Two tags filled in three days

There was no way this story was not going to make the cut. This three day hunt is by far one of my favorites from the season for so many reasons. First let’s take it back to 2017 to where it all begins.

The second half of my twenties was dedicated to getting healthy, on the inside and out. I had fallen into bad habits and needed a goal to help get me out of this funk. I researched archery competitions and Train To Hunt came up. After a quick scroll through their website I signed up for the event on Powderhorn Resort near Grand Junction, Colorado. The training started right away. I cut out drinking and processed foods. I started the days with yoga, guided trips on the river under the hot sun, shot my bow and then ended the day with a HIIT workout or a heavy ruk up the mountain. When competition day arrived I felt confident as I drove west.

Planning to sleep in the back of my truck there wasn’t much for setting up camp and as I organized gear a smiling couple came walking up and introduced themselves. Jessica and Jesse had come out from Washington and one look at Jessica I knew I had some serious competition. Her muscular body told me she had a lifetime of fitness behind her. You don’t look like that after a few gym sessions. The intimidation quickly faded as our conversation flowed effortlessly.

The following two days were filled with hard work and mental toughness. Heavy sandbags were tossed around and sprints up the hill to shoot an arrow at a target played over and over with each competitor. The energy was positive and encouraging as onlookers and even other competitors cheered each other on. I had never experienced anything like it and chills came over my body as I threw the heavy sandbag over my shoulder. I could write an entire short story on this event and I don’t want to stray too far from the real story here, that of two tags being filled in three days.

Jessica took second place, and I took third. We went our separate ways and as the years followed we stayed in touch through social media but never connected any deeper. Then the 2024 hunting season came and I texted Jessica, “I know where the elk are, lets go kill one.”

I’d like to preference we ended up hunting closer to Livingston then where I had previously seen the elk when I texted Jessica. This hunt was all about learning new country, putting our skills to the test and connecting as like minded women. The first day started out cold and snowy and soon it was snowing so hard our visibility was limited. We decided to head to lower country where we could hopefully spend some time glassing. A new plan quickly came into action as we left the parking lot. We only had a few hours of daylight left and I wanted to take the time to look at the country, glass and try and figure out where the elk or deer were feeding and bedding. When there is snow on the ground you can learn so much just by observing and as we walked along a bench (flat area of topography) deer tracks littered the ground. Reaching a small bluff I couldn’t look away from a particular area. The habitat looked perfect for a lone bull elk and we both agreed that this spot was calling us to stay, to be patient and so after much discussion we decided to post up, make a fire to stay warm and spend the rest of the day waiting and watching.

As we gathered rocks for a fire ring and small sticks I couldn’t keep me eyes off this ridgeline, and pulling up my binoculars my intuition was rewarded with the sighting of a bull elk. “I’ve got elk. Forget the fire. Let’s get you set up on this rock.” I eagerly tell Jessica, keeping my eyes on the bull feeding out of the timber. When it comes to taking far shots the caliber and skillset must be there to get the job done otherwise one must get in closer. I tell her they were at 500 yards and to get set up just in case they presented a shot. Judging by the performance Jessica has with archery I didn’t doubt her ability to stay calm and to make the right decision. We watched the bull disappear behind some thick ground foliage just as another bull came into view. “There are two of them now!” I excitedly tell her. “Keep them in your scope, slow your breath and be ready. We may only have seconds to take a shot” I continue to instruct as I keep my eyes on them through the binoculars. Then, just like that both bulls are broadside and walking down the ridge. I let out a couple cow calls and just as they stop, the bang of Jessica’s .300 prc rings in my ears, we hear the smack of the bullet and the impact it makes on the bull is clear it was a good hit. With limited daylight left we hustle to the bull and within a half hour we are looking for blood. Not seeing any blood or tracks, worry comes over me for just a minute and then I smell him. Like a hounddog with my nose to the wind I follow the scent and see the bull piled up just yards from where he was standing when shot.

