6th Prize
Hunting Journal with Weatherby Logo (100 awarded)
Elzhon Anderson, Montana
“For the past 11 years I have desired to go to Alaska or the Yukon to hunt Alaska/Yukon moose. Here at home in Montana we have Shiras moose. After 12 years of applying for a moose permit, I was finally drawn! I am always in the outdoors, watching wildlife, enjoying the outdoors and ‘horn hunting’ as we call it here. A good friend of mine found a moose paddle from a Shiras moose, a shed that all moose hunters dream of! I kept my eye on that area and that bull for two years. The area where this bull was located was the area I started applying for.
Then it happened! In 2003 I drew the permit for that area. Of course I couldn’t find the bull. Persistence in the hunting world usually pays off. I hunted other areas, seen several smaller bulls, but kept getting pulled back to the ‘home’ of my bull. Finally, at the end of September, he and I crossed paths. The manner in which we met is a whole different story, one that got the adrenaline pumping through my veins and my father-in-law’s.
While walking through a regen unit I heard a bull calling. My father in law also heard the calls and walked toward them. My father-in-law took his 410 shotgun for a walk looking for grouse that day. I didn’t know it at the time; my father-in-law beat me to the calls. As I walked toward the call, I heard his voice screaming ‘get out of here!’ ‘Hey bull get, get!’ Then the sound of shot gun blasts rang! One shot, then two, a pause, more yelling and then a third and fourth shot! I knew something bad was happening. It hit me when the third and fourth shots placed pellets hitting trees all around me! I knew then my father-in-law was protecting himself against a bull with only a 410 shotgun. I remember yelling ‘get down, get down I’m coming in shooting!’ I ran only 40 yards, right into a very upset ‘Big Boy!’ I instantly knew by his rack it was him. The bull I desired, wanted and had searched for! He had a very distinct rack, I had acquired his shed antler from my father in law who purchased it from his friend, who had in turn bought it from my friend that had found it originally. As I stopped, stared briefly and thought to myself—it’s him, and oh no he’s mad and with cows! He stared at me for a second, lowered his head and that’s when I shot! He turned broadside and started to ‘leave the country.’ I shot again and he dropped. His cows fled, my heart pounded with excitement and fear!! I slowly walked toward him, gun loaded and ready. It was then I heard my father-in-law say, ‘Is he done?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied, a reply with a lot of relief!
It was at that moment I knew I had moose hunting in my veins. I have been a hunter at heart since the first day my father had taken me out deer hunting. It is the sport of all sports, one that brings family, friends, and memories together, these memories are something to cherish, pass on, share, and can NEVER be taken away! Since that day in September of 2003, I dream nearly everyday of hunting the king of moose, the Alaskan/Yukon moose. I dreamt of hunting the king of moose long before I drew my permit. It was after I drew that permit, knowing I couldn’t apply for seven more years, that a hunt up North for the king was a life long goal. A goal I tried reaching several times, but fell short. Trust me, I plan on making that goal a reality, it will happen. I just don’t know when.
I am a happily married man with two beautiful daughters, but I always put my family first. When I say that, I mean their needs come first. That in turn means financially I cannot afford right now to spend the money to accomplish my dream. And when I think about it, not quite reaching that dream is worth seeing my wife and daughters happy. I have and always will put their needs before mine. I always tell myself ‘someday your gonna make it there.’ Someday. And when this day does come, I want to share this time with my family. Having them there with me would make my hunt a complete success, with or without a harvest. Always remember the sport of hunting doesn’t solely rely on harvesting an animal to make it a success, but the success comes from what you make of the hunt, and the memories made during the hunt.”