Never dreamed this would be something I would ever do!

stickbuck

FNG
Joined
Apr 15, 2020
Messages
16
So just before the New Mexico deadline, my buddy talked me into putting in for deer, elk, and Barbary sheep in the state of New Mexico. I have grown up hunting my entire life in the state of Washington and have never hunted out of state so this was a huge step for me. I decided that since I was going to put in for the draw that I would also put my wife in for deer and elk. Figured that would lessen the amount of grief that I would get from her. Well, it actually worked until she logged into our credit card to pay some bills. Well, that took a day or two for her to get over the initial shock. Needless to say, I am still hearing about it. Fast forward to the end of April when the draws came out. It was just before 6am and I quickly logged into her account and both deer and elk showed red. Shoot! I was really hoping she would draw. Next, I logged into my account and of course all three species showed red. I was definitely bummed, but the thought of $2800 returning to our credit card wasn’t going to hurt my feelings.

Fast forward to June 4th. This is when the story turns in a totally unexpected direction. Just before 6:30pm, my wife Katie is sitting in the living room opening the mail while I was in the kitchen. She said something about an envelope from New Mexico. I told her it was probably just some sort of junk mail or a receipt documenting our refund. I told her she could toss it or shred it like she normally does and she quickly asked if I cared if she opened up. Of course I was okay with it so she did. Katie calmly asked me to come into the living room and appeared to be holding something. I asked her what it was and she said that it was a carcass tag for bull elk. No way I told her! How is that even possible because I logged into the website and it even showed red. I quickly call MP Hunter to explain this new predicament and he is beside himself too. I log into the department’s website and now it shows my elk permit as green. How did this even happen? I still have no idea and just like others have said, who cares! Time to get prepping and e-scouting.

From everything MP Hunter told me prior to submitting my application, unit 12 2nd archery would be an amazing hunt. Not a super high density elk unit, but it was an extremely good unit when it comes to producing giant bulls. Unit 12 definitely didn’t lack great genetics. I quickly started pouring over websites and social media and was completely overwhelmed by the pictures of bulls I was seeing. 370’s?!? 350’s?!? Even bulls scoring north of 400!!! Having never killed a bull bigger than a 5x5 raghorn, I knew this would be a special experience. To top it off, my 74 year old father is going to join me on the hunt. This will make the experience one that we will enjoy together and something we will never forget. Now, with just over a month until the 9/15 opener, I am quickly starting to feel the pressure building. It will be a 1400 mile drive from my home in Bothell, WA. We will be leaving on the 12th of September allowing us a day and a half to travel and enjoy the trip. Hopefully we will arrive near Quemado at a decent time on the 14th so we can set up camp and begin scouting. Still on cloud nine and I don’t think that this has fully set in. Thank you all for reading this. I will post pics and videos throughout the trip. Looking forward to an incredible time in the elk woods!


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Laramie

WKR
Joined
Apr 17, 2020
Messages
2,618
Wish you the best of luck! Please keep us posted on the hunt.

Any guys out there willing to offer specific area help, this is the type of guy that deserves a pm imo.
 

eddielasvegas

WKR & Chairman of the Rokslide Welcoming Committee
Joined
Feb 2, 2020
Messages
3,134
Location
Scottsdale, AZ
Reminds me of "Already Gone" by the Eagles.

"So often times it happens that we live our lives in chains
And we never even know we have the key"

You'll have your Dad with you in a good unit, during the rut and you won't freeze your butt off in Sept. Everything else is just icing on the cake so don't get yourself into High Anxiety with internalized pressure since you hold the key. After all, the Eagles said so. :)

My first elk hunt (and application) was in AZ in GMU 7E for a bull elk. No exactly unit 10, but I was so durn excited just to get the chance and to learn what I could. The night before my hunt it snowed 16". I did not care. No elk that year, but I keep plugging along.

Good luck and keep us posted.


Eddie
 

bracer40

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
126
Location
Ugh, Seattle
That's an awesome story and outcome! Hope it's a trip of a lifetime for you and your dad! Can't wait to read about it when you get back!
 
OP
stickbuck

stickbuck

FNG
Joined
Apr 15, 2020
Messages
16
1400 miles in 1.5 days? That's hardcore. Maybe think about flying and renting.

Yeah. I totally wish flying was an option. Will be a lot cheaper for me to drive when I’m packing enough food, clothes, and hunting gear for a 10 day hunt. Plus, I hope to be able to bring a few hundred pounds of elk meat and antlers home. Since my 74 yr old dad is tagging along, I have to make sure he is comfortable during the hunt and in camp. His enjoyment and memory of this hunt is just as important to me if not more.


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Fatcamp

WKR
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
5,669
Location
Sodak
Yeah. I totally wish flying was an option. Will be a lot cheaper for me to drive when I’m packing enough food, clothes, and hunting gear for a 10 day hunt. Plus, I hope to be able to bring a few hundred pounds of elk meat and antlers home. Since my 74 yr old dad is tagging along, I have to make sure he is comfortable during the hunt and in camp. His enjoyment and memory of this hunt is just as important to me if not more.


