| ving today’s youth in proper gun handling | | | | coming so close to such a magnificent animal, the |
| techniques and hunting skills is important to the crew | | | | pressure of the moment and a shot that goes |
| at Big Horn Outfitters LLC. Making sure young adults | | | | astray. We don’t even have the chance to |
| are taught proper hunting and gun etiquette also | | | | feel the disappointment from the bull and his cows |
| serves as a way to teach our younger generation | | | | running off because at that very moment we get a |
| discipline and at the same time introduce them to the | | | | call from Dan and Don on the radios. They have a |
| beautiful outdoors. This past year a unique | | | | bedded bull spotted and we are on our way to meet |
| opportunity presented itself when Don Terhune was | | | | them. As we meet with them a plan is made and we |
| speaking with Mike Christianson of the Big Brothers | | | | begin a stalk on another mature bull. |
| and Big Sisters pass it on program. Mike spoke with | | | | After about an hour of stalking we reach the trees |
| the crew at Big Horn Outfitters LLC and explained | | | | the elk are bedded down at only to find nature is not |
| how they are currently taking on the responsibility of | | | | on our side this morning, the wind shifts and gives us |
| getting underprivileged youth involved in outdoor | | | | up. Now we have time to discuss the mornings |
| activities specifically hunting and gun safety. | | | | events refuel ourselves and get ready for the |
| Don thought it would be a great idea if some of | | | | evening hunt. After lunch and a short nap we find |
| these kids could get the opportunity to go on a fully | | | | ourselves glassing another bull bedded in this |
| guided trophy New Mexico Elk Hunt as in the past | | | | magnificent mountain range. Once again we are on |
| they had mainly been limited to birds and/or doe | | | | the stalk as we close the distance we can hear the |
| hunts. We at Big Horn Outfitters LLC as avid | | | | bull bugle and our excitement is at its all time high. |
| sportsmen find it our responsibility to do our part in | | | | We once again spot the bull, this time he is 200 |
| getting youth involved in hunting and outdoor sports. | | | | yards and we are out of cover but Loren is young |
| After discussing it with his partners Dan Adair and | | | | and is not comfortable at this distance. We decide to |
| Daniel Nicolds, Don Terhune of Big Horn Outfitters | | | | ease forward watching the bull and try to close the |
| LLC decided to donate a Land owner tag and fully | | | | distance to 150 yards. When the bull looks away we |
| guided New Mexico Elk hunt to the program. This | | | | slowly move forward after what seems like eternity |
| New Mexico Elk hunt would give a youth the | | | | we get to 150 yards. We get the bi-pod set and |
| opportunity to hunt in one of premier New Mexico | | | | Loren in position, but the events of the morning have |
| hunting units. Mike Christianson who is the head of | | | | Loren a little rattled and he is not totally comfortable |
| the pass it on program in Kansas told us he had a | | | | shooting at this range. Rather than pressing the |
| great young man for the hunt. Loren Wiseman and | | | | young hunter’s confidence we decide to back |
| his Big Brother sponsor Rich Ritter contacted us to | | | | out and try and close the distance from another |
| set up the hunt. | | | | angle. As we move to our new position we are not |
| This was the youth muzzleloader hunt so Don | | | | able to get any closer than 150 yards. As we get set |
| Terhune arranged to get a muzzleloader Loren could | | | | up again Loren is not comfortable with this distance, |
| use on the hunt. Loren’s big brother sponsor | | | | we are losing light, the cows get up and begin to |
| was not familiar with muzzleloaders so Don took time | | | | move off and the bull follows. Another exciting |
| to show Loren how to use one and took time to go | | | | enjoyable day in the field with no results, but the |
| shooting with him so he would be comfortable with it | | | | several bulls we have seen have our spirits high. The |
| on the hunt. Gun safety and proper hunting etiquette | | | | next morning brought much of the same lots of bulls |
| is extremely important to the guys at Big Horn | | | | lots of bugling, but unfortunately the bulls are just |
| Outfitters LLC. Mike arranged to have Mark Copley | | | | outside our comfort zone. |
| with Shazam productions record the hunt for the | | | | After the hunt on the third morning, Daniel decided |
| show stepping out on the outdoor channel. After | | | | to try a different strategy and switch with Dan Adair. |
| weeks of scouting Loren and Rich arrived the day | | | | They made a plan and decided to go after the big |
| before the hunt. After getting settled in we had a | | | | herd Daniel had pursued that morning. When we got |
| home cooked meal at the big horn lodge and | | | | to the place where the herd had gone into the trees |
| discussed the hunting strategy for the next morning. | | | | the previous day and started to set up for the |
