Youth Hunt 2011

No animals were harmed in the making of this trip. Ahhh, nuts! You hate to start off a hunt report with that. There’s always a bit of a disappointing feel when you come home from a hunt unsuccessful but when you have it in your mind that there’s more to the hunt than just killing animals; the trip was definitely a good one. And overall, this trip was about teaching kids to hunt, showing them the process, giving them opportunity on a hunt, and letting them spend some quality time with their dads and other men who want to invest in their lives.

After two and a half months of anticipation, the youth hunt wrapped up all the effort in preparation by heading out into the field after black bears. The hunter’s had proven effective in their training and were eager for the opportunity. Back into our base camp we got down to the business of spotting bears. There were several sows around with twin sets of cubs that constantly kept us entertained. Daniel was eager to abandon the bear hunt and start in on his first sheep hunt due to the numerous sheep in the area and multiple rams. Of course there were only a few minor restrictions that kept that from happening..

Bear sightings were lower than normal (spring seemed late up there) and the lone bears we did see sure seemed to be on the move with an agenda. The entire weekend we only had three bears that looked like they’d stick around long enough to give us a good chance at making a stalk. Daniel was up first for the late evening stalk on Friday night. We hustled it up a ridge and got on the bear at 260yrds, perfect and broadside, but too far for me to give him the go ahead to shoot. I’d rather we try and get closer than risk a wounded or missed shot for a first time hunter. Shortly after, the bear moved into a small alder patch (and didn’t come out till 9am the next morning). After trying to wait the bear out, we eventually had to abandon that post on account of darkness.

With few bears beckoning our attention, much effort was made for a comfortable camp. Large amounts of wood was amassed and cut to lengths for the campfire. With “extra” food brought in we enjoyed the long days and friends around the campfire. Let me tell you, fried bacon and Sourdough over a campfire is top notch fodder. Solomon (who did the hunt last year) came along again and spent plenty of time trying to create a fire the “survivor man way.” I’ll give him credit, he did create smoke.

Zach soon got his opportunity and we took off again for a late evening stalk on Saturday but we arrived to the clearing just after the bear went into the superfluous alder thickets. The next morning we again made the same stalk to that same clearing but again arrive too late for the five minute bear. As observed from camp on both stalks, the bear vacated the area about five minutes before we showed up.

The great thing is everyone got to experience a stalk, which is about the best part of a hunt and everyone learned valuable skills in the endeavor. Daniel’s dad earned the tough guy award out of the group. After turning both his heels to raw blisters on the hike in, he still went on the stalk with his son; just to make sure he was there to experience that with his son. Great job Tony!  Daniel also had it kinda rough with some chapped lips - but he's on his way to manhood with the no complaining about it to others.  Well done.

That’s the wraps for this year’s youth hunt. I do have to say, hiking out sans the heavily loaded pack was nice…but I’d have rather had it the other way. I kinda missed those sore legs the next day.