Walking up to the bull we are blown away at the beauty he possesses. Guessing he is regressing in age, his antlers are unique giving him great character. Piled up in a big, dead log we work together to untangle him and drag him to a position to honor him with photographs. The snow is falling heavy now and as the last bit of daylight leaves the mountainside I get to work breaking down this massive bull. With a lot of work ahead of us Jessica makes a fire and I start cutting away the quarters, backstraps, gib meat (meat on the neck and ribs) tenderloins and finally the head. Famished and in need of energy to pack out our first load we cook fresh backstrap over the fire. Our mouths water as we ate to our desire. Like a couple mountain women we lick our fingers clean and are surprised at how tasty a non seasoned, over cooked piece of elk meat actually is. We relive the hunt over and over still shocked in the outcome of trusting our intuition. You can learn alot about a person by hunting with them and from our first day on the mountain I learned a few things about Jessica. She is unapologetically authentic, has the grit to put in the hard work to hunt and embraces the effort it takes. She’s one of the real ones, someone who genuinely cares and wants to be the best version of herself. She didn’t come out here to use my skills to her advantage, but rather to connect and hunt in hopes to bring home meat for her family. We had only spent one day on the mountain together so far and our friendship had forged its path.

We found a giant tree to hang the meat, one we would be able to glass up from where we shot. The plan was to pack out the two hind quarters that night and come morning we would come back for the rest of it! We awoke to a beautiful sunny day and feeling energized we headed back to the mountain to retrieve the rest of Jessica’s bull. At this point it was clear we made a great team, our strength working together to get the job done. No complaining about the work rather a contentment with the heavy packs. Our active lifestyles aided us and the training we put ourselves through proved to be effective as I carried two front quarters, and Jess carrying the head, backstraps and scrap meat. Just because you hunt with someone doesn’t necessarily mean your going to make a good team and I have even seen hunts break apart friendships. But with each step towards the truck our connection became rooted on that mountain. The planning for future hunts had started and we hadn’t even finished out first.

Part Two of this story is after images below.

Part of; Two Tags Filled in Three Days.

Our energy is positive and hopeful as we set out in search of a mule deer buck. Once again we head into country my feet had never walked, and my eyes had never seen. A good friend had shot a buck in this area a couple weeks back and gave us a bit of direction as to where he was seeing the deer. As we drove the slick snow packed road we were hopeful. The sunrise brought bright and vibrant colors to the snowy landscapes as we glassed from the truck. There was a vehicle parked at the spot we hoped to hike into so we decided to spend some time glassing from the road. The steep and rocky terrain held stories of a fire that once ripped through the canyon, and cliff bans jetted out along the peaks and ridgelines. Within minutes of glassing I spotted a handful of does. Jumping out of my truck I pull out my spotting scope to take a closer look in hopes I would find a buck with them. Picking apart each deer it was apparent there was not a buck in this group and so we continued up the road.

With limited visibility of the country we parked the truck, strapped the guns to our packs, grabbed our trekking poles and started the hike up the rocky mountain side. My attitude quickly changed as I struggled to find footing along the loose rocks. My body was eager to move up the mountain but my mind was telling me otherwise. Boulder fields are one of my biggest fears and my legs tend to tense up a bit when I’m navigating along rocky areas such as this. It felt like I was moving in slow motion and as my feet stumbled I cursed under my breath. With each negative thought I told myself I needed to face this challenge head on, and to stay positive. Once you get into the negative headspace, it can be tough to come out of it. Looking up the steep face I saw a small, and suttle game trail going along the side of the mountain and take advantage of the easier walking and follow it. The trail brought us to a massive drainage. Looking out the north face is filled with dark, thick timber, multiple cliff bans, open ridgelines, and more dead trees from the previous burn, bring a beautiful, inviting and yet intimidating view. Pulling up the binoculars I spot three deer moving quickly along an old timber road. Pulling out the spotting scope I confirm it is a buck, a good one too. We watch them disappear and make a plan to follow the old logging road to close some distance in hopes to relocate them, make a stalk, or even for an opportunity for a shot. The road is no longer clear rather filled with new growth. The trees are covered in snow and as we try and sneak through quietly I use my trekking pole to knock snow off the branches to keep us and our guns clean. We go slow and meticulously glass the landscape around us for deer, picking up several across the drainage and far out into the depths of the canyon.

