Elk down

I had posted previously on Colorado's youth hunting opportunities...
I posted that without having gone to one of them with my son, just because I had seen a lot that they
try to do for the youth today.

After having first hand experience... I have to say that I will be the first to stand up and applaud the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
My son was picked to do an elk hunt at Kessler Canyon Ranch just outside of Debeque, Colorado. The ranch is 23000 acres and they do hunts out of their lodge. We were given access to setup an outfitted camp, use the rifle range and hunt the property for cow elk.
Their were 6 young hunters on this trip, each provided with a guide. Tents were setup by the group on Friday morning, stoves fired up to stave off the burning cold. (it was -19 on Friday morning)
The food was perfect elk camp fare... sandwiches, burgers, soup, tacos, salad, breakfast burritos.
The nighttime poker games for candy were a lot of fun and got all involved.

But.. onto the good stuff.
2 elk were taken on this trip and it was a tough hunt. Steep terrain, snow and more snow. Deep snow... knee to thigh deep on me.
My son dropped the lead cow in the herd on Sunday morning. 125 yd single shot to both lungs. She piled up within 100 yds.

My son Mike and his cow elk. Sunday morning 12/13/09 at about 7:45AM
Blowing snow and cold!
[image]local://48/18D923A207F54A0C80C7CA3A80C74DFC.jpg[/image]

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Couple more pics

My son Mike and his guide Mark. This was taken when we found her on the small ridge.
She had traveled about 100 yds and piled up.

[image]local://48/C942A953136240A9A50E4CCC9E26A71C.jpg[/image]

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another - I am the bearded guy in sunglasses on the right side of the pic in front with my arms over the boys shoulders. My son is the one to the left of me (my right side) in wet jeans!


[image]local://48/1988D532008F4C66978CD027D0468242.jpg[/image]

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Sweet!!!
 
Sound like you and the rest had ONE h*ll of a good time. Glad to see that your state gets involved with the younger generation.
 
Congrats!!

Hunt Hard, Hunt Safe and enjoy what you got in life
Paul Snyder
LM NAHC,NRA,SCI,DU

Boy I wish they would do something like that in MI.
How sweet it is!!

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

That's great, congrats to Mike ... with the hard hunting, I'm glad he got a chance, and was able to cash in on it ...

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

Congrat's bro. That is a great thing you guys have done with the kids. They are our future of the hunting sports and we as a whole need to keep them involved. Also a congrat's to your state for giving these young guys and girls an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. We here in Tx just had the youth hunt last weekend in Madisonville with a doz kids for deer. It was a great success and all involved had a good time inspite of the weather also. Lots of smiling young faces. 

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

ORIGINAL: padeciechi

Boy I wish they would do something like that in MI.
How sweet it is!!

you might be able to point your wildlife officers to this page and give them a hint - http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/HunterOutreach/

It really is a good program they have put together and I know first hand now just how much it works. The kids I hunted with were new to the sport and I am hoping it will become a life long addiction for them.

Mike

The elk went to the butcher and should be ready by end of the week.
My son is very excited still and is now talking about trying for his own bull elk.
I never had to worry about him not wanting to hunt, he is too much like me in that regard.
I am just glad that Colorado offers these programs and gives him a good chance at something
with kids his own age. It really kept him interested and from not getting bored sitting on a stand or
just hiking through the forests. He got some first hand experience and now has a good understanding of
hard hunting.

I've sent some emails out to get more information as well and try to do more clinics in my area and start this
youth hunting program closer to home. We had drove about 200+ miles to go on the hunt, something closer would
be great for some local kids I know that could use some field time.

Mike

Good thread guys and congrats to the youngster.  Michigan does have a youth hunt for deer on one weekend in September, but a lot of people get mad when the kids shoot "their" big buck before the bow and gun seasons open!  It's like THEY own the friggin deer---give me a break!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Same thing in Wi also Top. They get all bent out of shape when a yougster gets a good deer they have had their eye on. All I can say to that is waaaaaaaaa,waaaaaaaaaaaa,waaaaaaaaaaaaa. The kids in the future will keep this sport going and if they can't understand that, hang it up now. MPO

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Right on the button as usual Gary!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

My 14 years old nephew shot my(I have him on film 6 times this summer) 8 pt during the youth hunt, and I thought it was AWESOME!!!!
If we can get MI to do that with elk!!!

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Mgoodman,
That is the best story I have read ever in this post...Congratulate your son Mike on his elk.....I haven't looked in the elk post very much but I will from now on...There is nothing  better than a young hunter scoring his first big game.....Their jubilant enthusiasm will never be matched and it will carry them through a lifetime of memory making adventure....Great story...
Randy

Hunt safe and courteous for a rewarding hunt.
Hunter Education Instructor since 1984