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I gotcha. Long trip for an old guy. Be sure to stop every couple hours to let him stretch his legs, and keep him in fresh water.

I'm jealous. Sounds like an amazing trip with the best company.
 
OP
stickbuck

stickbuck

FNG
Joined
Apr 15, 2020
Messages
16
I gotcha. Long trip for an old guy. Be sure to stop every couple hours to let him stretch his legs, and keep him in fresh water.

I'm jealous. Sounds like an amazing trip with the best company.

Before I had kids, I started to lose my patience with my dad when we hunted together. Looking back, I was just impatient and immature. As I got older and had my own kids, something changed. I started to appreciate being out in the woods with him more and more. Leaving three days early should allow plenty of roadside potty breaks for the old man. Lol


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Fatcamp

WKR
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
5,669
Location
Sodak
Before I had kids, I started to lose my patience with my dad when we hunted together. Looking back, I was just impatient and immature. As I got older and had my own kids, something changed. I started to appreciate being out in the woods with him more and more. Leaving three days early should allow plenty of roadside potty breaks for the old man. Lol


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My father has been gone for a very long time. Sounds like you are both very lucky men. Good luck!
 

archer60

FNG
Joined
Jun 12, 2012
Messages
75
Location
Hamilton, Mt
So just before the New Mexico deadline, my buddy talked me into putting in for deer, elk, and Barbary sheep in the state of New Mexico. I have grown up hunting my entire life in the state of Washington and have never hunted out of state so this was a huge step for me. I decided that since I was going to put in for the draw that I would also put my wife in for deer and elk. Figured that would lessen the amount of grief that I would get from her. Well, it actually worked until she logged into our credit card to pay some bills. Well, that took a day or two for her to get over the initial shock. Needless to say, I am still hearing about it. Fast forward to the end of April when the draws came out. It was just before 6am and I quickly logged into her account and both deer and elk showed red. Shoot! I was really hoping she would draw. Next, I logged into my account and of course all three species showed red. I was definitely bummed, but the thought of $2800 returning to our credit card wasn’t going to hurt my feelings.

Fast forward to June 4th. This is when the story turns in a totally unexpected direction. Just before 6:30pm, my wife Katie is sitting in the living room opening the mail while I was in the kitchen. She said something about an envelope from New Mexico. I told her it was probably just some sort of junk mail or a receipt documenting our refund. I told her she could toss it or shred it like she normally does and she quickly asked if I cared if she opened up. Of course I was okay with it so she did. Katie calmly asked me to come into the living room and appeared to be holding something. I asked her what it was and she said that it was a carcass tag for bull elk. No way I told her! How is that even possible because I logged into the website and it even showed red. I quickly call MP Hunter to explain this new predicament and he is beside himself too. I log into the department’s website and now it shows my elk permit as green. How did this even happen? I still have no idea and just like others have said, who cares! Time to get prepping and e-scouting.

From everything MP Hunter told me prior to submitting my application, unit 12 2nd archery would be an amazing hunt. Not a super high density elk unit, but it was an extremely good unit when it comes to producing giant bulls. Unit 12 definitely didn’t lack great genetics. I quickly started pouring over websites and social media and was completely overwhelmed by the pictures of bulls I was seeing. 370’s?!? 350’s?!? Even bulls scoring north of 400!!! Having never killed a bull bigger than a 5x5 raghorn, I knew this would be a special experience. To top it off, my 74 year old father is going to join me on the hunt. This will make the experience one that we will enjoy together and something we will never forget. Now, with just over a month until the 9/15 opener, I am quickly starting to feel the pressure building. It will be a 1400 mile drive from my home in Bothell, WA. We will be leaving on the 12th of September allowing us a day and a half to travel and enjoy the trip. Hopefully we will arrive near Quemado at a decent time on the 14th so we can set up camp and begin scouting. Still on cloud nine and I don’t think that this has fully set in. Thank you all for reading this. I will post pics and videos throughout the trip. Looking forward to an incredible time in the elk woods!


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Pay VERY close attention to water in that unit.....thats the key
 

go_deep

WKR
Joined
Jan 7, 2021
Messages
1,640
Yeah. I totally wish flying was an option. Will be a lot cheaper for me to drive when I’m packing enough food, clothes, and hunting gear for a 10 day hunt. Plus, I hope to be able to bring a few hundred pounds of elk meat and antlers home. Since my 74 yr old dad is tagging along, I have to make sure he is comfortable during the hunt and in camp. His enjoyment and memory of this hunt is just as important to me if not more.


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I do 900 mile one way trips a fair amount, just make dang good and sure your truck is in order mechanically, get going a little early in the day, and have lots of jerky!
Hope you 2 have the hunt of a lifetime!
 
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