Elk Hunt

Last weekend we were able to go on the spike elk hunt with my (Camille's) dad. I can't tell you how much I love hunting, camping, and this time of year. You couldn't put a price on spending time with my family. I grew up hunting right behind my dad. Literally behind him. I wish we had some pictures to show but if you seen my dad on the mountain you seen my sister and I behind. When we were little we thought we were so cool because he would let us carry his gun while hiking, little did we know. Just to help the old man out I carried it this time to. I'll never pass up a time to carry his gun, it will mean I am still right behind him. Now I wish I had someone to carry my gun sometimes. He had it nice. Now we just ride the roads and take little hikes with lots of mini candy bars and apples to munch on. I think that man hunts for the food and treats more than anything.

Well I made a deal with my mom, if she would tend Hayden at the trailer Kyle and I would go hunting with dad. She said deal. She doesn't do good in the cold. After the first morning I wanted to cancel the deal when we woke up to this.

Yes SNOW!!! We sat in the trailer for an hour waiting for it to lighten up. We would've stayed in bed longer but no dad had to keep opening the door and saying, we will give it a few more minutes. After an hour he decided to give it a try. Maybe it would be clear on top. So we got all bundled up, so many layers you couldn't move and headed to the top on the wheelers. Well as you can see it wasn't clear there either. So dad decided to make a fire to stay warm and give it an hour. Not much else happened that morning.



Kyle and dad (John)





We made a "John Fire" for those of you know what that is.



Buster even said it was way to cold to get out of bed. (my parents BABY)





Dad didn't end up getting an elk, but the memories is what will last for a life time. A big thanks to my dad for raising me right, to love the outdoors and how much family time means. I can't wait to show and do all the things we've done with our kids.

As you can see Hayden bug and grandma had fun at camp. It's a good thing she has a big trailer for him to play in. He was able to get a few of his 4 wheeler rides in and his camp fire time. 







All in two weeks.

It has been a fun last two weeks. The first weekend was the sage grouse hunt. We had both our birds within the first 45 minutes of the hunt. There was so many birds, Sadie was in seventh heaven. It was nice to be done that early in the day. We went back to Kyle's parents house took a long nap, watched football and then sighted in our muzzeloaders for the next weekends hunt.

Kyle, Sadie, and I

It was so fun for Kyle and I to have
Hayden there to be in the pictures.

Kyle loves this picture.
Hayden practicing his duck call.



I just love this picture.



What a handsome little boy.



Hayden and I watching dad sight in our muzzeloaders.



This last weekend was the muzzeloader hunt and the opening of the waterfowl hunt. We arrived Thursday night and went out Friday morning. We decided to split up from his dad and brother. We road the 4 wheeler through the most gorgeous places. The leaves were amazing colors. I kept telling Kyle to stop I need to take a picture. He of course kept saying, "we are deer hunting not sight seeing". I wish I had a nice camera cause my pictures ruined the colors and the sight. I could've stayed up there all weekend. Well that morning we were seeing lots of deer, but no bucks. Then we found a 2 point. Kyle said shoot him. You've never shot one with a muzzeloader. I said no it's not big enough. He said but it's a BIG 2 point and it's close to the road and we aren't seeing any other bucks. So I said ok only if you gut it. lol he jumped all over that. So off we went to the other side of the bunch of trees it went in to. Shortly later he came walking out. Kyle ranged the general area he would be walking out of at about 135 yards. He said tell me when to stop him. This whole time I was thinking I hope I miss I hope I miss. Well as you can see I didn't. He stopped him, I pulled the trigger and out the smoke came. Kyle while jumping up and down said you hit it, he's down. He ran about 50 yards and dropped 15 yards from the road. Sure enough Kyle went through with his part of the deal. He's a nice guy. I'm glad I shot it. It was one of the funnest times we've had hunting together.
I've posted some pictures of the leaves but again it didn't do them justice.



You can see but all the trees across the valley were yellow.



Getting ready.

If you draw a straight line up from his back point to
the middle of the white tree you can see the wheeler.
That's how close he was to the road.

Again Hayden is going to grow up hunting,
whether he wants to or not. lol

As I said previously, the waterfowl hunt started that Saturday. Kyle decided to go deer hunting instead because we hadn't seen any geese and not many ducks. Well as you can see after the morning hunt we seen on Big Lake there was a ton of ducks, they to were getting out of the heat and in to the mountains. Kyle and brother Jeremy decided to jump shoot some. They didn't have waters nor did we have Sadie to get them out of the water so they went in themselves. They were two big kids playing in the water. They harvested 4. So as you can see we have had a really good last two weeks. Now if we can just get Kyle to shoot a deer on the rifle hunt. (I will be there to convince him to shoot a 2 point as well or maybe a spike so it's smaller than mine :) ) 

Sorry if I've bored you to death. Enjoy the pictures.

Kyle and Jeremy just coming back



Brothers and best friends




Our nephew Bridger, Niece Maret, and Hayden on
Grandpa's mule. Hayden loves riding the mule.




Ridding around trying to spot dad and grandpa a big buck.