My Dad drew a cow elk license for southern Utah. My son and I and my youngest
daughter, age 6, drove down and met him in the area over Thanksgiving weekend.
This was my daughters first experience with hunting and camping. I was really
worried about her having fun and being able to cope with the conditions. I knew that
this could be her last trip ever for hunting or camping if she had a bad experience.
We do a lot of looking with binoculars and so I bought her a pair. She brought
plenty of toys and books to read. I truly hoped I had not picked the wrong time to
get her interested.
Well as it turned out the weather turned off real cold. I mean punishing cold. We
had 8 below zero one morning. We were tent camping and so we were venerable to
that cold.
We met my dad and drove out to our camping spot. We started to set up the tent and
my daughter wanted to help. I told her that we needed wood for the fire and off she
went gathering wood. If you notice she is wearing a whistle in case she gets lost. She
always made sure she had her whistle.
daughter, age 6, drove down and met him in the area over Thanksgiving weekend.
This was my daughters first experience with hunting and camping. I was really
worried about her having fun and being able to cope with the conditions. I knew that
this could be her last trip ever for hunting or camping if she had a bad experience.
We do a lot of looking with binoculars and so I bought her a pair. She brought
plenty of toys and books to read. I truly hoped I had not picked the wrong time to
get her interested.
Well as it turned out the weather turned off real cold. I mean punishing cold. We
had 8 below zero one morning. We were tent camping and so we were venerable to
that cold.
We met my dad and drove out to our camping spot. We started to set up the tent and
my daughter wanted to help. I told her that we needed wood for the fire and off she
went gathering wood. If you notice she is wearing a whistle in case she gets lost. She
always made sure she had her whistle.
 | |  | |  | |  |
Amanda gathering wood video
We got a good fire going and rested some before heading out to look
for some elk. Remember we had been driving for nearly 24 hrs at this
point. I have a painting in my living room of an old fallen log . I
painted it after our first trip to this area. Amanda had heard the
stories about this log before. She saw that painting everyday. She
wanted to get a picture sitting on the log. We use the knoll for
glassing and so that is where we headed first!
for some elk. Remember we had been driving for nearly 24 hrs at this
point. I have a painting in my living room of an old fallen log . I
painted it after our first trip to this area. Amanda had heard the
stories about this log before. She saw that painting everyday. She
wanted to get a picture sitting on the log. We use the knoll for
glassing and so that is where we headed first!
After looking around for a while we left my son there on the
knoll and I took my dad back down and to the other side of
the knoll. My son was to push through the timber on the
knoll and maybe send something to us where we were
waiting. As it turned out there were no elk in the timber but
there were some deer. My son was carrying a video camera
and was able to get some footage. We had also spotted a
deer hiding at the edge of the timber. In the video footage
you can see the view we are met with at the top of the knoll.
knoll and I took my dad back down and to the other side of
the knoll. My son was to push through the timber on the
knoll and maybe send something to us where we were
waiting. As it turned out there were no elk in the timber but
there were some deer. My son was carrying a video camera
and was able to get some footage. We had also spotted a
deer hiding at the edge of the timber. In the video footage
you can see the view we are met with at the top of the knoll.
Remember to double click on images for a larger view!
As it turned out, we had a
couple of chances at elk later
this first day, but my dads
shooting was a little off. Elk
Two, Dad Zero! We were met
with a beautiful sunset as we
crested a pass on the way back
to camp.
couple of chances at elk later
this first day, but my dads
shooting was a little off. Elk
Two, Dad Zero! We were met
with a beautiful sunset as we
crested a pass on the way back
to camp.
We got back to camp well after dark. It was cold. The reading on the thermometer said 10 degrees. We built up the fire and cooked some hot dogs. Then it
was time to head to bed. I had brought several sleeping bags to use and hoped my daughter would be warm. She had never slept in a sleeping bag before
and I was worried I was in for a long night. Amanda had brought several of her favorite stuffed toys and she gathered them around her as she crawled into
her sleeping bag. I had two other bags on top of the bag she was in. She was given strict orders to wake me up if she got cold. It was not long before she was
saying she was clod. I told her to come get in my bag. She fell right to sleep after that. I think she was just a bit worried about being in her own bag.
