he will provide a way for you to take one of these creatures”. I thought about that throughout the entire hunt and felt that he was absolutely correct. So on Saturday morning prior to meeting up with the Marvin’s at 5 in the morning Casey, Dallen, Janessa, and I had a word of prayer next to Casey’s trailer. In the mountains at the trail head, it was moreless a prayer of safety, patience and understanding. At no point was it a prayer of success or anything of a selfish attitude but, just a meek and humble prayer. As I was able to reflect back, I could see help from
beyond our control a hand that helped to position us for success. I noticed a feeling of deep gratitude for all that had participated. I noticed sacrifice, patience, and humility, understanding and many other noble attributes. I was deeply touched by this whole experience and feel that I will for ever be in debt to all those that assisted me in the endeavor. I had never witnessed a power, so powerful to touch me so deep to the heart. I am forever grateful for this experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. I felt that every single goal that I had was accomplished, and that it was through the efforts of others that I was able to accomplish this. I felt a helping hand in everything and it was the most humbling experience ever.
