Hunting Memories

Hunting Memories

Her Tule Elk

Last spring as I was preparing to put in for tags for the upcoming fall hunts, I asked my wife if she would like me to put her in for one of the tule elk hunts at Fort Hunter Liggett. Her reply was, "How much will this cost for two people?" I then told her that just because I'm putting both of us in, it did not necessarily mean that we'd both be drawn. I put her in for the general antlerless hunt. I was trying my luck for the archery bull hunt.

Well it turns out she drew a tag and I have to wait till next year. We went to the gun range and I had her practice shooting my trusty 7mm Ultralite Weatherby Mag with 154-grain Weatherby ammo. We did this once a month for the next three months until she felt confident. It all paid off as she harvested her cow elk from 236 yards with a good rest.

Her elk went 20 yards and expired. It later weighed in as the heaviest one for that weekend's hunt period.

As a avid hunter, just to see the smile on her face makes me really proud that she enjoyed the hunt — especially helping to manage the elk so the herd stays within the management level. As hunters we have to stop and think that it's not just about the hunt but being a management tool for this beautiful animal which was nearly extinct at one time.

I'm proud to go out in the field and see Mother Nature at its best, especially here in California.

I hope sharing this with fellow hunters encourages their wives or young people to be in the field and just enjoy it even if they're not successful.

Submitted by Patrick W. Alcisto
California

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