Friday Afternoon Hunt

Having worked far too many hours this week, I took the afternoon off so Mike and I could go out hunting.  He has a limited quota cow elk tag for the same area we killed my bull in.  It was a nice afternoon.  Warm.  No wind.  Quiet.  Actually very quiet.  We got to the ridge -where this picture was taken - and daylight was fading. 

Then we heard it.  At first, I thought it was a bird.  But now, a cow elk was squalking just over the hill.  We tied up the mules and made the big sneak.  Mike set his rifle against a limber young pine tree - I worried it wasn't much of a rest.  A single shot and a group of 20 cow elk running around.  There is a couple of minutes of worry.  One doesn't dare shoot another - you could end up with two dead!  We fretted and walked around looking for Mike's hat, tossed off in the excitement of the hunt.  Hat found, we snuck to the edge of the knoll to spot a bit of brown in the sage brush.  There she was!  Mike's perfect shot made the anxiety evaporate and we began to work.  Darkness was coming quickly.  By the time we finished, we worked with headlamps (how smart were we to have our headlamps along?!!).  The carcass cooled in the cold November night.

Friends.  One is so lucky to have good friends.  I leave on a plane today and Friend Tom is helping Mike pack the elk out this morning.  Man oh man, do I owe him!! 

Got to get to the airport.  Some of our friends are getting some elk meat as a gift soon!  Thank you Miss Elk for giving up your life for us all!!