Anyway I later crawled out and got into her bag. I was worried the whole night and kept checking on her. But in the end all I accomplished was to lose a lot
of sleep.
The next morning we got up early and were met with a -8 degree reading on the thermometer. Burr! It was clod. It was Thanksgiving Day. We were heading
up to the knoll again for a look around. There is a very large flat here that the elk move into during the night to eat. There is little food in the trees. The trick
is to figure out where the elk will head back into the trees at. The knoll lets you see for miles. It was not long before we spotted some elk heading for the safety
of the trees. Dad and my son started their way. I stayed on the knoll to watch the show. Amanda was in the truck playing with her toys and watching me look
around. I could see herds of elk all over the flat going towards the trees. Dad and my son got very close to some elk here but there were bulls. The cows had
crossed the area before they were able to get there. We some very large bulls during this hunt. I had a 6x7 come right by me there on the knoll while I was in
the truck warming up. Amanda reminded me that we could not shoot "daddy elk". It was a huge bull and I believe it would have made the book. I drove down
and into the flat to pick up my dad and son. We went back to camp to warm up next to the fire and have some melted cheese sandwiches for breakfast.
While waiting for some drinks to thaw next to the fire, Amanda and I set up some cans and such for targets. I had bought her a small .22cal rifle and it was
time for her to shoot it. She shot nearly a box of ammo. She did not want to stop for breakfast. Much to my surprise she was a very capable shot and there
were not many misses. She was down right deadly with that little gun. Finally some drinks had thawed by the fire and grandpa had some melted cheese
sandwiches ready to go. We ate till all were full. We gathered some more wood and took naps and waited for the afternoon to roll around for the evenings
hunt.
was time to head to bed. I had brought several sleeping bags to use and hoped my daughter would be warm. She had never slept in a sleeping bag before
and I was worried I was in for a long night. Amanda had brought several of her favorite stuffed toys and she gathered them around her as she crawled into
her sleeping bag. I had two other bags on top of the bag she was in. She was given strict orders to wake me up if she got cold. It was not long before she was
saying she was clod. I told her to come get in my bag. She fell right to sleep after that. I think she was just a bit worried about being in her own bag.
Anyway I later crawled out and got into her bag. I was worried the whole night and kept checking on her. But in the end all I accomplished was to lose a lot
of sleep.
The next morning we got up early and were met with a -8 degree reading on the thermometer. Burr! It was clod. It was Thanksgiving Day. We were heading
up to the knoll again for a look around. There is a very large flat here that the elk move into during the night to eat. There is little food in the trees. The trick
is to figure out where the elk will head back into the trees at. The knoll lets you see for miles. It was not long before we spotted some elk heading for the safety
of the trees. Dad and my son started their way. I stayed on the knoll to watch the show. Amanda was in the truck playing with her toys and watching me look
around. I could see herds of elk all over the flat going towards the trees. Dad and my son got very close to some elk here but there were bulls. The cows had
crossed the area before they were able to get there. We some very large bulls during this hunt. I had a 6x7 come right by me there on the knoll while I was in
the truck warming up. Amanda reminded me that we could not shoot "daddy elk". It was a huge bull and I believe it would have made the book. I drove down
and into the flat to pick up my dad and son. We went back to camp to warm up next to the fire and have some melted cheese sandwiches for breakfast.
While waiting for some drinks to thaw next to the fire, Amanda and I set up some cans and such for targets. I had bought her a small .22cal rifle and it was
time for her to shoot it. She shot nearly a box of ammo. She did not want to stop for breakfast. Much to my surprise she was a very capable shot and there
were not many misses. She was down right deadly with that little gun. Finally some drinks had thawed by the fire and grandpa had some melted cheese
sandwiches ready to go. We ate till all were full. We gathered some more wood and took naps and waited for the afternoon to roll around for the evenings
hunt.
We did not see any elk that evening but we did see some deer and some new country. We got back to camp with a new hunter and a plan for the next days
hunt. We knew where the elk had left the valley and planned to be there before first light. It had clouded over this evening and the temp was warmer. It was
a good feeling as we went to bed with warmer temps and the anticipation of the next days hunt.
