Extreme Huntress- The End

So back in July many of you know I went to Hondo Texas to compete head to head against 5 other ladies from all over the world in a hunting skills and skills competition. Then starting in October there were 13 episodes that aired online over 13 weeks on www.extremehuntress.com and on www.carbontv.com. I wasn't allowed to give the details on anyones hunts and skill scores until they had all aired. All the ladies were successful in taking animals on the 777 Ranch. Each of us taking 2 animals each except for Erika, who was able to take 1. Kasi was from Texas and was able to

takedown a management animal- Fallow deer and a trophy animal- Axis deer. Christie is from Australia and was able to take a management Impala and a trophy Black buck antelope. Amanda from Montana took a management Barasinga and Arabian Oryx. Erika from Sweden took a Jacobs sheep or 4-horned sheep. Margaret from South Africa took a management Red sheep and a trophy Black buck antelope. Myself, I was able to take a management Hawaiian Black sheep and a trophy Aoudad.

After the online shows were up and online voting was over we had to head back to Texas for the Dallas Safari Club convention in Dallas. It was an interesting experience- I had never been to a show that size before. This time Kyle was able to come with me so we made a vacation from it. We stayed in Texas for 9 days, spending 4 days at the convention and 3 days at the Geracis home hunting hogs and visiting. It was nice getting to see the girls again and Jim and Larry, unfortunately Christie wasnt able to come and we all missed her. Friday we had to do a public event, answering questions. Saturday was the dinner and when the winner would be

announced. The dinner was a different experience for me, it was a formal gathering which ment fancy dresses, make up and high heels. The dinner wasnt very long, they did all the awards while everyone ate which made the evening go quickly. Erika from Sweden ended up taking the Sculpture home as the winner of the Extreme Huntress contest. The auctions however were very long as there were many items up for auction. After dinner and the awards I couldnt handle being in my dress any longer and ended up changing back into my jeans. But I got to meet lots of people and it was an interesting experience.

There are a few things I took away from doing this contest, one is some amazing friends. These ladies, the judges and camermen, and Steve and Tommy from the ranch. They all hold a dear spot in my life and am so happy I got to meet them all. Getting to see what hunting on a ranch is truly like and learning all the amazing things they do for wildlife, and getting to see all the different species of animals-some that are extinct in their home lands! Animals I would have otherwise, never would see in my life. It gave me some insight into what the hunting industry is like. And it gave me confidence in myself, I went into this contest never expecting to make it the finals and when I got the email saying I was a finalist - I was scared to death. I thought I was in over my head and I was plagued with anxiety the entire month before heading to Hondo. Its intimidating, reading all these ladies essays and seeing their photos online and on social media. But once I got there and we got to work on the skills tests, I realized I was in my element and comfortable. It was a major boost for me and it changed me for the better. I know longer second guess myself or my instincts and learned a lot about myself as a hunter.

** Im trying to add pictures from DSC but having issues. I will keep trying to upload some**

Elk Season 2014

This had to have been the best year for elk we have had. We both hunted hard from September 1st to October 20th, and I think I only missed a total of 7 days hunting in that time. We seen lots of elk, we had elk everyday whether we seen them or heard them bugling. But finding that legal bull during rifle season or a bull I could get a chance at during the short bow season was tough!

September 1st, opening day,  we had action. We had 2 different bulls calling back and forth and cows walking around our blind, unfortunately the winds changed and screwed us over- everything went silent and the cows left. Afterwards we decided to hike around and see if we could find something. We did find where the one bull that was above us had been when he was calling and basically where he had been living. The whole area reeked like him and there was fresh sign everywhere.

 

Another memorable day during the elk season was hunting in Skookumchuck. Again we found lots of elk but nothing that was legal. We were heading down the dirt road and Kyle looked to his right and seen a bunch of elk in an opening, but instead of just letting me get out and going to check it out he bailed out with me. Unfortunately in his excitement he scared them all off by just charging in and not realizing that the elk could see him. As we watched them take off Kyle could see the herd bull mixed in with his cows and he was a BIG 6 point. So we tried to make a plan of one of us dog behind the herd and the other try to cut them off. It worked but he never gave either of us a clear shot. We ran out of light and had to call it quits.

