Grouse Creek Elk Hunt

This weekend we went out to Grouse Creek to spend the day. 

Nickie, Dusty and all the kids were out there for her Limited Entry Elk hunt. It had opened the day before. We were hoping she had a big bull down that morning when we drove out but she didnt. We hung out for a while at camp. We had a knife throwing contest. Kennedy did pretty good at it!

We had lunch and then headed back for home. Its just over a two hour drive. We made it home just about 10 minutes when Nickie called saying she shot her big bull! We were sooooo excited. It had taken her over 18 years to finally draw the tag! She started sending us pictures and we hopped back in the truck and headed another two hours back out to help them get it off the mountain. 

We made it out there in record time. They had gutted the elk and were just getting ready to start quartering it. We hiked about a mile to the elk. They were able to get the ranger about 1/4 of a mile from it. So while they were quartering it Chris and Zach (Jessies boyfriend) took the hind quarters down

Dusty, Cody, Jessie, Nickie and KayCee

 Todd and I jumped in and helped piece it out. I had to stop a few times to take pictures!

 Then I hauled the back straps off the mountain as Chris and Zach took the front shoulders

 Then it was time to finish caping it and cutting the rib cage and neck into manageable pieces

 The elk was a big ol bull. His neck was soo thick. Like almost 3 inches. He even had a 3 inch piece of horn embedded in his neck from fighting.  We got most the elk down and it was time for the head and cape. Todd and Chris tried to take it together but its so heavy and awkward.

 Chris ended up just putting it on his shoulders and it about did him in carrying it out.

 I took the rest of the tenderloins and backstraps. They were so big Dusty had to cut them out in pieces

 We got everything down to the side by side in just under two hours! That was pretty impressive but we had a good crew of people!

Dusty, Nickie, Cody, Jessie, Zach and KayCee

 And the Richards Family group. Dusty is Todds nephew.

It was such a fun night! We were so glad we were able to go out and help! We made it home just about 11pm that night. It was so worth it! We were so happy for Nickie! She worked so hard for it!

Freeway fire, strawberry fruit rolls and Rue

We responded to assist Brigham on a grass fire along the freeway. It was 3 separate fires all along the south bound lanes. We ended up with the south section

This is how we cruise the streets of Willard

 We have a Willard Co op for fresh fruits and veggies. I ordered a bunch of strawberries to make fruit leather with.

We filled up two gallon containers to use!

These two have such a cute bond. I love that they are best friends.

Rues getting ready for duck season and cant wait

2016 Archery Deer

Sunday morning Chris, K and I headed up to where we camped at to deer hunt. Our plan was to hike in for a little bit. See what it was looking like in there and depending on what we found drive the 'long way' home through Hardware area and road hunt.

We got there about 20 minutes before it was light enough to walk in.

We napped for a few minutes in the truck (we'd left our house at 430 that morning) got packed up and headed in. We hiked around for 3 miles and were on our way back to the truck. We had saw some sign but again lacking deer like we normally see. We weren't even seeing does. We were pretty bummed at the lack of deer we have seen this year. Kennedy was teasing me and totally joining team Dad saying how I was an animal hog and since I'd already shot one I shouldn't be going after a deer, I needed to let Daddy shoot a deer.  We were laughing and walking back to the truck with Chris leading, me in the middle and K behind me. All of a sudden I saw a deer standing starring at me. I froze and K stopped. I told Chris range it for me. My whole goal this year was to shoot a 3 point or bigger. Im not a horn hunter and I wont pass up good meat but the first few weeks of the hunt I try and hold out for bigger older deer.  After the first 3 weeks its free for all. 

I asked Chris how far it was as I knocked an arrow. He couldnt see what I was talking about. I told him there was a buck right there starring at me. Right down an alley way with a perfect clear shot at it. It was facing me and frozen solid. Chris still couldnt see the deer. There was a tree in the way. I didnt want to move and spook it so I slowly pulled out my rangefinder and it ranged at 45 yards. I could see its antlers were higher than its ears. It still stayed frozen starring at me. The adrenaline was going. I couldnt pass this up. It was a big enough bodied buck.. it was just standing there.. if I let it go I might not get another shot at a deer all year. I figured what the hell! I know I can make the shot. A front facing shot isnt a preferred archery shot BUT Ive studied enough to know where my anatomy on a deer is. I aimed just a little lower on the chest than center and slightly to the left side so I wouldn't hit the sternum and would go into the vitals. I let my arrow fly and it flew true!

It went right into the chest and the deer took a few bounds and started stumbling down the hill. I knew it was a good shot. It ran a little bit (straight down hill and actually towards the truck) we heard it crash once and knew it was done. We walked over to where I shot at and sat for a little bit. We couldnt hear any noise below and found a GOOD blood trail. I knew my hit was solid even though my arrow stayed in its chest. Sometimes when the arrow stays its harder to get a good blood trail. This trail I had no doubt I had a dead deer.

We found a spot to glass about 100 yards from where it was shot at. Chris quickly found the deer laying down across an old road thats in there. It was 102 yards from us. We sat and watched it. The deer was almost dead. It gave a final heave and head toss and it was done. We still sat and watched it for a few minutes to make sure. Kennedy was so excited to get to see and watch the deer. 

 I walked down to it about 20 minutes after I shot it (and about 10 minutes after it gave its final heave) and it was dead dead. 

 Kennedy was so excited. She keeps asking when she gets to shoot a deer.

 The best part is it ran down hill towards the truck... and right across the road we walk in on. It was about 100 yards from the truck! She insisted on helping drag it. I carried our bows.

Weekend home

Saturday we did things around the house cause we had this massive pile of laundry to go through plus stuff that needed to be done. Chris was on call for the county so we had to stay in the county.

He loves his dads riding lawn mower. He picks it up from his dads house and drives it to ours to mow the back lawn

We also cut up my elk

Kennedy really wanted to help cut. We gave her a piece of the 'bad' meat and let her go to town with a knife. We told her as soon as she cut herself she was done. She did great. No cuts. She even made little steaks.

She made me breakfast in bed. Greek yogurt, fresh peaches, unbuttered toast and chocolate almond milk.

That next Monday she was off to 3rd Grade! This kid was sooooo excited for school to start. She couldnt wait!

Her very first day back to school I walked outside looking for the goat and couldnt find her.. then I heard a noise above me.

Apparently she climbs trees! I yelled at her to get down and she ran down the tree and right back up!

While she was gone I canned a batch of jalapeno jelly, roasted peppers and made two loaves of chocolate zucchini bread!