BLESSINGS OF THE HUNT

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Youth Elk Hunt in Arizona

Blessings from Holden’s first elk hunt are numerous; deciding which blessing is the most treasured is impossible for they are blessings of the heart. Holden is our oldest grandchild. He recently turned twelve and resides in Oklahoma. The prospect of being drawn in the youth hunt for elk from the Arizona Game and Fish Department seemed like an impossible dream to Holden. After the paperwork/computer process of applying for an elk tag was completed, the BIG wait for the precious notification began. Waiting, waiting and waiting. Would Holden be drawn for his elk hunt? Would Holden be on fall break in Arizona?

When the tag for a youth hunt, cow elk in Area 22 in the Tonto National Forest came in the mail, it was particularly difficult to tell who was the most thrilled: Holden or Don (my husband and Holden’s grandfather). Suddenly, a whirlwind of plans for scouting, traveling and hunting began for what would be one of the most educational and cherished hunts for all of us.

Weeks prior to the scheduled hunt of October 9th thru October 15th, while Holden’s school in Oklahoma was in session, Don and I needed to scout areas in the forest for Holden to hunt. Don and I spent hours and hours in our old jeep -- four-wheel drive -- traveling rough, EXTREMELY ROUGH, rocky, EXTREMELY ROCKY (what Don classified as primitive) forest service roads.

Don coaxed me into riding with him as he drove straight, STRAIGHT uphill on a rock-strewn, washed-out dirt road leading into the sky of Rim Country -- surrounded by boulders, thicket, brush and junipers on both sides, with an occasional deep canyon dropping off the road leaving me somewhat anxious as to our return and possibly our demise.

“No one comes up here!” Don exclaimed, as the old jeep grunted with effort at five miles an hour to climb the next hurdle of roughness.

“No kidding!” I thought. But suddenly, we were almost touching Heaven as we topped FS322 road. A blessing of majestic, breathtaking beauty surrounded us. A blessing to treasure!

During our scouting adventures, we heard the growl of a mountain lion (perhaps hunting us); we witnessed two wild hen turkeys foraging for food and counted many mule deer dashing through the forest.

But where were the elk?

Excitedly, we drove to Oklahoma and traveled back to Arizona with a very enthusiastic twelve-year-old. But not before we packed the essentials needed for his hunt: gun, ammo, binoculars, hunting knife, hunting clothes of camouflage, hunting gloves, hunting hat, and hunting snacks. Especially important to have hunting snacks and apparently a supply of Dr. Pepper soda is recommended. We had such a blast traveling. What a blessing to be able to share time with Holden! A blessing to treasure!

Waking at 5:00 a.m. to be out in the forest before the elk hid in beds took effort day in and day out but, every morning, Don and Holden enthusiastically jumped in the jeep surrounded by darkness to begin hunting for another day.

And there were obstacles in this year of 2020. The drastic drought has driven the elk herds to linger in residential areas where they find water, landscaping forage and grasses to survive easier than in the dryness of the barren desert forests. (Many wildlife watering holes are now non-existent.) COVID-19 populated camping areas and forests with people rather than elk. And the heat of mid-October set record temperatures off the charts, forcing the elk to bed during the day to avoid the excessive heat.

Walking many miles every day posed the question time and time again, “Where are the elk?”

During the down times of the hunt, we were able to celebrate Holden’s visit by having family dinners. Watching the cousins, Holden, Dixie, Ella, and Lee interact, hearing giggles and laughter from playing Duck, Duck, Goose and spending time together was very, very dear. A blessing to treasure indeed!

Perhaps, a statement to Holden’s maturity was his explanation of why hunting is important. He explained to a family member that hunting helps nature maintain a healthy balance by keeping the population of wildlife under control. He said, “If there are too many, all of them will suffer because they will not have enough water and grass. All will suffer.”

Time and time again, day in and day out, the hunters would return with disappointment. Surviving a motor mount breakage on the jeep (wonder why???), the heat, the drought, the influx of non-hunters, being hungry, being thirsty, being muscle sore from miles of walking, (34.5 miles total) and being tired plagued both Don and Holden.

Yet, the morning of October 14, 2020, Don and Holden rose at 5:00 a.m. with smiling faces and mugs of coffee and hot chocolate. Taking the old one-ton 1979 Chevy -- so very loud, we call it “The Beast” -- did not discourage them. After all, they are hunters and so, began the day before the hunt was to end.

At approximately 10:30 a.m., Don and Holden drove up the drive, sporting two huge grins with one exceptionally large cow elk, maybe weighing 500 pounds loaded in the back of “The Beast”. Holden proudly showed me his cow elk but, perhaps, what touched me the most was Holden’s reverence toward his prize elk.

He said, “Grandma, look how beautiful she is!” as he gently touched her. With great respect, he patted her in a gracious way of thanksgiving. Holden exclaimed he was thankful for her and the meat she would supply for the freezer. A very touching moment to witness -- a blessing of thanksgiving.

May rocky roads in your life lead to beautiful, majestic serenity. May your hunting quests be successful and bountiful. And may your jeep keep all its motor mounts intact. From our family to yours, wishing you a happy, heathy and safe Thanksgiving. Blessings to you and yours.

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