Somehow I messed up as far as time goes and we got up late. Also the clouds had cleared off and the temp had fallen. It was again very cold. We hurried to
get ready and get to our spot. I was driving a bit faster than I should have been going. And we were a long way from our spot as it was getting light enough
to see. Then as the saying goes, "Elk are where you find them." a large herd was seen moving through the mornings grey light in front of us. I got to a stop
and Dad got out to shoot. A small part of the herd stopped and gave dad a chance to try and pick out a cow. It was shooting light and the elk were maybe
150 yards out in front of us. Dad was able to pick out a cow and shot her. I wanted to involve Amanda in the hunt and although we knew where the elk was
we went to where it was first hit and showed her the blood. I explained that we would need to follow the blood to find the elk. She turned out to be a very
good blood hound and shortly found the elk. She turned to me and said "It is lucky I am with you daddy, because without me finding the blood trail you
would not have found anything." The elk was still moving and so we got out Amandas little rifle to have her finish it off. Before we were ready the elk died
but she shot it anyway. The little video here shows what happened. You can see that it is cold and Amandas hands are freezing after shooting the elk. She
watched and asked questions while I cleaned the elk. She was very interested even though it was "yucky".
hunt. We knew where the elk had left the valley and planned to be there before first light. It had clouded over this evening and the temp was warmer. It was
a good feeling as we went to bed with warmer temps and the anticipation of the next days hunt.
Somehow I messed up as far as time goes and we got up late. Also the clouds had cleared off and the temp had fallen. It was again very cold. We hurried to
get ready and get to our spot. I was driving a bit faster than I should have been going. And we were a long way from our spot as it was getting light enough
to see. Then as the saying goes, "Elk are where you find them." a large herd was seen moving through the mornings grey light in front of us. I got to a stop
and Dad got out to shoot. A small part of the herd stopped and gave dad a chance to try and pick out a cow. It was shooting light and the elk were maybe
150 yards out in front of us. Dad was able to pick out a cow and shot her. I wanted to involve Amanda in the hunt and although we knew where the elk was
we went to where it was first hit and showed her the blood. I explained that we would need to follow the blood to find the elk. She turned out to be a very
good blood hound and shortly found the elk. She turned to me and said "It is lucky I am with you daddy, because without me finding the blood trail you
would not have found anything." The elk was still moving and so we got out Amandas little rifle to have her finish it off. Before we were ready the elk died
but she shot it anyway. The little video here shows what happened. You can see that it is cold and Amandas hands are freezing after shooting the elk. She
watched and asked questions while I cleaned the elk. She was very interested even though it was "yucky".
That evening as we were driving along a
road I spotted a couple of jackrabbits
under some trees. We had Amanda's
little rifle along with us and I got her out
of the truck and she prepared to shoot
her first game! At the pop of the gun a
jackrabbit hit the ground. I know I was
one proud papa. A hunter was born.
We saw other rabbits but none stuck
around long enough for her to get a
shot.
road I spotted a couple of jackrabbits
under some trees. We had Amanda's
little rifle along with us and I got her out
of the truck and she prepared to shoot
her first game! At the pop of the gun a
jackrabbit hit the ground. I know I was
one proud papa. A hunter was born.
We saw other rabbits but none stuck
around long enough for her to get a
shot.
It was a great hunt! I believe Amanda had a good time and will want to go again. Elk for the freezer is good but to see my daughter participate and enjoy the
hunt in the extreme temps we had was very gratifying. She was a real trooper. My wife and I made sure she had plenty of toys and things to do while in camp
and on the long drive there and back. Big brother and Grandpa were great helps also. Since we got the elk a little early and still had some time left before we
had to head home we went to my dads place. There is a city park there and Amanda had fun climbing around in the rocks. A great time was had by all!
hunt in the extreme temps we had was very gratifying. She was a real trooper. My wife and I made sure she had plenty of toys and things to do while in camp
and on the long drive there and back. Big brother and Grandpa were great helps also. Since we got the elk a little early and still had some time left before we
had to head home we went to my dads place. There is a city park there and Amanda had fun climbing around in the rocks. A great time was had by all!
