Johnweb.jpgThere are times as an outfitter that we have the privilege of contributing to a hunter’s firsts.  Sunday was that for Atkinson Expeditions’ guide Chanse Snow, owner of Bruzer Gear.  After Gary harvested his bull, Chanse set out for a bull they had seen opening morning.  Solid fog blanketed the hillsides and visibility was 100 yds.  The hunters set up 300 yds from where they had seen the elk cross the day before and began to call.  Now the elk haven’t rolled over to vocal so the mental game began… after 30 min of no elk thoughts of zeros began to float through their heads.  Then 3 shapes appeared out of the fog and the game was on.  2 cows and the same bull they had seen the day before.  I’ll add again that Jon has never shot an animal in his life!  Now approaching at a quick rate is a 6 point bull and they are pinned on a mahogany hillside.  Several times he has a shot and both Chanse and Rob his hunting partner are wondering why the muzzleloader hasn’t fired.  The second safety is then discovered and at 93 yards the muzzleloader booms and the 6 point drops in his tracks.  Rob jumps off the mountain telling Jon to reload.  Jon is busy texting his wife with complete confidence that the bull is down and can’t figure what all the fuss is about.  Elk hunting is easy and all that talk about Wes’s concern of wounded elk was just way over kill.  Not to mention that he shot the bull 15 feet off the road so the rumors that packing out a bull is work fade away and the team is dumbfounded by the cool, collected elk hunter.  I might add here that Jon told me today that musket hunting runs in his family and we shouldn’t at all be surprised about his marksmanship, as Davy Crockett is his 6th great uncle.  No kidding it runs in his blood.  Congrats Jon on a fine first bull.  I’ll let you know tomorrow how Rob got his first bow kill 5×6 bull.

Later