My attitude was still struggling to remain positive yet there was a small voice inside me telling me I wouldn’t let the mountain win. Being a woman I was currently experiencing the “time of month” flood of hormones and it was if my body and mind were unable to connect with my movements. I was starting to feel bad for Jessica as I continued to curse the mountainside, and myself for being so weak. I asked myself several times why I was even here and that I should turn around, go home and get the rest I needed. Yet my body continued to slowly climb up, constantly stumbling in the deep snow. My body knew exactly what needed to be done and refused to give up even though my mind was constantly testing it. At one point as we were taking a break I told Jessica I was making lazy decisions, and she assured me that she was letting me take the lead, and our chosen path of taking the road zig zagging up the mountain was just as good as any other trail. You never know when something will show up she reassured me. Having a quick snack my body felt a jolt of energy as we followed the many deer tracks through the timber. Slowing my pace and keeping my head up, we scanned the timber as they were bedded in here not to long ago. It was time to focus and be ready for at any moment we could cross paths with these deer. Tears welled up in my eyes and I sat in the feeling knowing I had the power to overcome my weaknesses in this moment. I let the tears drop into the fluffy snow and took in a few deep breaths. It was time to let go completely of the negativity, it was time to let go on my insecure thoughts and it was time to embrace the hunt for all it was in the moment. To be present, positive and eager to see what was ahead of us.

We were nearing the top of the ridge, just a hundred yards ahead of us when we see a bright orange hat silhouette the ridge. You got to be kidding me! After all this fuss and struggle, to overcoming it, to then having another hunter already in the spot we were planning to hunt, I was instantly annoyed. We decided to hit the ridge anyway to make some breakfast and coffee, spend some time glassing and come up with a new plan. Just as I turned to take the lead up the final assent, I see antlers and a white mule deer nose moving through the clearing towards up. We instantly drop down and taking off my pack, I unstrap my .308 henry lever action and rack a bullet. With frozen snow in my action my gun struggles to load a bullet. After two aggressive attempts to rack I finally succeed but now the deer now have disappeared into the timber below us. Jessica and I both start making grunting noises, as if we were a doe looking for a buck. I make the quick decision to creep towards the edge of the timber hoping I still have a chance as they moved through. Grunting as I progressed forward the small 2x2 buck appears at just 60 yards. Crouching down I know the bigger buck will be following and so I make a couple more soft, and horny grunts. At just 80 yards the bigger bucks steps out and without hesitation I stand up, pull up the Henry tight to my shoulder, look down my scope placing the crosshairs right on his shoulder and as she steps forward I pull the trigger. It’s a hit, a great hit. Just like that the hunt took a turn and the energy now is filled with adrenaline and hope that my hit was deadly.

We make breakfast, and enjoy our cup of coffee giving the buck some time to expire and to not push him. As we follow the blood trail it’s clear he is hurting bad. The snow tells a tale as he slides down the steep sections and bright, bubbly red blood sprays across the white snow. Following slow and without making any noise worry comes over me just like it did with Jessica’s bull. The worst feeling as a hunter is wounding an animal and not being able to retrieve it and I hoped that was not the case in this situation. Reaching the old logging road it’s apparent the buck is running on the sheer will to survive and relief comes over me as I see him piled up in the snow just below us.

My negative thoughts are nowhere to be found as they have been replaced with pride in pushing through, making this opportunity a possibility. This isn’t the first time I’ve experienced the many emotions of a hunt and once again I am reminded, the Mountain is YOU. The mountain will always test us, it will force us to face challenges physically, emotionally and mentally. Yet, we are the mountain and we have the choice to overcome whatever barrier or struggle is in our way. Like the mountain I chose to be relentless in my pursuits during this hunt, and was rewarded with organic, clean, and mouthwatering meat along with a beautiful set of antlers to hang on my wall. Soaking in the moment of victory and gratitude for this deers life we know once again we have alot of work to do to get this buck off the mountainside.

Jessica asks me if she can help field dress my buck, as she has never actually done it herself. With the help of her husband she has always held the leg, and transferred the meat to the game bags. With the day being young, and the temperatures non threatening to the meat I gladly let her get her first experience of the gutless quartering method. The process unfolds beautifully as she breaks down half of the buck and I the other. Loading up the packs with all the meat we once again are ecstatic to have a heavy load on our backs. This was the goal and we achieved it and without struggle we start the trek back to the truck.

As we clear the canopy of the timber the landscape in front of us is once again breathtaking. The sun is starting to descend in the sky casting purple and pink hues as the air brings a sharp coolness to it. The slippery ground makes for a challenging and all focus pack out. “We need to make this a yearly thing. Hunting together. Let’s pick a spot, somewhere we have never been, and let’s hunt it…” The dreaming of future hunts together unfold as we soak in these last moments on the mountain together. Finding a reliable and good hunting partner can be tough theses days, but it’s safe to say Jessica and I make quiet the team. In just three days we filled two tags all while this being our first hunt together. We were off to a great start and we know very well not all hunts will be like this one, yet, it lights a fire in us to continue our hunting journey and to deepen the beautiful friendship forged in the mountains of Montana.