 

Probably the most exciting days were hunting river bottom. We had the kids with us again and we parked the jeep and Kyle let out a locator bugle to see if we could get an answer. Right away one fired up not far from us. So I loaded up and went into the thick bush to find where they were. I got to the rivers bank and caught sight of a spike through the trees down in the river. So I quietly creeped to the edge of the river but still hidden by brush and sat down. There was the spike and a couple cows hanging out in the water. Kyle kept calling and I watched and listened. A bull lit up again right away, but I couldn't see him because he was on the other side of the river in the extremely thick river bottom brush. After waiting for what felt like hours he finally was mad enough to come to the river. He was aggressive, thrashing the brush with his antlers and screaming back at Kyle every time he let out a call. They were only about 40 yards from me and my heart was pounding. Kyle kept letting out calls and the bull got more and more aggrivated- but he never left his cows. I think I counted his tines 20 times while sitting and watching him- wishing a 6th would magically sprout. But unfortunately he had busted off his main beams which made him a 5X4. As the light grew dimmer he started to herd his cows down the river towards the open fields so I quickly made my way back to Kyle and the kids and headed for the fields on my own. I had seen the spot that they crossed over the fence when we had come in so I went there and sat. They jumped the fence only 20 yards in front of me, but they were moving. The bull was pushing them and I couldnt figure out why, Kyle wasnt calling anymore and they were quite a ways from where we had been. I followed them into the christmas tree patch and froze when I heard the squeak of the fence catching. I slowly turned my head to my right to see a satelitte bull come walking up behind me and only about 20 yards to the right of me, following the herd. He stopped next to me and looked around, smelling. I held my breath. And he let out a bugle that was so loud it had my trembling with adrenaline. The herd bull screamed back and he started to walk the same direction. He only made it about 50 yards when Kyle let out a bugle and it made him stop and turn, he went straight towards Kyle. By this time it was to dark for shooting but I was having such an amazing time I didnt care that neither bull was legal- I wanted to watch them. Kyle didnt realize the satelitte bull was there nor that it was comng to see him and with all the christmas trees Kyle and it almost walked into each other. By then I was making my way back to him and the kids. The kids were so excited they talked about the elk the whole way home.

 

The next day we decided to go back to the same area in hopes that with all the talking another satelitte would have come in and maybe he would be a legal 6 point. We got in and Kyle took the kids farther down the river bank and I went to the same spot. You could see all the kokanee swimming in the river and jumping for the bugs. I was only seated for about 5 minutes when movement caught my eye- bear. I sat still and watched as it came out of the long grass down to the water. It was a grizzly cub...then another one came running down to the water. I sat frozen, heart trying to pound out of my chest. Thats when momma came out. She wasnt a very old bear, it took another minute of watching her and the made their way to my side of that river. I quickly got up, grabbed my gear and phoned Kyle. He answered a little peeved I was phoning instead of texting him, but all I had to say was Grizz sow and cubs  and he was packing the kids up. I met them at the grass road and took the kids to the jeep right away and stood outside with them inside. Kyle was standing on the road watching for her- he knew as soon as she had found where I was sitting because she started huffing and popping her jaws. She followed my scent right out towards the road and Kyle yelled at her. She stopped and each cub popped their head out on a side of her to see what was going on, it just took another yell from Kyle and she took her cubs and ran.

 

Although we both hunted hard only one of us came out successful. The second to last day of the season, and only the second time we got out without the kids, Kyle shot a big young bull. We were heading out with a couple friends and only about 15 minutes of driving down the dirt road a herd of elk were standing next to the road in a clearing. We watched them run pretty far out and stop and watch us. The bull was just a legal 6 point. Standing at 425 yards Kyle dropped him from within the clearing, and just like that we had meat for the freezer! We loaded him up and finished the evening off trying to find another one since there were still 3 of us with tags, we never found another legal bull but the one guy did manage to fill his whitetail tag on a big bodied 4x4 buck.