He gave up 20 years. 20 years fighting for our country. Being away from his family, his friends, moving all over the world. Got blown up, medals, honors…PTSD, a beat-up body, headaches. This guy that I have known most of my life. That I hunted with all the time in high school. Spent time outdoors doing anything we could. Our friendship stayed strong no matter what. Distance, time, life, family, we always stayed in touch. And now he is retired and its time to hunt together again! No one deserves it more than this man Cliff, the chance to do the things he enjoys! Hunting was such a huge part of defining our friendship growing up, I could not wait for my annual backcountry mule deer hunt, and the opportunity for him to go and experience what is my favorite hunting trip every year.
The day before the opening of rifle season, we parked at the trailhead, got our gear and packs arranged, and rearranged, and set out for the basin I like to hunt. It’s about a 5-mile pack in, the last part being a pretty significant climb. We made it to camp, well my second choice…there were a few people around and one group had claimed my usual spot. Set up camp, went and got water, and spent the evening glassing. The next morning another friend was packing in, and we went to bed hoping for the best for opening day.
The first morning proved mostly uneventful. We hiked to a good glassing point, spent the morning glassing and looking for deer. Bucks were spotted, but nothing really interesting for opening morning. It was at one of these glassing spots during a conversation with Cliff that he had not shot a mule deer in 18 years. Here I was having him pass up deer to find a bigger one and he is just wanting to shoot a deer.
My other friend, Shawn showed up about 11 that morning. We helped him get camp up, get water and all settled in. We glassed and hunted that evening with only a few small bucks spotted. It was super hot and super dry, a complete opposite of last year. Deer were almost nocturnal already, and the hunting pressure was just starting. We spent the next 2 days hunting, moving further away from camp as we went. It was the second day when a fire to the north and a fire to the south were started, and added another level to this hunt. Constantly watching them and making sure we were safe was a new unexpected twist I wasn’t prepared for. We tossed around leaving or staying and the issues involved….we decided to see the 4th day what it looked like and make a decision based on fire movement.
Climbing to the glassing point I immediately spotted a couple of deer. They were both bucks, both solid 4 points. Cliff got busy setting up for the shot while I set up my spotter and ranged them. They were 450 yards away and already headed to timber. Cliff went through his pre-shot ritual and squeezed the trigger. Watching through the spotter I saw the impact. Perfect level, but a few inches back. The deer went down, rolled a bit, and came to rest.
Cliff snuck down, now that the other deer between us was gone and this deer was anchored, and quickly finished the job. As I walked up to this deer, he actually gained a bit in size, a rare thing for me. I could not have been more excited and happy for Cliff and the way this hunt went! Helping pack him out, having to leave because of the fires, none of it could dampen our moods!
Hunts have different meanings. Some are strictly for meat. Others are for horns. Some are simply to get away. This hunt was for all of that, and so much more. Being able to help this man, my best friend, this man who sacrificed so much, and take him on a mule deer hunt, an adventure…it meant more to me than just about any hunt could. When you throw in that we had to pack up and leave that afternoon after he harvested this deer out of the fear that the fires were getting too close for comfort, well it is just that much sweeter. Amazing times with amazing people and a hunt to never forget. It DOES NOT get better! I hope to hunt with Cliff as much as possible in the future, but it will be tough to have a hunt mean more than this one!
Any other military people out there that have found strength through hunting?
