The Johnson's: October 2011

My diva wife finally decided to let me write on the blog. I'm going to keep this short and sweet, which will be hard considering the hunt was one of the most awesome trips I've had so far.First of all thank you to my cousins Ross and Kim for telling me to put pictures up of my hunt almost every day since I have been back. I was lucky enough this year to be able to treat my top selling client from Helena Chemical (Mike Cleary) on an elk hunt in New Mexico’s 16A hunting unit. We took trailers and gear in a few days prior to the hunt with the help of Cripple T Ranch Owner Gene Blair. After driving on a dirt road for about 3 hours, and being 5 hours (pulling a trailer) from the closest cell phone service and building rock bridge crossings to get through the massive washouts we were finally to our camp that would be home for the next five days. Needless to say I was in paradise and ready to start hunting. We got the camp set up and rode around to get to know the land on Friday, October 14 to get to know the land. Some of the farmers from the Las Cruces area had come up to hunt on Gene’s ranch and we had a few more that just came to enjoy elk camp. Gene aka RO was my official guide and apparently personal trainer on the trip. In the first two days we walked between 25-30 miles in the mountains and had hunted hard. Through all this walking we saw several cows and had a close encounter with a bull that we never laid eyes on. Needless to say by the third day we were both hobbling around camp like a couple old men and I had blisters on each of my heels. I ended up guiding Mike Sunday evening out of a Ranger ATV and after missing a bull opening morning, Mike redeemed himself with a 400 yd shot to kill a respectable 6x6. There were about 30-40 elk in this herd with 4 6x6 bulls all about the same size. Then it was my turn. The next morning, after having the battery die on one ranger leaving me to walk another 3 miles and Gene blowing out a tire and not making the Sunday evening hunt we decided to road hunt. We charged up the ranger and went to a T-Bar (a big flat) to glass. We then proceeded to drive up an old rocky road to T-Bar tank and then just like in old Johnson fashion we think the roof of the ranger is going to cave in because Gene is pounding on it saying hurry up there’s a herd. I quickly jumped out and ran up to the edge of the tank to see elk piling out of the trees. After seeing 3 6x6 elk already run out I hear Gene say hear he comes followed by a big bugle. He ran out of the trees about 150 yds and never stopped. I took a running shot which reminded me of hunting nilgai back home and stopped him in his tracks. Hurrahs rang out and high fives were given. Thanks again to Gene for guiding me and for Helena for all the support.