For the past year my buddy Billy and I were planning our first trip out West to archery Elk hunt in unit 66 Idaho. We have been looking over maps, watching ELK nut DVDs, buying up gear, shooting the bows, just getting prepared and counting down the days. This past Sunday we went for a training hike and were having blast when we came up to our final peak to take a break, Bill started to complain that his vision was getting blurry and he was seeing red, he laid down and never got back up. For the next 47 minutes I was on the call with 911 performing CPR trying to keep him alive, we were hiking what is considered remote by NY/NJ standards, just 1.5 miles away from the parking lot, needless to say by the time the medics showed up it was to late.
Billy was a one of a kind person, he truly put his friends and family ahead of himself, he was the most selfless person I have ever know. He left us doing what he wanted to do, I guess he was blessed in that regard, if only we could all be so lucky.
This event has really started to mess with my head. Initially I was planning to go solo, everyone thought I was a nut for even thinking about it. In my head I had no doubt in my mind, that I could make this trip and out of now where Billy who never hunted before said he would love to go. At first I was a little taken back by it since he never expressed any interest in hunting before, let alone backpack hunting, he was my first mate on many big game fishing adventures, we killed a boat load of giant tuna of the years and I knew he was a mental monster when it came to toughing it out it the worst conditions. So I said shit yea, would love to have you along. All of our planning was to drive out and pack the meat back it coolers, those plans have now changed. I am working through booking my airline tickets and car rental as I don't think I can do the drive myself, and with the cost of driving out, I'm saving a couple of dollars and loosing a bunch of time. I need to refocus a portion of my digital scouting as now I don't feel its in my best intrest to be so far off solo and try to do a pack out.
I will figure it out, I have called a couple of meat processors in the area and kind of have a plan as to how I am going to bring back any meat. I am just having a hard time actually booking the tickets, I feel like I lost a piece of my will to go, but deep inside I know I need to do this.
If anyone can help with some advice on a reliable processor in unit 66 area or anything along the way down into the Salt Lake City area would be great. I figure I will be only able to really bring back 150 -200 lbs of meat with me on the flight and the rest will have to donate to a food bank.
Thanks again, will keep you posted to the hunt.
Tom
Billy was a one of a kind person, he truly put his friends and family ahead of himself, he was the most selfless person I have ever know. He left us doing what he wanted to do, I guess he was blessed in that regard, if only we could all be so lucky.
This event has really started to mess with my head. Initially I was planning to go solo, everyone thought I was a nut for even thinking about it. In my head I had no doubt in my mind, that I could make this trip and out of now where Billy who never hunted before said he would love to go. At first I was a little taken back by it since he never expressed any interest in hunting before, let alone backpack hunting, he was my first mate on many big game fishing adventures, we killed a boat load of giant tuna of the years and I knew he was a mental monster when it came to toughing it out it the worst conditions. So I said shit yea, would love to have you along. All of our planning was to drive out and pack the meat back it coolers, those plans have now changed. I am working through booking my airline tickets and car rental as I don't think I can do the drive myself, and with the cost of driving out, I'm saving a couple of dollars and loosing a bunch of time. I need to refocus a portion of my digital scouting as now I don't feel its in my best intrest to be so far off solo and try to do a pack out.
I will figure it out, I have called a couple of meat processors in the area and kind of have a plan as to how I am going to bring back any meat. I am just having a hard time actually booking the tickets, I feel like I lost a piece of my will to go, but deep inside I know I need to do this.
If anyone can help with some advice on a reliable processor in unit 66 area or anything along the way down into the Salt Lake City area would be great. I figure I will be only able to really bring back 150 -200 lbs of meat with me on the flight and the rest will have to donate to a food bank.
Thanks again, will keep you posted to the hunt.
Tom
