Wapiti

My Uncle and his Elk

My two weeks in Montana hunting the elusive Wapiti was nothing less than an exciting unforgettable adventure.  Although, I returned home shorthanded without a physical trophy, my experiences and knowledge I gained while hunting them will never be forgotten.  My stalking of this obscure beautiful uninhabited creature has made me respect them and their lifestyle far greater than any other animal I have hunted.  I felt like I was living in a classic Theodore Roosevelt Elk hunting story.  Oh, to have lived during Teddy’s times! I’d give anything.  His hunting books are a must read.  Roosevelt said it best on the West, “It was here that the romance of my life began”.  

Here are a few quotes from Theodore Roosevelt on the West and his ranch in North Dakota. They really have nothing absolutely to do with Elk hunting, but I was reading a lot of his writings recently and thought I would share a few recent quotes I’ve read of his:  

“I heartily enjoy this life, with its perfect freedom, for I am very fond of hunting, and there are few sensations I prefer to that of galloping over these rolling prairies, with rifle in hand, or winding my way among the barren, fantastic and grimly picturesque deserts of the so-called Bad Lands…”

“There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm.”

“Nowhere, not even at sea, does a man feel more lonely than when riding over the far-reaching, seemingly never-ending plains; and after a man has lived a little while on or near them, their very vastness and loneliness and their melancholy monotony have a strong fascination for him.”

“The farther one gets into the wilderness, the great is the attraction of its lonely freedom.”

“We are prone to speak of the resources of this country as inexhaustible; that is not so.”

“…wild flowers should be enjoyed unplucked where they grow.”

“The lack of power to take joy in outdoor nature is as real a misfortune as the lack of power to take joy in books.”

“There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods, the Canyon of the Colorado, the Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Three Tetons; and our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children’s children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred.”

T.R. after camping in the Yosemite National Park: “It was like lying in a great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful than any built by the hand of man.”

“Life is a great adventure….accept it in such a spirit.”

“It is also vandalism wantonly to destroy or to permit the destruction of what is beautiful in nature, whether it be a cliff, a forest, or species of mammal or bird. Here in the United States we turn our rivers and streams into sewers and dumping-grounds, we pollute the air, we destroy our forests, and exterminate fishes, birds and mammals – not to speak of the vulgarizing charming landscapes with hideous advertisements.”

I look forward to returning to Montana one day to once again challenge this magnificent valiant opponent.  My first attempt has only made me respect this animal so much more.  It’s not supposed to be easy, if it was easy, anyone could do it, as they say, and rightfully so.   I believe less than 10% of Bull Elk tags were harvested last year in Montana. 1 in 10. Not real good odds by any reasonable standard. But odds I like and odds I want to take on.  My Uncle and I had a wonderful trip together. My Uncle Wayne is 78 years old and this trip was more about getting to spend time with him out in the field than anything else.  I did get to experience one of the most majestic sites I have ever witnessed. We pulled up on a herd of 150+ Elk grazing on a private ranch right off of the highway.  It was absolutely breathtaking.  We saw only one Bull Elk out in the wild where we could get a shot off and we agreed to let my Uncle take the shot since we were very close to the truck and he was not able to hike very far into the wilderness due to problems with his leg. I will get my shot someday. This one would have been a very tough shot for me, 450 yards, uphill and windy cold conditions.  I spent every day from before days light to after dark either walking through the woods hoping to sneak up on one or sitting glassing hillsides and clearings. Our biggest problem was the lack of snow. The snow really drives the Elk down from their normal habitats in order to survive the tough winters. The snow also allows for the Elk to be tracked. And by no snow, I do not mean it wasn’t cold. It was cold; believe me, one morning I got out of the truck at 4 degrees with thick flurries blinding me as I headed off into the dark wilderness. Now that was fun morning.

Wapiti, I bid you adieu. Until we meet again.  

Friend's White Tail Hunt in Montana

Uncle and his Elk