New adventures planned in 2019
- Bob Hanna: Someday
- January 12, 2019
- 1222
So what’s in store for 2019?
We will attend the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania again in February. We had a great time last year. But the new year also brings opportunities to try new things, set new goals (not talking about losing weight) and expand your horizons, literally. We are planning some new adventures in 2019.
With so many things happening, I feel like a reporter trying to be many places at once. But we must finish what we started.
In our Wyoming hunt, we had brought a great bull elk back at the end of the first day. But as we said, a major winter storm had dropped the temps into the single digits and left a few inches of snow.
So we got to sleep in on the second day (breakfast at 8 a.m.), and our guide took us to Casper to have my elk processed at the Yellowstone Meat Processing plant. They were very busy with elk, mule deer and antelope. We told them we, of course, like the steaks, roasts and hamburger but also had them make 50 pounds into breakfast sausage.
We decided to let their taxidermist do my elk. They are well known and do great work. I thought a full mount would be nice, but we would have to move to a bigger house. I believe we need to add on a room as it is.
On our third day, we were back driving through the mountains looking for mule deer. Tags were few for this unit as a hard winter a few years ago had diminished the population in that area considerably. We started seeing a few does and smaller bucks in groups on the rugged mountainsides.
As we came across a draw, I picked out two bucks actually laying on a slope, which is very hard to do as they tend to blend right into the sage brush. They were at about 80 yards from us, which would be an easy shot for Taryn.
After some debate, Tom asked us, “Does that buck excite you?” Eventually he talked us out of taking one of them, saying they were probably in the upper 130s, and suggested we try for something better. As we’ve been told over and over again, trust your guide.
That afternoon we saw quite a few does and smaller bucks but nothing great.
Back to the lodge to end day three and prepare for supper. I do have to restate a special part of a guided hunt are the meals and accommodations. In the lodge while we waited, there was baked salmon with crackers, barbecue wings and pistachios, and that was just appetizers.
Meals were prime rib, lasagna, chicken, squash, potatoes, homemade breads and always a special dessert.
Our room had a Jacuzzi and very comfortable beds. You get the idea.
Also trips like these give you the opportunity to see nature in its raw state. Even Tom said some of the ranch he had never been to, untouched. We saw coyotes, badgers, hawks, eagles and prairie dogs, and they told us two wolves had been spotted near the lodge while we were there.
Day four was much of the same: drive, glass and drive some more.
One hunter from New Mexico had a 170-class mule deer literally run across the road in front of their truck, chasing a doe. They stopped, and the lucky hunter downed his trophy at 270 yards with his 300WinMag. Also, one of the staffers shot a coyote near the lodge that morning.
That afternoon we did some ridge walking to try and spot from on top of the peaks. Actually Taryn and Tom did most of the walking as my back gave out and I stayed in the truck with a brace on.
We’ll finish this saga next time, but keep in mind some of the lessons we’ve learned. Always trust your guide.
God has a plan for you. Even though it may seem dark at times, call on him to pull you through and reveal his wisdom. He’s pulled us out of some tough spots, and he’ll do the same for you.
God bless.