When I went elk hunting, I was not very confident that I would have the opportunity to get an elk. Even if I did, I didn’t think I would hit him. I was afraid of a challenging shot or that with my luck, something else would simply go wrong.
The first day, we had no luck seeing a bull, though we heard bugles all over. Early the second morning, we heard a bugle over a hill. So we parked the truck, hopped out, and looked. After a few minutes, a cow came over the top of the hill. I could feel the adrenaline rushing through me. My heart was pumping so loud, I was certain my grandpa could hear it (after all, it’s no fun if you’re not scared). Suddenly, the bull ran over the hill trying to catch up to the cow. I was shaking so bad the truck was vibrating with me. But then, the bull ran back, and was gone.
“It was probably a four-point,” my grandpa told me afterwards – even though neither of us had a good look at it. I was disappointed at the moment, but I was glad I didn’t shoot.
Later that day, we were back at camp eating lunch and taking naps. While my grandpa and cousin decided to stay in the trailer and get some sleep, I found myself a chair and ate my lunch in silence. While lost in thought, I heard a bugle. Silence. Then, another bugle. It was close, too. I shot up, forgetting my lunch and sprinted to the trailer. I quickly explained what I heard and how close it was. So we listened for a minute and heard it one more time. We quickly rushed down the road and started cow calling with the bull. Our only hope was to call him in and wait until he came.
Eventually, we shifted positions and tried again. This time, silence. But then, out of nowhere, a bugle came so close, it made me jump out of my pants. I rocketed up and leaned against a tree as we heard crashing and twigs and branches snapping, as he was mad. He walked right into my crosshairs, though the only things I could see were his head and neck. I carefully shifted, the way my grandpa had showed me for a downhill shot as I heard the words, “Shoot when you’re ready.”
Lost in the moment, the magic, the blur, I squeezed the trigger. I don’t even remember the gun going off as I saw him drop. It was an absolutely unforgettable and satisfying moment. He is one beautiful five-point.
Crew Hunter
Age 13
Lehi, Utah
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