| We decided on an area that had showed great | | | | evening hunt a storm had started to blow in. The |
| promise in our scouting trips. It held a lot of quality | | | | wind was howling and Dan new that they would not |
| bulls in the flats and rolling pinion junipers. We arrived | | | | move until late so they scratched their plan and |
| 30 minutes before daylight to the sounds of bugling, | | | | decided to head up into the timber and bugle |
| which is the male or bull elks calling out to other elk, | | | | periodically to possibly attract more bulls. Knowing |
| and bulls fighting. As daylight came there were elk | | | | they would have to be close for a bull to even hear |
| throughout the bottoms. It held six different herd | | | | them in this wind. They slowly worked their way up |
| bulls and numerous satellite bulls as elk were leaving | | | | the ridges hoping to get an answer. After about an |
| the flats in every direction. We quickly looked over | | | | hour of walking, they finally got the answer they |
| the herds and choose the bull we wanted to go | | | | were looking for, it came from a mature sounding bull |
| after. A plan was made and the hunt was on. The | | | | about a quarter mile away. They crossed two small |
| biggest of the bulls was heading out of the valley on | | | | canyons and as they scanned the ridge the bugle had |
| the opposite side so we headed for cover and began | | | | come from they started making out shapes of elk in |
| to work our way toward the big herd bull. By the | | | | the brush. As they stalked to the bottom of the |
| time we made it to where the bull was he was out | | | | ridge they ran into a mine field of cows. Hearing the |
| of range for a novice hunter. Rather than push the | | | | bull bugling and running back and forth across the top |
| herd we decided to back off and try again that | | | | of the ridge they knew that they would have to |
| afternoon. We headed back to the lodge to meet up | | | | back out and circle around the cows to get a shot at |
| with Dan and Don who had been scouting another | | | | the bull. We skirted the ridge for about a quarter of |
| area. Upon arrival they told us of a big bull they had | | | | a mile and decided to top out and cut back towards |
| seen earlier that morning. | | | | the bull using his bugles to locate him in the thick |
| We made the decision to give that area a try during | | | | brush. We stalked closer and closer until the bull |
| the evening. When we arrived at the high mountain | | | | sounded like he was on the other side of the brush. |
| meadow we moved into position in the tall pines | | | | In fear of startling the bull they decided to wait and |
| where the big bull and his herd had last been seen | | | | see if he would present a shot. After a few minutes |
| earlier that morning. We waited with anticipation | | | | two cows walked threw an opening about fifty |
| hoping any minute to see the bull and his cows, only | | | | yards away so we setup for the shot knowing that |
| to be disappointed by the herd never appeared. | | | | the bull wouldn't be far behind. We could see the bull |
| We rose again early the next morning back to the | | | | heading towards the opening but at the last second |
| flats that we had seen the elk previously. This time | | | | he turned and headed back in to the brush to push |
| we moved into position while it was still slightly dark | | | | out more of his cows. As he went through the trees |
| out due to the early hour, waiting where the big bull | | | | he stopped and let out a bugle giving us a clear |
| had been seen the morning before. There upon first | | | | window of his vitals. Loren then rested his gun on his |
| light we saw the the biggest bull and his cows going | | | | sticks and took a steady shot we heard the smack |
| out the opposite side. Once again we headed as fast | | | | of the bullet hitting its target. |
| as the four of us, me, a cameraman, Loren and his | | | | As the smoke cleared Loren reloaded his muzzle |
| sponsor Rich could move to cut off the bull and his | | | | loader and headed to the spot where the bull had |
| cows. After what seemed like forever and gasping | | | | been standing. When we got to where the bull was |
| for breath we were finally in front of the herd. We | | | | we could here crashing and thrashing in the brush |
| positioned ourselves to intercept them in an opening | | | | above us confirming that Loren had made a good |
| then got Loren set up as quickly as possible then | | | | shot. As we crept up the hill to get a follow up shot |
| waited. We then heard a bugle that seemed as if it | | | | it got quite and we noticed a buff spot underneath a |
| was right on top of us and the bull steps out. A quick | | | | pinnon tree. There he lied, Lorens first bull, a beautiful |
| cow call and the bull stops, what happened then has | | | | 6x6. Everyone high fived and congratulated Loren on |
| happened to even the most seasoned of hunters, | | | | his first bull, still shaking with excitement Loren said |
| the excitement of the chase, the exhilaration of | | | | that this is a hunt that he will never forget. |